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Hip dislocation after total hip replacement

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hughesy
hughesy

Hi all,

I'm 20 years old and had my first total hip replacement in December 2012 after having problems with my left hip, since birth.

I had a great 5 months with my new ceramic hip and was able to do so much more than I was ever able to pre-op.

However, on May 2 2013, my replacement hip dislocated - while I was with my physiotherapist. I was taken to hospital where my hip was manipulated into place under a general anesthetic. The surgeon there told me that my hip was a little unstable in one position but to go about my day-to-day business as normal and have a follow up appointment with my own consultant who carried out the procedure. Just shy of a fortnight later, I was due to see my consultant at his clinic, as I was putting on my shoes, my replacement hip dislocated again. Again, I was rushed to hospital where my hip was manipulated back into place under a general anesthetic, this time by my own consultant. Since then, it has been decided I require further surgery, which I will undergo next week. Not me, nor my surgeon knows what the procedure will entail as my x-rays look fine but my hip feels unstable.

I am absolutely devastated and wondered if there is anyone out there who has gone through the same thing or can give me an indication into what may be done and recovery times?

Thanks

Emma

4 likes, 107 replies

107 Replies

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  • sarah39655
    sarah39655

    Posted

    Dear Emma I feel for you and would very much like to hear about how you have progressed since it has been months since your post. I had my hip done december 18 and had as you know the excruciating experience of dislocation 5 weeks out was reaching for a sock.After it was put back in they put me in a terrible brace (terrible due to uncomfortableness of it).The whole experience really set me back as I was already dealing with reactive depression .I cannot imagine going through it twice as you have and pray you are doing well.
    • derek25778
      derek25778 sarah39655

      Posted

      Sara, i had my t,h,r, on the 14th.of august 2013, in less than 3 weeks i had four dislocations, was going frantic, frightened to move, had done every thing according to the book, had to wear a brace, very uncomfortable, wore it day and night, wore it for 4 months, came off the 3rd. of Jan. touch loads of wood has been o.k., did lots of walking, still have slight swelling and a little pain, do hope this helps you, am sure it can be done, stay positive, good luck and best wishes, Derek

       

  • nicki74079
    nicki74079

    Posted

    I am a 50 year old female with left hip displasia. i have had had multiple operations, the latest being 02 January this year when I had a hip revision. I have huge sympathy with your experiences as I have suffered 4 dislocations in the space of 3 weeks and am very depressed, in huge pain and feel as I am on the road to nowhere. My surgeon tells me I need to be patient and let my hip scar up and the muscles develop, but I am so scared to do any movement and wonder how on earth I will ever trust myself to live normally from this point on. The last dislocation happened when I was sitting at a table and let my hip fall slightly inwards while the previous one happend when I leant over on my non-operated side to take a phone call. Neither movements were obviously in breach of the 3 Cardinal rules( ie no more than 90 degrees, not crossing your legs and not letting your leg fall inwards) but I do know the first two were when i was being careless. i would love to hear how Sarah and emma have got on, as well as from anyone else who can give me some advice.
    • launa16820
      launa16820 nicki74079

      Posted

      today is May 24 2019 I am 70 years old I had my right hip replaced in July 2014 the surgeon did a revision on my hip in December 2014 because it had dislocated about three times it continued to dislocate not remembering exactly how many but a different surgeon decided to do a new revision in 2016 February it dislocated a few times and that second surgeon decided that he would not do another revision because he had no idea why it was dislocating with today in mind I have had three surgeries on my hip and I have dislocated 14 times there isn’t a surgeon that will do the surgery again if anyone knows a surgeon that can fix my app I would love to hear about it I live near Seattle Washington and would love to find a surgeon that can fix my hip, thank you for listening!

