TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT NIGHTMARES...anyone?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Starting a new discussion but i don't want to frighten anyone going for surgery! I'm sorry it's so long; hope there's no word limit!

I was the TRHR ".00001%' chance of problem during/post surgery. August 2016 surgery (front) expecting night or two only in hospital, and to walk after surgery:

Surgery 1- TRHR surgery, up the next morning to go to bathroom and felt a popping in thigh getting up from toilet. X-ray immediately taken. Negative.

RESULTS: couldn't walk without pain more than several steps. Medicated. Stayed four nights and released, still problem walking with walker. NO RESTRICTIONS. walk and exercises. If I was having so many problems, WHY didn't they do. CT SCAN before they released me??

RECOVERY: at home for a few days, still problems, progressirng slowly but improving. Stepped down to reach for something. Again felt pop. After just 5 days at home called dr. Something not right. X-ray in office- chip/fracture at rod entry. Scheduled for repair and revision next morning. ASKED WHY??? Was told I had the bones of a 70 year old. I'm only young 66.

SURGERY #2- CT scan to be sure all was ok. Was told I now had hairline fracture down femur. Need to do another surgery., cables, screws to repair femur hairline fracture. could go home, toe-touch only for 4-6 weeks. Went to rehab facility instead just to be safe.

REHAB RECOVERY: 1 small incision and one long( 88 staples) incision from going into longer area twice. Incision oozing so much. Was getting around rehab in wheelchair. Finally subsided enough to care for it at home break out of the joint once I proved I could function ok for self care- in and out of car, shower, steps, etc.

FOLLOW-UPS:I was progressing. Finally walking without assistance. Incision site from second surgery at very top wasn't healing. PA cauterized it several times. Started to heal then still opening. Last visit, finally grabbed the "DR to look at it. IMMEDIATELY called their very busy WOUND CARE to get me in right away. Went to wound care once s week for 4-5 weeks. Had to stay off leg as much as possible. Finally healed.

8 MONTHS post-op

Normal life, walking. Still uncomfortable at times. Pain in thigh now and then . Dr said it's tissues, etc. Takes a year at least. Started to feel uncomfortable again. Couldn't walk for several days. Rod is down to right above my knee. Suddenly having severe pain knee pain. Suddenly unable to walk. The extreme limp to get me back to the car and into house now has affected not only left knee, but right side (hip? Bursitis?) Depression.

2015, 2017 bone density (dexagram?) NORMAL

I see the doc on Monday..,.

ANYONE IN THAT .000000001% complication group? I dint but it. Seems like a surgery error somewhere.

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Dear Susan

So sorry to hear what a grim time you have had and do hope things improve for you very soon

Cheers Richard

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Hi Susan,

So sorry to hear about all the complications you've faced.  I can't imagine how down you must feel.  I was fortunate not to have any complications at all.  I was pretty young though at 49 when I had the FRHR done.

There is a wonderful lady by the name of Judith that is often on this forum.  She has had several problems herself.  I'm sure that she will see you post and comment. 

I hope things start looking up for you.  Take care and best wishes!

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Sounds like me.  I had a THR (right hip) April 2015.  1 week later I sustained a stress fracture in my left hip.  My surgeon did absolutely nothing to address the fracture.  Told me he upped my pain meds and to lay real still for a few weeks.  But he also encouraged me to go to physical therapy.At my next appointment he suspected a herniated disc and ordered an MRI. In May, 2015 Dr. diagnosed stress fracture and left it at that. 1 month later June, 2015,  Dr. ordered Bone Density test. My numbers came back perfect right in the middle of the bracket.  August, 2015, my right hip began popping, I had pain in the front pubic area.  October, 2015, CT Scan of pelvis.  Another fracture, operating Dr. referred me to another Dr..  December, 2015, Other Dr. referred me to Vanderbilt, 4 hours away.  January, 2016, primary care  ran all my blood work.  All levels are within the normal range. March, 2016, met with the Dr. 1 at Vanderbilt.  Dr. 1 brought in Dr. 2 because I have Osteoporous (this is the funny part I mentioned my bone sensity test was normal, it seems that all of my other brittle bone indicators were also normal.  But my bone snapped.)  Dr. 2 @ Vanderbilt deals with bone health.  I was placed on Forteo a bone strengthener.  Continued on Forteo.   November, 2016, Dr. 1 @ Vanderbilt referred me to Dr. 3.  February, 2017, Dr. 3 ordered CT scan @ Vanderbilt plus 3D Bone Scan.  March, 2017, Dr. 3's nurse called to tell me that there is nothing they can do.  I am now left with 1/2" gap between my Sacral ala and Iliac bone.  I must use a walker in the house.  I need two canes for walking outside while I tend to my animals.  I can not take 1 unassited step.  Oh yeah I fall alot.  Check out the picture on my discussion.

