Hip Question

[AlaskanTKR]

I wasnt going to post a thread till I talked to my OS at the post op apt but I have a question (maybe 2) for all you wonderful sources of info. I am a knee (rtkr 7/14/08) that just had a right hip scope this past Thursday. From what I understand all went well. Highly medicated. OS kept warning me this was going to hurt and he has been right. Prescribed and taking 2 10/325 hydrocodone every 4 hours. He told me to set alarms and dont fall behind. Well I did this am and OMG hurt is an understatement. That wont happen again. Anyway.... took off the heavy bandage (2 overlayed white gauze pads) with 5 or 6 layers of big gauze - SOAKED with blood - and I mean totally soaked. It was a bit scary. But.. cleaned all up... steristrips in tact over what I think are stitches - just 2 port holes Placed LARGE bandaids fully covering each - as directed. Dont seem to be leaking now.
1)Should I have called the OS? It was Sunday and it wasnt currently leaking. We are watching each every time I get verticle.
2)Have never had problems with the hydrocodone but this time I am itching up a storm. No hives or rash just itchy. I took a benadryl and it helped. When the benadryl wore off the itchies kicked back in. Would it be ok to take another. Again - its Sunday and I dont want to bother the answering service.
3) I can remember a discussion on anesthesia with Jo somewhere in the forum. With my knee I was out around 2 hours but this time I was out a bit over 3 hours - he warned me this would be longer and more intensive - LOTS and lots of grinding off of bone. I think I should be able to get back to work on Jan 5th but remember getting my butt kicked last time when I tried. I am waddling around without crutches but feel as if I have gotten run over by a truck. I guess they dislocate the hip to get space or something. He definitely was honest and I am much more prepared and am being a total lazy bones. I have a bunch of time to decide about work but am concerned about pushing it. I am already committed for 6 weeks of PT for the hip and the OS said we will probably add another 6 to that. I guess he feels the scope is a slow progression. No microfracture (YEAHHH) and it sounded like I am not full of arthritis!! I will know more at my apt on 12/29.

Thanks for any info anyone might have. Wasnt sure where to post this thread.

Happy Solstice!
Marianne

 

[Linda2]

I know nothing about hips, but I DO know itching. I don't think there is a narcotic pain med that doesn't make me itch. I take a benadryl chaser after every one of them.

 

[Doug]

I'm wondering if some of the liquid coming out was the saline they flood the joint with during the scope??
My itching went away when I took the Oxycodone...Either that or I was too stoned to care...My gosh if I took benadryl with it I would really have been wiped out..

 

[Rowdy66]

Marianne, You poor thing, I feel for you. You are a true warrior at heart in case you don't know it. As for itching I would think that is an allergic reaction and the problem I have with allergic reactions is because of what my scientist son tells me. An allergic reaction can start off with hives and/or swelling and the longer you continue to come in contact with the allergen the more of a reaction you are likely to have. I remember my mom being allergic to penicillan and the reaction going from itching and minor swelling to hives and major swelling to antiphilactic shock (I am sure I did not spell this correctly) were her throat would begin to swell shut and her breathing would be affected or my son when he wanted to mow lawns and he was allergic to cut grass. First lawn he had red eyes, second lawn he had puffy eyes, third and last lawn his eyes swollen shut. I realize it is Monday and your concern what Sunday I just hope you call today as there has to be another pain med you can take. I am like Doug, if I took a Benadryl every time I took a pain pill I would be knocked out after one pill. I hope you are okay and will be looking for your posts throughout the day today. Good luck, Rowdy

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Hi All!
Thanks for the quick feedback. I also thought some of the discharge was the saline. Thinking back to Thursday pm there was a lot - I though I was sweating or soemthing. A little loopy I guess. Since getting rid of the bigger packing and moving to large bandaids all seems normal. No oozing out from underneath or anything. It must have been the saline mixed with some blood. All is good now.

