Two Weeks Post Hip Replacement

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi I'm a 38 year old father, married, father of three kids. when out cycling with my eldest daughter at the beginning of April, we both came off resulting in a broken left hip for me, but fortunately not a scratch on my daughter.

I had a vertical fracture on my left Femur, leaving the ball separated. The surgeon reattached it with 3 titanium bolts, with hope of the bone fusing back together. But as the fracture was vertical, he only gave it a 30% chance of success.

Even though the repair was completed only nine hours after the accident and me following the non use of the leg for six weeks, followed by six weeks of touch bearing only. The bone did not fuse. Touch bearing was very painful and I could feel the bone rubbing.

Four weekly XRays showed the bone had partially collapsed after the initial operation, but the type of bolts were keeping it all tight together. The down side was that my left keg was now nearly an inch shorter than it had been before, any use if my left keg showed a pronounced limp.

I had a CT scan at the end of July to check progress and the straight of the Femur was beginning to callous over and the ball was starting to collapse. There was evidence of fibrous tissue between the two main pieces of bone, but no bone regrowth.

I was in a lot of pain, with a cocktail of painkillers and other medication to counter side effects. My quality of life was much reduced and I was unable to do many things that I would do normally.

Maintenance of my house and garden has been completely left this year, so I haven't grown anything to pickle which is a family favourite. Neither have I been able to brew any beer, as I can't lift any of the barrels.

I am now two weeks post full hip replacement. With an uncemented ceramic hip. The op was done just two weeks after the decision was made. I had my private insurance involved, but they would only step in if the NHS couldnt do it within six weeks. My consultant also turned out to be one of their preferred surgeons.

My quality of life is already improved. Pain control is just paracetamol, I do get occasional pains the full length of my thigh, but that is after prolonged exercise. I am down to a single crutch for the majority of the time.

The hip replacement wasn't the original choice of my consultant due to my age. Sadly this has added to the problem. With four months of limited use, I have lost a lot of muscle mass in my left leg. The bone of my pelvis has reduced on my left side and will take time to get back to strength.

The biggest issue for me now is lack of sleep. Sleeping on my back leaves me with a painful back and the wound is still to uncomfortable to lay on for more than a few minutes.

To be honest, considering how much it has improved in the last two week I wish I had been able to have the replacement at the beginning.

I now want to get back to being active and able to get down and play with my son, who was two years old just two days before the accident.

2

Sounds as though you are doing well now .dont push too hard it takes time to heal properly xx

3

Thank you for sharing, glad to hear your daughter was unhurt and you are finally on the road to recovery.  I also had fractured my femur ball and hip in April.  Injuries sustained during the earthquake in Ecuador.  The original surgical team had me all prepped for a screw and pin repair before I was moved to a private hospital...so glad I was saved the agrivation of that.  I was given the option of a replacement ceramic on ceramic and walking out of the hospital in days, albeit with a walker, instead of the twelve weeks healing on crutches.  By the sounds of it I made the right decision.  Sorry you had to go through it the hard way.  Continued success to you...and ride a stationary bike as soon as you can...build up that muscle quickly and before you know it you will be riding with your daughter again...as I have already started riding again.  

Good ode luck and best wishes

Alan

4

Hi adam

I am 40 and 2 years ago had a fall and broke my left hip also had it repaired with hip screw and plate but unfortunately after a year my hip crumbled away around hip screw and the last year was really hard with constant pain I'm now almost 5 weeks post LTHR and already walking 2- 3 miles daily and doing 4 miles twice a day on exercise bike it's so nice to not have that constant pain keep up the good work 👍

5

Hi Adam,

There is such a mix of pluses and minuses in your story isn't there? It sounds pretty lucky that your daughter was not hurt but it was undoubtedly traumatic for her to witness you hurt so badly.

I am so sorry for your misfortunes with the fall and the first surgery, but having read so many stories on this forum, I have come to understand that it really is the first preference to avoid a thr if possible esp when you are relatively young as replacements do not last for life - actually the estimates I've heard are ~15 yrs.

However it sounds if you are doing quite well now (hooray) except for sleeping (and most of us moan about this regularly) and all the activities of daily family life that you missed out on. Not insignificant!

But I bet your family has learned some important life lessons as well through this and I know this will stand them in good stead in the future. I bet your family is much closer from this experience - at least that was my experience after a pretty awful fall and recovery a while back. And helping me through this surgery (and the next to come in the weeks) has renewed this.

I hope this doesn't sound Pollyana'ish, and I don't in any way mean to diminish the pain and frustration you (and family) must have experienced over the last while. I am just happy for your current progress and I hope that some good has come from this journey (as it did for me).

Re sleeping - a bugbear for most of us. I used a memory pillow lengthwise under my legs with a cushion under it at my feet to elevate the legs - this helped minimize swelling and eased my back as well. Many of us prop ourselves in with additional pillows on the sides as well to relieve the back.

