THR My new Right Hip

[tandmcox88]

Saw my surgeons PA on Monday and ended up getting multiple xrays - left and right hip and knee. Right hip replacement is perfect and healing great. A little area of scar tissue and muscle that is slightly swollen but he said that will go away. My left hip and knee are showing signs of deterioration and the left knee cap has actually shifted to the left a good bit. Both will need replacement in the future. I'm going to wait as long as I can. He gave me a lidocaine/kennalog injection in the knee to help with all the pain and swelling. It sure has helped but I developed has severe headache and dizziness that has not gone away yet.

 

[tandmcox88]

Had to go to the cardiologist today, He is doing all kinds of blood work to see if there is an infection due to the irregular heart beat I have developed in the past two days. It better not be my new hip!!

 

[tandmcox88]

I was able to get the post op pictures of my right hip. Pretty neat.

 

[medic4355]

Is the zipper to take the hip out if it hurts. LOL JK I got an infection once from a rod in my femur. I had dental work done without premeditating. I had to be hospitalized for IV meds but it got better.

 

[tandmcox88]

@medic4355 haha, I was surprised they did the films while I was dressed too. What signs and symptoms did you have with the infection? Today the front of my leg was sore even just from my clothes touching it. I had the labs done today but I'm thinking of calling my surgeon in the morning too.

 

[medic4355]

Well I generally feLt like my leg was on fire. It did cause some heart arithmias like tachycardia and PVC's but mostly I just ran high fever and felt like ****.

 

[tandmcox88]

Well I saw my cardiologist yesterday and now I have to have a chest Ct scan with angio to see if I have a blood clot in my lung. I am supposed to go back to work in just under 3 weeks. Anyone else have a blood clot in the lungs after hip replacement? Also I still cant walk further than my mailbox and back due to muscle pain, and I still cant lay down on my right side with out feeling like there is something hard there. I feel it when I first lay down on my back too, right in the buttock area. It sends a twinge a strange feeling and then goes away with in 20 seconds or so. I am 10 weeks and 1 day post op. I was hoping that I would be walking the stores and the neighborhood by now.

 

[tandmcox88]

So recovery is still not going good. Week 10 starts tomorrow and yesterday I got out of the car and my lower back and hip have been hurting since. I can't sit for more than 5 minutes. I can't stretch my leg. It hurts in the buttocks more than anything.

 

[tandmcox88]

Why does the pain get better week 7-8 and then week 10-11 it is horrible. Hurts sitting, hurts walking. I have to go back to work in a couple weeks. I don't know what to do. I'm still living on pain medication daily.

 

[sharonslp]

Tina, do you have any options for delaying your return to work, if need be? I'm sure that's putting more stress on your already stretched-thin coping reserves. Just knowing you have a Plan B may help you concentrate on taking care of whatever is going on. When you do have to return, can you at least ease into it with part-time at first?

If I'm understanding your updates correctly, it's not your surgical hip that is causing pain; is that correct? And are you back on your RA meds? It sounds like your docs are staying on top of things, but you are very unfortunately afflicted with multiple things that make pain extremely difficult to manage. RA...left hip and knee issues.....recovery from this recent THR...cardiology issues.... I can hear your frustration and fear.

Keep us posted as this plays out. The more the docs rule out the scary stuff, the better!

Sharon

 

[tandmcox88]

@sharonslp thank you for the reply. Here is an update. I am supposed to go back to work Monday March 2nd. My pain is in the right surgical hip. The incision has a small area at the top that looks either open or has a scab. Hubby says it looks gray to him. It is hard all around it and sore. It seems worse now than day 1. The left leg is only hurting on occasion since my surgeon did the injection in my knee. Cardiologist added a medication and antibiotics so I had to go back off RA medication for 10 days. Tonight was the last antibiotic so back on the RA medication tomorrow. Symptoms with heart are better not 100% but much better. Cardiologist wants to wait a few more months to do the cardiac catheritization so my hip heals more. I mm calling the surgeon on Monday. My next appointment is not until March 30th. I want to have him check everything before I go back to work. Unfortunately my work is all or nothing. But I'm gonna try for part time for a week or two. Thank you for your help.

 

[sharonslp]

Tagging @Josephine also. See if she can shed any light.

 

[tandmcox88]

Went to my rheumatologist this morning. He is putting me on another medication. I'm waiting for surgeons office to call me back.

 

[Josephine]

I got an infection once from a rod in my femur. I had dental work done without premeditating

@medic4355 I'm sure you didn't mean premeditating! But in any case, you premise is incorrect. Recent research has totally refuted any connection with peri-prosthetic infections and dental work. You can see it here Dental antibiotics: Evidence insufficient to recommend prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures.

