THR JenaS62's Recovery

[JenaS62]

I have more good news to report. I’m 7 weeks out and can walk on my own, only using the cane once in a while. I ditched the knee brace because it was causing my knee to throb and I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I am able to do normal duties around the house but still can’t drive because I cannot extend leg to hit gas and break and my leg is still numb from groin to ankle. I feel so much better emotionally to be able to walk. Yay

 

[JenaS62]

I had a bit of a set back on Sunday 5/7. I guess I got over confident on my ability to walk. I was out on our outside concrete patio with no knee brace on and no cane or Walker. My surgery side foot hit one of the lounge chairs and my knee gave out and I went down like a rock. I fell on to both my knees with my feet under me. The pain in my surgery side knee was horrible. I could not get back up and my husband was at work. I had to crawl across the concrete pad, across our Florida room floor and into the house. I have been a bit sore but I guess I’m ok.

Now I’m afraid. I have no working quads in my leg to hold my knee in place due to the nerve damage. I still see the neurologist on June 1st but doubt is creeping in and so is depression. Back to the knee brace.

 

[MissFanny]

Oh no! I’m so sorry to read that happened. Hoping for quick healing for you!

 

[MeowWoofMomma]

Oh my gosh, that must have been very scary! So glad you survived without any serious damage. Hoping you'll feel better soon.

 

[Layla]

I am so sorry you fell. Then to top it off, you didn't have anyone to come to your aid. Such a sad thought!
Take one day at a time, as well as every precaution, especially while home alone as you wait to hear the neurologist's thoughts in three weeks. Try not to let negative thoughts take hold, this is still very early into your recovery in the whole scheme of things. Remember...we're always here for you. I hope you have a good week!
@MeowWoofMomma

 

[spaniel]

Oh no! Concrete floor and falling. I walk alone in the wee hours of the morning which displeases my spouse to no end. I'm one of the "long recovery" gals who, despite some nerve damage, is doing very well.I have never given up and have had massive help from my PT. Frankly I walk better than many of my age cohorts ,, though certainly its not a matter of comparison,really.

 

[Layla]

How are you doing, Jena, on this two month anniversary of your THR?
Hanging in there I hope. We're here if you need us. Hope to hear from you soon.
@JenaS62

 

[JenaS62]

How are you doing, Jena, on this two month anniversary of your THR?
Hanging in there I hope. We're here if you need us. Hope to hear from you soon.
@JenaS62

Hi Layla. Yesterday was 9 weeks. Nothing has really changed except that I am back on the walker. My surgeon said that I should not be trying to walk without it due to my unstable knee. My knee and surrounding area is still numb as is my inner thigh, shin and inner calf down to my ankle bone. I cannot extend my leg at the knee either so still can’t drive. I see the neurologist on June 1st but don’t have a lot of faith they anything can be done.

 

[JenaS62]

Oh no! Concrete floor and falling. I walk alone in the wee hours of the morning which displeases my spouse to no end. I'm one of the "long recovery" gals who, despite some nerve damage, is doing very well.I have never given up and have had massive help from my PT. Frankly I walk better than many of my age cohorts ,, though certainly its not a matter of comparison,really.

Thanks for your post. I am very interested in hearing more about your nerve damage. What effects did the damage cause and how long was your recovery?

 

[Layla]

I am sorry you're still struggling, Jena.
Best Wishers for your appointment on June 1st. Please let us know how it goes. We're here for support if you ever feel the need.
@JenaS62

 

[spaniel]

@JenaS62 -sorry for the delayed response. The nerve damage,again, was on the unoperated side. My left foot has perhaps recovered a bit, but there remains variability. I am fully able to walk on it, but with sustained standing I lose a bit more sensation. But I really want to emphasize that I am fully mobile. Neurological matters can be very complex And finding definitive answers are not all that easy. I have a neuro who will absolutely not give up but there comes a point where there is only so much we can do without possibly making things worse. I still have the leg length discrepancy -as noted by several M.D.s and dismissed by OS, a far more junior doc than my other M.D.s. SO-if I walk around in bare feet even short distances, it is not good. I brace my left knee down to part of calf, and I wear specially made orthotics. Doing these “regular” common sense things help tremendously! And I wear sneakers 95 % of the time. Anything else makes the issue worse. I walk a good mile and a half daily ,swim, sing in several groups,with the need to sit down for five minutes-then I’m up again. Keep us posted with you visit in AM

 

[JenaS62]

Hi everyone. I saw a local neurologist on Thursday and found out no more than I already knew. I had already made an appointment/multiple appointments actually with Mayo Clinic for August. The Neuro I saw on Thursday scheduled a nerve test for June 30th and then a follow up with him end of July. So I am just going to wait for my appointments at Mayo. I feel much better about their level of doctors than my small town ones.

