THR THR Follows Unsuccessful ORIF - Keeping Fingers Crossed

[lalo]

@Suzette
I'm sorry for your setback. My experience thus far is that it doesn't take much to go backwards. It could be almost anything, like all the driving in a low seat that you mentioned.
Regarding my pain, I seldom have anything going on on the outside of the leg. I still will get a sharp needle like pain that lasts a second and goes away and this will happen maybe once a day. It's nothing.
Mine pain is from the butt runs down to knee and the path seems to be on the inside. It is there all the time the pain is never zero. Sometimes it is better than others.
This one has been there from after the 1st surgery and truly has never gone away. I thought at the time that the pain was caused by the femoral head that was dying.
Then after the replacement I suspected that something had hurt my knee and I blamed the prosthetic knee for the pain.
In hindsight I'm pretty sure it was sciatic all along.
I too have been applying heat to the butt area but when the pain kicks in I still use ice.
I have never taken muscle relaxants but they seem to help. I don't know if it's temporary relief or not.
Have you ever taken them?
I hope this week back in the office is not too bad for you.
Thanks agin for checking on me. Want to see what your OS has to say. After my last visit my OS gave me a referral to a spine Dr so I'm pretty sure he's had it with me. And truly the replacement went well and the pain was there before the replacement.
Have as good a week at work as you can.

 

[Suzette]

Hi @lalo how are things with you? Has the pain started to ease yet?

I am just relieved the consultant, and he wasn't my surgeon either, the surgeon just said my implants were good so the pain I have is normal, it was as if he had given me new hips and everything from then on was nothing to concern him, anyway, just having a medical diagnosis on something I already knew I had , was such a great feeling. Phew, now I can get treatment and be taken seriously at last.

What are you having treatment wise for your pain, are you still taking the relaxants? do you know when you will see spine Dr?
X

 

[lalo]

@Suzette
I'm sort of lost; I'm still looking for the rabbit icon. Is that really you in the new Icon? Well its my pleasure to now put a face to the name.
My sciatic/piriformis is doing much better. It had not gone away but the pain is in the 2-3 range.
I'm still taking the muscle relaxants.
I'm concerned that when I finish them the pain will come back.
I have about a weeks worth left.
I haven't pursued making an appointment to see a spine Dr.
I'm hoping that it continues to improve and I can avoid it. If not I will have to go make an appointment.
I know what you mean about surgeons; on this last visit, reading between the lines, mine pretty much said go see a spine Dr and don't bother me anymore
You take care and that's a great picture of you, by the way!

 

[lalo]

It's been a while since I posted.
I joined a fitness center that has several hydrotherapy classes that are offered daily in the mornings and afternoons.
I have been going 3 times a week for a month now. I believe they have had a very positive effect on my recovery.
I'm 5 months post THR and 9 months after the unsuccessful screw repair.
When I started the hydrotherapy I had very painful sciatic/piriformis. After a month my "butt pain" is greatly reduced. I'm hoping to avoid going to a spine Dr, which is what my OS suggested.
One of the things that I find very interesting is that when I leave the hydrotherapy class I notice mild aches in muscle groups that I never thought were bothering me before.
I liken the recovery to the "draining the swamp" analogy. As the "butt" pain comes down I am conscious of other muscle groups that I never thought were bothering me. And it's not as if I was not doing excercise before, because I was doing the typical routine of exercises that most of the PT recommend.
If any of you hippies have an opportunity to get into a hydrotherapy class go for it. I think it's s lot more beneficial than all of the conventional therapy, at least it has been for me.

 

[Suzette]

Hi @lalo that sounds great, wish we had something similar. I am so glad things are improving for you.? How is work going and the drive there and back?

Both my butts cheeks throb now, it's constant! Driving me round the bend. Not sure if it's all the driving and clutch and braking is causing all this extra pain.

So today I went and sorted out another car that's an automatic, in the hope to take a bit if the stress away from the left leg and back issues. Counting the days where I will not have to drive half way round the country 3 times a week.

Then I will hopefully be working more local with no driving other than to an office and home again.

Keep improving and look forward to your next update

X

 

[HipSurprise]

@Suzette I had lots of trouble with my left knee when I had a manual transmission vehicle. Switched to one with automatic transmission and things are much better! @lalo I was given the choice of having either pinning or a THR and I'm so glad I went ahead with the replacement. Reading about your experience is distressing and I don't blame you for having resentment over the whole thing. Just don't let the negative feelings become so strong that they sabotage your current recovery. I'm so glad you're doing hydrotherapy, seems like an awesome form of rehab! Since it's not summer, here, I'll have to wait a while before I can do water aerobics and such. I wish you well on your recovery and I'm glad you've found friends, here!

