Hi i posted a few weeks back and got some good advice.. Hope someone can give me some help again. I had a ceramic total hip replacement six weeks ago and also suffered a hairline fracture of my femur during this procedure.I then had a second operation to wire the fracture 4 days later. Since coming home i have had to use crutches as i am not allowed to bear any weight on my new hip until the 13th Jan when i get my follow up appointment.
I have two problems really and wont see my physio for another week.. I am having a lot of pain in my right arm from using the crutches. I have pain in my upper arm , lower arm and around my wrist. Quite a bit of my lower arm has been numb for about two weeks.. Has anyone had this and any tips on how to ease this...
The second problem is swelling on my operated side. I initially found that the swelling subsided rather quickly and i felt back to normal size after 3 weeks or so. However these last few days my leg has swollen up again and now feels very tight.. Both my thigh and calf are noticebly swollen. I had stopped wearing my stockings last Friday as six weeks were up but have decided to wear them again today..i dunno if i am doing the right thing.. I am trying to move about and wriggle my toes and feet regularly.. I am not a sit around sort of man..I have felt very on my own regarding advice from professionals i am afraid but i suppose he Christmas break hasnt helped but its 4 weeks since any contact happened. Have any of you found their leg has swollen up repeatedly following the operation?? I would feel better to know that this was normal...
Hi, see your GP ASAP. Or go to A&E dept or out of hours.
Are you taking blood thinners - if not you need to contact a medical person now & tell them what's going on, if your stuck phone the nhs 24 out of hours service
I don't want to frighten you but this could be something or nothing but you need to find out.
At worst it could be a blood clot in the calf & this is serious at best it's just a swelling coz your not elevating it enough or you took your stocking off too early
Don't take any chances with this.
The arm issue is less urgent try padded cycling gloves, make sure crutches at the correct height but this can be dealt with later
Hi thanks for the advice. I dont have any transport unfortunately and it would be Sunday.i will ring NHS direct. However i dont have a lot of confidnce in anyone at the moment as it took a week of hell just to get a district nurse to come and sort out my dressing. Twelve phone calls at the last count and no one prepared to accept any responsibility.Got so frustrated and i am generally a patient person. I honestly wish i had never had this done.. Its been a dreadful experience all round. I havent been told to elevate my leg at all by the way...
Hi John, I can totally empathise how your feeling, my in hospital experience had it's issues but please don't mess about with this get on the phone to nhs direct and tell them about the swelling. Good luck
Hi John you need to go to A and E ASAP your symptoms could be blood clot. I had pain in my chest a week after op and because my literature sent home with me mentions pain in chest to go to A and E I did . They were bery good and took all tests to make sure not a clot in my chest. Kept in overnigjt and had ct scan. Luckily I wad clear and pain went from chest after a wee. They told me I did the right thing. Please do not hhesitate better safe than sorr. Call a dr if not sure he may call ambulance if you have no one to take you.You have ssymptoms in your leg that need urgent checking. Please let us know how you get on
Hi John you need to go to A and E ASAP your symptoms could be blood clot. I had pain in my chest a week after op and because my literature sent home with me mentions pain in chest to go to A and E I did . They were bery good and took all tests to make sure not a clot in my chest. Kept in overnigjt and had ct scan. Luckily I wad clear and pain went from chest after a wee. They told me I did the right thing. Please do not hhesitate better safe than sorr. Call a dr if not sure he may call ambulance if you have no one to take you.You have ssymptoms in your leg that need urgent checking. Please let us know how you get on
Hi John, don't worry, I have the same as you, my ankle and calf and knee have been swollen ever since I got my hip 5 weeks ago. I went to docs Friday morning and she sent me to the DVT unit at the hospital. They measure the leg against the other. While they were pretty sure it was because of the op, I got a scan which showed nothing. I go back for another one this week just to make sure, but I have been trying to elevate it as much as I can. I too have had the pain from the arm crutch. I am now trying to walk on my own but not proving too good. Like yourself I have had no support at all so I am now going to a private physio tomorrow night to try and get some help. I can wait till next week when I don't have to lie on my back, for some reason, I think I will get on a lot better lying on my side.
