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Despondent after visit to GP

Posted , 10 users are following.

morriewynn
morriewynn

I am nine weeks post op after fully cemented TLHR. Posterial approach.Two weeks post surgery I developed increased sensitivity within the top of my left foot. Sometimes, during the night, it becomes so hot, I have to ice it. As this sensation has now risen to my ankle, I made an appointment to see my GP.

My GP told me that the nerve in question was within my low back. After examination I was advised that there was no compression and that the nerve had probably been aggravated during surgery; it would either , in time , settle or remain as it is . He prescribed Gabapentin, a drug prescribed for epilepsy .

During the consultation , I asked him to confirm when, without fear of dislocation,I would be able to bend. His response "NEVER"!

I am absolutely devastated. I have, whilst on my own, fully conformed with all the rules . If my foot remains extra sensitive, then so be it. But the thought of never being able to bend again has filled me with horror and reduced me to tears.

I thought I was almost there and now that expectation has been completely blown away.

Am I always going to be dependant upon my dressing aid?

Morrie

1 like, 21 replies

21 Replies

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  • JeremySt
    JeremySt morriewynn

    Posted

    Dear Morrie

    I am sorry you feel a little down - and understandably so.

    I asked the same questions to my surgeon (not GP), he assured me that in ''around 3 months, sometimes longer' I should be able to tie my shoe laces etc. So, please think positively and all should be well! Incidentally I've never heard from patients or read in forums that it will 'NEVER' be possible to bend down, tie shoe laces, cut toe nails etc after a hip replacement.

    So chin up, why not have that glass of wine!

    Best

    Jeremy

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn JeremySt

      Posted

      Thank you Jeremy.

      I did better than a glass of wine. I had my hair done and whilst in the salon I was offered a glass of wine. Someone must have homed into your advice.

      After reading positive comments and with good hair, a glass of wine, I feel much better.

      Thank you 👠

      Morriewynn

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK morriewynn

    Posted

    So sorry about the nerve problem, hope it settles down soon, instead of getting worse!

    About the fear of dislocation, there is always some risk of dislocation for everyone, even those who don't have artificial hips, but it is quite low. I have NEVER heard that someone with a regular THR will not ever be able to bend down past 90 degrees. I was given the go-ahead at 6 weeks. When will you see him again? If it were me, I would be asking his reasons and want to see the research that is informing his response. Get back to that surgeon, as that is a very powerful statement he made to you that will affect you the rest of your life, if implemented. I would be devastated like you had this been said to me!

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn AnnieK

      Posted

      Yes Annie, as you can imagine , it knocked the wind out of my sails . I love to make my own clothes and pretty things for my granddaughter . I need to bend to cut pattern pieces; up keeping the garden I created. So many things. It's not just about dressing.

      He told me how pleased he was with my progress and then "summer will soon be here, you won't need to wear your socks"! As if that statement would placate me !

      Thank you so much for your kind response ; it means a great deal.

      Morrie x

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK morriewynn

    Posted

    Oh, wait, I see that your GP is the one who said that. Shouldn't it be your surgeon who says when you can lift restrictions? I hope you will consult again with the surgeon who did your THR!
    • morriewynn
      morriewynn AnnieK

      Posted

      I shall Annie. As I am having a further op in Sep , I am not seeing my surgeon again until June. I called his secretary who said she would have a word with him on my behalf. I didn't mention my GP.

      As I am typing, she has called back .

      My Consultant has said 12 weeks is the general rule, with caution and to listen to my body.

      Thanks Annie x

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK morriewynn

      Posted

      Whew! That sounds reasonable! Your GP should not have said that to you, since he obviously didn't know what he was talking about. I hope he will get the correct information somehow. Hope also that he never does that to anyone else.
  • Loral
    Loral morriewynn

    Posted

    When you bend put your operated leg behind you and lean forward, or spread your legs and bend your knees and pickup things between your legs...(frog like).
    • morriewynn
      morriewynn Loral

      Posted

      Thanks Loral. I do my ballet move to pick things up from the floor. It's bending forward to put socks or tights on and to pedicure that I can't yet achieve. But I will get there

      Thank you x

    • Loral
      Loral morriewynn

      Posted

      I had my hip surgery in May and I sit on the bed and lift my foot to put soxs and shoes on, I also lift my foot on to a stool or the toilet to clip my nails...I am not too fond of bending and my hip surgery was Anterior and is uncemented....
  • Kate53CornUK
    Kate53CornUK morriewynn

    Posted

    Morrie, have you seen your surgeon/consultant to be signed off?

    It is he who should give you your restrictions and advice, not the GP.

    I have had some lifetime ones but bending definitely wasn't one of them and at 5 weeks I have just been cleared to break the 90 degree rule. I am obviously not a doctor but I think this is a false statement - unless, of course, you have some other contributing condition or a weird implant (!) 

    I am also sorry about the sensitive foot, I have heard of this before and have had some strange nervy stuff myself. My consultant said that nerves take the longest to re-configure and my fuzzy big toe will eventually stop fuzzing.

    Maybe you can email your surgeon for advice?

     

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Thank you Kate .

      I have had a positive response via my surgeon's secretary so, once more , I am feeling positive and this nerve problem will hopefully resolve itself. If not then "ah well" !

      Thanks again Kate. X

  • linda38528
    linda38528 morriewynn

    Posted

    Dear Morrie - I am very sorry for the nerve pain and I sincerely hope it fades with time.

    Like others, I am stunned by your GP's pronouncement. Surely he is misinformed. I cannot remember anyone getting this advice, unless something else is going on. I strongly urge you to speak to your surgeon before giving your GP's statement any credence. And this story really highlights a huge gap in the system as we are experiencing. There needs to be a more useful resource for postsurgery care that sees a high enough volume of joint patients to be able to deal with many many of these concerns OR give referrals back to the surgeon. I believe that a nurse practitioner or specialized PT could manage this function very well AND alleviate so much unnecessary angst.

    I urge you to see your surgeon to discuss this.

    Courage ... you will prevail!

    Xox

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn linda38528

      Posted

      Hi Linda

      Many thanks for your lengthy response.

      In retrospect , is it possible that my question was ambiguous?

      "When shall I be able to bend forward without the risk of dislocation "? Response "never". Maybe there is always a risk of dislocation ? Sorry, I am just trying to find some justification to his answer . But if this be the case then, he should have given an explanation for his negative answer which, he failed to do. Instead "never mind summer is coming and you won't need socks". There is no justification , is there ?

      morrie

    • CelsB
      CelsB morriewynn

      Posted

      I think, technically anyway, there is always a risk of dislocation but this gets less and less as time goes on and the muscles, tendons and ligaments reform around the joint, keeping it all in place.  He could have phrased it less drastically though.

      Not much of a way to inspire a patient.

      Cels x

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK morriewynn

      Posted

      Yes ...... there is always a dislocation risk, for everyone on the planet, it's just that our risk is higher for up to about 12 months.

      How bad of him to put it like that - yes everyone is at risk, but what you wanted was a sensible answer.

      Graham - 🚀💃

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