Why does the pain get better week 7-8 and then week 10-11 it is horrible.

Do tell me what kind of PT exercises and exercises at home are you doing? How much and how often? (and detailed details would be appreciated, please! **Reps, sets and sessions** and all that)

** If you're not familiar with this, it goes like so:
1 lift of your leg = 1 rep (repetition)
5 reps and then a brief rest = 1 set
5 sets and finishing = 1 session.

 

[tandmcox88]

@Josephine Hi, I am doing home PT, I sit in a recliner and do the following 1 or 2 times a day:
1. Raise legs straight out and hold for 5 seconds rest leg and repeat 15 reps, 1 set.
2. Heal touches X 15 reps, 1 set.
3. Toe touches X 15 reps, 1 set.
4. Raise right leg straight out and move leg out to the right and back 15 reps, 1 set, do the same for the left leg and move it to the left.
5. While sitting with feet on the floor place a pillow in-between my knees, squeeze and hold for 5 seconds. 15 reps, 1 set.
6. while sitting with feet on the floor, raise leg up with knee bent 15 reps, 1 set per leg.
While standing at the kitchen sink.
1. Kick leg backwards bending at the knee, 15 reps, 1 set per leg.
2. Bend knees like a small squat, 15 reps, 1 set
3. March in place 15 reps, 1 set Raising legs high as I can.
4. Sideways walk back and forth along the kitchen counter.
While Laying in bed.
1. Slide foot towards buttocks bending knee, 15 reps, 1 set per leg.
2. Point toes outward 15 reps, 1 set per foot.
3. Point toes towards me 15 reps, 1 set per foot.
4. Squeeze buttocks together and hold for 5 seconds 15 reps, 1 per leg.
5. Leg lifts, 15 reps, 1 set each leg.
6. Raise legs straight out and hold for 5 seconds rest leg and repeat 15 reps, 1 set.
I believe that is all of it. My surgeon did tell me I would need to premeditate for any and all dental work even cleanings and he said to wait 6 months for a cleaning do to my increased rate for infection with my rheumatoid Arthritis medications.

 

[Josephine]

in a recliner and do the following 1 or 2 times a day
1. Raise legs straight out and hold for 5 seconds rest leg and repeat 15 reps, 1 set
2. Heel touches X 15 reps, 1 set
3. Toe touches X 15 reps, 1 set
4. Raise right leg straight out and move leg out to the right and back 15 reps, 1 set, do the same for the left leg and move it to the left
5. While sitting with feet on the floor place a pillow in-between my knees, squeeze and hold for 5 seconds. 15 reps, 1 set
6. while sitting with feet on the floor, raise leg up with knee bent 15 reps, 1 set per leg

While standing at the kitchen sink
1. Kick leg backwards bending at the knee, 15 reps, 1 set per leg
2. Bend knees like a small squat, 15 reps, 1 set
3. March in place 15 reps, 1 set Raising legs high as I can
4. Sideways walk back and forth along the kitchen counter

While Laying in bed
1. Slide foot towards buttocks bending knee, 15 reps, 1 set per leg
2. Point toes outward 15 reps, 1 set per foot
3. Point toes towards me 15 reps, 1 set per foot
4. Squeeze buttocks together and hold for 5 seconds 15 reps, 1 per leg
5. Leg lifts, 15 reps, 1 set each leg
6. Raise legs straight out and hold for 5 seconds rest leg and repeat 15 reps, 1 set

This is all crazy. Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess. What you are doing is training for the Olympics! Quit them all and just take walks. That's all that's necessary. I promise.

 

[tandmcox88]

@Josephine
Thank you. I am going back to work on Monday and I can barley walk to the pharmacy counter in the back of a CVS drugstore and back to the car without terrible muscle pain.

 

[Josephine]

Well obviously you can't go back to work on Monday! How can you perform your duties when you can hardly walk?

 

[Josephine]

l area at the top that looks either open or has a scab. Hubby says it looks gray to him. It is hard all around it and sore. It seems worse now than day 1.

I'm terribly sorry - I missed this. Have you had it looked at by a doctor? I think this is another reason why you should not think of returning to work yet.

 

[tandmcox88]

Yup I am calling the office now, I went to take my Mom in law to lunch and felt a sharp pain down my leg and the hip really hurts now even sitting down. thank you for all your help. I will let you know what they say. Appointment with Surgeons PA who was in there in my surgery tomorrow at 1:45 p.m.