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Posted , 12 users are following.

edarlingb
edarlingb

Most of you won't remember me. So many new names here.

Quick résumé: 2007 LTHR. Disaster. Left in dreadful pain and nerve damage. 2 years of myriad tests showed nothing. 2009 eventually suspected heavy metal contamination so revision. Didn't work.

Left to get on as best I could with morphine and other meds. Had to retire.

October 2014: obvious I needed LTHR. Had lost all confidence in original surgeon so sought alternative opinion. Felt immediate rapport with new guy. Op went ahead and was an absolute breeze. Apart from developing blood clot on lung. At checkup, however, he took me back through all old xrays of right hip and showed me that the head of the device had become detached and was free floating up through my pelvis. Bit of a shock.

He was convinced he could fix it, despite the three-fold risk factors. Didn't really have an option anyway.

So. Had op 2 weeks ago. (He said he was able to just put hand in and lift the head out, complete with its 7 screws.). Some complications (muscle on side of bum is 'dead'; not attached to any bone) and altogether quite a bit more painful but really feeling very optimistic. Am more flexible than I expected; exercises going great; sleeping well and generally being good to myself.

Told I'll always have a limp because of the muscle damage, but, hey, if I can get through with less pain, that's good enough for me.

Be well, everyone. Take cheer.

Elaine UK

4 likes, 43 replies

43 Replies

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  • linzh1974
    linzh1974 edarlingb

    Posted

    Hi Elaine, hope you feel better real soon, I've my op in two weeks, 

    keep us posted on your recovery 

    linzi uk x

  • christine2107
    christine2107 edarlingb

    Posted

    Elaine - that is great news and I am delighted that you have progress. You have been so supportive to the posters on this forum in the past - its great to see you getting the help you have needed. Big hugs 
    • christine2107
      christine2107 edarlingb

      Posted

      Elaine - not really. Left hip due for THR within 4 weeks then consultant will replace the head on the right hip he did as 3 opinions now agree that it is too long and that is why I am in so much pain. Too long only by a few mm that he wanted to make sure I would not dislocate - but its left me tight and sore for 17 months. Diagnosis is the first step to recovery - so hopefully onward and upward for both of us! smile x
    • edarlingb
      edarlingb christine2107

      Posted

      Oh bugger. Sometimes this seems to be never ending, doesn't it? Hope it works out.

      During this last one, as a bonus, he lengthened my leg by 4 cams to equalise it. I can really feel the difference.

      Also, he's rotated the hip so that foot faces forward, instead of inwards. Think that might be causing the increased pain.

    • Sredni393
      Sredni393 edarlingb

      Posted

      E I just read this post.... Yes, when the leg is rotated out wards after years of turning in, imagine the pull on the adjoining tissues.  Mine was as yours and the agony in the groin where it's probably cut and resewn causes restrictions of its own.  After 18 months I can't lift that leg from horizontal, which has a knock on effect for butt muscles.  I guess we were so immobile in the early days we had a handicap (ha ha excuse pun)..   Maybe we have to accept limitations a all things considered.   You must feel elated (elevated) with the extra 4cm. Great news.  S
  • Hailea
    Hailea edarlingb

    Posted

    Hi Elaine.

    Boy have you been through it. I thought I was having a bad time the last few days. I am so glad everything has worked out for you even with a few issues. I hope you feel better soon. I too am in the UK and just had my left hip done 6 weeks ago today. I have had a rollecoaster ride. But I hope things will be better when I have my right hip done in September because I will be more aware.

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb Hailea

      Posted

      Thank you. Yes; I've certainly found that it helps if you've been through it before. On the whole, that is 😃.
  • jackie56101
    jackie56101 edarlingb

    Posted

    Hi Edarling, Glad you doing good keep up the good recoverysmile I myself This month had to go back to surgery May 15 to have deep implant removal and bone graft. Im feeling much better and my left hip seems alot stronger . I too have sciatic nerve damage my new doctor had neurolist monitoring my nerves on this surgery so i would'nt get more nerve damage . Go see doctor june 4 everything seems good so far sleeping is getting much better too . keep us posted on how your doing

    Take Care

    jackie

  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK edarlingb

    Posted

    Hi Elaine

    That sounds great news.....good to hear from yo again. I havent posted very often rcently either wink

    Things seem tobe going well for you now.....as youknow I will always have a limp. Still havent got thepain under contol yet.....th latest i morphine just the loest dose, 2 a day {12 hours}

    So one of these days we'll mae that Metro Centercheesygrin

    Love

    Eileen

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Great to hear from you, Eileen.

      Yes - the dreaded morphine, indeed. They tried to send me out with the codeine and Nefopan I went in with, but I was v assertive and demanded something stronger, temporarily, so they relented and gave me Orimorph. I've decreased dosage gradually, so will be out of it on Friday and see how I go.

      You might remember that I came off the patches cold turkey a few years ago. Hate the stuff. Messes with my brain.

      Yes. We definitely will do MC x

      Oh and self administered anti-coagulant injections are fun!

  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK edarlingb

    Posted

    Sorry...that should have been MAKE the Metro Centre

    I wish this thing had edit on it!!!!!

    Lov

    Eileen

  • jennifer2000
    jennifer2000 edarlingb

    Posted

    Wow, what a journey you've been on! I really hope your recovery goes well.

    Jennifer, UK

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb jennifer2000

      Posted

      Thanks so much, Jennifer. I do realise, of course, that the majority of procedures are far more straightforward than mine. And I certainly don't wish to scaremonger. But I have come to realise over my years on here that quite a few people experience difficulties and I firmly believe that these should be acknowledged, so that consolation and advice can be shared, where appropriate. It's a great forum. I've taken great comfort from it and learned a lot.

      Be well.

      Elaine x

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee edarlingb

      Posted

      Elaine, if I could not have come on here to tell my awful THR story and ask for help about it, I would have totally given up on living. And I can still remember when the monitor Alan spoke up saying, (not verbatim but in context), that this site is primarily for those who struggle with things gone wrong, after someone put those of us with bad problems down for sharing them.

      The beauty in this site is you can receive positive advice and empathy from those who are at all levels of suffering.

      Love,

      💛 Dawn

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb DawnDedee

      Posted

      So v v true, Dawn. All we can do, it seems, is to stress that some problems are going to happen, but remind 'newbies' that they're by no means inevitable.

      V wise.

      E

      X

    • jennifer2000
      jennifer2000 edarlingb

      Posted

      Elaine / Dawn, both your stories are truly inspirational. My comment was intended to be a 'thank you for sharing' not a criticism.

      Yes this forum is terrific, I've been very appreciative of the support and guidance given to me. It's helped prepare me for both my operations.

      Jennifer ,UK

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb jennifer2000

      Posted

      Hi J

      think I might have come across in an ambiguous way there. 

      I certainly didn't take your remark as a criticism, but took the opportunity to explain that it's sometimes difficult to post (my) 'negative' experiences on here, not wanting to scare people off, but still think there's a place for such honesty, as long as it's done sensitively, of course. 

      Thank you so much, again, for your warm wishes. 

      E x

    • jennifer2000
      jennifer2000 edarlingb

      Posted

      Please keep posting! I might not post on here very much myself but I really appreciate what others choose to share, both good and bad. Both have helped me immensely, even though the good stuff can be annoying if I'm having a bad day :-D

      Jennifer x

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