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Ever consider malpractice ? Wow. Sorry to hear all that!

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Considered it but statute of limitations is one year.

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I thought it was two years, but I guess I'm wrong. So I have until August to make a decision. I'm told that I don't have a chance in hell, but the more more I think about what I went through the more and more I want to try. I'm just gonna go to another doctor after this for other opinions if I need to.

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dear susan, 

warm welcome to this forum of hippies and thank you for sharing your story -

 

were you told by your surgeon or anybody what went wrong? well, they won't admit to anything, I think, but something must have happened - 

it seems that you had the anterior approach first and the revision was a posterior one -

what will happen next ?  

do you the name of the hardware that was used ?  almost seems to be a wrong size initially, but I don't know, of course ... 

I am so incredibly sorry and encourage you to seek 2nd opinion - 

please come back here and keep us posted -

big warm hug

renee

 

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What a rotten time you have had

Are you in the USA? Have you been checked to see if you have osteoporosis?

I also had a rough time - but because I had a number of pulmonary emboli afterwards- I was in a private hospital as a nhs patient in the U.K.- they missed what had happened- I diagnosed it and got my wonderful gp out when I got home.6 months later I am doing well( greatly improved by walking in water)

Patience seems the order of the day for me

Sue

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Hi Renee

you have the same theory that I have. After the first 'pop' in the hospital, and nothing allegedly appearing on the X-ray, someone (a nurse maybe) told me that it must be scar tissue. I would think it takes longer for scar tissue to develop after surgery.

The second surgery (revision) was  on the side, about two inches away  on the side of of my thigh. The third surgery was at the same site as the second, but this time it was all the way down to right above the left side of my kneecap, closed by 88 staples. Yes, I counted them! 

I feel exactly as you do!  It makes sense that the first rod was too short and couldn't withstand the pressure of me standing up from the toilet with my leg bent! 

I asked the question- how/why did this happen?! The Dt's response was that I'm one of those possible fractures (I think the chances are like .0001%, as I've read). He told me I had those bones of a 70 y/o which sounded as if the condition of my bones was the 'reason' according to him. 

I havent been  tested specifically for osteoporosis, that I recall. The only thing ever broken was my ankle years ago as a result of an in-home accident. Wouldn't the comparisons of bone density test from 2015-2017  have shown something? 

My my husband wrote notes, describing what occurred with dates. I've been procrastinating and haven't typed them up to provide to attorneys for review yet' prob because I don't have a chance in hell proving any surgical errors, but I'm doing that today to send on to a couple malpractice lawyers to review. If statute of limitations is 1 year, I'm almost there. 

I don't want to go to the surgeon on Monday, but I want to know if there's another problem as a result of my not being able to walk and onset of knee pain this week. I want to hear what he says. If there's another problem, I'm going to seek another opinion. I was going forward ok In general until the knee issue started.  So...we'll see. 

Thanks for your post. Since you have the same theory as I, I don't feel as if I'm crazy. I'm sure there is no issue with the brand of the rod' this guy has done thousands of these replacementS, He has a great reputation. I was told that in the thousands of surgeries he's done, this never  happened and I'm the rarely, one in that .0001%. Why couldn't that rarely be winning a huge lottery?!

I'll no doubt be back here on Monday.. I'm guessing it's NOW scar tissue and he'll give me a prescription for PT. At worst, I've had to take a leftover pain pill st night. It's not every night; I wouldn't ever become addicted, but no dr here will prescribe narcotic pain relievers because our governor of New Jersey is cracking down on their use. You have to go to a pain management dr. for that. Those who are responsible and really need them are suffering because of the abuse of others and kids stealing these meds  from their parents, selling them or taking them. Our government spends way more time controlling our personal lives than they should be allowed to. That's a whole other story! Thanks for reading this book!

Sue

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I had a right total hip replacement 10/26/16.I was in therapy until 2wks ago. I can finally kick leg out ward. I still have swelling and stiffness in my leg and foot. My leg and foot is numb and sometimes real sensitive. I am awaiting an appt. with the neurologist.

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