Swelling and night time pain

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Morning all

i am now 10 days post op and up until a couple of days ago had had no swelling in operated limb

I now have swelling in lower leg, foot and ankle -no pain or redness and it does go down after being in bed at night, but not completely

Is this normal?

Also daytime pain is not too bad apart from aching in hip when I am walking around, but nighttime is a different matter. I can only describe it as being kicked by a horse ( not that I ever have been) and it's a really bad throbbing pain in the hip joint

I am taking paracetamol x 8 daily and just finished the slow release morphine they gave me

I shall then go on to high dose co-codamol which I was on prior to my op.

i cannot get a wink of sleep and seem to be so uncomfortable on my back. I mentioned night time pain to my consultant before I left hospital and he said it is because your muscles relax at night

Has anyone else experienced this? I know it's still early days but I don't think I have slept for over 12 months due to pre op pain and was so looking forward to a bit of respite!

linda xx

2

Hi Pansy

i'm 16 days post op today. My leg is very swollen and the back of my knee was SO bruised and painful around 10 days but getting better now. Firstly, do you have the dreaded ted socks? I do and think it's the only reason I'm not getting swelling below my knee, which is 3 inches larger than the non op side. Regarding your night time pain, firstly have you tried an after lunch nap - having your leg up in the middle of the day may help the night time swelling to be not as bad and also have you tried ice packs for the hip pain? I have found that helps. Boots do a really good ice pack that is made up of tiny bubbles so it confirms to your body even when frozen so is quite comfy to use.

hope this helps and you're feeling better soon

Rosie xx

3

Hello Pansy

Think you will find pain changes as time goes on and seems to be in a different place daily.  A lot of healing has to take place on the inside.  Swelling too  can go on for up to 6 months.  Thionk we may have been mislead by people saying having the hip done is the best thing we will ever do but they forgot to mention the convalescence.  i expected to wake up ready to rumble and so got a shock when i could not move my leg.  Now 14 weeks post and regaining flexibility so yes it is early days for you.  I kept a daily log which I found helpful to look back on and monitor my progress and level of pain relief.  Only this week I am able to bend with straight knees and touch my toes so now pedicures not a problem

Hang on in there and you too will progess at your own rate.  Sleep well i am an insomniac and have been since 2011 - now accept poor sleep and amazed how I manage on around 3-4 hours per night

4

Hi ann

I haven't slept well for years - think menopause triggered that off, but I am hoping that things will improve as I start to heal

We do have to remind ourselves that this isn't like having your tooth out, it is a major op and we do forget that don,t we?

I have been keeping a diary as well just to monitor my progress

Are you still on crutches or not now?

regards Linda xx

5

Good Morning pansy

Yes this swelling is totally normal. If you want to help with the swelling you need to lay flat in bed with pillows under your matterss to raise your feet above your heart. I was told it will take about 9 months to get back to normal. I have both legs in pain because of swelling. My operated leg 10 weeks post op but it is starting to get a little better.and my unoperated leg where my hip joint has collapased and my knee has swollen so bad I can't get my leg straight so can not walk very well.

6

Was on crutches for a full 8 weeks (as advised by surgeon) but did walk into my follow up apointment unaided.  Was down to one around the house on week 4.  When out walking on uneven terrain I switched to my walking poles (keen walker) which I use when on a long walk.  Surgeon told me to keep up the walking and increase daily.  Think living in  a house with stairs helped my recovery, also I live on a hill.  Now at 14 weeks I walk normally and no one would know I had a hip replacement.  I still do the given exercises and when going upstairs i take care to place all of foot on step and really push the through the foot on take off.  I also make sure i do not hold on to hand rail.  Great exercise for the bum muscles.  Forgotten what it is like to take pain killers.  See my surgeon in September for a 4 month follow up and then a bone density scan in November

You will get there.  Slow and sure is the key and doing the exercises slowly is more beneficial as well as holding the position for about 5 seconds

