Revision THR hip replacement gone bad<

[Layla]

@zinnia
Wondering how you're feeling. Hopefully better. You and your hip.
Assuming you were well enough to make it onto the boat for the cruise portion of your vacay.
You need to be well enough to soak up some rays while lounging poolside
with some tropical drink in hand. You know....the type with the little umbrella.
Sure hope all is well and you're enjoying some well deserved R&R.

 

[Mojo333]

Hi Zinnia. Just wanted to see if all was well...
Hope you are doing okay!

 

[zinnia]

Hi @Layla and @Mojo333, long time no see! Obviously we are back as of last night late. . .2 hours on the tarmac in SD made us late getting in on the East coast. TIRED! Stamina has improved but still walking on the cane. We walked a whole lot! I would be so tired in the afternoon I'd just fall asleep on the spot. Did it again last night.

But I have developed a troublesome redness along most of the length of the incision. No drainage or seepage but soreness and some burning last night. Since I saw the PA before we left and he said it was irritated "knots" under the skin it has spread. Not a bright red, pale and sort of horizontally streaky. What is that?

Good to be back. A good time but difficult; glad to be back.

 

[Mojo333]

I can only guess that all the walking is pulling on those incisions? I had some lumpy spots that were tie ups I guess you'd say, that are just now smoothing out some.
Please keep an eye on it and try to give yourself extra rest this next week.
Glad you're back safely!

 

[MammaT]

Glad you are back @zinnia. Not sure about incision. Just know mine gave me odd twinges and pulls for quite some time.

 

[zinnia]

Just called the Home Health Care nurse and she said go to the surgeon tomorrow @MammaT. So first thing. I'm not running a fever. I think it's my clothing rubbing against it and irritating it on the trip. No ice packs and lots of walking, not elevation. But we shall see. Lots to do around here!

 

[Layla]

Hi @zinnia
Welcome back! So nice to see you on the forum again.
I hope the trip was wonderful aside from the little detour you took before
the cruise to, Catalina (?) I believe it was. I'd love to go there someday myself.

The incision: I find it wise to have it looked at, better safe than sorry. But I have a hunch
It could be a little inflammation from all the activity. You mentioned you weren't icing / elevating.
I'd certainly try to get back into that practice for awhile longer, especially today. Take a day to re-charge at home before you have it looked at tomorrow. After all 8 weeks post op is still very early days of recovery.

Some common signs of infection: (found online)
A yellow or green discharge that is increasing
A change in the odor of the discharge
A change in the size of the incision
Redness or hardness of the surrounding area
The incision is hot to the touch
Increasing or unusual pain
Fever

Hugs to you and warm wishes for a great Sunday!
Let us know how your visit with the surgeon goes tomorrow, if you care to share.

 

[Layla]

Oops....another consideration....did you have your incision exposed to the sun at all while on the cruise?

 

[zinnia]

No sun @Layla, too chilly; and I don't do sun anyway. I think it was all of the above. I read that if it was 2" out from the incision it was a worriment but I think it's inflammation from all the walking, clothes rubbing against it and thus the horizontal thing going on. But we shall see. Let you all know tomorrow.

 

[Descant]

@zinnia I think that Layla’s info is good advice. I went back to hospital at 5 weeks because wound looking inflamed and really painful. GP had put me on antibiotics but surgeon thought not infected because could do movements with no deep pain, no temperature, not unwell, not too big an area of inflammation approx 1cm and wound not particularly hot.

My Incision is still not settled. Goes a bit inflamed and I apply manuka honey or Sudacrem or hypericum cream then goes more pink again, so I am holding out until hospital appointment on Wednesday.

I just love what you have done over the last few days. Unbelievable. I’m always anxious re travelling but because I have a new partner who adores travelling I plucked up my courage and visited USA for first time last year. Austin, Texas in a fabulous B and B and I just loved it. The thought, however, that you have done all this at such an early stage of your recovery is so inspiring.

Talking to new people is exhausting because of the effort of being ‘nice’ all the time and just general small talk. If you can talk specifics like “what’s your favourite type of knife?” It’s ok. I’m always shattered, especially if conversation about generalities lasts more than 7 minutes.

To cheer you up since you are comparing similar dates I have not yet walked more than half mile because of recurring wound inflammation and pain. I walk usually with 2 sticks outside, although have used just one at times. I walk without a limp. I do a few exercises, then abandon them because of spasms or incision problems. I can’t sit very comfortably. I have only just started to socialise outside the house and on the whole, mainly because of encouragement from Layla, Mojo333, and Granny C amongst others consider myself as doing rather well!!

Hope it all checks out well tomorrow.

 

[Layla]

Hey sweet Zinnia,
Any word from the surgeon on your incision?
Hopefully it's fading or you've received word it's nothing of concern.
Thinking of you today.....