Hi folks thanks for the support. I couldnt face dealing with health professionals at all .. The swelling is somewhat better today and i have elevated my leg at times today and worked my foot to stimulate circulation. I havent been told to elevate at all before.If there was a driver in the house i think i would feel different and would have sought advice but cant deal with all the arguing i get on the phone when i state that i cant get to wherever they want me to go. Its now six and a half weeks and i still have another week until i can even start to walk on my new hip. I feel like i have shut down my life for two months and i may very well have to go through all of this again before too long. The thought of that fills me with horror...i slept all of four hours last night... Its not great lying on your back and trying to sleep. Also lying in my bed awake night after night for hours on end has been depressing beyond belief. I suppose i may have got five hours sleep all round today and after six weeks i just dread going to bed..
I must admit that I too dread going to bed. I get about 2 hours at a time. My hip which is sore during the day but Isn't much of a problem, seizes up overnight, and the swelling under the scar seems to get worse. Whereas the swelling in my lower leg and foot gets better. Elevating. My leg in bed doesn't' ease the discomfort in the groin. I have managed to sleep on my good side with a pillow between my knees.
I find my kindle is a godsend. I can read without waking my husband. I ice my scar too. This afternoon I was tired and lay on the bed listening to the radio and fell asleep for 2 hors. I decided to snatch sleep when I can I think keeping a diary is good. You may not feel you are making progress, but when I look back, I can get in and out of bed , and in and out of the car more easily. So movement is definitely improving even if the morning stiffness and pain Don't seem to be. Tho some days are better than others.
Walking with crutches is hard work! My hands are quite painful over my palms. I feel I am better when I am making a conscious effort to keep upright. It's easy to strain your shoulders and neck particularly if you can't weightbear.
I havent slept other than on my back yet. I would like to try but havent seen anyone for so long to ask if thats okay to do. I would like to stop wearing these stockings too after six weeks but dont think i am ready yet. They have given me athletes foot as well as i dont react well to artificial fibres.. I seem to be applying different creams to all areas of my body.....I tried a couple of days without the stockings but then a load of swelling again.I was sleeping a lot better last week but its all back to four hours again. With this lack of sleep i get migraines and mouth ulcers too... Fortunately my leg and scar arent painful but they werent that bad anyway..i have had two naps today of about ten minutes each time.. I have been a pain in the arse i know... I have so been thankful for my ipad which has kept me from going mad. My wife has moved into the spare room from the start so we dont disturb each other. I cant say that that has made me feel good either..
My experience with the crutches and my right arm are troubling me a lot. I started with a lot of stabbing pain in my upper arm for a week or so. Then i had discomfort all along my lower arm even when i just try and pick something up.. I could stick a pin in quite a big area of my lower arm as its very numb. These last few days i have had a lot of discomfort around my wrist.. Hauling myself up the stairs seems to cause some of this but i cant put weight on my right leg yet..yes i have made progress judi but then repeatedly i get to feel that i am going backwards so much...sorry to be so negative but thats how it has been...
Hi John glad you are feeling a little better. Yes they do say elevate your legs. I have slept with a pillow under my leg when on my back and betweeny legs on my side. I have been suffering pain since fracture of my hip joint 22 years ago. I Have had pain since I had my joint reconstructed with screws and plates. I had my replacement becsuse of post traumatic Arthritis on 19.11.13. I have suffered so much pain since the opand cant lift my leg and it gives way ad myleg is numb in places. This has not been a success I suspect through reading on the Internet I have .nerve damage I am more disabled than before. We don't seem to get enough information when things are not right. I am seeing my surgeon for the first time since the op tomorrow. H e will be expecting me to be without crutches. I used them for years because walking was painful for me. Yes they do hurt especially if you are non weight bearing ad you are carrying your body weight through your arms. I have managed to sleep most nights although I wake up a lot. I have had to double my previous Tramadol intake since the op as the pain was having me in tears. It is normal to feel low. I have my ups and downs but gradually feeling better mentally. I have not had two ops one after other like you. This takes a while for your body to recover from. Good luck with uyour appointment but please ring you gp I still think you need to be checked out. Take care.
