Fractured Neck of Femur/Pinning Hip Pinning after ski accident

[Klassy]

I agree with Layla that you are handling this very graciousy @Snoopy55 . Of course you followed the PT advice, and it would have been a very hard decision to cancel the holiday. You might well have ended up regretting that more if you had. And IIRC your surgeon said you would be ok to travel. And you did do everything possible to adapt the holiday to your hip.

I think you have it harder than a lot of us here, who had hip replacements to take away arthritis pain. So however frustrated we feel about the recovery process ( and today I was feeling pretty fed up!), we have the compensation that the OA pain is gone. Plus we had a period pre-op of coming to terms with the need for surgery, and having lots of worries that we can now be relieved didn’t come to pass. Whereas you, I assume, were happily whizzing down a mountain somewhere when splat! Out of the blue, suddenly you are an orthopaedic patient.

But, this may work in your favour. You are probably in a lot better shape than many of us whose pre-op activity was limited by arthritis. It’s been a while since I could contemplate anything like ski-ing. So maybe you will bounce back faster than the typical member of the ODIC. I am hoping so!

 

[Snoopy55]

Hi @Layla!

First of all thanks so much for writing to me on a Saturday!

Haven‘t really had much luck with Tylenol to be honest. I’ve always turned to Advil for pain but it does hurt my stomach if I don’t eat beforehand. I am curious to see what the dosage is for the Advil and Tylenol use because a friend who had hernia surgery is taking it that way but taking three Tylenols.

Ive taken 2 Tramadol today only and it’s 5pm here so I’m ok for now. I soon as the tramadol wears off it starts to get pretty painful almost a burning feeling? icing all day too. I have been resting all day today and yesterday and only went downstairs once today. It’s such a beautiful day too:( but oh well such is life! I promised my hip I’m going to be a good girl When I get up it’s only to go to the bathroom and then I feel my right foot is tingling and numb kind of. Then I start freaking out about blood clots since I was on such a long flight!

I figure it’s okay to keep taking the Tramadol until everything settles down because yesterday which was the first day home after the trip I stupidly decided to do only OTC and it really was bad. Hoping tomorrow will be better as we are invited to friends for brunch.

 

[Snoopy55]

HaHa @Klassy you are a hoot! Yes I was whizzing down and mountain and I fell hard on my hip. Definitely didn’t think I broke it as I skied down the mountain and went home with my husband. I was shocked when the doctor said its broken and I have to operate tomorrow! I really thought he was kidding.

Oh well I am still very lucky that it was a clean break and it was non displaced fracture and according to him the fracture is completely healed so I guess its just the muscles and the tissues that are giving me the most pain. Although that said I don’t think my hip was completely healthy either. It was giving me trouble the last two years. I used to be very athletic and I hurt my back at the gym two years or so ago and it also effected my hip to the point I always had a tennis ball with me in the car or on a flight. Now though funnily enough my back is fine! The pinning helped it I think.

Hopefully once I heal from this I can go back to walking and strength training. No more skiing though. I dont think its worth it even though its my favorite winter sport.

 

[Elf1]

@Snoopy55 there is a new OTC out called Advil Dual Action that combines both ibuprofen and acetaminophen Tylenol). It looks to be 250 mg acetaminophen and 125 mg ibuprofen in each caplet. The package says dosage is 2 caplets every 8 hours not to exceed 6 caplets in 24 hours.

Just thought this might help answer your question.

 

[Jamie]

@Snoopy55.....many people do get good pain relief from using a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When taken together, they are much more effective than when used separately. The daily limits for each are acetaminophen - 4000mg and ibuprofen - 3200mg in any 24 hour period. However, because the ibuprofen has the potential to cause stomach problems and you've indicated you have experienced that, I would recommend that you always stay well below that 3200mg level.

You should never take more than 1000mg of acetaminophen or 800mg of ibuprofen at one time. Those are the maximum safe dosages. If you want to try the combination of the two, you could start with taking 1000mg of Tylenol and 400mg of Advil together every 6 hours, say at 7am, 1pm, 7pm, and 1am.

