THR Ausman gets a new hip!

[Rascali]

I had my THR three days before yours and noticed recently that as the more acute pain in the hip area subsided that I was much more aware of the pains in my lower leg. Specifically, the back and side of the knee and the top of my foot. I also had bruises on the top of the foot with one area that was a strange red and quite sensitive.
Bearing in mind I received the anterior approach without the Hana table and the Ortho mentioning that I was really difficult to dislocate I'm guessing that those are all from the handling that Josephine described.

 

[1stSurgery]

I wonder (and I'm not so sure if I really want to know just yet...) if the easier to dislocate hips are the ones that are further along in terms of arthritic damage and low to no cartilage? Or maybe age is a factor. It's all very interesting and I think I will look into it further... AFTER Friday's surgery...

 

[An54]

@1stSurgery , don’t think about it. Enjoy a nice G & T. Get wrapped up in an engaging Netflix series . The hip thing is now beyond your control. Enjoy some me time, or down time. Start practising kicking back now!

 

[1stSurgery]

Thanks @An54, I will do that! Had to work today so tomorrow I will finish the house set up and pack my hospital bag so that Thursday can be quiet time. 3 days is close! I am so confident with my OS and his handiwork... it helps.

 

[Josephine]

I wonder (and I'm not so sure if I really want to know just yet...) if the easier to dislocate hips are the ones that are further along in terms of arthritic damage. Or maybe age is a factor.

Neither. A hip is actually quite easy to dislocate once the wound has been opened up. I was really good at it and I can promise you that it took practically no effort at all! That was the point of my story!

 

[1stSurgery]

Ok good, @Josephine ....then I am going to imagine mine will slip out like a wet noodle in soup!!

 

[Josephine]

That's the ticket!

 

[Mojo333]

I'm the chicken that can do this now!

 

[Ausman]

I had my THR three days before yours and noticed recently that as the more acute pain in the hip area subsided that I was much more aware of the pains in my lower leg. Specifically, the back and side of the knee and the top of my foot. I also had bruises on the top of the foot with one area that was a strange red and quite sensitive.
Bearing in mind I received the anterior approach without the Hana table and the Ortho mentioning that I was really difficult to dislocate I'm guessing that those are all from the handling that Josephine described.

Hi Rascali-

That sounds familiar. What is up with the tops of our feet hurting? Today this pain on the top of my left foot is throbbing! Feels like the metatarsals have been hammered on. I am going to ask my doctor tomorrow when I see him if perhaps they had to leverage that foot or ankle to dislocate me. It's okay if they did- at least then I would have reason to believe it will get better. Because right now it seems to be getting worse.

 

[Ausman]

Hey gang-

Had a scary moment this morning, but my experience could be important to share. On Friday my doctor switched me from Dilaudid to Tramadol for pain. Basically a less potent narcotic. I said I would be willing to try it and I would let him know if I couldn't control my pain.

Early this Sunday morning I took my first Tramadol. My prescription was for 1 to 2 tabs every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Since I had no experience with it, I took just the one and went back to bed.

About 30 minutes later I woke up, very uncomfortable but at first wasn't sure what woke me. Then I realized I was unable to swallow, and was having a hard time drawing a breath. It took me a moment to clear the fog, but then I realized I had read about just such a possible side-effect in the package insert. It was one of a few side-effects that they called for seeking immediate emergency care.

I sat up and took a moment to try to calm down and catch my breath. I went in the other room and found my prescription insert and re-read to make sure I was remembering correctly. And yes I had.

Well, I realize I should have called 911 right then, but no, I didn't. Yes I know it might have been stupid, but I reasoned that having taken just half my prescribed amount, that I would probably recover shortly.

Short story long, but in about three hours I was finally able again to take a full breath and swallow almost normally.

Naturally these things only happen on weekends, right. Bottom line is that I will be without any pain-meds for tonight, so I will do extra icing and Tylenol. And I will be calling my doctor first thing in the morning.

Hugs to all our hippies- and be careful out there!

 

[InkedMarie]

Holy ****! So sorry you had to deal with that. I would call the on call doctor, explain what happened, see if there is any way they could contact the ER to give you some Dilaudid to keep you going.

 

[Mojo333]

How scary...sure do want to put that in your medical file!!
Glad you are okay!
Hope today is Uneventful!

 

[Layla]

How frightening for you! I'm so sorry.
Thankfully you only took half the dosage prescribed.
Curious what your doctor had to say....
Hopefully you've settled on something that helps ease pain without terrifying side effects.
Wishing you a peaceful week. Stay in touch.
@Ausman

 

[Ausman]

Thanks everyone for the kind wishes!

Short story is my doctor is switching me back to Dilaudid. I'm anxiously awaiting a call from my pharmacy as I am now at almost 30 hours without any pain control other than icing and Tylenol. (Well, that and my favorite IPA!) It's not intolerable- say maybe a 2 or 3- but there is no way I can do my exercises like this.

Though I am rather disappointed to be honest- during those 3 or 4 hours on the Tramadol, my hip pain was gone much more so than the Dilaudid does for me. If only it weren't for that darned swallowing and breathing thing!!

I really feel kinda down about this. Not looking forward to the Dilaudid fog again. Was ready for that whole chapter to be behind me. Oh well...

 

[Eman85]

I guess one lesson that should be shared here is never change medicines on a weekend, definitely scary when you have reactions.
Any connection between pain and exercises? Maybe no exercises could be a good thing.

 

[Ausman]

I guess one lesson that should be shared here is never change medicines on a weekend, definitely scary when you have reactions.

Hi Eman-

Yes, I was going to add that as well. It was rather inevitable though. My doctor was only able to see me this past Friday afternoon, when he ordered my new RX. So my first dose of Tramadol was inevitably going to be over the weekend as my Dilaudid was going to run out on Saturday. The only thing I guess we could have done different was if he called in both additional Dilaudid as well as the new Tramadol, but there is no way that was going to happen. They are pretty cautious on all this.

Any connection between pain and exercises? Maybe no exercises could be a good thing.

Well, I'm convinced that the exercises have been a good thing. But to answer your question, no, I have seen no increase or change in pain on exercise vs. no exercise days.

In any case, I have miles and miles to go to get the kind of strength and mobility I will need to return to work and the life I used to enjoy. I can't just sit here doing nothing. But don't worry- I do take a day off here and there- particularly if I'd been out and active the day before.

 

[Layla]

I wouldn't like that foggy brain feeling either but I'd take it over feeling like I couldn't breathe or swallow.
That would freak me out. With all the meds out there you'd think there would be one that didn't cause you such unpleasant side effects. I wish you better luck with the Dilaudid this time around. Stay in touch.
@Ausman

 

[InkedMarie]

In the future, call & say you’re almost out of meds in middle of the week. Surgeon doesn’t know if you’ve taken one or two every four, five or six hours. Then, you’d have a few Dilaudid left when you tried the Tramadol.

 

[Ausman]

In the future, call & say you’re almost out of meds in middle of the week. Surgeon doesn’t know if you’ve taken one or two every four, five or six hours. Then, you’d have a few Dilaudid left when you tried the Tramadol.

Thanks Marie! I actually did reach out to them mid-week and advised I needed a refill. They said they would do it at our meeting on Friday. I had no idea it was their intent to change my meds.

 

[InkedMarie]

Oh wow, that’s too bad. Make a note somewhere about no Tramadol