THR Anterior - 3 weeks in recovery<<

Thanks for your sweet expression of kind words. We appreciate it!
It's wonderful to hear how you're able to engage in life once again...without pain! May it only get better.
Don't be a stranger here, we love updates.
A great rest of the week to you!
@Skydove
 
@Skydove
Still lots of healing to do and progress to make, but so happy your light is bright for the end of this recovery journey.

Truly THR have me my Life back!
Onward and upward! :loveshwr::loveshwr:
 
Hi beautiful ladies and gents

Been doing okay up to the last couple of months. First of all sorry for the excess capital letters and full stops, but my keyboard has been going haywire. I began to move around better over the last couple of months and am now 7 months post op anterior left THR. However, I have not ever been totally pain free and the for the last month have noticed that my thigh is swelling around the operation sight on the outside of the leg and it is very tender and sore. There is no redness and I don’t have a temperature. I spoke to my physio therapist who is a lymphodema specialist as well and she said to rest and ice the leg which I’ve been doing over the past 2 weeks, but it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. I

I was wondering if any one else has had this problem? I was also thinking that if it doesn’t get better pretty soon, I’ll ring my Orthopaedic surgeon and see if I can go back and see him about it.

If anyone has any ideas, I would be so grateful to get them.

Many thanks
Cheers
Pamela :(
 
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Hi @Skydove
Good to see you here but I don't like hearing you are having those issues.

Let's tag @Josephine to weigh in.
She's likely to have some questions for you do do check back in.

Could there be some new activity that is aggravating something?
I would check in with OS as some reassuring xrays were always reassuring to me.
 
I spoke to my physio therapist who is a lyphodema specialist as well and she said to rest and ice the leg which I’ve been doing over the past 2 weeks, but it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
How much physio are you doing these days - how many reps and how often?
 
Hi Jaycey and Mojo

Hope you are both well and good to hear from you two as well!!

I am not doing any physio. I’ve been very busy in the yard in a house we’ve moved into. It is on 5 acres so lots to do. Have just put in a 3 bed corrugated iron vege garden with fence, blue metal and gate, plus a very long garden path, a BBQ area and am about to start an outdoor area, Firepit and another path leading out to Washing line. As a consequence, I do a lot of physical work, but always have. I also do a lot of computer work, weaving and knitting, so a combination of activity plus lots of sitting as well. Don’t know if this has exacerbated anything or not, but I had a lot of numbness in the exact spot that I now have pain and swelling. I don’t really know what’s going on amd can only go on what my physio has said is happening. She thinks it’s a combination of bursitis and lymphodema.

I’m starting to think that I should ring my OS as this is just not settling down. I am now back to using a crutch, Physio’s orders. Anyway, Grrrr. :flabber: Xx

Thanks everyone.
 
Sounds like it might just be the increase in activity. Any new activity does get the op area complaining. Does rest and ice ease this?
 
Hi @Skydove
I'm sorry you're struggling with some swelling and pain.
You have been active. It sounds like you have a number of great projects underway.
Everything you've described sounds like you'll have quite the place to enjoy once completed.
Lucky you!

I'm sure Josephine will weigh in as I noticed she's been tagged. Depending upon her advice you may want to touch base with your surgeon in the hopes they can offer you some reassurance. I'm not implying you discount your physio's conclusions but it may be beneficial to touch base with the one who's done the surgery and move forward from there.

I hope you find relief soon. Wishing you comfort in the interim.
 
I'd really like to offer you some structured advice again but as you know, in order to do that, I also need to ask you some questions. Are you willing for me to do that?
 
Hi Jamey

Rest and ice does help a tiny bit, but I find I would have to stay in bed all day to get any benefit, but as soon as I get up and move around again, the pain comes back.

Thanks for your help.
 
Hi Layla,

Good to hear from you again.

Yes, I think you’re right. I may have to ring my OS and see what’s happening, darn it.!!!

Thanks for your advice

:) xx
 
Hi Josephine

Great to hear from you again.

Yes, of courses you can ask questions, I am happy to answer.

:yes!: X
 
Here y'go then!

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 approach did you have for your surgery? Anterior, posterior, lateral? You can look here to see the various types THR approaches or incisions

2. 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 forget to factor in other forms of pain such as soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness).

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

4. are you icing your painful area at all? If so, how often and for how long?

5. are you elevating your leg. If so how often and for how long?

