1 week post op and doing great!

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Today is my one week anniversary of my THR. Have ditched the walker and now using arm crutches. The physical therapist and the home health nurse are both very pleased with my progress. Today, I got out of bed without any help from the hubby. I'm so glad that I had this done. I so wish many others on this forum had the same results. 

Not to jinx myself, but I do have a nagging question that's been with me since day 1.  For those of you who have had dislocations after surgery,  how will i know if it happens?  What do I need to keep a particular lookout for? 

Have a blessed day!

Susan

2

Hi Susan

There are very very few occasions when someone doesn't know they've dislocated. Usually oh boy you would know believe me.

Dislocations are very rare in respect of number of ops done. Just remember to ALWAYS follow any restrictions given by your surgeon. Just be aware of how your moving all the time but don't be worrying about it. Just stay positive and think about how you are making sure you move properly to look after this new fantastic hip you now have. Your good recovery is not very usual at all. Only a very small % of people have problems. Just listen to your body when exercising etc and stop if it hurts. You are on your OWN road to recovery not trying to match anybody else's progress.

Sandra x

3

Dear Sandra

Good advice. I would only add that strengthening the thigh muscles will reduce the risk of dislocation and speed recovery.

Cheers Richard

4

Evening Susan.  It’s hard to say.  For me I was walking and exercising on a dislocated hip.  So NOT everyone has that terrible pain or hear a pop!   I didn’t!  All I know is this....it was a little difficult and a little pain when I walked.  The exercises where a little difficult but not painful.  My family noticed I was lopsided and I noticed my hip was higher when I looked in the mirror and when I laid down my operated foot was touching the ankle of my non operated leg.  That’s how high hip got.  Week 3 when I go in to see dr for follow up and a X-ray that revealed the dislocation.  2 days later dr I’m back in the hospital dr was going to do a “closed reduction” (pop hip back in) but couldn’t.  😞. Wound up with a total hip revision. 😖😩  Dr was amazed that I was on a dislocated hip for that long but it was worse since it got caught on cup from walking and exercising on it.  Not a good thing.  6 weeks non weight bearing and no hip exercises or hip flexion past 80 degrees.  I’m still in pain with bursitis and tendonitis.  Along with nerve pain and sensitivity which dr says is Meralgia Paresthetica.   The first 6 weeks are I believe the most vulnerable time for hip dislocations.  It takes about that amount of time for bone to grow into new hip.   I had anterior my first surgery bilateral the second.   For the most part most people on here do pretty well and don’t dislocate their hips.  I’m not sure how mine happened but it did.  Could of been low chair, twisting....those are usually not advised early on.  Best of luck to you for a speedy recovery and healing.  Don’t worry too much about dislocating your hip.  Just be aware of hip and talk to your dr and therapist about the do’s and donts.  Hugs 🤗Linda 

5

Oh and yes to exercises to strengthen the hip muscles to prevent dislocation.  Mine were and still are weak.  Atrophy to be exact but I’m working on that!! 

6

Hello.  I'm 3 months post op and I've been wondering what people do to cause a dislocation.  I've been afraid of it happening and so far so good.  Is anyone willing to say how theirs became dislocated?  Thank you!  The other Texas Linda

7

Susan,

I am starting my week 6. I did not dislocate. but I came home from hospital and felt great! At hospital I barley needed walker . Oh I'm posterior. R THR. At home I was walking around like they told me to do. However after my first local PT session and going to job sites and checking on my crew. I had a internal bleed. And my leg swelled beyond imagine! That was day 8! I had 8 days of greatness. It took until now to get back on schedule. In fact I just got ok to drive Friday. And Monday I was with my crew all day working, They mainly did work but I had to be there to tell them what to do. and help hold stuff. My PT guy told me I lost 3 weeks with my swelling.

So just be advised dislocating isn't the only issue at week 1! Also I have a neighbor that is antitesioligist (SP??) hes the guy that puts you out in surgery. just tonight I watched his kids and he asked how I was. He told me the only way you can dislocate is to do this knee up and rotate outward move. He said its very rare they have to reset new thr patients,. But that is how they stick it back in. Just don't bend and twist was his point.

I hope this helps!

Chuck

8

Evening Linda from Texas 🤠.  I can’t tell you what I did that I wound up with a dislocation!   It happened when? Don’t know...how?  Don’t know either.  Was it because I was sitting in a low chair?  Don’t know.  Did I twist?  Maybe...it happened.  And it sux because of what I’m going through.  But...would this outcome be the same had I not dislocated my hip?  Maybe.  Just be careful and talk to your dr and therapist about it.  I know people have said the anterior method is best for not getting a dislocation but it happened to me.  I tell my story not to scare people but to let people know it can happen.  I may not have been careful first time around, I don’t know.  But I’m dealing with it everyday.  Seeing improvements.  Praying that one day it will all be good.  Hopefully it will come.  Hugs 🤗Linda 

9

Linda, I've been following you on this site and am so sorry for what you are going thru.  I hope you see improvement soon!  I've been worried about dislocating and my husband suggested I ask how some dislocations occurred, and I appreciate your answer.  Prayers my fellow Texan!

10

I came within a whisker of dis-locating, or I did dislocate and managed to do the right thing and got it back very quickly, confirmed by specialist Dr when I explained and showed him what I did, very carefully.

I was about 10 days after surgery, observing all the precautions, do NOT TWIST, stay square to everything, from bed to kitchen bench, bathroom sink, and DO NOT TWIST.

So what did I do, didn't like the look of where my pillow was, and standing square next to bed, TWISTED to adjust the pillow, IMMEDIATE EXTREME SEVERE PAIN, collapsed on bed face down screaming my head off, feet still on floor.

Husband and son came running, my advice don't touch me, but they turned and lifted me carefully, picked me up shoulders and knees and re-adjusted to a straight position on the bed, pain eased lying on my back.

Rang local Dr, he confirmed if I was in no pain, I should be OK. 

Some weeks later spoke to specialist and he confirmed what i had feared, may have been a dis-location or a partial dis-location, ball riding up on to the edge of the cup of prothesis. 

Have spoken to another man at the local pool who had dis-located, and was doing his physio, and he agreed pain beyond severe in his case, had to be put back in the hospital, he agreed I was very very lucky.

 

11

My one thing that would make me happy is to get rid of the nerve pain and sensitivity.   If God would take that away from me I could deal with everything else. Every day I wake up hoping this is the day!   Thanks.  Hugs 🤗 Linda 

12

You will know, omg will you know. The only way I could describe it is if you ever had a chicken wing and you tried to separate those two bones, that’s what it feels like in your leg.  Your muscles try their hardest to bring the leg back together but once the ball is out of the cup, it’s a lost cause. I don’t wish that on anyone !

13

My Doctor and physical therapist both emphasized to not twist. Pick up your foot and rotate your body, don't twist. Think when you are getting into and out of bed how you are doing it so that you are not twisting.

Additionally after surgery walk with good posture, heal then toe with a straight back. It is better to walk just a little with excellent posture than to walk more with poor posture. Posture, straight back, shoulders squared is critical. Better to walk for just 2 minutes with perfect posture & lift heal then toe, than 15 minutes of walking while slumping.