THR/Fracture post op

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi, I've had osteoarthritis in my lower back, both hips, neck and ankle for about 10- years now.

I had my first hip replacement 4 years ago.....successful except for the fact that I have kypho scoliosis {C shaped curve in my spine} and it has gradually got worse so naturally so has my mobility. I know what I have and I can cope with it.

Back specialist and hip sp. decided that if my other hip was replaced it MIGHT help my back .

So 4 years on from my first one I had my second one......4 weeks post op I was doing one of their exercises....holding a chair and putting one leg out to the side.......CRAACCCKKKK!!!!!!!!

I collapsed onto the chair. Husband rang the hospital and they said ring 999. Apparently I've fractured the greater trochanter{sp?} bone beside the replacement.......was in hospital for 3 days, discharged with pain killers and told there was nothing they could do about it It would eventually sort itself out. When...... I don't know...no one seems to tell me. So I'm back on 2 crutches, no driving, cant bend to put shoes on etc.

As someone said....its not nice getting old.

If I had an idea of timing I would be a lot happier but this "don't know" really gets me down......its 4 weeks since that happened and I don't seem to be any better

Has anyone else come across this or have any advice..

Eileen

2

Sorry, that you are suffering like this. It sounds awful. It's no surprise you collapsed. I can't imagine the fear and pain. It makes me shudder, you poor thing.

Are the pain meds working? My joint replacement knowledge is pretty non existent!! So has the fracture been reset?

Take it easy and wish you a speedy recovery.

Many hugs

3

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

I did have Oromorph to take.....I started off 3 times a day for a few days then twice a day and for the past week I haven't had any.......don't want to get addicted to that

I'm not in a lot of pain now. Just that leg is weak. I need 2 crutches for any length of a walk.

It hasn't been reset.....they looked at it in hospital and said nothing we can do, it will heal itself but it will take a long time

I didn't see anyone for 4 weeks then I saw a physio. That's the first that I knew whether I was on track for the healing or not. He was happy with my walking with 2 crutches and 1 crutch.

Said I must use a crutch or stick around the house otherwise I would fall and it would dislocate. Try to walk outside as far as possible with 1 crutch. Cant get very far

I do have an appointment at the physio gym to see a girl who will work with me to strengthen the hip. Hopefully that will work.

The latest is I have to go for a DEXA scan to check for osteoporosis. I'm going on Monday

Wish me luck

Love

Eileen

4

I too worry about painkiller addiction. I am always on the look out for alternative treatments to help my OA.

Stick to your walks. It can only help you get stronger. Just keep aiming for your goal - to walk crutch free and drive again.

I've had physio therapy for my hip pain too, different cause of pain though. It really worked wonders. So, long as you stick to the exercise regime she sets you and keep doing your exercises regularly.

Best of luck for your appointment. Keep us posted.

E

5

Hi Esther

I still have my OA pain {hips and back in particular} but I know what that is.....its the unknown. This fracture that is the bother.

I agree .....the best thing is "use it or lose it" Pre THR I could walk about 15 mins there and 15 mins back with no aid. That was fine. If I went to do grocery shopping with OH I used my crutches or we have a large shopping centre and I would drive to it and park. 15 mins wouldn't get me far LOL So I took crutches {mostly for my back} and I could do about 4 hours there no problem. OK that was with a couple of stops at Starbucks lOL Do you have Starbucks? Not sure where you are. I'm North East of England

I'll let you know how the DEXA scan goes tomorrow although I doubt that I'll know much......then Wednesday is the day I go to the gym in our physio department. Must let you know about that as well.......at least I'll know a bit more about that.

Love

Eileen

6

Hi Esther

Just a quick note.....I was getting ready for the appointment at the hospital this morning

9.30am the phone rang....appointment is cancelled

The machine is broken and they'll send me another appointment.......goodness knows when that will be!!!

Love

Eileen

7

I am in East London near Canary Wharf.. of course we have lots of Starbucks here.. too many actually, all the little local cafes have gone :-(

So sorry about your cancelled appointment! I find the NHS so useless... my specialist appointment with the rheumatologist did not help at all. He only looked at my symptoms, said they weren't too bad and just told me to take paracetamol and ibuprofen, live with it and come back when (not if!) it gets worse .. couldn't actually believe it when it sank in that he couldn't help me.

I am currently investigating joint support food supplements with pine bark extract, because I have read here that pine bark extract is excellent for arthritis. http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/complementary-and-alternative-medicines/cam-report/complementary-medicines-for-osteoarthritis/pine-bark-extracts.aspx The only two I could find are amitamin arthro 360 from Germany and Arthro Pro by a company called InnovaMed Ltd. Will keep you posted.

Good luck for your DEXA scan Eileen! Fingers crossed for you!

Many hugs

Ex

8

Hi

Didn't realise you were in London.....I'm so used to reading posts form USA etc lol

That sounds a useless appointment.......I hate appointments like that. I'm on paracetamol and Naproxen

I haven't read about pine bark extract bout would be interested.

