You're thinking of going WHERE?!?

The top docs in the hip resurfacing community say my age and activity level are worth the effort of getting a resurfacing right on me. My shallow socket (hip dysplasia) is more of a concern than my bone density score - and the experienced doctors would be the most-skilled at getting the placement right, which is the reason for concern with dysplasia.

Besides, I believe this is really the best long-term option for my bone density - I'll be able to focus on keeping my bones strong through exercise with a hip joint that more closely resembles normal anatomy.

So I've started crunching preliminary numbers (they could use... something... paprika? salt? no...) and it's looking like I could see a top US surgeon and pay the out-of-network provider fees (assuming my insurance would cover out-of-network at all, since there are providers in-network that could do the surgery, even if they won't do the surgery) - OR I could fly to Chennai, India, be hospitalized at Apollo Specialty Hospital for 5 days, and then stay at a nearby hotel or resort for the next 8-9 days, and fly home for approximately 25-30% less than the out-of-pocket cost of any US surgeon.

That's a lot!

Listen, I would never have thought I'd be the girl who looks for "medical value travel." I am one of the last people I would expect to seriously consider this. But the more I learn about the doctors, the more I hear about others who have done this, the more I want one of these top docs.

And my gut says Chennai. So Ted and I are gathering information. I may change course, once again - acquiring information does that sometimes.