Today for the first time while I had one of my dogs to the vet, I hit an area on my thigh which sent an electrical type currents down my inner thigh into my knee. I am hoping that it’s a good sign. I am mobile. I can walk on my own but feel a little nervous about falling. I am not good on uneven pavement so outside I prefer a Walker. I am getting stronger, just need my quads to get stronger and feeling to come back on inner leg. I am hopeful that it will.

 

[Jaycey]

I hit an area on my thigh which sent an electrical type currents down my inner thigh into my knee. I am hoping that it’s a good sign.

I would think this is a positive! Those zaps are usually nerves waking up from trauma.

Easy does it for now. It is totally OK to be cautious!

 

[spaniel]

Wise move on your part,that is, heading away from local area. May I ask which Mayo area?

 

[JenaS62]

Wise move on your part,that is, heading away from local area. May I ask which Mayo area?

Yes. I’m going to Mayo in Jacksonville

 

[Jason11]

I went to mayo clinic years ago, in Rochester, Minnesota. The thing I liked about Mayo clinic was they get all your testing done in days, that would take many months to do it any place else. The other thing I liked about Mayo clinic is all the receptionist ,nurses , and everybody I dealt with all smiled ( not the new nasty smiles they do nowdays) they were all Generally pleasant and easy to talk to. That was a big positive to me nothing worse than going to a doctors office and the receptionist acts like a robot or like you’re bothering her. All the best to you in your recovery and healing.

 

[JenaS62]

Hi everyone. Well I am now 15 weeks post op. I am walking inside with no walking aids and my husband and I take a walk around our neighborhood every morning and I use a cane just as a security blanket. The first time we walked outside was a little difficult. I had a lot of trouble with the uneven ground but now after about 4 weeks, it’s no problem at all.

My knee still feels like it’s filled with jelly and my inner leg is still numb. My thigh still throbs at the end of the day and still I cannot extend my leg from a sitting position so I cannot drive. I am hoping that my leg will lift soon as I really miss driving.

I have my appointments at Mayo coming up in August. My husband and I will treat it as a mini vacation getting away from our dogs for a couple days.

This has been a long process and even though really only 4 months, it seems so much longer. But my mental state is much better now. Everyone needs to know that it will get better even if it takes a long time.

 

[Caison113]

Wow, what a journey you have been on. So sorry to hear about all the issues and especially your fall. You are doing the right thing and thankfully, you are at least making some progress in terms of walking. Obviously not where you want to be long-term, but you will soon be in the hands of some excellent specialists and perhaps the nerve will continue to come back in the meantime. Good luck!

 

[Ldm380]

Hi @JenaS62 sorry you’re going through a tough time. I think someone has already mentioned laying off the PT, rest, ice, ice, ice. Maybe your doing to much and it doesn’t speed up the recovery it can hinder it. This is my first week recovery and I use crutches to go to the bathroom make a cup of tea then binge watch TV sitting on ice constantly. That’s my PT. Hope you feel better soon x

 

[JenaS62]

Hi everyone. An update! At exactly the 4 month mark which was last Friday, I laid on my bed and did one straight leg lift. I could not do it again until today and I managed to do several. Also last night while sitting on my couch reclining a little bit, I lifted my lower leg from the floor at the knee several times. I could cry tears of joy. I still have much improvement needed before I can drive again but it is coming back. If nothing else, I have learned to have patience and the importance of exercising. I work at a desk job at home all day but throughout the day I walk, March, kicks, nerve flossing and use EMS. So if anyone else is experiencing femoral nerve damage, know that it can and probably will get better in time. I know that I will be able to dance with my son at his wedding!