It does sound like you've really overdone things with your hip and you probably should stick with the Tramadol until things settle down. You can take Tylenol along with Tramadol if you need something in between your Tramadol doses.

I know you're eager to get back to your normal life again, but you have pushed your hip significantly with that trip. I would suggest that you minimize any outings or activities other than your normal movement around the house each day for a couple of weeks until your pain has subsided dramatically.

 

[Snoopy55]

Thank you @Jamie! Yes I’m already feeling much better as I’ve been taking it super easy, the tramadol is doing it’s magic and the icing and elevating as well. I think I shouldn’t have switched to the OTC meds as soon as I got home and stuck to the tramadol. Once everything calms downs I will switch to the Advil and Tylenol combo together. I’ve never taken them together only Intermittently so I’m curious to see how I do on them like that. I have tried the Advil Duo as @Elf1 suggested but it doesn’t have enough of each to ease my pain. I used to take it for my back aches before my pinning.
thank you all again so so much and have a great Sunday wherever you are!

 

[Snoopy55]

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone is having a pain free day! Nothing worse than having pain and nothing better than being pain free! Don’t you agree? I just got back from getting a second opinion from another OS whom I really liked. First of all he was very good looking which doesn’t hurt-but really he was a very good doctor.

He said that your surgeon set false expectations. It’s impossible for a bone to heal this fast. I told him that my surgeon verbatim told me that the fracture is one hundred percent healed and he said no it’s not. He said it’s in the process of healing but it’s going to take four to six months. He said that i overdid the activity (which many people on this forum said and I knew as well lol) and that I should rest until the inflammation goes down and then start PT slowllly. He also refilled my prescription for Celebrex which I’m supposed to take twice a day and Tylenol in between should I need it.

im happy I decided to go and get a second opinion. It really makes a huge difference.
have a great weekend everyone!

 

[Klassy]

How great to have this reassurance from an independent expert (and a handsome one too, always a bonus). It is going to be a longer journey than you had expected, but it will go more easily now that you know you are headed in the right direction.

Hoping that you have a good night’s sleep and wake to find improvement tomorrow morning.

 

[Snoopy55]

@Klassy yes exactly. It’s always reassuring when you get a second opinion that although things are going in the right direction, a broken bone means many months of pain and discomfort and just because it was pinned that doesn’t mean you go back to normal the day or even two months after surgery. All in good time, the body heals itself! Have a good night too! It’s late for you!

 

[Layla]

I am happy you took the time to get a second opinion. I like Dr Handsome’s opinion and suggestions. I’ll bet you’re happy to receive conformation from a medical professional that you somewhat over did it, rather than wonder if it was something more serious. I hope you’re able to follow his advice and begin feeling stronger and steadier on your feet soon. Thanks for sharing an update and I hope you have a peaceful and relaxing weekend!
@Snoopy55

 

[Snoopy55]

@Layla haha “Dr. Handsome”….

 

[Snoopy55]

Hello again beautiful people of Bone smart! It is Tuesday and just a quick update after seeing Dr. Handsome...I am doing really well. Pain is all but gone and I have ditched the cane in the house although I am still walking lopsided a little. I am trying to walk heel toe as many of you have suggested. Good news is the celebrex has really brought down my inflammation and hence the pain. Bad news is that I unfortunately had an allergic reaction to the celebrex as I started developing painful sores inside my cheek so it was incredibly painful to eat or drink. So called Dr. Handsome's office and left a message for his PA who called back within 15 minutes and told me to stop taking the celebrex and that she is going to call in another anti-inflamatory that I only have to take once a day with food. Love how organized and on the ball this office is. My other doctors front office staff was HORRIBLE. Just plain mean and kind of apathetic which is not what you need when you are in pain!! I have to pick up the new meds tonight.

Anyway in other news I went swimming today! Oh it was so so good. I didn't go in the lap pool just in the baby pool but was able to do bicycles in the water and do the doggy paddle and back stroke. And I walked the length of the pool a couple of times-not too long. Then went in the jacuzzi. OH. MY. GOD. It felt sooo good. was in there for a bit then went back in the pool and then back in the jaccuzi. It was wonderful. Highly recommend it if your wound is healed. Hope everyone is doing ok today!