The itchies seem to have calmed down a bit since I took the benadryl - that seems to wrok for about 12 hours. I took benadryl (one of the plain regular ones) at 11 pm and still took all the hydrocodone as prescribed and seem relatively itch free. If I dont need another one (benadryl) before 3 I probably wont call the OS. If the itchies kick back in I will call. My sister in law had the throat closing issue once and that scared me. I really never had them before with the hydrocodone and I think it must be a batch or something. These are yellow (we got them at a pharmacy in Anchorage) normally the ones I get are white. hmmm. The benadryl certainly helped me get a good nights (and 1/2 day so far) sleep. I cant even imaginine having to work or drive like this. Loopey!!! I may try to cut back to one every 4 hours later this week and see what happens. I would think I could get there b4 next Monday. Yikes - It is a good thing the huibby is going to be home this time. He is still being very supportive - very different ths time. Seems to be really happy being in charge right now - guess it doent hurt that all is done in preparation for Christmas. For a change I was highly organized!

OK - Rambling on and eyeballs closing...
Thanks again! Marianne

 

[Linda2]

The sedative effect of the benadryl has worn off for me. The narcotics make many people itch without actually being "allergic", I guess. I sure hope so because all of them make me itch, but the only one that gives me hives is vicodin--at least so far. I am watchful for that.

 

[JudyS]

Marianne,
I remember being itchy in the hospital. I think they gave me something for it. I have been taking percocet for back pain for months now. But, since this scope I have been itcy. Not enough to make my take any benadryl, but I am going to pay attention now to see how near taking another dose the itching occurs.
Wish I could sleep now that everyone is up and fighting!!! Except the snake, he or she is sleeping.

Judy

 

[Josephine]

They don't disclocate the hip to do this procedure, Marianne. They fill the joint up with saline until the two joint surfaces are seperated so they can work. That's what causes most of the pain. Generally joints don't like being forced apart! And the potential joint space in a hip is a lot less than in a knee so more pressure is required. It's the same in a shoulder joint and they can leak buckets after a scoping!

Also scope incisions are rarely stitched. Just held closed with Steristrips.

 

[JudyS]

Jo
I have 4 definate stitches with my knee scope. Why do they rarely stitch them?
Judy

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Jo
The filling full of saline definitely makes sense. And I definitely have some interesting bruising. My right foot finally feels normal - it was killing me the first few days. With my knee scopes I always had stiches. When I checked with the office on Friday she wasnt sure what he did. She said he is famous for dissolvable internal ones. The steristrips loook different than those with my hip- bigger and wider. There is definitely something sticking out of one - looks like it could be a stitch of something. Not sure. Covered it up with a real cushy bandaid and so far no more drainage! Still feel like a semi and I tried dancing together when the drugs wear off so... I am taking things as prescribed.

Had my first pt today and things went well. Sitting is the most difficult, but this too shall pass. Was told to use the crutches for longer walks and for support. Also told to take it easy and rest, but keep working on home exercises. Signed a release of Info so the pt could get a copy of the surgery report since I was useless in telling them what he did, My hubby could have been a better listener. No worries though. I know he was pleased and he fixed the bone issues. i will see the OS office in 1 week. I can wait to find out!


Sorry about the misinfo on the space of the hip. One of the web sites said the use traction and often dislocate. I know there were weird things attached to the table but i was out before they were used.
From the way everything feels I guess the definitely did some pulling somehow. My back, hips, ankle foot and knee are all sore. My knee joint actually ached today but is feeling better now = probably just stiff. I think this will heal really well. What a difference compared to the knee scopes and tkr.

Anyway - thanks again for all the info!
Marianne

 

[Josephine]

Yes, I forgot the traction! They use it on shoulders too. Silly me!

And as for the stitches, perhaps I should have said "In the UK they rarely use stitches". The reason is that it's just not considered necessary as the skin heals fairly readily after a couple of days. The internal tissues do likewise. But obviously there are still some chaps out there using sutures!!

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Jo
That must be it. The traction thing.... Explains the run over by a truck feeling - which actually feels much better overall today. Definitely have the old fashioned stitches. UGHHH Stuck with them until the 29th. A lttle more discharge from one of the ports today.... nothing major. ubby thinks I may be more swollen today, but other than that things are feeling much better. Just spending my days being lazy!

Thanks for all the info!
Marianne