Being careful after THR

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi everyone

I am 6 months post op and doing very well .No serious problems..

Trouble is getting too confident and forgetting I have a prosthesis which is vulnerable to falls etc.

Long befoire I even needed a thr I used to fall over a lot!!

Following my op. I was extremely cautious,watched where I walked,even carrying a stick (just in case).

I am currently in North Cyprus where health and safety are non-existent.

Guess what,I forgot my walking stick,which is inside the door at home.

I have been so proud of walking with care up to 15000 steps, negotiating uneven pavements cars parked on pavements piles of building rubble,every hazard possible,till now!!

Just rushing up from the pool to my flat for the loo,I went sprawling ,grazing both shins on rough dirty brick steps,blood pouring from my left leg.

I am so mad with myself having been so careful till now.

My worry is infection.!!

Before thr I would have thought nothing of a minor accident and been back in the pool with a plaster on the graze.

Dear fellow hippies tell me am I being ridiculous or is infection from minor cuts and grazes a real problem?

Being away from home with no-one to ask I am probably a little paranoid.

What do you all think?

Other than my own stupidity my hip replacement has been great so far,just a few aches and pains in the buttock area from time to time.

Just hope I haven't messed things up.

Please advise if you have thoughts on the subject.I am just aware that the prothesis is not up to protecting itself as a natural joint can.

Wishing all of you the very best,whatever stage you are at. Take care and mind how you go.

Joy x

2

Hi joy,It can take over a year to fully recover.Please remember that you have had a major operation. Don't over do things.As for me I am a full time carer for my Disabled Husband. So to be honest I have got a hip replacement failure, as I never had proper aftercare.My Husband had carers,to care for him,but as for me I had to get back on my feet as soon as possible. I also suffer from chronic fatigue & Anxiety. I have regular Reflexology which does help. Also I have from time to time spas which help.Sorry to rant .which part of the UK are you From? Regards Amanda h

3

dear joy ...

wonderful to hear from you again - 

oh dear ... well, that was not smart but it happened and forgive yourself already ..

You mentio that blood was pouring out of your left leg ... is the wound open/ what did you do? did you get medical help, like first aid or something .  the wounds. scrapes need t be cleaned with a desinfectant and perhaps iodine put on it? I don't know how bad it is ...

I am afraid that you have to use your best judgement - when the wound(s) become red and swollen, get yourself to a medical doctor - 

or if you have it with you, take anti-biotics (I used to travel a lot and always had anti biotics with me)

how long are you going to be there?  

enjoy darling and you mind where you go too ...

big warm hug

renee

 

4

Having been to NorthCyprus I know exactly what you mean re health and safety. I think you will be fine, the word minor has it. A minor localised graze, cut is no more likely to cause a systemic infection than before your THR.

I fell on holiday in Malta, got picked up by a knight in armour, literally, and apart from feeling foolish was little more than bruised but with an intact hip

just keep an eye on how you are,   as we all do, 

 

5

Thank you Maggie. Was just worried that bacteria could get into the blood. Infection is a big cause for concern and the skin on the shin is thin and there was quite a bit of blood and flaps of skin torn away.

I cleaned it straight away and applied a clean dressing

Just now I am wondering if I should try to remove the skin flaps to be sure.??

I,m a real worry wort, dont want to leave anything to chance.

6

Thank you Renee

These things always happen at weekends.

I googled for advice and cleaned the site and applied a clean dressing.

Today washed the site again and put on another clean dressing.

There are flaps of skin torn from the shin, maybe I should try to remove these.

I know I worry too much and read too much, but dont want to risk my new hip joint.

Except for the THR I would not be concerned at all with a minor scrape.

As always the members of this forum are a great comfort when anxieties arise.Many thanks to all who replied.

Also to everyone take care when out and about.

Having been so careful,the moment I stopped concentrating(needing the loo) and only going up a few steps to my apartment it happened.

No probs with the hip,just concern about dirt getting into my blood.

Have not booked a return flight so no decision made about that.

I hope you are keeping well yourself.

Joyx

 

7

If it bled a lot of dirt and debris would have been removed. Depends how big the skin flaps are and how long you are out there. Would you have gone to AE in the U.K? How big are the skin flaps, healing? 

In an immumocompetant person the immune system deals with transient bacteraemias every day.(teeth cleaning etc), how worried would you be if you had done it and no hip replacement? 

I work in microbiology, not a nurse, but unless you get heat swelling redness etc it should heal OK. If you get a fever get help

8

Dear Amanda

Thank you for your reply. I think maybe you are right about not overdoing things.

I do tend to get carried away and try to do more and more,believing I should walk every day,and having a step counter it provokes me to increase the steps each time.I was feeling quite tired for a couple of days. As the advice goes "Listen to your body" I know it but don't always do it.

I'm so sorry you are having to cope with such a heavy load while dealing with your own recovery.It really does not seem fair.The thing about THR is that it is an invisible problem to others.

Surely the health care team would have known you are a full time carer and extra provision should have been made.

Maybe you should ask for help.Speak to your GP. Don't know what else to suggest.

Im in Dunstable,Bedfordshire by the way.

Take care of yourself.

You are your own no.1 priority.

Joyx

 

9

No if at home I would have telephoned A&E for advice.

If no THR I would not have worried at all.

Would have applied a waterproof plaster and got back in the pool.

Clearly I am making a fuss about nothing really.The skin flaps are about an inch square.Just being stuck against the shin I wondered if dirt might be underneath.Bleeding stopped after I washed the wound.

Also I have always healed very quickly after my frequent falls before thr.

Just feel more vulnerable now especially being away and on my own.

Your comments are reassuring thank you.

Joyx

10

Hi Gloria

Ouch, poor you, shins are sensitive! I am 6 months post thr op and went for a routine checkup with my dentist last week. I said I was advised to tell him I've had a hip replacement and should it go my records. He said, we don't need to put that on your records, that's old-fashioned advice, you don't need to have systemic antibiotics for dental treatment just because you've had a thr. He's had a knee replacement himself so I do believe he knows what he's talking about. I guess the same applies to minor cuts and grazes, unless there are obvious signs of infection.

Good luck, I hope your scrapes heal soon.

 

11

good morning Joy, 

just checking in with you to find out how you are doing?  you did the right things ...

I love Maggie's comments - she is so knowledgeable and comforting ..

angel blessing

renee

12

Thank you Renee

You are so lovely to be concerned.

Actually I was a bit anxious over Sat and Sun,and felt my confidence had waned somewhat and didn't go anywhere.

I cleaned the scrape more thoroughly and peeled back the loose skin,which seemed to make things worse,but at least I felt It was clean now.

On Monday I went to the nearest pharmacy and managed to find special waterproof post-op plasters. Tried one out and went into the pool,40 lengths of 20 metre pool and the the plaster worked really well and remained dry inside.

So much happier now. Was really put out not being able to swim as the weather had just improved on the very day I had the fall.

It had been none too warm and quite windy until then.

I'm a very happy bunny now.

One thing I realised though is that overdoing things is maybe as bad as the opposite.

I tend to go the whole hog and my new step counter provoked me to constantly try to up my game.

Over the weekend I felt so tired,so an enforced rest seems to have been a good thing.

How I love the forum,it is like a big worldwide circle of friends wishing each other well.

Best

Joyx

13

Really glad that you got some waterproof plasters and you're back in the pool! Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

14

well done, Joy !!!