 

[Layla]

Just catching up on your update. Such wonderful news, minus the mouth sores. Thankfully you were able to stop the Celebrex in favor of something else. Sounds like Dr. Handsome has an efficient team which is always helpful if / when you’re in need.

It’s great you were able to get back in the pool. I hope you’re feeling well today. It’s pretty easy to overdo it in the water. Wishing you many more swims. Enjoy!
@Snoopy55

 

[Snoopy55]

Thank you so much @Layla. Yes having a surgeon's office that is super responsive is definitely a huge bonus. I am fighting a bit of a cold right now but can't wait to make it back to the pool next week. I will take it easy. I haven't been in any extra pain since swimming so that's good. Its just muscle ache but not even too bad.

 

[Klassy]

I didn’t have time to post earlier, but just wanted to say that I was chuffed to see such a great update @Snoopy55 . It seems that you have really turned the corner at last. I hope you are continuing to enjoy this progress, and that you get rid of your cold quickly.

 

[Snoopy55]

Thank you @Klassy. I love how you Brits talk. "chuffed" must mean "excited?". I have been chugging ginger and tea with tons of lemon juice in it and honey. I had a hair appointment today and had to sit for a couple of hours to get rid of the grey lol which always make me feel better. I am sure at some point I will start caring a lot less about grey roots but that day has not arrived yet!

I think I have hopefully turned the corner. Today marks the two weeks that I had promised myself to take things easy after coming back from Portugal. I ordered a new speedo bathing suit that is supposed to come tomorrow so I can go swimming again once my cold goes away which I think will be in a couple of days. For now I am doing much better and know that I am on the mend as long as I take things slow and steady. Best wishes for a good night for everyone.

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary!
I hope your cold is improving, you swimsuit arrived and you like it and you’re soon able to put it to use. Have a great rest of the week.
@Snoopy55

 

[Snoopy55]

Thank you so much @Layla! I feel so much better and did go to the pool yesterday with my daughter! I am happy to report that my hip feels so much better as well and the last couple of days I have been working on doing the heel toe and my husband who was out of town and just arrived home last night said my limp is all but gone. I know through experience that I still have to take it easy and that just because three months have passed that doesn't give me free reign to do things like I used to.

I still ice and rest a lot during the day and haven't been walking outside that much. I really don't want to hinder this recovery any more than I already have with all the crazy things I did before I was ready. Just the daily living exercises have been enough for now as I live in a 3 story town house and go up and down the stairs at least 10 times a day to get to the kitchen and living room. and even then I still do the stairs the toddler way.

I will start PT in a couple of weeks and I am so freaked out that they will push me so if you have any advice on how to avoid getting myself in a sticky situation with PT please advise!

Again thank you to all the lovely people of this forum. It has been a godsend. Have a great day everyone!

 

[Layla]

Great update! You seem to be doing really well.

I will start PT in a couple of weeks and I am so freaked out that they will push me so if you have any advice on how to avoid getting myself in a sticky situation with PT please advise!

My best advice would be to lay down the law from the beginning. Before you even begin a session, express to the PT that you’re unwilling to do anything that causes you pain, nor will you push through pain. You are still healing and this is not a “no pain, no gain” type of situation. Continually remind yourself that YOU are in charge, it is your body. You’re protecting yourself and unwilling to put yourself into a position that results in physical pain, causes a setback, or as you just experienced, stalls your recovery.
We can still be kind and personable while being firm and setting boundaries.
I have every confidence that You Can Do This!

 

[Snoopy55]

Thank you so much @Layla. Yes I agree. I think communication is key and hopefully my PT will also appreciate that as well. Sometimes I feel like they need to push you to feel like they are doing their job!! But I will be firm (and nice) of course so we understand each other from the very beginning. I'm hoping the next couple of weeks will go uneventfully as well and I continue to gain ground in this recovery so that by the time PT starts I will be good to start strengthening some leg muscles. Thanks again! Hugs from DC.