Those who have been here a while may know that my 2 big toe nails stopped growing and the nail beds became very sore after my hip op. This was due to the quilt weighing down on them (my big toes being considerably longer than the others). I eventually bought a bed cradle though too late to stop the damage. After a visit to the nurse I was told they would start growing again but it could take months. I had to wear canvas shoes as I couldn't stand any pressure on them.They did indeed finally start to grow about 6 months after the operation . A couple of months later I noticed something a bit odd. The bottom of the nail had come away from the nail bed and a new nail was growing underneath. The new nail is now just under half way up the length of the whole nail and now the old nail is about 3mm from the bottom. Looks like it will take at least another 8 months for the new one to get to the top - presumably the old one will just fall off. It's still a bit sensitive. I suppose it's the new one forcing its way up!
May be this is one of the weirdest side effects there is!
Any way any hippies who sense their toenails getting sore as they have to sleep on their back - get a cradle before it's too late!
Now I'm 9months post op I will be saying goodbye to the forum. Time to focus on getting on with life. There are plenty of new people to help the latest hippies as there were for me so this is my last post which may be of use to someone.
My hip is pretty good though the tissue around the scar and trocanter are still a bit too sore to lie on - no probs in the day though. I should be getting an xray in a couple of months so fingers crossed that will go well.
Good luck everyone with their ops and recovery.
Good luck....also I'm just about 9 months and the incision area is still tender. Still healing.....Have a happy life!
Thanks Loral - and the same to you!
Good luck, enjoy your hip
Hi annedi!
I don't quite understand how your toes got damaged, or what a cradle is...I'm going to have a THR in 2 months and am trying to take as much precautions as possible... You said a quilt cause the dammage?
Thanks
Danielle
You have to lie on your back after the op so your toes are in the air with the duvet resting on them. My big toes being longer than the rest took the weight of the duvet and the pressure on the nails affected the nail bed even though I had cut them short before the op. The bed cradle is a sort of metal u shape you slide it under the mattress and the top part keeps the duvet off your feet. You can get them on amazon. I have to say I haven't heard of anyone else who this happened to.
Thanks maggie! I'm certainly hoping to get the most out of it before my old replacement wears out!
You know...I thought that's what you were talking about...I just didn't think a quilt could cause any damage ...and I have big feet sad to say...thanks for the info!! I will definitely Look in to the cradle!! Hope everything else is good for you!!
thanks for the info - its good to know ALL side effects!!!! Glad all is ok for you now - good luck.
Thanks and good luck with your decision about your loosening hip!
Thank you. The cradle I got can be adjusted to different heights and had 2 different length 'arms' so it could lift quite a large area of the duvet.. I ended up putting a small fleece blanket over the end of the bed as it lifted the duvet so much that the duvet barely reached the mattress at the end of the bed.
Interesting! This may be the explanation for why both of my big toes look bruised 1/4 of the way down from their tips. It has been 5 1/2 months since I was able to stop "sleeping" on my back, so I would think they would have gotten over the bruising by now. I might ask a doctor next time I see one about it.
Hi I hope you will see this as it is some months since your posting re hip replacement but I had two hipe replaced in 2014 and both my great toenails went very discoloured and one of them started to come away from the nail bed. I went to the consultant and was told that he had never known this - very strange. I believe that as you have to sleep with your toes pointing upwards this probably affects your circulation in those toes. I bought a bed cradle which I am still sleeping with as I can't bear a duvet on my legs and feet. Just thought I would say this as they really don't warn you that this can happen. Hope you are doing OK now.
Hi rosalyn - so I am not alone with this problem! My new nails have continued to grow and they have just reached the top in the mid part. The old nail hasn't come off it seems stuck to the new one but there is less than half a centimetre left of it now. I can now sleep on my side so I don't need the cradle. I had an xray a year after op and forms to fill in as a review and the consultant says everything is ok with my hip. I'm certainly doing normal things now. Though a few weeks ago I overdid it lifting and stretching and tore a hip muscle - heard it go and could hardly move for a few days. Panicked a bit but it does appear to be healing. Phew! hope yours is ok!