@zinnia

 

[zinnia]

@Layla, I didn't go today; will see about tomorrow. I made a paste of our good mountain raw honey, thanks to a suggestion from you, @Descant, and turmeric, covered it in gauze and left it on all night. Not manuka, but raw honey none the less. I wiped it off before I went to PT and it looks somewhat better. It is strangely only on one side of the incision though. Weird? or am I missing something? Hopefully another dose tonight will see me escaping tomorrow too.
PT went well I think. The young man and I entered into a promise to work together for solutions to my many physical problems, the hip being only one. I told him about Bone Smart and that I was tied into this philosophy of recovery. He listened. The good news is that, basically, I am strong. Just one hold out and guess which one. . .the gluteus maximus! My nemesis. But I put my foot down on the hated "crab" exercise and got a more gentle approach. So we will see where this goes. So far I'm not sore or suffering but it was all very gentle stuff.
Tomorrow or as long as the weather holds, I am back to the walking outside and shopping for a FitBit to suit my purposes. Anyone with an idea of which model of a different brand. They are popping up like daisies out there.
Stay safe everyone. Nice to be back.

 

[SaraK]

Congrats on how well you're doing @zinnia! Would you have dreamed 6 months ago that you'd be talking so nonchalantly about buying a Fitbit? There are a variety of products out there with varying whistles and bells, so you need to think about the features you want and the resulting price range. The Fitbit Charge 2 is the one my boys got me but I specifically wanted one that did the pulse rate in addition to counting steps. It also has built in alarms and reminders, etc. And syncs info to my smartphone. It costs about $150. You can find more basic models for a lot less, though.

 

[MammaT]

Hi @zinnia- on the whole sounds like a good day.

Like @SaraK said, the are a wide variety of fitbits. I use the Alta that tracks sleep and steps, it is smaller than the charge 2, syncs with phone and computer and costs a little less. It really depends on what you want to track. There are also other brands.

Happy shopping!

 

[Layla]

The paste sounds different / interesting @zinnia
I hope you establish the same relationship with this PT that you had with Andy.
Just remember who's boss Z-I-N-N-I-A....you Go Girl!
Enjoy your evening, dear one

 

[zinnia]

I'm boss, I'm boss, I'm boss! and I'm not sore at all. But it is to the PA this week, call tomorrow for sure. No larger but not much better either. It's unsettling though and since he's already looked at and prescribed antibiotics he has a reference.
Happy to get the help, @SaraK and @MammaT. There is a batch of them out there and they all do so much, those fit bits, etc. I'll let you know which I decide on; it will be difficult. How nice of your boys to give you one, SaraK.
Tired tonight; catching up from the super duper trip still. And I'm on west coast time.
Night all, Sleep tight and well. No pains allowed.

 

[MammaT]

Hope today is a good one for you and you got lost of rest last night @zinnia. Good luck with incision.

 

[Layla]

Happy Tuesday! @zinnia
Prayers it's just some inflammation from over activity, or friction irritation as you mentioned.
It's great to hear you're resting after the big trip. I sometimes forget you're not quite two
months yet as you've been on a couple vacations already, wild woman!
Hoping today is peaceful for you and you soon get answers. Hugs!

 

[zinnia]

Well, not so restful after all. . .SanDiego time still, I think. But no soreness from PT yesterday. My idea of rest at this stage is using my rotator walker around the house because there is a lot of carting around to do. Hair appt in the pm; looking forward to that. Forgot to report that I drove for the first time yesterday to PT. I'm loose, ladies and gentlemen. Watch out! Lunch with friends later this week. We'll see if I can parallel park still.

Inflammation looks worlds better this am. No call necessary I don't think. Later today I'll put some more honey on there; dropping the turmeric paste. . .yellow all over the place that I'm afraid will be the devil to get up and out.
Raining out but warm so maybe a walk later outside and light exercises today. Got to stay behind (ha, ha, ha!) that gluteus maximus.

Thinking of you all each in our own personal recoveries and I'm so proud of us all. This stuff isn't easy and I can see that I will be giving up yet another year to recovery. The good thing is. . .no pain so I'm not sweating it.
As far as trips go sweet @Layla, my husband has just signed us up for an Alaska cruise in mid-June, a perk for him for some major volunteer work. Just 7 or 10 days, but into Seattle we go and return with the cruise going to the Inside Passage. I'll be ready. The beach in May which is just down the road a piece from us so no big traveling.
And then there is the gardening beginning in February. Lots to look forward to.

Off to research those fit bits now and buy a new chair for the living room (on line)!

Have a great day everyone.

 

[Descant]

Yo @zinnia. So glad you’re loosening up and not sore from PT. That’s great news. Driving, lunching, hairdressering, all sounds good.

Inflammation is a bit of a devil isn’t it. I’m putting loads of Sudacrem on 2 or 3 times a day now and that seems quite miraculous. I then think everything completely normal, before it suddenly turns quite red again for a few hours. I misunderstood hospital appointment which I thought was tomorrow, so have another 3 weeks to wait. Although I’m not so worried now.

Husbands major volunteer work sounds intriguing. This time, you’ll just be able to relax more and enjoy the cruise.