Hi folks. Hip was replaced 2nd june. All went well, and happy with my progress. No pain mefication for 12 days! Considering amount of declofenac and paracetamol before hand it is amazing to be pain free. The only problems I have is back sleeping, and swelling in ankle and above knees. I know I am not alone. I developed very painful heels from pressure from back sleeping so purchased a pillow leg raiser thing. It is amazingly comfortable, takes pressure of heels and makes lying on back more bearable. However yesterday I started to feel more swelling than I have had and today it is quite firm, above the knee and makes bending knee uncomfortable cos so tight. Tho ankle has improved. There is no redness and no pain, I am icing the swelling itself and hasnt helped. Do you think it sounds nirmal swelling been told to expect given no pain.? Havent had thd TED stockings off other than shower as instructed. I am not on blood thinning injections as freaked me out, so on daily aspirin instead. also it started when used the leg elevator, tho improved the ankle so going to not use it see if improves, but really helps heel pain.Anyone else had the same or should I make appointment.
My spelling with touchscreen is rubbish, apologies for the typos!
Hi Osprey, my THR was just over a year ago. I too suffered very little pain post-op & I didn't have any swelling until about day 9. Mine too was extremely tight but I just elevated my leg, had a bag of frozen peas (mainly on my knee) every hour. I never missed my exercises either as they help circulation. I slept in my TED stockings but took them off during the day whilst I was moving around. Stick with it, it will improve x
Hi osprey, I'm glad your pain free and not having to take huge amounts of meds, I'm sure its nothing to worry about but just to put your mind at rest give your drs a ring, did it by any chance come up with the change in weather when it turned hot
It seems to me that an increase in swelling at this point is unusual. I had swelling after the surgery and couldn't bend my knee at all, but this happened right after surgery and not 3+ weeks, out as you are. I'd make an appointment to get this checked out. (I had to go on a 6-day course of steroids to reduce my swelling; that plus physical therapy took care of that issue for me, but it took over a month to fully resolve.)
Hi Fernlady
Good to know. I also think the ted stockings just below the knee are not really helping as swelling is just above. Though following instructions to only take them off for showering for 6 weeks. But might take them off and even try support tights. Thank you. Is all good after a year?x
I sm prone to puffiness when its hot but been chilly here in glasgow last few days and we didnt get the very hot weather down south had. Been a good explanation if we had a heatwave. Thank you for replyx.
Hi norm. I kind of think 3 weeks plus to get worse seemed odd. Will speak dr tomorrow if no improvement. Thank you for letting me know your experience and how long it took. X
I was told to keep the TEDS on for 6 weeks but I couldn't keep still during the day (physio advised to try & keep moving every 20-30 minutes or so), that's why I decided to take them off during the day (after about 3-4 weeks).
Swelling is completely normal & can occur at any time. I was surprised that I had it around day 9, I thought my leg would swell immediately. I called the hospital to check & they said perfectly normal so don't worry. One of the best things you can do is to walk to get the circulation going x
Sorry, I forgot to add, my THR was a complete success & 12 months on I forget I've had it done! X
Yea me too, but I saw your weather on TV and like you say it was a little cooler, seeing docs a good idea, doesnt cost anything to be safe, have you any Epsom salts, if so try a foot soak with stockings off, maybe they are a bit tight
I have got a packet of epsom salts. I will get husband to fill a basin! Forgot epsom salts good for puffiness.x
Brilliant Fernlady. I love the good outcomes. so good to hear. X
Its worth a try and then raise feet up above heart, when I was told that be physio I thought like onto shoulders eeek I know, what a Muppet LOL hope it helps, also hopefully your drinking plenty of fluids
Hi Osprey don't know if it would help but my mother who has had two replacement hips and a revision on either side also suffered with her heels and a nurse suggested that she get a faux (artificial) sheep skin pet blanket. I can remember going to a pet shop to get it. She cut it down in size and put this under her heels. She swears by it and when I found my heels becoming red and touchy after my recent THR (21st April) I used it as well.
I also suffered with a swollen knee, leg and ankle and it seems to start a few days after the op. My knee became difficult to bend. I think it must have cleared by week 4 or 5. I'm afraid I was very bad in that I dispensed with the stockings after 2 1/2 weeks because I was finding them so hot and I also had the problem of getting someone to remove and put the right one back on. I reasoned that i was taking blood thinning tablets and I was certainly moving around a lot. Also my mother never wore them for any of her hip operations and the rather large lady who lives next door to mum and quite recently had a hip replacement was not required to wear them. She goes everywhere on a mobility scooter so I would hardly say she is actively mobile.
Good luck with speaking to your doctor and hope he can put your mind at rest.
Hi Sylvie, i will try the pet blanket. I am in bed as I type wearing my sketchers as if I put them up during the day they are not so bad. So to add to the back sleeping discomfort now wearing shoes to bed.lol! Sheepskin sounds preferable. Ill keep you posted. I think tomorow I am going to try without the stockings. If your neighbour isnt using them and your mum didnt then its hospital preference and been pretty mobile I think. I hope you are good yourself? And thank you for taking time to offer suggestions.
Hi Osprey, yes thank you I'm fine. I now 10 weeks on. I went through a blip around 8 weeks when things seemed to start hurting more and I became rather depressed. I think the initial good feeling I had about returning to my part time job which I did at 6 weeks, disappeared as I coped with driving, shopping, work and visiting my 90 year old mum in her assisted living flat. However I have spoken to a chiropractor who is a qualified dr. and worked in orthopedics and he checked me over and reassured me on various things.
Pressure sores are horrible so I hope, because yours sound nasty, that the soft blanket can work and give those heels some relief. For the first three weeks I didn't sleep more than 3 hours before waking stiff and in pain. I don't suffer from back issues but I found it difficult being so restricted in bed. I saw a lot of night time TV as I had to move to a chair once I had woken. However, things start healing and the pain starts disappearing. So I do hope you find this for yourself very soon
Hi Osprey, I had a left THR operation on 15th of June, initially my leg did not swell up at all. However, 4 days later my leg started to swell, just before I left hospital. I got a Dr to check it out before I left he said it was normal. I did not get any stockings to wear but I do have the blood thinning injections to do for 14 days and then after that I go on to aspirin. Anyway since then my leg has swollen then it's went down then it's swollen again, sometimes to the point that I can hardly bend my knee and it feels firm to touch and my ankle is very swollen too. It sometimes feels very tight like I'm wearing a tight bandage or something. So it's coming and going but it sounds similar to yours and I also had no swelling after the operation or the first few days after it. I HATE lying on my back so that's also annoying me and leading to a lack of sleep. I get my stitches out tomorrow and will mention my swelling to the nurse, but as far as I've been told it's normal ... best of luck to you ...Lizbet
dear osprey,
some aches and swelling in the hip can persist for a longer time because bone, a living tissue, continues to re-model and adapt around the metal implants.
You probably are more active and perhaps do a little too much - lucky for you that you don't have any pain ..
Elevate and icing is the best you can do and please, when in doubt or concerned, contact your doctor for peace of mind ...
when is your follow up appointment ?
Let us know how you are getting on, okay
Sounds like you are doing great !!!!
big warm hug
renee
Ha ha ha. That me chuckle. No change this morning. Hopefully normal but may as well ask the doc.