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

7. are you doing any exercises at home? If so what and how often?
This is the most crucial question so please help me by using the format I have left as an example
(which means please make a list and not an essay!)

Exercises done at home
- how many sessions you do each day
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.

Anything done at PT
- how many times a week
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.
 
Hi Layla,

Good to hear from you again.

Yes, I think you’re right. I may have to ring my OS and see what’s ha0
 
Hi Josephine

Here are the answers:-

1. anterior - left leg.

2.pain levels are 3-4

3. pain medication - was prescribe Tramadol but had to stop these as turned out I was allergic to it. Not taking anything except for ibuprofen 2 at night.

4. icing leg when I get into bed at night. 10 mins, then another 10 mins after 1 hour has elapsed. I don’t sleep much..

5. elevating leg each nigh when i get into bed for 15 mins.

6. activity levels very high - housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, washing, vacuuming, dusting, erecting verge garden with post and wire fence, blue metal floor, corrugated iron veg beds, erecting 200m blue metal and brick path, bricklaying, gardening, raking, clearing fire trail of branches, burning spring wood piles, filling trailer with bricks, taking bricks to dump and off loading them, taking misc rubbish to dump in trailer, recycling this, fixing water pumps as we are on tank and climbing up on top of tanks to check water levels and sanitize, cleaning gutters, painting, sanding and gap filling, office work. walking, swimming.

7. no exercises as get enough doing house and yard work
no exercises as get enough doing house and yard work :rofsign:

I see a lymphodema physiotherapist as have this due to removal of pelvic lymph nodes due to cancer. Do not do any physiotherapy exercises.


Hope this is helpful, Josephine.
Cheers
Pamela :thankyou:
 
2.pain levels are 3-4
Okay
3. pain medication - was prescribe Tramadol but had to stop these as turned out I was allergic to it. Not taking anything except for ibuprofen 2 at night.
I strongly suggest that you don't take ibuprofen. Not only is it an inadequate pain med but it also has some rather unpleasant side effects - read this Medications: acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) and NSAIDs, differences and dangers. I think you'd be much better off taking Tylenol 1,000mg 4 times a day as 6hrly intervals.
4. icing leg when I get into bed at night. 10 mins, then another 10 mins after 1 hour has elapsed. I don’t sleep much..
You accomplish little or nothing in 10 minutes. Ice for at least 40-60mins and more than 4 times a day.
5. elevating leg each nigh when i get into bed for 15 mins.
Elevate when you ice - see previous answer.
6. activity levels very high
I'd say they are and very likely contributing to or even causing, your pain. I think you should cut back on your yard work and maybe do one thing each day.
7. no exercises as get enough doing house and yard work
I agree!
 
:ice:Hi Josephine,

Thank you so much for your kind reply.

I will stop the Ibuprofen and try Tylenol as you suggest.

I will pull back on the house and yard work. It is always difficult when you move into a new home as you want to do things, but I guess I'm going to have to take it easy for a while.

In relation to icing the leg, I am a little confused now as I went and saw my Lymphodema Specialist at the hospital last week who said not to ice the leg for more than 10 mins per hour. So I guess I'm getting conflicting advice here, but I will check with my Orthopaedic Surgeon, as I'm going to see him as the pain is getting worse and I can't stand on that leg without wobbling now.

Many thanks once again for taking the time to answer my query.

Cheers
Pamela :) :ice:
 
Hi @Skydove

I certainly would ask but the lymphedema does pose it's own issues.
My sister is a cancer survivor also and was told to avoid very hot or cold things, such as ice packs or heating pads. Stay out of hot tubs and sauna. Also told not to wear tight clothing or wrap anything tight on affected arm or leg.
We can't always take all medical contingencies under consideration on the forum and certainly one size doesn't fit all.

Please let us know what course of treatment has been suggested.
Good mojo coming your way!:yes:
 
In relation to icing the leg, I am a little confused now as I went and saw my Lymphodema Specialist at the hospital last week who said not to ice the leg for more than 10 mins per hour.
I didn't know that. But having suffered from it myself, I know that what you say is true. I'm sorry for giving you conflicting advice. It was inadvertent.
 
:flwrysmile::flwrysmile:Oh Josephine, there's no worries. You've always been so generous giving me great advice which I've took, so I really appreciate your advice.

I've already read your recovery stories earlier on and they are remarkable.

Well, I'm going to see my OS soon and hopefully he'll xray the leg and we'll see what's what with it.

Thanks again for your help.

All the best,
Pamela :thankyou:
 

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