THR 9 weeks after THR and not progressing

[Jaycey]

If you think you have an infection I would go to ER. At least they can check you out and give you peace of mind if they don't find anything. Waiting until Tuesday doesn't sound like good advice to me.

 

[tandmcox88]

@Hope04 if you think it bis infected please go to the ER. Or call your surgeon, he make call in antibiotics for you. I'm sorry your going through this. I'm keeping you in my prayers. Please keep us posted.

 

[Jamie]

@Hope04 ... have you seen someone about your hip? How are things going?

 

[Hope04]

Thanks for asking about me. I have not been back to the doctor, but still having incision pain and hip pain. I walk when I can (weather has been bad) but still having a very hard time. I know the dr will just do another xray and say the implant is okay. Just so frustrating at over 4 months after surgery, to be in pain daily. I am hoping it will improve soon. How are you doing?

 

[copsham]

Hello @Hope04
Just read your thread. How frustrating for you! Sometimes I think that what we need is a doctor who will take time, listen and explain things. Instead we are often left high and dry with "it will be fine" following a brief consultation. You sound like you are "going it alone" a bit. It sounds as if the slow approach is right but it is obviously at a cost to you. Look after yourself!

 

[Josephine]

Hi @Hope04 - sorry I missed you post. I was in an early stage of recovery myself!

Some questions:
Can you tell me the exact site of your pain using this chart?
Please note the instructions in the smaller image

I'm also going to ask you some questions and it would be very helpful if you would answer each one individually - numbered as I have done - in as much detail as you can then I'll come back as see where you are ....

1. what are your pain levels right now? (remember the 1-10 scale: 1 = no pain and 10 = the worst you can imagine. And don't compare this with the bone-on-bone pain you had before surgery!

) Also don't forget to include other forms of pain such as soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness

2. are you still taking pain medications, if so what have you been prescribed, how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often?

3. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and

4. what kind of PT exercises and exercises at home are you doing? How much and how often? (and detailed details would be appreciated, please! **Reps, sets and sessions** and all that)

** If you're not familiar with this, it goes like so:
1 lift of your leg = 1 rep (repetition)
5 reps and then a brief rest = 1 set
5 sets and finishing = 1 session.

 

[Hope04]

Hi Josephine,

Thanks for responding. To answer the questions:

Pain level is between 4 and 7 (less in daytime and worse at night or with bad weather).
Pain is aching, throbbing and stiffness.
The incision scar throbs and burns. I cannot lay on that side. Even underwear causes real discomfort.
I take extra strength Tylenol and many nights I take Oxycodone 5mg.
I try to walk almost every day, but cannot go more than 3-4 blocks without pain. I do ten leg side lifts and ten up lifts, bent knees with pillow 10-15 reps, buttocks 10-15 reps. Some days I cannot do these at all.
I try to go to stores just to walk.
Housework is quite limited, some dusting and some laundry. My husband takes care of the rest.
Getting into car is very painful still.

Anything you could suggest to help would be so appreciated. I really am trying to progress, but feeling defeated many days. I have had several surgeries in my life, and have always bounced back and on a normal timeline. This is very different for me.

Thanks.

 

[copsham]

Hi @Hope04
You must be frustrated. hope Josephine comes up with words of wisdom as she usually does!

Is you incision red and inflamed? could you having a sensitivity to the internal stitches like I had? It doesn't sound a common thing though.

look after yourself
karen x

 

[Hope04]

Hi copsham,

Now that you mentioned it, I really think that I might have sensitivity to the internal stitches. I cannot figure out why the incision would still hurt like a recent wound, otherwise. What happened with you?

 

[concal]

So sorry to read about your pain. Would you consider just stopping your pt and only walking around the house for a week or so to let inflamed tissue heal? Just my 2 cents. I did mild pt for two weeks ( 2x week) but stopped at week 6 because I was still in lots of pain. I didn't do any walking either as I live in rugged terrain and had no place to walk. I just walked around my small home. I started to resolve my pain at 10 weeks and am doing mostly okay at 7 months out.

 

[Hope04]

Thanks for your support and suggestions. I stopped PT after 4 weeks and have just been doing it by myself. You are right, the PT made me feel more painful. Now I walk, but just a very short distance. I am glad to hear that you are now doing better at 7 mos. I wish for that and hope I can achieve the same! Having people like you along the way sure does help. Thank you!