  • flossy48
    flossy48

    Posted

    I am a 65 year old female and had my left hip totally replaced because of arthritis in Nov 12. In June 13 I was doing some gardening (carefully!) and felt my hip dislocate. Oh the pain was unbelievable and the ambulance took an hr! It was put back in A&E immediately and I resumed life or so I thought. I was coming to look after my grandsons for the weekend and was with them while they were in the sports centre when I bent down and it went again. This time it took A&E 8 hours to eventually sort it out as they tried once and failed so put me out completely to try again. I am now terrified to do anything. I do appreciate what you all have been through and wonder how it could happen again. Is the hip that was put in faulty as I cannot believe with all the exercise I try to do would let this happen again. I would also love some advice as I try so hard to make sure that I do not exceed the restrictions, but to no avail. Unfortunately I also need a new right knee which makes it even more difficult to cope with the problems on the left hand side. Good luck everyone.
    • bracks
      bracks flossy48

      Posted

      Hi Flossy - I definitely feel your pain - literally.  I was out doing some gardening as well but supidly bent to pick a week and fell, dislocating my hip 1 month after after surgery on August 7, 2015.  Definitely my fault!   Off to the ER via ambulance and   required a closed hip reduction in the OR, 2nd time was in Feb.2016.  It had happened getting in my car- I guess cleats on my boots must have gotten caught on car mat.  Off to  the ER via ambulance and same procedure.  Though I was finally in the clear until this fall when I was in a safely sitted position on the ground and it popped again!  Up to that time, using restrictions while mowing, gardening, etc. and thought I was in the clear but always using restrictions in and out of house.  My surgeon is wonderful but sent me to another specialist who suggested aggressive PT and if it when out again, THEN we'd do hip revision.  My surgeon disagreed (having known my hx ) decided on revision and he is not a cut-happy surgeon.  I will be having it done w/in a few weeks, will be wearing the brace as well.  I have to admit I was lax on later exercise but felt activity would strengthen because I am not one to sit around.  It felt good reading these experiences others went thru regarding the constant fear of it recurring.  Depression really set in after the other surgeon's suggestion.  I carry a phone w/me always, have a total safety set up when I shower, etc.  I can't live like this and am willing to have the right hip revision surgery, despite greater chance of dislocation because this situation is not living - it's living in constant fear.  Like you, I desperately need a left knee replacement which is currently the leg I rely on.  All these problems are due to arthritis.  In addition, I am double-jointed and have severe back issues which compromise this hip. I'll be in a brace, and I pray things go better.  How have you been doing since?  Did exercise do the trick or did you end up having a hip revision?

    • brenda92532
      brenda92532 bracks

      Posted

      Hi bracks

      I have joined all the people who have dislocated their hip replacement. I am 70 year old and was bending taking heads off dandelions. I bent one too much my hip went I couldn't straighten up. All I could do was go down on the lawn. My husband came out saw me and called 911. The ambulance came managed to slide two halves of the stretcher under me to carry me to the ambulance. On the way to A&E I emptied a full canister of gas and air and kept asking if it was laughing gas. When I went to theatre they gave me a general anesthetic and put it back in place.

      its 15 months since I had my hip replacement and I thought I had been careful doing my exercises and my physiotherapist said I had good movement in my hip. I'm wondering now if there are still restrictions I need to follow to make sure it doesn't happen again.

      Thank you for sharing your experiences

       Brenda 

       

    • roboman3
      roboman3 bracks

      Posted

      I had four revisions from a bad surgery in local hospital

      HSS NYC

      Dr Buly fixed along with a great team

      Helfiet! And DAngello in Bklyn

      All met to fix me after each revision the chance of dislocation is higher

      The brace from foot to waist is good and helps limit motion

      My cup had to be reversed

      As one Dr. put it,  “Im ass backwards.” Lol

      It click from frontal screw surgery on pelvic fracture that bad dr did

      Lawyer stole monies 

      Its sad we police our car repair mechanics more than Doctors

      Are you ok now?🙏 

      -Really Great 

      RG 😇

    • roboman3
      roboman3 brenda92532

      Posted

      Pool pool pool 

      Swim 

      Duck walk

      Leg raises to side as per PT and Ortho says ok

      Prays

      RG

  • nicki74079
    nicki74079

    Posted

    Sorry to hear this. The pain is so horrible! What does your surgeon say? I ask because I now know my problems are to do with my malformed pelvis and hip socket area, along with v bad necrosis from the previous metal hip that I had put in 10 years ago. I have not had any more dislocations although I have been told that I need to wait 9 - 18 months (to make sure the muscles have developed properly) before I can attempt to bend over and do things like put my socks on myself and will only do these movements for the first time with my surgeon in attendance.. There is still a good chance that my new hip will work, although if it doesn't I will have to have a plastic hip put in ( as opposed to my current ceramic hip) which will be bolted in. My surgeon would not let me go on living with the chance of dislocation so I would be curious to know what your surgeon says. If yours has dislocated after such a long time, I would be wanting a revision done that would enable me to live life without fear. Good luck.
  • flossy48
    flossy48

