81 year old Mum : post hip op : swollen foot : anyone else suffered same?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hello Hippies!

Thank you for all the help you gave me before Mum had her op! Can I ask you to share your experience post op with swollen foot on the operated leg?

The operated leg foot can swell as much as twice it’s size. The un-operated leg foot is fine.

Have any of you also experienced the same?

She’s almost 4 weeks post-op. Is wearing compression socks. Also having injections daily for blood thinning as she’s allergic to asprin and previously had a DVT after another op.

The rest of her operated leg doesn’t swell - nor her groin area etc. It’s just her foot. She’s healed nicely and takes paracetemol first thing in the morning and last thing at night because otherwise it gets a bit “twingy” but not “ouchie”.

Was only given a zimmer when she left. Is walking around her flat lots with it, but now this last week, is walking short distances without it more and more. I’ve stopped nagging her to use the zimmer based on experiences from others on this forum. I was initially paranoid getting her always to use the zimmer, but as she can walk - and when she does walk reminds herself to walk up straight … my brother and I have stopped nagging her and may be wrong thinking that if she can do it safely - let her do it. Also taught her to use the furniture etc to balance when she suddenly lacks confidence because she realises she’s left it behind.

My brother does exercises each day with her … we call them “ballerina exercises” as she uses the end of her bed as a bar. And she does a walk outside (with the zimmer) around her complex once a day but gets tired if we try and push her to do more. I’m a bit worried as I’d hoped she’d be up and out there by now, but she says the zimmer frame is only meant for inside and is really hard to use when she’s outside.

For this reason, I’ve asked for physio to come to her and get her walking outside with the appropriate equipment. It’ll be another week before they can fit her in.

I was thinking maybe this was why her foot was swelling but my brother - who each night comes to take off her compression socks, soak her feet, put on moisturizer E45, then put the clean compression socks on, says that each day varies with the swelling and that sometimes it’s been good but we can’t work out why that should be.

Thank you Hippies in advance for your knowledge and experience to help us.

Oh, and by the way … yeah .. it was a bit rubbish for her … she was in hospital for 2 weeks - post op delerium, low sodium and a urine infection … she was so glad that she was able to go home!

All the best to you all whatever stage of your journey.

xxx

2

only 4 weeks post op? I am 63 and had leg swelling in both legs after surgery. If she is up a lot and pushing it too hard it may cause swelling. Rule of thumb is rest when needed exercise when you can.

3

Hi your Mum is really lucky to have 2 exceptionally caring offspring who don’t mind looking after her.
As for the swelling in her operated leg/foot it sounds crazy but it’s perfectly normal so long as Raising it up above her heart helps it to go down and it looks healthy and no hard/red inflamed areas, get some Epson salts to put in her foot soak, she sounds like an amazing lady who at 81 and 4 weeks post op is definitely doing incredibly well.
Keep up the excellent work all 3 of you,
Keep her walking and mobile and lots of fluids to flush out the toxins x

4

Might be a silly question - but since it’s only her foot, are the compression socks the right size for her?

Joan

5

Hi Haj5, so glad to hear that your mum is doing well. As she was in hospital, presumably fairly inactive, I guess you can say that she has only been moving around for a couple of weeks in which case she is doing really well. In am now 6 months post op and I still notice that my ankle is a little swollen - and sometimes when I have been sitting down for a long time I feel my skin around my leg is a little tight - but this doesn’t worry me. I wasn’t given a zimmer frame but I imagine it would be inconvenient outside particularly on uneven ground - and I became quite adept at using a stick and furniture surfing around the house. I think she is doing great and so lucky she has a family who looks after her.

6

Haj,

The swelling will get less and less as time goes by so do not worry about that. Does she not have crutches as well as a zimmer? I think she would be safer at her age to use a walking stick if no crutch as it would encourage her to stand straighter as opposed to maybe bending to touch furniture and help her confidence.