I'm a volunteer for Arthritis Care {not the research end of it}

I dread to thinbk how long it will be before I get another appointment for my DEXA scan

I've got an appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon on Friday {that's tomorrow } must get some notes made out...what I want to know

I hope he does an X Ray on this hip. Its 10 weeks since the hip replacement and 6 weeks since the fracture. I was told.......nothing we can do, it will heal itself but it will take a long time!!!!!!! How long is a long time. Been 6 weeks now and I'm on 2 crutches for any length of a walk....more than 10 mins needs the 2 crutches

I'll be interested in anything you find out in your research

Love

Eileen

9

Hi Eileen,

Thank you.. are you ok taking Naproxen? Have you got any side effects? And what do you do for Arthritis Care? Sorry lots of questions

Please, take 1min to read the summary of this pine bark extract research: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18386255/

When I read this I get get sad and angry.. because there is stuff out there, which clearly works.. but "someone" does not want the info to get out, because it will hurt their sales.. so sufferers are being strung along, because it sells more drugs.

I remembered I once saw a chart of how much lobbying goes on, but forgot that pharma was by far the biggest: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-11/who-spends-most-dollars-lobbying-washington-dc I am not really into conspiracy theories, but sadly this is how politics works these days...

I hope this post come through to you with the links... I am definitely trying pine bark extract!!! I believe in science and numbers. I mean 58% less drugs after 3 months..

I have looked at Arthro Pro and arthro360 in detail. Arthro Pro is a little cheaper, but I will by three months of amitamin arthro360, because it comes with the omega-3 so I have one box less to bother with.

About your DEXA scan - fingers crossed you get another appointment soon!

In the meantime, rest it as much as possible... the more you rest the better it will heal!!

Have a look on youtube for physiotherapy exercises (I always do this - saves loads of money and time :-)).. but the reality is that it will take at least 6 months .. sorry.. I broke my leg last April and it took more than 6 months, because I was not resting it properly.. again, noone had told me that the more I rest the faster it heals.. useless NHS!

We need to take fate into our own hands!!!

Yes, write down your points and make sure you dont forget anything.. Also, I always find I forget half of what the GP throws at me so how about even voice-recording the appointment with your phone so you can listen to it again afterwards?? ;-)

Let me know how it goes.

Love,

Esther

10

Hi Esther

I'm writing this before reading your links.....I will do later this afternoon. I've just come in from seeing the orthopaedic surgeon. I'll let you know what I think about them later oK?

I'm OK taking Naproxen......no side effects that I can put down to them

As for Arthritis care......I'm an information volunteer {was} then Peer support and now Peer Champion The last 2 names have just been changed.

I was originally an information volunteer......All the AC booklets I took to our local hospital, kept it stocked up. I also did the local docs.....4 of them. Then due to funding{or lack of} they decided to stop putting booklets out and have a one to one........So twice a month I'm in a hospital from 9.30am until about 3pm. We have a table with little bits and pieces, we have information about all sorts of arthritis and other things. We talk to all the people going past who have arthritis, or have friends/relatives who have it. We tell them about our branch and anything they ask that we don't know we can usually find someone who does and signpost them to that particular person.

We are starting up in another hospital as well but I haven't done anything there yet because of this fracture/THR but it wont be long.

Saw the orthopaedic surgeon.....the same one I have seen since my first THR 4 years ago

He's lovely.

So basically.....he did another X Ray to check with the others.....its healing nicely but will take a long time. Listen to your body is basically what he said. I do seated zumba with arthritis care and he said get yourself back to that....do what you can...not what others are doing. Being arthritis care we are a mixed bunch anyway some stand the whole time {very few} others do half sitting and half standing and others do it all sitting.

Sleep on any side I want to, use one crutch outside but I'm not sure how far I could go.....15 mins maybe. I've got spinal problems and my back gets sore leaning on one crutch. He also said keep up the exercises and anything that is like exercise to strengthen that hip. So....I'll listen to my body

I'll check the links later and let you know what I think...thanks for them

Love

Eileen

11

Hi

This is an update on the fracture I had/have.......Its been 4 and a half months now and I'm still on 2 crutches if I have to walk any distance. I dont use any in the house but for walk read "WADDLE"  I use one for shorter distances.  I saw the consultant a couple of days ago and he says my walking is so much better.  His opinion is that it is because I'm living it that it seems so long and no improvement....to anyone who hasnt seen me for a while I am much impreved each time....Wish I thought that

I suppose if I sit and think about it I have made some headway.......I am now driving....have been for a while now. When this happened I needed both crutches or i would have fallen so I'm trying to kid myself that I am improving.

I didnt have any pain at first just weakness.....but I'm now having pain in my back {did have originally......but it seemed to disappear} and pain or ache in both legs depending on how far i walk and how many crutches I use.

Sorry for the moan

Eileen

12

Hi

Another update.....I dont think I mentioned that I eventually got a DEXA scan and it came back as Ospteoprosis....no surprise there.

Its now 6 months thince the fracture

Still on 2 crutches most of the time

Love

Eileen

13

Hi

Well the latest on this TGR and Fractured trochanter bone is:-

I had an appointment with the consultant June and not due to see him until Dec again.....still not got a date.

My pain is getting much worse. I'm in agony...especially in the mornings.

Cant sleep because of the pain

I rang the physiotherapy dept who said the physio that sees me has broken his leg will be back in 2 or 3 weeks so I'll need another referral to see someone else in that dept. My GP wont give me a referral...just says do your OA exercises....but thats not helping this pain which seems to be getting worse by the day.

Any suggestions fromn you lovely people? Please !!!

Love

Eileen