7

Hi Rosie

No ted stockings used in my hospital- had inflatable stockings for 2 days, but then told not necessary as I was walking about. Am self injecting with  Clexane and am 63 by the way

I am just lying on bed now with legs raised higher than usual and feel quite comfortable so might try that this afternoon/tonight Cannot wait to lie on my side and get really comfy

I do have an ice pack somewhere that I could try, although I hate anything cold! But you have to do whatever is necessary don't you.

i have been walking down our long drive with crutches and doing my exercises-- you just don't know how much is enough or too much !

hope you have a good pain free weekend

Kind regards Linda xx

8

Hi Linda

I am 4 weeks post op now, and my leg and ankle still sweel. My partner bought me some medi-pads that you putr in the freezer wrap them in a towel and put them on your leg ankle or whereever hurts or is swollen. They are wonderful. (Frozen peas do the same just don't eat them) As for sleeping on my back I have 5 pillows so am half sitting and also a pillow uder my bad leg. I asked my doctor about it and she said as I get more mobile it would eventaully disappear.

9

Hi Gill

Hope you are both well. How is your partner doing?

Yes, I'll perhaps have a go with the ice, although I do so hate anything cold!!

I keep trying pillows in different places to get comfy, but this night time pain is worse than pre op (totally different though). I can tolerate pain well, but I felt exhausted this morning, so got washed and dressed and then back for a lie down and a bit of shut eye.

Have a nice weekend, you two

Love Linda xx

10

Thanks Hailea for advice - I suppose it's all a bit of trial and error.

Feel for you with your collapsed hip joint. My surgeon said when he operated that mine had collapsed and I wondered why I felt so bad.

Have you got a date yet for other hip so that you have something to look forward to?

Kind regards Linda xx

11

Am 5wks post op, swelling is normal, try to rest for an hour on bed in afternoon, that's what physio told me. I still have pain/discomfort on a night, but no pain during the day. Try to keep as mobile as possible and walking around gets easier week by week. I am walking around with one crutch now, have walked unaided in house but dont feel confident without my crutch.

I am suffering from terrible spasms in my leg during the night, don't know if this is normal.

Keep up the hard work

Take care. X

12

Thanks Paul

It's all a bit of a case of 'the unknown' isn't it

Thank goodness for this forum

Regards Linda

13

try the pillow Linda under your knees or under your bad leg. Thanks for asking Alan is a lot better thank you we both had a little stroll yesterday. The warfaring and injections seem to be working the hospital are pretty pleased with him too.  Surprising what it takes out of youthough, took me 2 days to get back to where I was.

14

Yeah I was the same Linda, didn't know what to expect after operation. First 3wks was terrible for me but now beginning to make real progress. This forum is excellent.

X

15

Thank you Pansycat.

My problem was that mine collapsed when I was recovering from having the left one done.

I will be going in for the right hip in about 2 weeks. But maybe the week beginning 13th July. It will be exactly 3 months to the day since I went in for the left hip. No sollid date but I find out for sure this week. I will be doing hydro therapy till they get me in to keep the operated leg fit and ready to help with the other one.

16

Hi Pansy

I had exactly the same problem, and I wasn't allowed to put a pillow under my knees to make sleeping on my back easier. I hardly slept at all the first weeks because of the pain, and my foot and upper leg were badly swollen despite the stretch stockings. I used to wake up with terrible pain at about 4.00am. In the end I was so desperate that I put a pillow under my legs anyway and that made it easier, but it took about 6 months for the pain to go, and I am still not totally without it nearly a year later.

Before the op they give you the impression that you will be running around in no time, but that definitely wasn't the case with me. Hopefully you will be better sooner!

17

Hi Eurydice

This is all such a learning curve and everyone is different

It's just good to know we are not all on our own though and can share our experiences

Hope you continue to progress well

Best wishes Linda

18

You have a nice relaxing weekend!

linda xx💞💞

19

You will be the bionic woman!

Go girl!!

💖💖

20

Thanks Linda. Once I get my uneven legs sorted out, I might be getting somewhere. It is great to have this forum.

Best wishes, Jane