Hi debbie, i hope your appointment does well too. I am sorry you have had such a dreadful time.This business is far from straightforward i am afraid. I am talking to a doctor about another thing today . We dont have a set doctor so no relationship with any either. We'll see how it goes. I come to most nights about five and thats it then... I am not a late sleeper so once awake i know thats it.. Everyone else in the house gets up much later...as for elevating my leg well i was told distinctly NOT to raise my legs by the physio. I had put my feet on a small stool and she said not to do that.. I have not been told to put a pillow near my legs in bed either.. When i siad it was hard to sleep she suggested taking more paracetomol before i went to bed.. Needless to say i didnt bother with that.. I can get to sleep fine its just staying that way...my body just seems out of sync..a little like jetlag that i cant throw off too. Anyways i hope it al goes well for you too. Sorry if i have been ranty and miserable but my wife seems as sick of all this as much as me..
Hi John So surprised about not elevating your hip. I would imagine it is something to do with your fracture. Having said that when I had my original op years ago I elevated my legs. But each case is different. Apparently elevating your legs higher than your hip helps reduce swelling. I have the opposite problem with sleep I am sleeping longer than before. Although I wake a few times. I was always first up. Who wouldn't be miserable ! Its a major op and you had two. I had to take antidepressants 3 years after my accident as I couldn't cope with not being physically fit and able and eventually I had to admit how I felt. No shhamme. I took them for about 10 years and weaned myself off them. I have a more positive attitude now and cope well. My husband has to put up with me too. But who else can you turn to? I saw my surgeon and was pleased with his attitude he was concerned as he only had one other patient with my symptoms. He confirmed it seems to be the femoral nerve and is referring me to specialist to test exactly what is going on. He said because I am getting electric shock type pains it means the nerve is not cut. So he thinks it will take time but will eventually repair. All the literature I have read says to sleep with pillow under your leg to support it when on your back. When on your side to put between your legs to support the hip. I am able to drive from today as my car is adapted for left leg drive in automatic so get some independence back though not up to really going out and about. My doctors don't know me as my surgery wad closefd suddenly and was transferred to one a few miles away. Hard for a new dr to have empathy when they don't really know you and just lok at records. Try and keep positive think of your blesssings no matter how small. I have my grandchildren that put a smile ony face.
Hi Debbie i was glad to hear that your appointment went well and that your surgeon was supportive.. It looks hopeful anyway that the nerve will recover in time. My wife had a nerve stretched in her face after an op. Her lip drooped a little and felt numb. It has recovered and took quite a few months to do that.. Hopefully things will improve with time. I feel ready to start walking and driving again to be honest and hope they find the fracture has healed properly so i can do this..i have put my feet up twice these last couple of days and that has helped thanks for that advice. I will ask the physio on Friday about sleeping positions now that seven weeks have past. I prefer to move about a lot really...but would mostly like to sleep on my right side...not my operated side..but....
I know that i am a lucky man and have a good life too. I dont need to work any more and am a very young untypical 61 year old.. So i want to get on with my life and expect it to return in the next few weeks hopefully. We have four grown up sons but no grand children yet. Our third son is getting married in August. We will have 2american daughter in laws then. He met his when he was best man and she a bridesmaid at our youngest sons wedding in Nashville.. We have much to look forward to.
Hi John thanks for reply. You certainly sound more positive that is good. I have son and daughter. Mu daughter has 2 girls and a son who was born last April. My son had a girl on 27th of December despite my difficulties how can I stay down for long I don't want them to know me as grumpy nan. My first granddaughter is 9 and she gave me a reason to enjoy my life although my son and daughter also give me happiness. Nice to hear your family is expanding and hopefully you will have grandchildren to enjoy. Good luck with your physio. I am a young 55!
Hi i saw my physio today. She looked at my swollen leg and said it was fine...it is still swollen.. She said she couldnt do anything as i hadnt had my follow up yet.. I could have been sleeping on my side since week 3 apparently!!! She says that it says that in the literature.. But it doesnt at all. It says six weeks in both booklets i have... I tried to turn onto my new hip tonight but it feels very uncomfortable....i asked if the surgeon send on their advice to the physios but she said no........they go on what we report back to them....i suppose we could tell them anything and she will see me after my appointment next week.. It all depends on whether i can weight bear but after seven weeks hopefully i can.
