My mum's recovery

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pika

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Hi, it has been 10 months since my mum had the surgery but she still relies on crutches every now and then, and she feels her leg is still very weak. Just wondering whether there is anyone who experience similar condition? Any suggestion as to how to improve her condition? I am desparate to get any help I could get. thanks
 
Re: recovery progress

Pika, it would help to know how old is your mum and what she was like before the op. It all counts as to what the progress of recovery might be afterwards.
 
Hi, thanks for the new posting title. She is in her early 60s and healthy. Before op, she was able to walk without aids. If she took pain killer, she was able to walk quite a distance. But now she found her leg so weak that she cant walk for long. She said no matter how hard she tried, nothing (including medicine) seem to be able to get her leg to move once the weakness kicks in - which happens more these days. Instead of pain in the joint, she actually found the pain from below knee. This worries me.
 
I don't blame you for being concerned! What has the surgeon to say about this situation? And her own doctor? Sounds to me like she has a nerve impairment somewhere. Possibly the sciatic nerve or a nerve in the lower leg.

When this weakness occurs, does her foot become difficult to hold up? Meaning can she bend her foot up at the ankle without too much trouble? How long has this difficulty existed? Was it evident before she left hospital?

Sorry for the third degree but it's difficult to offer an opinion without such information. I would also like to know, did she have a regular hip replacement for arthritis or as the result of a fractured hip?
 
Thanks for the reply.

The surgeon stopped seeing her after 3 months saying there was nothing he could offer. There is nothing we could do if he is not willing to help. Her doctor said just continue on the rehab.

The weakness occurs recently (about 1 month) when she started to walk a bit more. When it happens, she finds it difficult to get her leg to move - it is hard to describe - its like if you were walking for a long distance to the extent that you couldn't walk anymore. But she feels better when she sits down. Does this have anything to do with how much she walks each day? She still hasn't walked that much compare to pre-op.

The surgery was due to arthritis - not regular surgery.
 
hello pika l feel so sorry for your mom , l had my left hip replaced feb 2006 and it didnt work l am going back into hospital on sunday to have it done again, l have the same symtoms as your mom l was told it was nerve ends ,then l was told it was muscular,pt was so painful and l new after ten months that it wasnt right, somtimes you have to shout to be heard and thats what l had to do, finally l was sent for a bone scan and it showed that it was loose this is very rare it happens to about one in every hundred trust me to be one of the 1%,it takes some people longer to recover than others but a bone scan will put your mind at rest,l do hope everything turns out ok for your mom hatty
 
You're quite right, hatty. This needs to be looked at if only to give some answers. This good lady shouldn't be in this condition at her age. I think it sounds like she either has had some nerve damage or the prosthesis is loosening.

I suggest you get her seen by another orthopaedic surgeon for a second opinion and if that doesn't produce at least an explanation, then go for a third opinion! But don't rest until you get some answers.

Keep us posted.
 
Thank hatty and Josephine for your replies. We did go for second opinion and bone scan, but did not get an explanation for the extremely slow recovery and other symptons. We thought it would get better as time passes, but it has now been 10 months.... Will go for third opinion for sure. Thanks so much for your help.
 
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