    Posted

    Nicki74079 - I was very interested to read your notes. Have just got back from surgeon who basically has said to get on with it. He actually will take me in again within the next 12 weeks to open me up to see if the socket needs realigning or there is tissue damage which needs removing. Hopefully when he has done this it will be better. Was interested to hear that you need to wait 9-18 months before you can bend, haven't been told that so will take note. Luckily its coming to the summer so I won't need socks! It doesn't help that my right knee needs replacing but have been told it will be at least two years! Luckily it locked when I was with the surgeon and he said he would do it as soon as my hip is sorted as that is part of the problem as I can't bear much weight on that knee! I totally understand your comment about living life without fear - hear hear. All the best.
    • charlene95844
      charlene95844 flossy48

      Posted

      I am a 63 yr old, 3 thrs later with 3 dislocations and my surgeon says he can do nothing more for me!  I understand your angst about your leg and knee.  I know that the only thing I can count on now is exercises to strengthen the hip and the grace of God to assist me in my final recovery from this ordeal of THRS and dislocations.  I cant do this alone anymore, therefore I am going to do the hip exercises to strengthen physically and leave the rest to the Lord.    I defy the odds and believe that  with Gods help I can and will conquer this malady!  It is my responsiblilty afterall.  The MDs have failed me, and I must go forward believing that I can do it, rather than sit here feeling helpless!  All of us who have experienced this dreadful dislocation of our hip must press forward and believe that we can help ourselves when medical mds will not and cannot! I dont believe that more surgery to this hip area will solve the problem!  I think that I must try with all the courage I have to master the strength of my hip by doing the basic exercises for hip strength, articulated in our post THR instructions and continue to give the beforementioned hipmuscles enougth strength to keep this hip in!  

           I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE THINK MORE SURGERY  WILL  SOLVE THE PROBLEM  WE ARE BEING UNREAL!    Sooner or  later, I have to realize that I must do what it takes to keep this hip in.  I hope that some of you might think about this idea and respond to me.  I  Hope that i am not being foolish, but I DONT KNOW  any other way to get better.  Please let me know what you think about my ideas.  I need your input to go forward, fellow hip dislocation patients.  Thank you very much!

    • MilanNS
      MilanNS charlene95844

      Posted

      I am 56 and have both hips operated, left one is dislocating  often and right one is like my own. Anyway, with lot of excersises which are specific to your hip you can make it better. I am excersising for 2 months and now I can jump on that problematic leg carefully ofcourse but I can do it, I am more secure when walking and for me maybe the most important thing is that if it dislocate now, if don't fall down or something like that, it can be easily reposition, I can do it by myself. I had done it several times.

      You are right we have nothing of sitting and thinking what to do just take an action and with strong muscles and practising walk again we can be better. 

      Personally, I have to check if the hip area is clean  without any pieces so that hip can be positioned properly and that mean one more operation and if this is ok, only excesise and nothing else.

      Good luck to all of you.

      Milan

    • charlene95844
      charlene95844 MilanNS

      Posted

      Thank you MILanNS!  You think along similar lines as I.  How do you put your hip back in the socket?  I am in so much pain that I cant imagine how I would do that. However, I want to learn  because going to the ER is so very costly!  Teach me what you can, kind sir!
    • MilanNS
      MilanNS charlene95844

      Posted

      It happened few times when I was standing, the feeling is like Bambi on ice - leg goes around like it is not mine. I grab my thy and pull it down a bit and then arange my foot to be able to turn foot fingers toward right foot.

      Anyway if your legs are even (same length) than you can try to relocate it by yourself or with someone who can help you. If dislocated leg is shorter, than it is total dislocation and you can relocate it only in ER, sometimes in a sleep (it happened to me when I felt down, left leg was shorter about 4 in, and doctor in ER could not strugle with my quadriceps and they put me asleep and relocate my hip).

      When my hip dislocated but not totally my foot fingers are positioned outwords, legs are same length but is near the area where it should be. It happened once, and a boy who was near helped me, pull the leg slowlly down a little bit and rotate it to the position that my foot fingers came to normal position, and that feet are parallel. I need help because I can not reach safelly under my knee.

