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Challenging Recovery

Posted , 4 users are following.

shirlr62
shirlr62

Hi.  I'm a 55-year-old female 6 weeks status post left anterior THA. Two weeks after sx I was diagnosed with a DVT in my left calf behind the knee.  I have been prescribed  Eliquis and will take for 3 months and then repeat ultrasound.  I also have thigh and back pain. I go to physical therapy 3 times a week.  I am unable to lie flat on my back so unable to get hip into neutral position. Therapist is unable to manuever hip as much as he would like due to pain. I take Oxycodone 10 mg every 6 hours for pain. I am still using a walker to ambulate due to intense pain. 

I feel I am behind in recovery. My surgeon has taken x-rays at 2,4 and 6 weeks and they are normal. No problem with hip hardware. He is unsure why I continue with this amount of pain.  He would like me to get a back MRI, however I can't lay flat so he would like to do it under sedation. He also thinks a cortisone injection via fluoroscopy would help the thigh pain. 

My surgeon suggested I get a second opinion. I am going this Friday. He doesn't want to order any tests until I see the second doctor.

I never thought recovery would be this intense. I have been dealt these complications and would like to know when I will be feeling better.

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.  

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • peggy15811
    peggy15811 shirlr62

    Posted

    I think the thigh pain can be pretty normal after this surgery. I had it and several others have mentioned having it. Where in your thigh is it? I ask because mid middle of thigh pain is often reported by many. If you are having pain down the side of your thigh to the side of the knee, it can be an IT Band inflammation. They can take a long time to heal. A steroid shot to the area is helpful for the pain. You also mentioned hip pain. My surgeon told me to never get a steroid shot right into my new hip or my new knee as it can cause infection. Those shots are very helpful before you have your hip replaced but am not sure of the benefit afterwards since the hip has been replaced. It might do more good to have an external outer hip shot or to take anti-inflammatories. I hope you find the solution but at 6 weeks it is still early and pains in different areas come and go frequently for the first 6 months or longer. Reading this forum hs helped me not go running to my doctor with each new pain as there can be many. I was a model patient to begin with,  very little pain, moving and walking quickly and so happy to have a working hip, however as time went on various pains came on. The worst was the IT Band inflammation, so very painful, the surgical pain was nothing in comparison. I literally cried. It was a result of trying to do too much. I was going to PT, doctor took me off, 3 weeks rest and a steroid shot on side of hip. It is 80% better, but if I do a bit too much it starts to hurt again. I immediately rest for a day as I never want that intense pain back. I am 6 months post op and finally starting to feel a bit normal if my other knee wasn’t now giving me pain. I need some time of no pain.....
  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie shirlr62

    Posted

    Hi Shirl, pain in thigh can be stem pain if in front. Perfectly normal or if down side then nerve pain. I had both. Back and thigh pain can be tight iliotibial band pain and this can stop your hip functioning properly. 

    After my RTHR posterior I was in terrible pain, had infection with no know cause and nerve damage. I remember thinking I was not progressing as I should. However when I look back at my FB points. I was progressing. Like Peggy. I was advised never to have my hip injected by the surgeon as it can introduce infection.  We all heal at different paces. For me although I was back at work at 8% weeks, off crutches no sticks at 6 weeks. It took me 6 May nths to feel really well. However I don’t regret it. I have such a great life now with a fully functioning hip. Hope your second opinion goes well. 

     

  • shirlr62
    shirlr62

    Posted

    Thanks for the well wishes.  The thigh pain is in the middle of the leg. The injection I was talking about would be in the hip flexor muscles not the hip joint as I know that is not advised.

    I feel like I'm reinacting the movie "Groundhog Day" as nothing changes from day to day.

    At this time I'm unable  to take anti-inflammatories due to DVT and also having heart condition.  I am going to try Pennsaid (diclofenac sodium topical solution) before my therapy today to see if I can offset some of the thigh pain.  I attend therapy 3 times a week and it always causes uncontrollable tears. The thigh pain is so intense.  The therapist keeps asking me if I watnt to sbtop doing the stretching/exercises but I always say keep going as I do not want to fall any farther behind in recovery.  I try so hard not to cry but I can't help it.  I feel like therapy is not helping but therapist claims to see small improvements.

    I want to see larger improvements to prove that the tears are worth it!  

    Hopefully second opinion at the end of week will shed a light!

     

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK shirlr62

    Posted

    Oh Shirl, I am feeling your pain, it's coming through your words.

    Sounds like you have a good surgeon, suggesting another opinion, then let them get together and discuss - two heads are better than one eekeek, especially two surgeons heads.

    I can understand you wanting to get off the walker, and yes you may be a bit behind a "normal" recovery (whatever that is!) at the moment, but take it slowly, let them get to the bottom of your unfortunate problem, and get it properly sorted out.

    When things start to go wrong, it can "get to you", as I know only too well.  But at least you have two surgeons who appreciate your pain and are looking to get you back on track again.

    Best wishes and healing hugs.

    Graham

  • renee01952
    renee01952 shirlr62

    Posted

    hi shirlr. 

    warm welcome to the hippies forum - 

    I really don't have anything to add to previous comments, darling --- 

    I hope you were able to get more information at your last doctor's office visit - 

    Sending you healing, love and light

    big warm hug

    renee

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