THR LadyJ has a new hip and is doing well.

[Layla]

Hi ladyj,
I hope you find a good book to distract and entertain you as you ice and rest.
Happy Three Month Anniversary! Wishing you a peaceful rest of the week.
Feel better soon!
@ladyj

 

[ladyj]

 

[ladyj]

I seem to be grounded again. As I am trying to be more active I am getting greater levels of pain, particularly from my groin and down the front of my thigh.. Could barely walk at all today without crutches or hanging on to furniture.
I was doing so well.
Lying on the bed icing at present.
I am taking paracetamol and flarin ibuprofen twice a day.
I’m about 14 weeks out, and thought I would be much better by now.
I was walking pretty well at about 6 weeks, now not so much.
This only started when I tried to walk longer distances.
I saw the physio a couple of weeks ago and she didn’t think that my new hip was causing these problems but rather soft tissue injuries.
Anyway, lying on bed, icing, and feeling pretty fed up.

 

[ladyj]

HELP!
I seem to be in real trouble!
I am in about week 15 since my THR.
As I have reported here in the last few weeks, after I started trying to walk longer distances I have developed a pain in my thigh, at the front centre, and my leg doesn’t want to bear my weigh.
My physio thought it was a soft tissue injury. Anyway, I have been icing it and taking anti inflammatories, and I thought it was getting better.
Yesterday afternoon as I was going up a step it gave way on me.
I picked myself up, iced it, hobbled around a bit, and as we had tickets for a concert (serious music in a local concert hall), I decided to go.
I got out of the car, walked a couple of steps, and then fell over in a heap. My husband had gone to park the car, having dropped me at the entrance.
Stewards appeared from everywhere to help me up, and they found me a wheelchair which I was able to watch the concert from, and jolly good it was too.
The stewards helped me into our car at the end, and I am now at home, in bed with ice on my thigh.
What should I do now?
I have a telephone appointment with my surgeon next week.
I had my operation done at a private hospital locally because NHS waiting lists are in years here.
Is this just a badly strained muscle?
Could it be my new hip?
I was fine until I started to walk any distance, and by that I mean about half a mile, not proper walking.
Should I just rest it?
Should I phone my GP?
What would be a sensible course of action?

 

[Layla]

I am sorry to read this, ladyj. Since there is pain involved in addition to your leg giving out twice, resulting in falls, you need to contact your surgeon's office today and go from there. If you don't get any satisfaction there, contact your PCP. You need to know what's going on and avoid future falls, possibly seriously injuring yourself. Please don't wait for your telephone appointment with your surgeon next week. That's too far off given what you shared here. I wish you only the best and hope you'll stay in touch and let us know how you're doing.
@ladyj

 

[KittensMom]

How are you doing today @ladyj ?

 

[ladyj]

Hi,

Sigh of relief!
And then some.
I left a message on my OS’s website.
He rang me early this morning and told me to go to A&E at the local hospital.
He works there as well as at the private hospital.
So I went, and was very surprised that I didn’t have to wait too long. They X rayed my hip and said that it was fine, there was no fracture, and everything was as it should be.
I just have a muscular strain.
I have to walk with my three wheeled walker outside, and crutches inside. It is the usual routine of resting, icing, and anti inflammatories.
So bit of a shock, but could be much worse.
I see my surgeon again next week.
The NHS hospital are sending my notes and X-rays over to him.
Also the young doctor at the private hospital rang me to make sure I was OK.
I realise, for sure that I couldn’t be in better hands.
So this has all been a bit traumatic.
I think that most of the problem is occurring because I limped for so long before I had my operation.
Also I have a knee replacement in the other leg, and a rebuilt tibia, and pins in my right ankle also so I am a bit bionic, which probably doesn’t help.
But hey, I’m going for it and I am definitely going to get there!

Thank you Bonesmarties for all your kindness and invaluable support.

 

[Layla]

Thanks for the update, @ladyj
Whew! Good news all looks well on x-ray and it's only a strained muscle and not a fracture.
I am sorry for the discomfort you're dealing with, but hopefully with the instructions from your surgeon, some rest and TLC, you'll be back to normal soon! Please stay in touch and let us know how you're doing.
Happy Tuesday!

 

[CricketHip]

I can imagine how worried you were and it's so frustrating and scary when your leg gives out like that!
Interestingly, I had a similar strain that bothered me for quite some time.. that was when I was maybe 8 weeks post op. I need to go read over my recovery thread, but this is a good guess.

