THR My new Right Hip

[tandmcox88]

@Josephine I just got home from the surgeons office. He has put me off work for two more weeks. He said that my abductor muscles are healing as well as they should be and are very angry. If they are not better in another week he will order a MRI to look for a tear or anything else. Work is very angry but what can I do.

 

[tandmcox88]

I saw my PA and he said my abductor muscles are very angry and slow to heal. Put me out of work for 2 more weeks. I got home and during dinner he called to tell me he spoke to my surgeon and I am going back in for xrays to check for implant displacement.

 

[Josephine]

What did they say about the grey area?

 

[tandmcox88]

He said it could be an internal stich but not to worry about it, he said the incision looks great.

 

[tandmcox88]

@Josephine I'm back in the hospital. Being checked for blood clots, cellulitis and to fine out why I now have a-fib. The cellulitis is just above my ankle in the same leg as my 13 week old hip. So scared my hip will get infected.

 

[copsham]

Hello tandmcox88,
My wound has lumps that go grey and sure enough internal stitches spit out. Today a knot came out! (look at he attached picture if you dare!). The stitches are superfine like black filaments which I would miss if I did not see them in the dressing. The ejection is preceded by inflammation that turns to infection and then lo and behold a stitch or a knot comes out. The first one or two were very worrying. Your description sounds a bit like mine??

All I know at the moment is that every one who sees this mess says it is very superficial. Good luck X

 

[Josephine]

So scared my hip will get infected

It's most unlikely to. Cellulitis is, by definition, a very superficial infection being an inflammation of the skin and the related subcutaneous tissues such as fat. It doesn't even get deep enough to affect the muscles so it won't get deep enough to affect your new hip.

The first one or two were very worrying. All I know at the moment is that every one who sees this mess says it is very superficial.

The same reply as above applies to you also. Stitch infections are superficial and so long as the stitch material keeps coming out, it won't go any deeper.

My impression from your photo, though there's nothing to give me an idea of size, is that a rather too thick suture material was used for that superficial layer. Thick sutures are required to repair muscles but finer stuff is usually used for the topmost layer or fat. That suture, even allowing for the change in being bathed in tissue fluid, appears a little too robust for the tissue it was used on. (I hope this makes sense!)

 

[tandmcox88]

Thank you all, I am home now. No cellulitis, no infection, and no blood clots. Thank goodness. New diagnosis of AFIB with RVR, increased my medications. I have to follow up with my PCP and my cardiologist. My heart rate was very irregular and 150 per minute for about 4 hours. By the time the on call cardiologist came to see me 24 hours after arrival to the ER my heart rate and rhythem were normal again. After being in the hospital bed for two and half days my hip feels much better. So maybe I was over doing it walking around the house. Doesnt seem like it would have been to much but given what the surgeon said when he called to tell me the x-rays are great no displacement, no movement, no cracks. He assured me that my continued pain was due to the severity of the disease prior to the replacement and how complicated my surgery was. He said I probably gave up the walker to early. I said I waited until 7-8 weeks post op to walk with out it. But finally I am starting to turn a corner with the hip. 1 more week off of work. Thank you for all your help @Josephine
@copsham I have not seen any stitches come out at all. Just a tiny gray area at the very top of the incision. I am keeping an eye on it. Thank you.

 

[tandmcox88]

He everyone. Just an update. I was finally feeling like I could actually go back to work on Monday. I have been out 15 weeks now. But tonight I went to sit down and felt something pull. I'm back to pain and barely walking. So mad since I was finally feeling better. Maybe it is not meant to be that I go back to work at all.

 

[Josephine]

Now, now, don't get all despondent by a small set back! You've 5 days before Monday so just rest up and take your pills! No exercising either, okay? NONE! The most likely reason for this is stress at the thought of returning to work.

 

[tandmcox88]

So I was not able to go back to work. My body has and is not recovering well from the right hip replacement back in December. My rheumatoid arthritis is out of control, my right hip muscles still hurt daily, lower back pain, my left hip popped and I can barely move my left leg now. Anyone else apply for disability and get approved?

 

[Josephine]

Oh I am sorry. What does your doctor say about things?

 

[tandmcox88]

I see the surgeon on Monday. My rheumatologist, and my primary doctor are on board with it. I hate the idea but I just cant seem to rebound from this at all.

 

[Josephine]

Well, these things rarely resolve very quickly. And you have the added complication of RA. I feel for you.

 

[tandmcox88]

I saw my surgeon, he took xrays of both hips again. The right replacement is healing and has not moved at all. He said it was excellent. He showed hubby and I the fracture that us still healing. He gave me the approval to start stronger medications for the rheumatoid arthritis. The bad news the left hip needs to be replaced now. He said it is bad but not as bad as the right one was. How and when do I decide to go thru all this again. I want to wait as long as I can because I don't think I can handle using a walker again with the RA in my hands and wrists.

 

[Jaycey]

How and when do I decide to go thru all this again.

My experience was that my second THR recover was much easier than the first because I didn't wait until I was totally immobile. Every hip replacement is different. So don't judge what you have just experienced as the norm for you.

I want to wait as long as I can because I don't think I can handle using a walker again with the RA in my hands and wrists.

The longer you wait the more dependent you be on a walker. I never used one after my RTHR. Went straight to using 2 canes and then quickly to only one.

 

[tandmcox88]

My right hip is finally doing better. Slight muscle pain but not every fay. I'm still not back to work due to other health issues. Rheumatologist has suggested I apply for permanent disability due to the agressiveness of the disease. So I did apply.

 

[tandmcox88]

Hi everyone. Hope yall are doing well. I'm not going back to work, my Mom passed away. We are having to move to downsize. Don't need 5 bedrooms for 2 of us. My hip is ok. Leg is very week we'll both are. I'm getting a strange snapping sesation in the middle upper part of leg on the back. When it snaps or pops I feel pain to my toes. If I stand for more than 2 or 3 minutes I hurt terribly just above my buttock. I just want to feel more stable. When I get in bed or sit down it feels like I'm sitting on a big rock.

My surgery was Dec 2nd, 2014.

 

[Jamie]

I'm just now catching up with your thread. I'm so very sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. That makes everything difficult when you're trying to recovery as well. I'm going to tag our forum's Nurse Director, @Josephine, to comment on that snapping sensation you are feeling.

 

[Josephine]

I've got to ask you the same thing twice!

One

I'm getting a strange snapping sensation in the middle upper part of leg on the back. When it snaps or pops I feel pain to my toes.

Two

If I stand for more than 2 or 3 minutes I hurt terribly just above my buttock. I just want to feel more stable. When I get in bed or sit down it feels like I'm sitting on a big rock.

Can you tell me the exact site of your pains using this chart? Remember, tell me for One and Two
Please note the instructions in the smaller image