1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

Dislocation

Posted , 9 users are following.

hannah36566
hannah36566

Dislocation is horrible and something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. 

I dislocated 8 days after returning home from inpatient rehab.  I was walking around the house without my walker (going out of the house I used walker for safety) was getting back to doing laundry, cooking, etc. and was set to go to outpatient rehab the next day when setting on a bar height stool in my kitchen was hit by a massive muscle spasm in my hip.  Instinctively I stood up and realized I was not going to be able to stay upright and my only thought was do not land on your hip. I do know that I must have grazed the top of my head (small lump on top of head) otherwise landed in a corner on my back. The spasms continued and I realized I  couldn't shift position much less get up because the pain was excruciating. Fortunately I was not alone ( of my sons were there) and 911 was called.  The trip to the hospital was miserable. 

An x-ray revealed that my new hip had dislocated.  I was sedated and attempts were made to get it back, but it didn't work. Next day my surgeon took me back to surgery where he was able to do a closed reduction.  Have huge swelling (CT shows huge collection of blood) my doctor won't drain due to fear of infection.  I was placed on  iv antibiotics when the mass turned bright red and was hot. I was also put in an immobilizer brace to keep me from flexing my knee and only given 60 degrees of movement. I am back at inpatient rehab starting my 6 week precautions all over again.  Ugh!

Of course the question is what did I do to cause the dislocation.  My doctor told me that I will likely never figure it out and best to just get on with getting better.  I do think that I was playing a little fast and loose with the precautions--nothing flagrant, but more along the lines of subconsciously doing certain movements.  I am being very careful now, but up and walking doing PT twice a day. 

I do have still a bit of fear i will dislocate again.  It is risk that we all face and I was cocky enough to think it wouldn't happen to me because of all the improvements to the procedure. 

I am doing some heavy hoping and praying that I can avoid a knee replacement on the same leg in the future.

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Pennypops
    Pennypops hannah36566

    Posted

    Oh Hannah that sounds horrendous! But I'm glad you have shared your experience so that we can all know the danger I'd there. You said you came home from inpatient rehab? Does that mean you go to rehab for the restriction period ( 6 weeks) ? Your experience has made me think twice about taking any risks , I am 10 days post left hip replacement...I cannot imagine the pain you would of had my love ....X

  • catherine_snedd
    catherine_snedd hannah36566

    Posted

    Hi I am day 12 after my operation using 1 crutch about the house feel that I could do without it. Now thinking I should go back to badics
  • tinasuds
    tinasuds hannah36566

    Posted

    Hi Hannah , I dislocated after 9 days ... I’m 47 and I was up and about walking without sticks around the house , only used them out and about ..

    I think I was a little too confident , due to no pain in the hip , after nearly a year of hardly being able to walk .

    Then got up off the sofa wrong and pop out it came !

    The worst pain I have ever experienced, and I’ve had 3 kids without pain relief .

    It was put back in and I was put in a brace with 60 percent angle restriction for 7 weeks ,

    I am now 16 weeks post op and I’m running, jumping , touching my toes and apart from a little fear creeping in now and then , I have full mobility and capability!

    So please be strong, patient and trust it will all be ok with a little time xx

    • hannah36566
      hannah36566 tinasuds

      Posted

      Thank you Tina for sharing your experience.  I think I read somewhere that a lot of dislocations happen when seated. 
  • AnnieK
    AnnieK hannah36566

    Posted

    How awful, Hannah! Yes, it is prudent to be very careful about your precautions this second time around. I found that getting in and out of chairs, and sitting in them correctly,  was the trickiest part of recovery. It is so easy to bend too much or to have our legs in the wrong position/angle when dealing with chair/sofas. For my second hip surgery (which was for gluteal tendon repair in the same hip I had THR on), I had an electric lift recliner, which allowed me to very easily just bend a little, both for getting in and out. I didn't do much sitting anywhere else for quite some time. 

    May we all learn from your difficult experience to avoid pain and dislocation!

    Hope all goes very well with your recovery.

  • carol19895
    carol19895 hannah36566

    Posted

    Sounds awful.   I’m a wheelchair user who’s facing a revision in the future so the dislocation risk is higher as my muscles are weak.  I’ve heard of lace inlays and constricting caps but am going to ask the revision surgeon I’m due to see soon if there’s anything they can do surgically to make the operation less likely to dislocate.  Has anyone heard of anything that can be done to help prevent dislocation?  Doesn’t sound like your surgeon has Hannah!
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.