Other tips that I have heard include: tonic (for the quinine) is thought to settle restless legs; checking for and addressing a low level of magnesium is also thought to help and the topical use of magnesium oil spray is reported to help with restless legs, pain and swelling (but does sting when applying); and my doctor recommended trying melatonin (which I used when travelling extensively thru multiple time zones); this helped me re-establish a going to sleep pattern although I still got up 4-5 x per night for cramping and visits to the loo.

I hope some of this helps and that recovery is fulsome with no further detours.

Best wishes,

Linda

6

Well done, super news for you, I also have the ceramic hip joints.  If only I did not have to sleep on my back!!   Once I am fully recovered I need 2 new knees as well so these are giving me plenty of jib at the moment.

However keep doing the exercises and short walks  I will also get there. 

7

Hi adamjackman:

I am happy to hear that you are doing better. Two weeks in for THR is really early on so you can expect continued improvement. I am sure that within even a couple more weeks you will notice a great improvement. Hang in there. Wishing you well....Barb

8

Thank you for your kind words.... I will not give in believe me I will be strong and get to the stage of no crutches as soon as I can.  

Having arthritic hands does not help though. 

Once I am well and truly over this they want to do my knees, that will be way off I hope. 

9

Hi I think the sleep issue affects us all. Just remember how well you have done and keep up the good work and heal well. Brenda C

10

Probably the hardest part if all this. I am impatient to get back to my previous level of mobility.

11

The loss of pain and all the pain medication is one of the things that keeps me positive, when I get discomfort now.

12

Thank you for the sleep pointers. I will see if I can get checked for magnesium. The tonic seems an easy one for the time being.

I keep trying with the pillow between my legs, but it is difficult as I keep needing to move around.

13

Good luck with the knees.

I did meet one if the helpers in hospital who had both hips, both knees and one shoulder replaced. The only negative she had was that one if her hips sometimes squeezed when bending. Otherwise she was fully fit and using a trolley to sell newspapers and chocolate to patients.

14

Thanks Barb. I think the biggest struggle is controlling my impatience, I feel I have missed out on too much this year already.

15

Hi adam

if you can afford it need good Physio to help build your muscle mass and do not compare yourself to any other person on this forum unless they too mirror loss of muscle and your medical history.  If you cannot afford Physio then Internet and u tube searches are the way to go, as one who was flat on her back in hosp for 2 weeks I know every normal  milestone has to be almost doubled for me.  The aim is to get back on your feet as normally as before and that means walking before you can run...... Listen to your body every day, if it hurts - why trace it back to what u think could have caused it and rest.  It does not matter how slow it takes if the end result is normality, no limp etc.

sleep unfortunately is one thing we all share, when u cannot sleep trawl through all discussions on hip replacements, they all refer to different remedies see what could assist u

regards dot

16

Luckily I do not have muscle loss as being a keen sports person and having had the knowledge of muscle tone being important I have managed to keep these in good order.  I have got many exercises and do what the body allows.   

I already have physio organised which hopefully will commence in the next week or so.   

Each person is different I understand that, but some useful information and support at times is a wonderful remedy   

 

17

Thanks For

I can at least lift my leg when laid flat again. It is not as comfy as with my right leg, but at least I can do it.

I see a physio again next Monday, for a half hour session. But I will see how good he is. It is an NHS appointment, but I also have private medical cover for when needed. My insurance have already said they will cover it if I need more fortunately.

18

Thank you... the knees will eventually be done when I feel ready to face the next challenge!!  I have seen many and met many people who have undergone this but still makes me apprehensive..  

19

Oh I can relate to that so much! I had my rthr on May 17th...then on August 12th had my lthr....had complications and ended up on a ventilator. I am doing fine now and getting around really well considering I am two and a half weeks post op. I found myself yesterday (because I felt like I was doing so well) trying to practice walking with no aid. I thought I did pretty well, kind of stiff more like a robot. Just so happens one of my hippy friends who is just 3 days ahead of me tried the same thing yesterday and informed me last night that she had all swollen up around the incision and was in pain...Oh my, made me think about what I had been doing!  I am just so anxious to be able to walk and function normal again I am trying to push it when I probably shouldn't. It has been a good 18 months of not being able to walk and function normal for me. I guess I need to try and keep my impatinence under control, because I certainly don't want anymore surgeries or to go through anything else at this time. Be safe and listen to your body if you are starting to feel pain probably should step back and take it easy. Wishing you well and quick and easy healing. Barb

20

oh my Elaine so much to go through. I know what you mean about arthritic hands. Have severe OA all over my body. Myself I couldn't imagine having to go through another surgery right at the moment. I think they would have to drag me in there...lol Have had 3 major surgeries in 10 months. I am ready for a break and healing....wishing you well and hope they pain subsides...Hugs...Barb