 

[lalo]

@Suzette
I sure hope your long driving days end soon. And, hopefully you can find a car with an automatic transmission. I actually gave up the clutch 2 years ago but still miss it. However on the whole I'm glad to drive an automatic. The drive to work is no problem anymore. I did buy one of the wedge cushions that raise the butt and between that an overall progress my driving is ok. However I gave not pushed it, have limited driving to short distances around town and work.
@HipSurprise
I read your thread earlier this week and felt so bad for you.
Thank goodness you went right for the replacement. The success rate of the pinning is a little better than 55%. Why they opted for that is something that I will always suspect was driven by expediency but Im close to being past it.
Here is a pic of my screw job at the 3 month mark after the femoral head started to collapse and the screws started to back out.
If you look close you can see the dark area at the very top of the joint indicative of non union in the fracture.

 

[Rubadub]

Hi @lalo - I too fractured my femur neck and the dr used screws to fix - she said because of my age and activity level. 12 months later screws removed - they were backing out. I was diagnosed with AVN shortly after! So I can relate to you. Just had LTHR on 10/12/15. Still on walker due to fracture during surgery.


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum

 

[HipSurprise]

@lalo Holy heck, that's a scary xray!! My OP said he didn't want to do the screws because he felt they'd start backing out within a few months after surgery. Thank goodness I listened to him. @Rubadub I'm sad to hear about your bad experience with having the pinning. I do hope your fracture heals well and that the rest of you heals well, too! Don't worry about still using the walker, they're great and can help with balance!!

 

[Suzette]

Hi @lalo good news....I was offered the job I had an interview for today.....phew that was a relief. My thighs and bottom have been really painful this week, and really tender around the scar area, like a bruised feeling. Although I have driven 400 miles over a few days with terrible traffic on top of sitting down this time, for 6, and then driving and sitting again in traffic is more than likely the culprit. But after the 26th November. ..no more long distance driving.

Ooh I also picked up my new automatic car today, so any driving I do will be easier too.

How are you doing, hopefully things are still improving for you.

Let me know how you are when you get chance
X

 

[lalo]

Well it's about time things turned around for you! That is terrific news. Getting rid of the constant work related tension will do wonders for your mental and Physical health. I cringed when I would read about your long drives. Knowing how I felt on short 45 minute drives with just 1 leg and then to think you were doing 4 hr drives with a double THR and then standing; I don't know how you did it.
So happy for you; I sure hope you can get back to a path of healing.
I'm doing very good but that is not to say I don't have some troubles of my own.
I found that the muscle relaxants were relly helping my sciatic pain. I was a me to get my GP to issue s new prescription and I'm taking them again.
I have to be careful with my water workouts. I didn't think I could over do it but I did.
From the 1st time I went into the water I noticed a real weakness and discomfort on all the muscles ligaments and what have you on the inside of the leg. My Physical therapist had noticed it as well.
So I have made a lot if improvements but last Wed I did something and pulled a muscle or ??? On the inside of the thigh to the knee and I have been limping. Not worried but once again have to go slow. This is about the 5 th time I have learned that lesson in recovery.
I have all next week off ( had saved vacation) and we will have daughters and grankids at home. It will be crazy but fun.

My hobby is playing banjo and have started playing again.
Till recently it was all I can do to sit at work and then crawl into bed with an ice pack to cool my butt.
Now I can sit after I get home and therefore started playing again. A week from tomorrow going to a get together to play at a friends house whose father passed away who was also a banjo. Slowly but surely getting back to a normal life.

I sure hope you make some big progress with all the changes.
Take care.

 

[Suzette]

Hi @lalo sorry about the delay in getting back to you and fingers crossed we will both start the long awaited path of recovery.

Brilliant about your banjo playing again and your daughters and grand kids are visiting. Hopefully you can play whilst they are there. Sorry about your friend passing but what a lovely tribute x x

I have today had another 7 hours standing and 4 hours driving home... Luckily I had the automatic car this time. So glad I will never have to do that ever again.

I now have to be assessed by occupational health for the nhs job I was offered. I really hope they pass me as fit to work.

Well keep on improving and no over doing it, easy done though.

Xx