6 days post surgery and cannot bear weight yet.

[phenry57]

Thank you so much everyone! Yesterday another surgeon came in to give a second opinion. He agreed that the pain was not normal, however the x-rays again came back okay. He did however say the cup was at a 30 degree angle instead of a 45 but that shouldn't cause the pain. That sure sounds like an issue, but maybe something he will need to deal with later on. One thing we did notice, when he was given Valium for a muscle relaxer, it did seem to ease the shooting pain which feels like nerve pain. My husband and I are thinking maybe it's muscle spasms that are pressing on the nerve as the muscles contract. So anyway, after the second opinion, that doc went ahead and signed his release to go to rehab, but upped his pain meds to Oxycontin (sp)? I transported him (with great effort) to the rehab facility just down from the hospital and got him settled in yesterday evening. That seemed to go well until he called me at 10:00 last night saying they never got his pain meds delivered yet. Oh my word....I just don't understand the system I suppose, but why does it take 6 hours + to get your pain meds delivered? I will certainly find out what went on there. It is early now and I haven't spoken with hubby yet. I am waiting for him to call me so I don't wake him in case he did get some strong stuff to help him rest. I am going to call the nurse station after I finish this update. Oh and they also lost his "strap" that he was using to help him lift his leg. I wanted to head down there so bad last night when he called, but with the two little ones here and really not much other support (I have an 89 year old mother) but I couldn't go dragging them out in the night and expect her to keep them. So, it hurts me so deeply that I can't just curl up in a chair in his room and stay with him through this whole ordeal.

 

[JudyS]

I do hope those pain meds made it to the rehab facility. It is just crazy that it takes that long for something to appear. I had the same problem at the hospital when something is ordered from the pharmacy. AT one point I had my husband smuggle mine in from home!!!
Wish I could be there and help you with the little ones, your hubby surely understands.
judy

 

[Jamie]

At least you have made some progress in getting another doctor's opinion!! I'm so glad. I'm like you that it never ceases to amaze me how inept some facilities are in getting things done for a patient. I can tell you are going to have your work cut out for you. But hang in there. Your constant attention to what's going on will soon be the topic of discussion with your husband's caregivers and they will know you are watching and questioning. That's a good thing....the old "squeaky wheel gets the grease" idea.

 

[Josephine]

A cup at 30 degrees instead of 45 won't cause pain? I'm not so sure about that .....

 

[loghaula]

I am no expert, but I feel like expert Jo, if the joint isn't set as it is supposed to, there has to be pain. Don't we call that dislocation? And I know personally dislocation is VERY painful.

Glenys
LHR 5/28/09
RHR 7/23/09

 

[phenry57]

Good evening to all. The pain meds arrived at 1:30pm today. Almost 24 hours after they tried to get them at the rehab. Supposedly what happened...the second opinion doc said the meds should be upped to the Oxy...a few hours later hubby gets sent to rehab....the rehab can't get the prescription filled because the OP did not agree to the Oxy that the second opinion doc suggested...so no pain meds...well...he did get the Ultram but it wasn't working for him. Unbelievable. The rehab has been trying to page the OS all day to no avail. The Oxy that did get approved was by the rehab's physician who we don't even know...but thank goodness he did something. This surgeon is really giving us a sour taste. At least hubby got some relief today. I just wonder what happens on Tuesday when he moves to the large rehab facility where the fun begins. Are we going to go through this all over? Let me ask you...can the OS just drop you like a hot potato? I know it's the holiday weekend...but surely he should answer his pages at some point. I wonder if he wants my hubby to go somewhere else at this point. The second opinion doc said there's really not anything to do but try rehab and wait it out for 6 weeks. He said a reoperation means a greater chance of infection...so we have to wait 6 weeks to see how it goes. Grrrrrrr. The bad hip was better than this.

 

[phenry57]

Lesson learned....research your OS....if they are a great surgeon..but do not follow up with their patients...then they are not such a great surgeon.

 

[JudyS]

You are so right and I have been so lucky with my surgeons. My spine doc put his cell # in my phone after I had problems in the hospital with getting pain meds.
Maybe you need yet another doctor's opinion. The pain should not be more. I am so sorry you are dealing with all of this. It shoudn't be this hard. When i had back surgery in January, i faced lots of crazy stuff and doctor's not returning pages myself. Good Luck with it and keep posting here. WE are praying for you both.
judy

 

[loggon]

Glad you finally got your meds.

 

[Judles]

Hope those meds are finally helping!!! (0)

 

[Jamie]

I don't agree that your husband should have to wait six weeks for a determination as to what should be done. If it was me, I would begin looking for a revision specialist and see how your husband could have a consultation with him. I don't know if the doctor would come to the rehab facility, but you could certainly ask.

When Tuesday comes, I would get that first surgeon on the phone and ask why he never responded to the pages. He needs to be put on the hot seat.

Since I'm not there and don't have all the facts, I may be all wet with my feelings. But my gut reaction tells me surgeon #1 realizes he made a mistake in surgery that resulted in the cup being at the wrong angle and he's trying to get away from the situation.

An opinion from a totally separate surgeon who specializes in repairing mistakes and problems from other doctors should be able to give you a fresh and honest opinion of what should be done.

I'm so very sorry to hear of all of this. It happens, but not very frequently. And once there is a problem with your doctor, all you can do is keep moving forward with someone new. It's a tremendous strain, but others have made it through all this and came away with a good hip. Please hang in there and keep doing the great job that you are doing as your husband's advocate.