7

So sorry to hear of your Mother’s problems, if she has had a DVT in the past this problem is for the surgeon to solve call or make an appointment and get to the bottom of the problem. I do wish her a speedy recovery and let us know how she is progressing. We will all say a prayer for her.
Anne

8

hi so pleased your mum is well .I had wondered how shed got on. her stah in hospital was obviously needed.
we all get leg swelling post OP. I had both legs but some only get op side. I think you may find why her foot is so swollen will be the stockings which she needs to keep on. they will stop her leg appearing swollen but fluid will pool to her foot . I’m assuming shes seen her Dr to exclude any dvt / cardiac reasons but I’m sure as it’s only one side it wont be cardiac as you tend to get both sides for that. is she sitting with her foot elevated ??
shes doing really well walking partly unaided in the house tell her and can understand unless her Zimmer is one with wheels she will have trouble walking with out outside as you have to really lift it to move. hopefully the OT can sort her out with crutches or sticks do she can get outside better.
anyway I’m pleased shes doing well :slight_smile:

9

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and for all the helpful suggestions.

And thank you for all your good wishes for Mum.

You’re an amazing group of amazingly kind and thoughtful people!!

Thank you again.
x

10

Hi,
Dont forget that you can ice your mum’s swelling as well. Remember although we have been told to do our exercises, we also need to rest. Remember to elevate as well. Swelling is normal and when I wore my compression socks I found they swelled more. And I also found that a looser size stocking helped. You always put the other size back on when swelling goes down.
Good luck with her recovery and remember to that we all recover differently.

11

Hi. I used my zimmer outside just to get out of the house fresh air etc. Mine had no wheels and I used that for nearly 6 wks before getting a walker with wheels. Sounds like your mum just wants to get on with life quicker than she should. Having swollen feet wouldnt be very safe for walking around without her frame. Apart from what your brother is doing to help her I would be raising her leg as well when she is resting. Hopefully the physio will advise her more with regard to her mobility and she sees him next week. Good luck.

12

i have come to the conclusion that recovery is a very personal journey. I have had two hips and a knee done and the first hip and knee were mildly different but easy recovery This hip with post op infection and septicaemia has of course been slow. But although this has held me back I can see each day little changes,and for me I have had to change my expectations where I race rather than go slow with recovery.
Yesterday I was again reviewed by surgeon and he understands that I am getting there.
Does your mum elevate her leg as often as possible. Did she have this issue before her surgery. There is massage that you can do as a part of your brothers daily visit where you massage the ankle to try and get the fluid back in the direction of her heart. My suggestion might not be a cure but might make her a bit more comfortable.

13

Hello Linda, Ann and Bussy
Thank you for your tips and sharing your own experience along with the other Hippies.
Bussy sorry to hear you got septicaemia that’s horrible. Good to hear you are recovering.
Your advice about everyone needing to go at their own rate of recovery is good to hear.
GP also advised raising her foot when seated but said don’t worry about the swelling as this is normal after such a big operation and particularly when still wearing tight compression socks.
Physio came in Wednesday. I wasn’t there. Saw Mum was walking inside the flat unaided so accompanied Mum without her frame or any other aid on her normal walk round the complex. Made her do it slowly, drew attention on obstacles, but basically gave her the confidence to get outside and walk on her own.
Visited her a few days after Physio visit and neighbours were telling me that she’s been doing slow walks regularly round the complex unaided. She also had the confidence to get in my car and go food shopping for herself! We even stopped off for coffee and cake. Then we did her regular walk but she took her old pre-op stick as she was a bit tired and wanted just a bit of security.
She’s gone from feeling house-bound with a zimmer to realising that she can walk unaided, get outside on her own and that’s made a huge boast to her mental wellbeing.
Seems these regular walks have also helped with the swelling which has gone down dramatically.
Only 10 more days of compression socks and stomach injections. She’s counting down the days!
I’m so proud of her. She’s done so well!
Thank you all who’ve helped us and helped Mum on her journey!
I hope that all of you are still recovering well and making good progress.