Then just lately I've been working out with light weights, etc. Now mind you, my right hip is almost 8 years post op but when doing the weighted ADDuction exercises and leg extensions, it flared up what I am thinking are the ligaments and or tendons in my hip again. It came right out of the blue!
I struggled not to fall down, too and was rather embarrassing when trying to do my tai chi class later the next week. But this time I recovered fairly quickly and will continue to do the weight lifting but am going very carefully with the leg workouts. Gotta practice what we preach, right?

So I can just imagine how you struggled especially since you are still in the earlier months of your recovery.

Slow and steady wins the race, right? You will get there, please don't worry about the walking, it will get better, I'm wondering if you are walking where there's a slight incline or uneven ground? That can aggravate a new hip too.
BTW- the ER doctors put me on crutches too, for the first time. But didn't need them long and switched to two canes, then one. Time does heal.. I love that your surgeon was so attentive to you. That's wonderful.

 

[ladyj]

Thank you so much.
I’m not doing exercises at the moment, although I think as I Improve I may go for short walks with my three wheeled walking aid, so that I can build up my leg muscles without putting all my weight on my strained leg.
Also I have an open appointment with the physio so I might be able to see her once I have seen my surgeon, and get some suitable exercises.
I am hoping to recover as quickly as possible although these things can take some time.
I might see if I can find a tai chi class once I am better. I was a long distance walker before I smashed my left leg up in a hiking accident, but as I am no good at sport I think it might suit me well.
My surgeon has been absolutely wonderful.
I think he was originally from Jordan. He is so attentive and kind, that I feel very lucky. He rang me this morning and went through everything on the phone.
I said to him I felt very privileged that he phoned me, he said “it is my duty.”
Anyway, I am feeling much relieved after today.
I can’t wait to be really better and to go and have a lovely walk around the shops!

Many Thanks and Hugs x

 

[Gloucestergal65]

@ladyj - My hip/leg used to give way before surgery so it was quite scary to read about yours giving way after surgery. I was hoping that surgery would have cured that possibility and it hasn’t happened again for me (yet!) Anyway, it sounds as though everything is positive for you with no lasting damage and I’m glad that you feel relieved today. Take care.

 

[ladyj]

I think it feels more like a sprained ankle only in my thigh. I have just been walking with crutches today and I swear it feels better already.
My knee felt as if it would give way for months before the operation.
I had a quite badly swollen and painful knee, which the surgeons decided was being caused by my hip.
My knee is arthritic and I may have to have a replacement yet, but the main problem has been solved by the THR.

 

[ladyj]

I thought I should give you all my latest report on how I am doing.
I saw my surgeon today and there is no problem with my new hip at all.
What a relief!
Despite that I still have a pulled muscle in my thigh and now my back has gone into spasm.
So, as you all advised me, this recovery can take a year, although I do hope it will be better before that.
No physio exercises, or anything like that, so I will just take it a day at a time.
Thank you all again for all your help and support.
(Then we had lunch in a very nice pub).

 

[Mojo333]

Good to hear hip is good to go... I know that was reassuring for you as the niggles continue....
Things will be better before a year... just incrementally so keep it slow and steady, friend.
Hope your Thursday is Sweet.

 

[ladyj]

Confined to bed with excruciating back pain. I am OK as long as I don’t move.
Hope I will be better tomorrow!
I have a good book, the latest one about Boris Johnson, and I am watching tv on my iPad.
Not quite the way I expected to spend the Bank Holiday!
❤️

 

[Mojo333]

So sorry @ladyj

 

[ladyj]

I am just hoping that I will start to improve now. It seems that everything that could happen has happened.

 

[ladyj]

Just checking in with everyone.
I am still in a great deal of pain, though how much of that is due to my new hip or my old back problem I don’t know.
I seem to be in less pain if I just lie flat and don’t do anything. Sitting in an armchair can be agony.
After getting the all clear from the surgeon I thought I would just improve, but my whole lower back went.
I rang my GP and she prescribed some co codamol which helps. She said it sounds as if my THR has caused the back problems.
I seem to be regaining a bit of strength in my muscles and am walking slightly better, but the pain in my right hip can be excruciating unless I lie flat, when the pain goes away.
I don’t really know what to do now.
My husband says give it time, which may well be good advice, but it isn’t easy!

 

[Jaycey]

@ladyj Can you ask your GP for a referral to a PT who specialises in spinal issues? I worked with one after my LTHR set off my lower back pain. It took a few sessions. But he knew what needed to be done and eventually my back issues eased.

 

[myglasshalffull]

You might be compensating with the way you stand, walk which could be source of back issues. I had MRI of my back last week and I have spinal stenosis which is quite common for a woman my age that spent so many years working on my feet.
I'm going to get some injections in my back on June 20th.
Other than that I feel very good, thank goodness. And many days my back doesn't bother me too much.
I hope you feel better soon.