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Hip Replacement complicated with paralysis in foot

Posted , 8 users are following.

dorothy04749
dorothy04749

I had a traffic accident six weeks ago and broke my femur, was told that i had to have a full hip replacement, unfortunately during surgery my popliteal nerve (motor/sensory nerve) was damaged and woke up to a paralysed foot on the same side as THR.

?Now had four weeks of intensive physio and gained some movement in toes and ankle, but still no balance as pads of toes are not there according to my brain.  The pain at times has been excrutiating and now take lyrica to deal with that, but has anyone out there experienced the same and got any positive words regarding this healing itself and how long it might take.

?The hip has had to take a back seat (scuse the pun) to this paralysis, and every thing has slowed up accordingly, to walk with a stick is really relying on balance which i do not have at present.

?Regards Dot

1 like, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest dorothy04749

    Posted

    Poor thing.  Will hope for progress.  Am learning so much from forum some of it hair raising.
  • linda38528
    linda38528 dorothy04749

    Posted

    Oh Dorothy - how frustrated and worried you must be. It must be a little (but not enough! I am sure) encouraging to feel some sensation and response back in your foot. I can remember two others posting about a similar outcome - hoping they will jump in.

    I just wanted to send some hugs and sympathy - it is hard for others who have not travelled the hippie road to appreciate how tough and discouraging it can get.

    Big hugs,

    L

  • linda81469
    linda81469 dorothy04749

    Posted

    Dorothy prayers for you that all gets better. I was 1 & 1/2 inches shorter on my right leg. Dr had told me he was not going to be able to give me full length back but pretty close. He said anterior was best because less heal time because he didn't have to cut and lift butt muscle. Now reason why he could not give me my full length back was because of the sciatic nerve. That nerve can only be pulled so much before u affect the foot hence, a dropped foot. I told him I was ok with not getting full length as long as I did not get dropped foot!! Warm hugs to you. ????

  • barbara04443
    barbara04443 dorothy04749

    Posted

    So sorry.......I had a hip replacement minimal cut (MIS) which now many doctors are saying they don't do that as it is too small of an area to work with.....and something can go wrong..........like me........but not sure if that was the case .....the surgeion injured my femoral nerve and it never came back after much therapy and I have a numbness that is hard to explain as it hurts at times and the feeling on the leg is not normal..........this was ten years ago and nothing has changed!!! And you can't sue the doc as you sign etc.......sucks.......

  • brenda92532
    brenda92532 dorothy04749

    Posted

    Hi Dorothy I have the same foot problem as you. I am nearly 7 months post op now but in the hospital after the op I started complaining about my foot. It was tingling and feeling numb and cold and no feeling especially the ball of my foot.

    When I came home I went to the doctors and told him about my foot and all he said was its too soon to tell.  At my 7 week check the doctor said it was plantar fasciitis but I've had that before and this is 100% worse. I've been to a private physio who concluded he thought it was nerve damage and said he'd write to the doctor. I've been to a chiropractor, chiropodist and the podiatry who have all conflicting ideas.

    At last the doctor has sent me to an orthopeadic consultant who is sending me for a nerve conduction test.

    Thank you to the person on this forum who advised me on this matter. It was at least 6 months since and I can't remember who it was. It could have been Laura, Renee or Graham. Well I persevered for this result and will let you all know the outcome.

    Thank you Brenda C

  • renee01952
    renee01952 dorothy04749

    Posted

    hi dot  ,

    That is terrible --- however it is a good sign that some movement is going on in toes and ankle - 

    sending you light and healing and I am so sorry I cannot be of any further help ..

    please come back and let us know how you are getting on ...

    big warm hug

    renee

  • dawn077
    dawn077 dorothy04749

    Posted

    Hi Dorothy sorry about your news. 

    I had my hip replaced and woke up with what they call "drop foot" where I couldn't move my ankle at all. My surgeon was devastated but with will power and lots of tape and a drop foot support I worked hard to get it working again. The nerves take a while and sometimes they come back and others rarely. I still have problems with the sense of touch on one side of the leg and the ankle does get sore but I'm walking. This all happened in 2010 and I've skied since then. I'm just about to embark on another journey as my hip replacement is suffering due to scar tissue interfering with the replaced joint so back I might go for surgery. Here's hoping it doesn't happen again. I wish you well and keep up with the physio and working it yourself sometimes a little belief and forceful attitude will help it on its way. Sending you healing thoughts X

    • dorothy04749
      dorothy04749 dawn077

      Posted

      Hi Dawn so glad to hear of your recovery, I am nearly into 28 days of intensive physio, the pain sometimes from the physio was as bad as the pain experienced with foot drop.  Already I have slight movement in the ankle and now can counterbalance the foot drop although still wearing brace as she feels i could still topple over and do the ankle in.  I am nearly pain free when touched, but still pains generally.  EGM next week for pinpointing of which nerve is affected but a different doctor to the one who did this stated in view of my progress so far expected full recovery sooner rather than later.  This is all down to my physio who has really gone above and beyond to make it work.  As far the hospital that did this, well suffice to say i intend to sue at a later date over it all, however, reading forums i cannot help wondering - did you have an epidural for your THR? that seems to be the underlying joinig factor for everyone, not that i am an expert.  Thank you for letting me know there is some hope from one who has experienced it.  Regards Dot
    • dawn077
      dawn077 dorothy04749

      Posted

      Hi dot I think extensive physio really helps! I did have have a epidural but my surgeon says it's still quite unheard of especially as he makes sure the opening big so as not to disturb the nerves. I just believe it's just how it is unlucky. I also have RA so that doesn't help and I had horrendous all over body spasms after the surgery which was so bad I needed a specialist scan. I didn't sue my surgeon as I just believe I was unlucky and you sign to say that things can happen before your op. I still see this surgeon I did my right hip in 2007 after my baby was born in 2006, diagnosed with RA in 2009 and left hip done in 2010. 