 

[copsham]

Hi @Hope04
I don't want to "lead you up the garden path" with the idea of sensitivity! I will tell you my experience and then you decide:
1. I have allergies/sensitivites to so many things including cats, dogs, polythene, dust, morphine, codeine, penicillin etc etc. Pre op the consultant had a nonchalant approach of "Don't worry. You will be fine"
2. The wound healed well until about day 10 , then I got a red spot at the top and bottom of the incision. Spot growing over the days, was hot with inflammation,. No sign of infection. Nurse taking out the metal stitches said it was fine.
3. Day 14 out patient physio suggested a nurse look at the wound. She said it was fine just scar tissue.
4. Week 3 Getting redder, salt water wash, hot burning but looking inflamed rather than infected.
5. Week 5 looked like pus coming out went to GP given a weeks antibiotics. One little stitch came out tiny, like a hair or a filament - see photo
6. Week 6 - saw my consultant he said "everything fine" it was not a stitch -" probably from the dressing " (really!). Incision burning - took my usual anti histamines specifically for this and it calmed it down quite a bit.
7. Week 6/7 - about 8-10 tiny stitches came out - would only see it if like me you are hyper vigilant as they are so tiny. They would give shooting little pains like a fizzing sensation, hot and sore and feelling unpleasant but after the third or fourth got a bit used to it. This stopped for a while , wound looked less red and thought issue was over.
8. Week 8 I rubbed what I thought was a dry bit of skin... It was a knot felt repugnant. Incision red again. I was due to see consultant in a few days time but then he cancelled appt. Have appt on 17th March so have not seen anyone yet. Have photo's so consultant can't deny it.

Basically the saga has been redness coming and going, pus significant and intermittent, not huge pain (but then I am very pain tolerant) irritating and burning intermittently. I felt proof of the sensitivity was taking an anti histamine and the burning redness going.

On the internet I read that the dissolvable stitches require a certain enzyme to dissolve and some people do not have that enzyme!! i do not know if it is relevant to you but I have a lack of enzyme that deals with alcohol so can be drunk on one small drink!

I do not know if this is helpful to you but if it is relevant I can't imagine how you will convince a medic of this!!!

Good luck and let me know how you go X

 

[copsham]

Forgot the photos - here is the knot
will try to find the stitch one!

 

[copsham]

Here is the stitch photo - at least 10 -12 of these have since come out!

 

[Hope04]

Wow, sounds very much like what I have been experiencing! Twice I went to dr. and was told it was just stitches and it would go away. That was two months ago and I am still in real pain every day!!
It does not look infected, but bright red and so sore, just to the touch.

Thanks for much for your info. Very appreciated. Good luck at your next visit. Please let me know how it goes.

Carol X

 

[Josephine]

On the internet I read that the dissolvable stitches require a certain enzyme to dissolve and some people do not have that enzyme!!

Don't know where you read that but it's nothing I have ever heard of before!

Pain level is between 4 and 7 (less in daytime and worse at night or with bad weather). Pain is aching, throbbing and stiffness. The incision scar throbs and burns. I cannot lay on that side. Even underwear causes real discomfort.

Pain is often worse at nights for some unknown reason.

I take extra strength Tylenol and many nights I take Oxycodone 5mg.

I did ask you how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often? I'm sorry but if you don't answer my questions fully, how do you expect me to help you?

I try to walk almost every day, but cannot go more than 3-4 blocks without pain

You also never told me where your pain is. I did leave you the charts.

I do ten leg side lifts and ten up lifts, bent knees with pillow 10-15 reps, buttocks 10-15 reps. Some days I cannot do these at all.

Then don't do them at all! You're nearly 5 months out and shouldn't need to do any exercises AT ALL now. So stop them all.

I try to go to stores just to walk. Housework is quite limited, some dusting and some laundry. My husband takes care of the rest. Getting into car is very painful still.

It will probably be better if you stop the exercising.

I really think that I might have sensitivity to the internal stitches. I cannot figure out why the incision would still hurt like a recent wound, otherwise.

Unlikely as it's also unlikely any of your suture material still exists. Wounds are frequently sore for quite some time and made worse by all this unnecessary exericsing.

 

[Hope04]

Sorry for not answering all questions. I am taking 2 tylenol ex strength 2 times per day. I take 5 mg oxycodone a few times a week at night (do not have many).
The pain is in the top part of my hip; however, the pain moves to my thigh and lower leg on some days.
As far as the incision pain, I am going to a dr for help since it is getting worse. My husband is concerned.

Thanks for your help. Very much appreciated.

 

[MissMoo]

Hi @Hope04. So sorry you're having a tough time. While reading your post it just occurred to me that you might not have remembered these charts Josephine posted to help you identify the area of the pain (I've requoted it below).. If you just drop another reply using this notation, I'm sure it will help her understand much better

Some questions:
Can you tell me the exact site of your pain using this chart?
Please note the instructions in the smaller image

 

[Josephine]

Quite right, MissMoo, and thank you! Hope, I really do need you to indicate your pain sites using this chart as your descriptions are somewhat vague otherwise.

I am taking 2 tylenol ex strength 2 times per day

Tylenol only lasts in your system for about 5-6 hours which means you have 6-7 hours without any cover at all. It has to be taken 4 times a day, that's every 6hrs.

 

[Hope04]

Pain varies but usually at top of hip and down thigh. Also, the entire area of the incision. The pain in the hip moves from top of hip to buttocks to thigh. Hope this helps.