I broke my hip Oct. 7th and had 3 pins put in it. I went back to the dr. and he said I need hip replacement.?

He said the head of the hip had collapsed and I need a total hip replacement. I tried to look up this on the internet and couldnt find a site that explains more. I saw my own x-rays and I was shocked how bad my right hip was compared to the left. does anyone know of a good web site where I can view x rays of the same thing and can explain things in detail. My dr. avoids answering questions and has a lousy bedside manner. I am going to find another one. He wouldnt even let my family look at the x rays when I asked him if they could. But, I need more info. I just want a site where I could see what a collapsed head of the hip looks like and what could have caused it as I was quite careful, etc. I am scared of. hip replacement surgery and just need any help and support that anyone of you folks could give me. Thanx so much, Lauren. p.s., he only told me this info 3 days ago!

I want to thank you both for responding so quickly. I liked both answers. But I still need to find a website that lets me view x-rays of a collapsed hip. Or head of hip or whatever that darn dr. said. I just need to show someone what it looks like but cant find a site anywhere and am starting to lose my patience like I should have done with that punk of a dr! Notice I wont write Dr. its dr. to me., lol! Anyway, my email address (new one) is laurelf55@embarqmail.com. I tried to change it on my profile but it is not working too well. I had earthlink but they forced us to switch to embarq and ever since then I have had problems.
Miss Tracy, I tried to email you but dont know if you received it or not. I hope you did but do try using the above email address. I too am an animal lover. but, thanx again to both of you, you were very helpful. Take care, Lauren

this website shows you what will happen during surgery and you are able to contact the organisation for additional information.
hope it helped.

Good God, what an incompetent doctor you have !!!! You have the absolute right to view your own x-ray - go back and demand to see it tomorrow morning - under new laws it is your property and is only on loan to your doctor for medical purposes!!! Your family have also the right to view the x-ray along with your medical notes as long as you are present! Please don't be afraid of a hip replacement laurel, my friend had it done at the age of 41 due to Lupus and she was just fine, was in very little discomfort afterwards, certainly never in any pain! and was up and about within days!!! Change your doctor asap and talk your fears over with your new one, i'm pretty sure he / she will put your mind totally at rest. Your current hip will not pass an MOT and you wouldn't have a car like it would you? No, of course you wouldn't! Your family love you and are very worried about you, make the decision and put their minds at rest, as well as your own! Incidentally, a lot of hospitals run day courses for very nervous patients where you'll be shown what happens in an op theatre and how patients are treated post op, ring your local hospital and see if they've got one going, you're not losing anything are you? First thing you are to do though is to change your doctor! Good luck my friend, we're all thinking of you x

Here's an xray of a collapsed femoral head (scroll down):
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/4215...
This is a case study. There are other conditions that might result in this collapse. The "fix" will probably be the same: total hip replacement.

BTW, I've had both of my hips replaced. Being scared at first probably goes with the territory but it might help you to know that total hip replacement is the single most successful orthopedic procedure performed today (even better than total knee) in how it restores function and relieves pain in people who would otherwise end up in wheelchairs eating pain meds. I consider it sort of a miracle for me. I can now walk miles, have no limp, no pain, need no walking aids, and can pretty much live my life. I was fast on my way to the wheelchair when I finally decided to get it done.
Also, ortho surgeons may not be famous for their bedside manner. They're used to dealing with patients who are in the operating room under anesthesia. Not that it wouldn't kill them to work on bedside manner but just remember that it's what they do in the OR that's most important. As you search for another surgeon, look for one who has done lots of hips like yours. At least 50-100 a year or more in a hospital that hosts at least 100 a year.
As you consider THR, here's a website developed by an ortho surgeon as a service to patients. It is in English [slightly fractured] translation and has no advertising. I recommend it.
http://totaljoints.info/

Another hint: if you want others to see your xray, take your digital camera with you to the next Dr. appt. and snap a picture of your xray while it's on the light board.