      Dreading another op but need to look at the pros and cons of it but as long as you have good people around you and you remain determined anything is possible. Take it easy Dawn x

       

  • dorothy04749
    dorothy04749

    Posted

    Hi all not sure how to post scripts so here goes:

    Well visited the Orthopaedic Surgeon yesterday and he says the EGM shows that the nerve is regenerating, and that by his calculations (he measured my leg from THR to around my foot and almost to my toes, it will be 18 months when I should have 95% or 100% full recovery.  He then went on to say that having seen the progress made in just eight weeks with my intense physio he felt it would be a lot sooner.  As for myself, all I have now is an ankle that still does not have full rotation or movement, and toes that still refuse to work when brain kicks in, motor nerves from ankle still no good.  However, no nerve pain unless really stimulated, feeling almost normal in lower leg and top of foot, I am feeling quite chuffed, just a pity I still cannot get my balance and still cannot drive, they all look horrified when I mention it…………..  Carrying on with the intense physio for at least another three weeks, and if still no movement on above points, then will have to give in and just have maintenance physio until finally nerve connects and we can start cooking …… and driving.

    ​ps got rid of brace for foot drop ten days ago, and finally started to walk with a cane two days ago, but boy am i suffering on that one with the hip, still at ten weeks it is about time i did some good walking, need hubbie to lend an arm to balance cane but who cares, no more granny walker for me.........

    • linda38528
      linda38528 dorothy04749

      Posted

      Well this is a much better report than you feared I think, if not as positive as you would like.

      It is very good to hear that you can expect full nerve regeneration and function.

      And moving from the foot brace and walker are also great milestones.

      I understand that you must be frustrated at the amount of time predicted to return closer to 100%, but I hope you can hold onto the good news in all this.

      With much admiration and many hugs,

      Linda

    • brenda92532
      brenda92532 dorothy04749

      Posted

      Hi Dorothy Im pleased to know you are getting some satisfaction.  What was the intense therapy you received.  I'm nearly 8 months post op now and havent seen any progress with my foot yet.  The therapist I went to told me there wasn't anything he could do and he would write to my doctor to tell him he thought it was nerve problems.  

      I have been to see an orthopaedic surgeon who is referring me for nerve conduction tests.  I am still waiting for the appointment it is nearly 5 weeks since I saw him.  I have made an appointment to see the doctor but its not until 3rd October.

      Any reccommendations on what to do is appreciated.

      Tyhanks Brenda C

    • renee01952
      renee01952 dorothy04749

      Posted

      hi dot, 

      that is good news ... you are getting there ...

      Ask your physical therapist to show you how to walk properly with the cane - Is it so easy to fall back to pre-op walking, limping and hurting yourself ...

      big warm hug

      happy trails and happy cooking

      renee

       

    • dorothy04749
      dorothy04749 brenda92532

      Posted

      Hi Brenda

      ?My two spanish physiotherapists - Encarnie and Herman - have basically worked on the leg and foot continuously, a combination of manipulation with massage, they force the muscles/tendons/swelling/inflammation to work and go down respectively.  At first it felt like i was being touched with a surgical glove coated in broken glass and each time they hit the popliteal nerve in the leg, I was up on the ceiling.  The pain is indescribable, but both watched me every step of the way and pushed me to my limit and NO MORE.  They worked five days a week sometimes for half an hour, and then would ice, and again we would stretch.  Do exercises etc.  I have 18 exercises to do three times a day, usually 30 times for each one.  It is not for the faint hearted and the only way you can cope is to joke, grit your teeth, scream, holler and burst out laughing.  We are near the reception of this hospital in Spain and I am sure the receptionists must have called me some choice names hearing my bellowing.  But it was that or be disabled for the rest of my life.  It was a no brainer!  But you have to put in as much as the Physiotherapist and more and trust them, sometimes I would open my eyes and expect Encarnie to be sitting there with an amputated foot in her hand, up/down with the fingers is all I breath, sleep and muttter " the Spanish call toes and fingers Dados, and though she speaks good English she still can't help saying up with the fingers. 

      ?Hope this helps, but you need a really experienced physio to do this and know it will be painful, but now after weeks i am almost pain free in all areas, just the dados to get working!!  Regards Dot

    • brenda92532
      brenda92532 dorothy04749

      Posted

      Hi thank you for the information.  My sister shattered her elbow and had a new one made with K pins, they told her she wouldnt get much movement back.  With intensive physio, whi8ch hurt, she has now got full movement. I have been trying to contact her physio but she has moved.

      Will let you know if I ever get anything sorted.

      Brenda C

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