Hi John my literature also said 6 weeks before laying on your side
I don't lay on my operated side. I have not laid on that side since my original op as it has always hurt probably from scar tissue but I could also feel pressure in my joint.on my healthy side as I lay with pillow between my leg my operated leg feels strange especially now as my inner thigh is numb. Also uncomfortable but a relief from laying on my back. I always end up laying on my back after a while. Glad she has said your leg is fine. Mine has not been noticeably swollen at all apart from slight swelling around my knee. I was not able to weight bear until 3 months after my accident 22 years ago. but that was a reconstruction of the hip socket. I have been trying to walk about house without crutches but surgeon told me not to as my leg gives way without warning and could damage my hip agaan So it can be difficult. I am able to cook now but takes me a while to prepare as I have to move things around the work top. Also standing without sticks though I get a lot of pain still and have 200mg of Tramadol twice s day. They are slow release. My knee altough numb on outside gets painful. I hope yours is more straight forward when you do start walking without crutches. I am sure it will be. Your fracture needed the extra time time to heal and is going to support your new implant. We both have suffered with a different complication that has held back the normal timetable of progress which is frustrating. Especially when you hear how marvellous some people feel after the op. I have read stories of people in their eighties walking a mile without crutches after 6 weeks!
Hi i have now seen my surgeon and can now weight bear. I told him about the swelling but he didn't seem worried at all and didn't check it out. My leg is still very swollen and my knee is up as well .my leg goes red and my calf can get quite firm at different times of the day. I suppose this must be normal. I have got walking and went out these last two days walking with both crutches. I did a small walk round the block morning and afternoon. It went well and i did it on my own yesterday. I got to walking around the house with just one crutch yesterday afternoon which gave me a boost. It certainly made me bear on my operated side more and wasn't uncomfortable. I hope i am doing the right thing but with no physio direction as yet i am just doing what i think is best.(she didn't turn up yesterday)
As for sleeping well i got to half six yesterday which was my first proper nights sleep in eight weeks but today i woke at quarter past three.. I cant sleep on either side yet as it just feels very uncomfortable and just not right somehow..my arm is much better now but my wrist is tender and sore.its a slow job but i am on the up.
Now you sound so much better I wouldn't worry about the swelling John It's a result of blood vessels being cauterised but they 're-establish over time. Both my ankles are swollen because I'm not as active. The swelling varies from day to day, and sometimes feels quite solid behind the knee
As for the exercises, then it's really carrying on with your quads in sitting, and progressing your standing exercises, especially the ones out to the side and backwards.
Sleep is come day go day. Once you can tolerate being on your side it will improve. Try it during the day for a few minutes and try to build up . Experiment with different pillows between your knees, some suit better than others. Discomfort responds to being challenged by touch.
I walked to the postbox and back yesterday. I never thought it that far. Definitely makes me appreciate how fast I used to walk as I was overtaken by everyone, even old ladies!
Well John you sound like a completely different person from a few weeks ago. You have had time to recover from the op so now it is strengthening the muscles by walking and exercise. Some of my exercise includes holding on to a chair and standing on my operated leg this is uncomfortable at first but helps the muscles. I also hold on chair and bend on both knees. I think I started these about week 6. I wish I had the confidence to walk out on my own. I have only been out to the surgeon and physio and a few visits to family driven by my daughter or husband. I am becoming a hermit! Judi is giving good advice. I have been feeling too confident as I have been standing without my sticks and it had been a few weeks since my leg gave way so I thought I had it under control. However I picked up my grandson of 8 months from the floor to put into his seat which is low. I did not have to walk just turn and bend back down as I stood up straight I then felt my leg wobble and knew I was going down so held tight to baby and fell backwards. We were both so lucky he landed on me and was ok I managed to put him in his chair while I was on the floor. I had to check my leg it was in an awkward position but it was fine, I was terrified that the hip popped out. Well that will teach me I had to work out how to get up as we were on our own. (My daughter had popped out for a while and I said I could manage) I had to turn my body over and pull myself up on the sofa. Well I am now looking for a brace for my leg to support it. I have my nerve tests on the 5th feb hope it is going to be positive news. If the nerves dont repair my life is going to be more restricted then before. I have not driven yet as I am scared if I go somewhere on my own that my leg will give way getting out of the car. I have an automatic car and a left foot accelerator. I will update you on my results when I get them probably late February. P.S. Physio said I am able to bend down now like bending waist to touch ankles.