Fractured Neck of Femur/Pinning Hip Preservation Surgery

[Stephen1989]

Thanks @djklaugh hope you’re doing well

 

[Mojo333]

Hi @Stephen1989
At 8 months post op, I was mostly back to life too, but I do know I still had some niggles and was very "hip aware"
I was doing as you are, watching my weight (lifting)...as I regularly unload trucks where boxes could exceed 60 lbs....and my new hips could complain.
I had to solicit help to give my hips more time.

Another 6 months up to my 2 year hipaversary brought more healing, more strength, and more stamina.

Good for you for listening to your body.
Lots of improvement yet to come.
Being pain free is the biggest reward for sure.

Hope your holidays are Sweet.

 

[Stephen1989]

Hi @Mojo333

Thanks, hope you have a great festive period too. Pleased you listened to your body and had a good recovery.

Ironically since my last message, I’ve had a bit of pain back in my legs the last few days. The only thing I can put it down to is I wore some jeans that were a bit tight. Surely this couldn’t have damaged the hip could it? I’ve been in a bit of pain for the last few days since then. The pain has been in both legs and the lower back, which were the predominant pain sites when I fractured the hip. Is it worth checking with my surgical team do you think? Could something as slight as wearing tight jeans for a few hours and putting pressure on the hip really damage it?

Thank you

 

[Jaycey]

@Stephen1989 No, wearing tight jeans would not impact the hip. But what was the activity associated with wearing these jeans? Something new?

 

[Stephen1989]

@Stephen1989 No, wearing tight jeans would not impact the hip. But what was the activity associated with wearing these jeans? Something new?

Thanks @Jaycey
Mainly walking a lot really. Although I have recently changed my role at work and now I am on my feet all day and lifting stuff. Maybe this job isn’t ideal at the moment then. Even though I have been walking a lot anyway, I suppose an increase to standing for 6-8 hours a day for the past few days in a row and walking a lot would cause extra pains? Maybe I should speak to HR and say this new role isn’t suitable for me? So hopefully resting will dissipate these feelings.

Thank you for your help

 

[Jaycey]

Indeed an increase in walking along with lifting will aggravate the area. Long term you will build up strength. But it takes time.

 

[Stephen1989]

Thank you for that @Jaycey

I will speak to HR and see if I can revert to my desk job. Ironically, part of the reason I changed roles was because my legs were getting a bit stiff and tight when I was sitting down for most of the day, although this is obviously less strenuous on the joints. Maybe I will try and find a balance and do a bit of both.

Best festive wishes to you and your family!

 

[Jaycey]

Maybe I will try and find a balance and do a bit of both.

This would be ideal. It may take some time, but that hip will settle.

Seasons Greetings to you and yours as well!

 

[Mojo333]

l agree with Jaycey, and the lifting 'stuff' .... especially heavy stuff ....can cause hiccups!
I went back to work early and my job involves lots of walking, on my feet on concrete, and lifting.
I had to really edit myself.
Also, I would go back to my ice and elevate after work on days my hips complained.

 

[Stephen1989]

Thank you @Mojo333
Your work environment sounds similar to mine. My employer has been pretty understanding so shouldn’t be an issue to be flexible with my duties. Yes you’re right, icing seems the way to go, even when it’s icy enough outside as it is!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to yourself and your family!

 

[Eman85]

Lifting and especially carrying weight is tough on a recent THR. It wasn't that long ago there was a member that was young and had a physical job. It didn't work out well and if I remember correctly, he ended up changing careers. In his case his job was a cause of the need for the THR to start with.
Balance would be the key to helping you post THR. I know it helped me make my original hips last longer when I got off of my feet all day doing physical work and went to driving a truck.

 

[Layla]

It wasn't that long ago there was a member that was young and had a physical job. It didn't work out well and if I remember correctly, he ended up changing careers. In his case his job was a cause of the need for the THR to start with.

Yes, Eman85…good memory, you’re right it was Tallguy79, in case you’re interested in reading his thread, Stephen, and he did change careers. I recall there was a lot of lifting involved, hours on his feet standing on concrete floors. I’m sorry you’re dealing with the back and leg pain you described and hope you’re able to obtain relief from lifting and standing on your feet for 6-8 hrs a day through switching to a desk job, at least for a time.
Hope your holidays are happy and healthy!
@Stephen1989

 

[Stephen1989]

Thank you @Eman85 and @Layla

Just read some of Tallguy79’s thread. Very interesting and I can definitely relate to the problems he experienced. I think my job could well have contributed to my problems too, when I wasn’t playing tennis, I was at work, still putting lots of pressure on the hip and not being able to give it a proper chance to rest and recover.

Is it possible that lifting one quite heavy box could set off a sustained period of pain? Last week I had to move a box from one room to the other and although I managed it ok, it did weigh quite a lot and I’m wondering if this set off this latest level of pain?