      Last time, I was doing streching and to be honest I was checking can I do that or not and the hip went out, I have turned on my back, my legs were even and the fingers were just a bit away so I pull back my foot as much as I could, and put my right foot over the left, pull it down and manage to rotate my foot a bit, and I heard wonderful clicking sound.

      I want to point out that I am working a lot on muscles on my left leg for last two months I now my muscles are strong enough not to let hip go into total dislocation (I hope I am correct). I am using weights of 2 kg on each leg.

      I wish you that you never have need for my technics of relocating hip.

      Good luck and stay positive.

      Milan 

    • ellie550514
      ellie550514 MilanNS

      Posted

      I can only reiterate my position and that I suffered 10!!!!! total prosthetic hip dislocations ALL requiring the services of an ambulance to A&E where they attempted to relocate it manually every time to no avail and EACH time was relocated at the next available theatre time where it was relocated under general anesthetic. I underwent 2 revision operations where realignment and different components tried. I had adapted chairs, beds & loo seats to aid recovery but nothing seemed to work. I wore a hip brace with the hip totally dislocating in it!!! I don't believe for a moment that it is possible to relocate a total dislocation oneself and the risk of an untrained person undertaking this could have catestrophic jic
    • MilanNS
      MilanNS ellie550514

      Posted

      I had already mentioned, if you have total dislocation of artificial hip with dislocated leg shorter, then it can be done only in ER. Fortunatlly it happened only once and I don't want to go through this experience again, it was painless but you have to spent 4 weeks in bed, and than to be very carefull for next 4 weeks. 

      If you have strong muscles and if there is no strong force like when you fall down, it is very possible that your hip is dislocated but not totaly. I mean top (ball) of artificial hip is out of the capsule (pelvis) but the muscles is holding it very near. It is not pleasant feeling but I have experienced painless type of such dislocation. Ball is out of capsule that is for sure because the leg has no support and it can move around without any will. The dislocated leg muscles were under the control but you could not stand on that leg because pelvis has no solid contact with the ground. (sorry but I am engineer so I look at the human body like wonderful, smart electro-mechanical system). 

      It happened to me once, that hip dislocated (my foot was in total outer rotation- try to do it with healthy leg and you can do it only if you are a ballet dancer), I felt down but managed to fall on the other leg and back so there was no force that moved the top of the leg from capsule, and with a little help people beside me (not medical staff) it relocated. 

      The rest were not total dislocations and I managed to relocate it alone or with no medical staff.

      I agree that it might lead to catastrophy, I was lucky. I am only telling my own story that I had lived for last several months. After each relocation I have to be at home for several days, put ice in the hip area because everything is swollen inside and it is not pleasant feeling, using croutches next few days, and start all over again with excersising.

    • Binki_Kid
      Binki_Kid MilanNS

      Posted

      Hi Milan et ll,

      I am new 60 y/o female to this site, but can join in all the frustration with these posts.  I had bilateral hip reserfacing done in 99 (metal on metal....another issue with toxicity).  So wth high levels of metal toxicity, I needed to face reality that both hips need "normal THR" which was started 3 years ago on my rt leg and now more recently, the left in Feb, 2016.  the left took 3 months as there was extensive bone and tissue damage which didn't show in the MRI. after a lone babying process, I finally was released for pyiscial therapy mid May.  I was feeling releaved and happy that most of my PT was in the pool.  Anyway, dummy me......I was visiting friends on May 30th, bent over to pick up their cat and the rt hip dislocated!  This never happened with resurfaced hips, but now, like most of you, I am very scared to move at all.  I am wearing a HORRIBLE BRACE that was supposed to restrict movement 70% vs 90 and keep my leg out 30 degrees, but I felt very off balance and begged to reduce the degree, which my MD grudginly agreed to just so I wear this damn thing.  I can bearly breath with it also.  This thing need to be on till mid August (almost 2.5 months!).

      WHat is your experice with the brace, if you had to wear it and how long? 

      Also, what excersizes are you doing while in the brace.  I feel SO restricted!  any advice would be appreciated!

