I'm 3 weeks post TRH replacement. I'm doing My well with mobility and keeping up my exercises. My right foot gets so swollen though. Is this normal? Nobody is able to put on my compression stockings so I have never worn them since coming home. Also I see the terms anterior, posterior. Which one is mine, my incision is on the side of my thigh? What is meant by revision? How do you know if you have a dislocation? I worry when I see some of the posts. It seems that my surgeon has explained very little to me.
Hi Andrea
I would be tempted to contact my GP to see if a District or Practice Nurse could put on your stockings to deal with the swelling or ask your Surgeons office for some backup. I didn't have much follow-up and when talking to aPractice Nurse friend about how I hate doing my daily injections, she said patients go to her surgery for all types of post-op help.
My upper leg swelled on both post-op occasions and my foot was swelling with the stockings on before I elevated my feet periodically throughout the day. I dread to think how swollen my foot would have been without the stockings.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. You are doing so well but help you are entitled to after a major op.
Good luck and wishing you an onward speedy recovery. A XX
Hi Andrea, did you not have joint school before your op? You have had posterior. Anterior is down the front. With the swelling they should have arranged fpr someone to come in and help with the stockings. My hospital sends the early discharge team in to check your would and stockings are ok and if there is anything èlse. Swelling is normal but as you are not wearing the stockings would ask GP to check it. I was also told to go to bed for two hours every afternoon and it certainly helped with fluid build up. Revision is where the new hip joint has worn out. You would certainly know if you dislocated hip. Stop worrying so much. I was very careful for the first three months as I was scared like you. Mine was uncemented. Im nearly 2 yrs post op.
Hi
Anterior (front) and posterior (rear) refers to the place of the operation incision. It sounds as if you have had the posterior approach which is most common in the uk. Most surgeons in the uk don't discuss anything other than posterior as very few surgeons are trained to do anterior. Revision refers to any implant replacement surgery e.g. when the implant has worn out.
Hope me this helps.
Sara
Dear Andrea
I used a sock aid to put my stocking on for several weeks without too much trouble. Hope your recovery goes well.
Cheers Richard
hi andrea,
Unfortunately it is like that everywhere - little or hardly any information post-op hip replacement surgery -
I did not have joint school (sounds great) but had the pre-op afternoon where we were informaed about what the surgery entails - To be honest, it went right over my head -
One of our senior forum members created a web site based on our questions, tips etc. -
please go to : https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Swelling is normal, even after 3 weeks - unless it is a sudden swelling - mine started upper thight and gradually made it down to my ankle where it lingered for weeks ..
I did not have stockings but had to self-inject Fragmin for 6 weeks -
Have a look at Graham's, aka Rocketman's, web site -
I would have been lost without this forum ..
big warm hug
renee
Hi Anneee,All the people you mention are aware of the swelling but no offer of help has been given. Thank you.
Hi. Yes I did go to joint school but no offer of any help at home was given. My wound was never checked until I had to go to the clinic to have my clips out. Thannk you,
Thank you Renee
Dear Andrea
I suggest that you use the elasticated stockings, elevate your leg and apply soaked stretch bandages that have been squeezed out and been in the freezer.
Cheers Richard
Morning Andrea. So sorry your having these issues!! A revision is when you already had a hip replacement and now they are going back in to replace the whole thing or just one part. If you dislocated your hip you would know by extreme pain or your hip is higher than the other and your leg is shorter. That's what happened to me. I wasn't in extreme pain as I was able to still walk and do the exercises. Have you been doing ankle pumps? Did they give you any exercises to be doing? Elevate your foot. Ice your hip. Have you been icing? That helps with swelling. Keep on the dr to see you. Just for peace of mind if nothing else. Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery and healing. God's blessings to you. Hugs 🤗 Linda
I forgot to ask, have you been given the sock aide to help put sox on, a toilet riser so you're not going past 90 degrees when sitting. Linda
Hi Andrea after my RTHR they put the stockings on in the hospital and by 3am I was in agony as my whole leg had swollen to double the size and the stocking was cutting off my circulation, I called the nurses who took them off and she contacted my surgeon in the morning and he told her just to leave the stockings off me as he knew I would move about all the time, it was about 3 months before the swelling went down my husband had to go out and buy me shoes 2 sizes bigger. I am waiting to get my left hip done and that leg has been badly swollen since August of last year never going down so no chance of getting stockings on for this operation. Hope you are not to uncomfortable and have a speedy recovery.
Take Care
Jacq x
Dear Jacq
That sounded bad. Do you think perhaps you were given the wrong size of stocking?
Cheers Richard
Hi Richard they measured my leg and said they had gave me the right size, but the same thing happened in June last year I got rushed into hospital for an operation on my bowel and when the tried to put the stockings on the pain in my legs when they were touching me was unbearable so they just left them off. I spoke to one of the OT's and she said that there are some people that just cannot wear them she was on a course about them and they said that. So I must just be that one again.
Cheers Richard
Jacq x
Dear Jacq
Ah I see. A shame because they do work for many people.
All the best Richard
Andrea
My surgeon said that after leaving hospital if I was reasonably active I didn't need to wear the stockings which is good as I find it very difficult to get them on or off.
3 weeks post surgery my leg is still swollen. It is worse if I don't spend some of the day with my leg up. I stayed with a friend on Thursday so was sitting or standing all the time and by Friday night it was quite swollen but it will come down in time.
Side of the thigh is almost certainly posterior.
Revision is when they have to re-do the hip op. My hip became infected (very rare so do not worry) they took the old hip out. Put me on antibiotics to get rid of the infection and then put a new hip in. But you may need revision after 20 years when the hip starts to wear out.
By all accounts dislocating your hip is very painful. If you dislocate it and it stays out you are unlikely to be able to put any weight on it at all. But dislocation is fairy uncommon and the risk reduces with time as your muscles and tendons regain their previous strength.
And remember that people who have problems are more likely to post on this forum that those who sail through. So it is unrepresentative of the hippie universe.
So don't worry, in time you have a really good chance of getting back to full pain free mobility.
Mike
Thank you Michael for your reply.
I did not have stocking i did not have to wearing tham. I got tablets for not to have blood clos and excersice for home. After 6 weeks i had physio and hydro therapy in hospital for about 5 weeks. Sorry to hear about swolen leg . Try do some excersices and use the ice. Drink lots of water. This forum is great and you will get lots of help. I will be lost without this forum. I hope you will feel better better soon and swelling will go done.
Hug Madla💗