Maybe it is time for a complete career change. I’m just not sure what I could do that wouldn’t cause me too much pain. I get pain if I sit down too much and I get pain if I stand up too much! I may go back to studying, where at least I can choose my hours and setting and activity level.

I really don’t ever want to experience the pre-op pain again. I’d much rather be relatively pain-free, even if it means I can’t do things like tennis or have an active life/job. I have quite a few aches and pains, perhaps they’re muscular and although they’re about 10% what I had pre-op, they‘re still enough to be noticeable.

Looking forward to some time off to rest over the holidays anyway and maybe my new year’s resolution will be a career-change.

Thank you again for your input.

Best festive wishes

Stephen

 

[Eman85]

You had a fracture and pinning so I'd say it's different than what most of us have experienced with a THR. I can tell you that with a THR early in my first recovery I carried heavy bags of groceries up the steps and into the house and found out I didn't want to do that again for a while.
As far as pinning goes I did have pins in my left femur done back when I was a teen for SCFE. I was non weight bearing for months afterward but once that was over I lifted and carried weight through the years. I can tell you that it hasn't done my body any good in the long run. My hips were bad early on but the physical labor has taken it's toll on many other joints. Save your body, you'll need it later in life.

 

[Stephen1989]

Thank you for your advice @Eman85

It was my left hip too where I had the pinning done. From your message I see that even if it doesn‘t cause you pain at the time and although you may think you’re not doing any damage, you actually could well be. I never had any problems pre-fracture and my surgeon said my hip should return to as good as anybody else’s who hasn’t had a fracture and I should get full range of movement without any problems. Most of the time I am pain-free now, just occasionally get a bit of aches but mainly activity-related. I hope as time progresses it should continue to get stronger.

 

[Eman85]

My situation was a bit different in that I never had full range of motion most of my life. I could never sit legs crossed on the floor as a kid due to my hip joints from SCFE. If your OS is correct and you heal properly that is great that it will be as good as original. I'd say to pin the femur they never had to move the joint which is different than what is done with a THR. To do the THR the joint is completely dislocated which is what causes the longer recovery from the severe muscle strain.

 

[Stephen1989]

My situation was a bit different in that I never had full range of motion most of my life. I could never sit legs crossed on the floor as a kid due to my hip joints from SCFE. If your OS is correct and you heal properly that is great that it will be as good as original. I'd say to pin the femur they never had to move the joint which is different than what is done with a THR. To do the THR the joint is completely dislocated which is what causes the longer recovery from the severe muscle strain.

Thanks for that info, very interesting

 

[Divipops]

Hi Stephen hope you are well, how are things going regarding your hip? I am still struggling 17 months down the line didn't start physio till 11 months after the injury so my thigh muscle was completely wasted. Getting a bit stronger but still having to rely on stick when outside as knee just buckles under me without warning and I don't want to face plant the floor again . They are now saying it could also be nerve damage as it was my knee I fell on and shunted the bone up to snap, I have got a meeting in work next week but I have decided that there is no chance I can do my job working with 4 to 5 year old children so sadly made the decision to leave as I don't know how long this is going to go on or if I ever get back to full mobility. Never mind chin up take care

 

[Stephen1989]

Hi @Divipops
Thank you for your message.
So sorry for the delay in replying, I didn’t receive a notification email.
I am so sorry to hear of your problems, how are you feeling at the moment?
Well I’ve had to give up tennis for the past couple of months. I have also massively reduced my workload and have gone down to part-time hours at work now. I was getting a lot of pain and having to revert to limping again. This nearly always followed increased physical activity and long periods of standing/walking. But since going back to very little exercise apart from light walking, I am still getting quite a bit of pain at times. Mainly in my lower leg but also at times in my knee, lower back and groin. This is all quite worrying as these were the main areas of pain pre-op with the fracture. I contacted my surgeon’s office and am seeing them again on Friday for another scan/X-ray. I will update the thread then but I really hope necrosis hasn’t set in now and I will need a hip replacement after all this. Just seems crazy that I fractured the hip in September 2020, had surgery in April 2021 and am still in pain in May 2022. Is it unrealistic to expect to be pain free after pinning over a year after the procedure? Also has anybody actually had a successful pinning operation? If the surgeons had told me how few positive outcomes there seem to be then I really don’t think I would have opted for the pinning and I don’t really understand why they were pushing for this over the replacement? Thank you all for reading again. Take care

 

[Eman85]

Just my opinion but the surgeons know that all they have is man made junk to use for replacements which will never be as good as original equipment. If the original equipment is able to be saved with a pinning it's worth saving it. I'd say your age had some to do with it also because no matter how advanced all of this stuff is it's still not going to last and the chances of replacement in a young person would be high, in your case maybe 2 replacements.