      Sandy

    • jananne
      jananne MilanNS

      Posted

      You mentioned you were able to put your hip back in place yourself. Is there a specific way to do this?
    • krazykim
      krazykim MilanNS

      Posted

      Sorry you're having so much trouble on August 1st this year I had a total hip replacement on the left hip a week before Thanksgiving I dislocated it getting off getting up off the couch and lay down for 5 hours so I can get somebody to come and help me and then 2 weeks later I dislocated again getting out of my SUV it is the office pain I ever want to go through it again I told everybody I was going to put a pistol by my bed next time it come and be the last time. I can't have that pain I'm terrified I live in fear I live alone I'm scared to get up out of my bed I'm scared to go to the bathroom I velcro my phone to me that it's with me at all times put it in a ziplock bag when I get in the shower my doctor says that I wasn't following my hip precautions that I turn my knee Inward and that it popped out and that it was like a loaded shotgun like you want to blame everything on me and say it's my fault like I really want to put myself in that position so do II II hip dislocation I he is going to put me in a brace I got pain in my leg for my hip to my knee to my foot and I told him about it and he's saying it's not coming from the hip that's coming from something else as well I think these doctors don't want to admit that they did anything wrong you know they want to get a pat on the shoulder that they did everything right any suggestions I feel hopeless helpless I'm in fear scared to do anything and I'm 51 years old female I drive a 18 wheeler cross country my family says that there's a couple of them that's had this surgery and ain't none of had no problems I said well you know if you live by yourself and you don't have nobody to go ahead and pick you up something to drink or if you drop something you got to get it you know I got an extension but you know come on you got it you got to eat and I was he got prepare it

    • MilanNS
      MilanNS Binki_Kid

      Posted

      Hi Sandy,

      Thanks God I am 58 year old male, and I am walking and working normally. It means that life had not stopped. I have to take care, no jumps, still I am not running, if I have to band over I do that carefully. The thing is that you be aware of moves that you should not do, I don't pull my leg back because I had found on the internet that the way I was operated prescribe not to do that but I can bend all the way down. It was said that if you are operated and have scare on the back than you should not bend over it might provoke dislocation.

      Pool and swimming helped me a lot. I was in in the pool for more than a month, everyday. I had started with 500 m and after almost 2 months I ended on 1700 m. You have to strengthen your muscles because they are the only things that keep your hip on the location. Due to my job I can go maybe 5-10 times a month now, but I am working out at home every day. I have to take care not to fall down because of the force dislocation, so I am taking care how to step on some tricky surfaces.

      Good luck.

      Milan

    • MilanNS
      MilanNS jananne

      Posted

      Hi Jananne,

      Sorry for such long period of not answering you. 

      There is no special way to do it. I had put the partially dislocated hip. the leg should be genteelly pulled down and than slowly rotated to normal position. That operation should be done with great care. I don't say that you should do that out of ER but I did and thanks God it worked. The last time it happened my wife did that and she said that she had felt that the hip smoothly got back in the position.

      Good luck.

      Milan

        

    • MilanNS
      MilanNS krazykim

      Posted

      Hi,

      You have to understand that this is not your hip and that you have to take care about it. How to step out of the car, how to step on the stairs, how to step on ice, how to ....... The most important thing is that you strengthen your muscles of legs and butt. Swimming is good choice. Only muscles keeps the hip in place, so we have to do some workout everyday. You can walk everyday, start with 300 m and every day go longer distances but think of your steps. Explore the internet, I mean the location of the scare can tell you the way of the operation was done and then you can find what are forbidden moves. 

      I have scare on side, more to front area of the thy and I had found that my operation was done in a way that I should not pull back my leg but I can bend over carefully of curse.

      Anyway no moves like before, take care of every step and strengthen your muscles and everything will come to place.

      Good luck,

      Milan

    • roboman3
      roboman3 krazykim

      Posted

      I too live alone and had four revision 

      Dr R Buly of nyc hss fixed it by reversing the cup insert in non cemented hip

      Metal with liner plastic in socket

      Ok 15 years later it clicks and always has but the fear was always there . the pool is great 

      Slow walking in

      Pool even also always look into a second opinion even now

      Most great ortho hospitals gave clinics where they accept any insurance or sliding scale or free in some cases

      Often younger doctors but always they confer with the best there

      Use voice record when at doctors  

      Tell them if you must as its overwhelming and im in

      Pain as well from years of limp from bad surgery of a fracture in acetabulum so trust me not nany doctors wanted to fix me lol

      Humpty Dumpty

      Prayers always

      Rob

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