God bless you both!

 

[JudyS]

I do agree with Jamie in seeking an opinion from a revision specialist soon. I'd hate to see your husband go through 6 weeks of this pain for nothing.
judy

 

[Josephine]

The second opinion doc said there's really not anything to do but try rehab and wait it out for 6 weeks ...so we have to wait 6 weeks to see how it goes. Grrrrrrr. The bad hip was better than this.

I'm with Jamie here - that is totally unreasonable.

He said a reoperation means a greater chance of infection

Well, that's a grade A no-brainer fob-off! Of course surgery means a risk of infection but only in the percentages as applicable to any other surgery.

Hot tip: in the symposium I just attended, cups inserted in anteversion were referred to as improperly inserted and requiring revision if pain resulted. In fact we had a whole session on the importance of getting correct angulation of the cup. Pain was just one of the probable post-op complications. Others were almost inevitable uneven wear and the possibility that dislocation might occur more easily. (Hope I haven't scared you, but best to know the facts)

Short answer: get a second opinion ASAP!

 

[phenry57]

I appreciate the advice from everyone. I am hoping to get more information this coming week from the therapists in the rehab facility too. From what I understand it is hard to get another Ortho surgeon to take on a patient with a problem, but I will make some calls and find out if that is a possibility. Is a revision surgery sometimes done soon after the original surgery or is there a preferred number of days or weeks before they will operate again? Of course before assuming it will take another surgery, I wish more tests could be done to try to pinpoint the problem .

 

[Josephine]

You've had the answer already - the cup is anteverted. And it's only difficult if you try to get the second opinion within the same area where the other docs are probably his golfing buddies. You have to go outside your county or city. Surgeons who specialise in revisions are taking other surgeons' botch-ups all the time. That's who you need to find.

To find a revision surgeon, you need to ring around different hospitals or surgeons and ask if they specialise in revisions. Then go and interview them and see whom you get along with best. Take the list of questions in here How to choose a surgeon and a prosthesis and see how he responds. Read the post and gen yourself up. But do the research and get yourself two or three chaps to visit.

 

[phenry57]

I need to learn what that means exactly as this is new to me. The doc who gave the second opinion is indeed I'm sure a golfing buddy of the OS, but he was the one to offer up the 30 degree info. He stated that he did not think that would be the cause of my husbands discomfort...so you disagree. It looks like I will need to get someone else to weigh in. One thing...we do have a copy of the Xrays from post op one week out and post op 15 days. Hopefully that will be helpful. Would there be any chance that my husband's pain may over time become better and he maybe could live with this position of the cup with maybe more limits than normal...but would that be better than the risks of a revision surgery in your opinion? When I read about revision surgery...it sure sounds scary, but I also know that he needs to be able to walk and eliminate this pain as much as possible.

 

[JudyS]

WEll from what Jo told you if it were me, I would be getting a revision. And I would be getting it as soon as possible.
I'm so sorry this is happening to both of you.
judy

 

[Jamie]

I don't think you should be trying to make this type of decision (whether to get a revision or wait and see) with the little bit of information you have right now. This is why you need a real second opinion from someone who works with problems...a revision specialist. Although it is good the second OS you talked with actually told you about the misplaced cup, the fact that he is from the same practice or buddies with the first doc ensures that you won't get a completely honest opinion, though. He is not the doctor you need.

Where are you located? Near a large city???

I know you don't want to see your husband have to go through another surgery this soon after his hip replacement. But I'm sure you don't want to see him in this type of pain either. You need the expertise of a good revision specialist to help you go forward and make whatever decision is necessary. The xrays you have will be very valuable...be sure to take them to your appointments.

Please continue to let us know how you're doing. We really care about you both and want to help in any way possible.

 

[Neil]

I had a replacemnent hip 3 yrs ago after being hit by a young motorcycliset who lost control of his bike soem 26 yrs ago.

The problem was that it dislocated the very day that I was discharged from hospital, and was as has been said seriously painful.

I was taken back to hospital and put onto traction to await the surgeon the next day, despite this and having been taken down to the theatre the very next day and various subsequent days after, the hip decided not to stay in position and after 5 days of manipulation I was absoultely wiped.

I was then taken down for surgery yet again and at this point I was really past caring, actually not quite, as all I wanted to do was to be able to walk.

The first op was 17th Jan, the second was the 17th Feb, so don't be put off about by talk about germs, if the hospital is clean then what is the problem.

This was 3 years ago and despite all this my hip was and still is like your husbands, not fitted correctly.
I will not be connected to the net for a couple of weeks possibly as I am about to go in for my 3rd hip op but I have had to chase around to find the very best Surgeon who is prepared to take on the the problems of the bad .

This time the Surgeon is not removing the post from my leg but changing the position and angle of the head which is attached your hip section where the socket/head used to be/ as your husband.

So do get it fixed quicker rather than later as it has taken me a few years and at this last year I have been having painkiller injections just to releive the problems.

The other problem which we all forget is the other problems associated with this such as mine, I have associated Liver problems caused by too many other tablets, Your Colesterol changes ,My gall Bladder removed because of tablets, etc etc, the list goes on :shk:

Do not let these poor surgeons tie you down get into them PLEASE, remember they are just stealing your money.

Sorry for the post I am a newcomber.

But the very best of luck

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Neil...welcome to BoneSmart. We'll be here if you need support before or after your surgery. Why don't you start a thread of your own and you can get responses specific to your situation.