Dislocation
Posted , 9 users are following.
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
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 hannah36566
Posted
tinasuds hannah36566
Posted
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 tinasuds
Posted
Rocketman_SG6UK hannah36566
Posted
It's so easy to forget how vulnerable we all are. Best wishes
Graham
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 hannah36566
Posted