First (and last?) physio 😎

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.   Where do we start ....

At the start of July, whilst out shopping, pushing an empty shopping trolley (thank goodness), my dodgy hip shattered, it just exploded internally and all the ceramic went into the thigh muscles.

Went to local A&E, and some hours later was admitted for bed rest to immobilize me. I had to stay on my back 24 hours a day, not allowed out of bed, for a week!

I insisted on going to RNOH Stanmore, so they decided to send me home to wait for a bed. My hip was basically a metal stem rattling and squeaking around in the metal shell with NO BEARING SURFACE !

A week later, I was into RNOH, and on 25th had the operation. BUT .... I had blood problems, it wasn't coagulating properly, so I couldn't have a spinal anaesthetic due to the risk of a bleed into the spinal cavity which could have left me paralysed. So I had a general anaesthetic. 

Operation was 2 hours, and I now have original 9 inch posterior scar, and a new 12 inch inverted L lateral scar.

At once I knew this was going to be a different recovery, 40 hours after the operation, I did the stairs test and passed and the physios had passed me as fit for discharge in 2 days!  I stayed for the weekend, and went home on 30th.

I have had an incredible recovery, so fast, on day 7 post-op I walked 1 mile outside with 2 sticks to my GP surgery.   I am regularly doing 4-5 miles a day with NO STICKS now.  The physio has cleared me to go back to the gym already, and I am waiting for 6 weeks post-op to be able to drive.

I have sat and read your message aghast. Seriously aghast. Your hip shattered. I can not begin to imagine how stressful not to mention painful that was for you Rocket.

I read your messages earlier in the year, so I was confused when you were talking about a recovery in your latest posts.

Given what happened with your first hip, is that the same reason your hip shattered after all the reassurance you were given about it being okay etc?

You did well to hold out for the Stanmore, surely one of the best hospitals in the world, especially for more complex situations. I kind of held my breathe until I got to the end of your post and can see you are making huge progress.

I am sure you are still recovering from the shock, and lets face it none of us are ready at a drop of a hat to have a hip revision as complex as yours.

I do hope Rocketwoman has her nurses outfit back out of the closet and is looking after you. What a nightmare. I am so pleased you are coming out the other side, and seem to be doing so brilliantly. Thank goodness you were here in the UK and not in the back and beyond (doesn't bear thinking about)

As always sending you hugs and this time may this be the last time!!!!! 

Rose,

Yes it failed because of what was done in the original operation. I was seen at Stanmore just 2 days before it shattered, and it all seemed fine.  I had no intention of letting my local hospital operate, especially when the surgeon said he could do it, but hadn't seen one like this before!

It was a shock, but I have been preparing for that scenario for well over 2 years now. Rocketwoman has been her usual fantastic self - what a lucky guy I am to have her.

Third time lucky ..... I hope! 🤞

I was telling an orthopaedic surgeon friend about your hip shattering as I was so horrified. He gave me the impression that you are not the only one and took my news as if he had heard it all before. Frightening. 

Rose

Good for you to remind everyone that although most of the discussion on this forum is about the patient there is nearly always a partner who has to do an awful lot to assist in the recovery. I often think that life is worse for the carer than for the patient. We, the patients, get looked after in hospital and at home while our partners worry whether we will recover more than we do. This is probably even more true with life threatening illnesses like cancer but it is true of THR families too.

Mike

I don't think it happens often, but it does happen.  I have heard of some early hips failing due to design errors in the joint. Mine was due to the incompetence of the original surgeon.

Sadly, my new surgeon had seen it all before, so certainly it does happen, but apparently I was the centre of much attention by other surgeons (it's a teaching hospital) looking to learn what to do if they ever come across a shattered ceramic hip in the future.

As Mike says, it's harder for spouses and relatives than us. We just have to do what we're told in hospital, they have to cope with so much without any aid from us.

The local surgeon thought he could deal with it even though he had never even seen one before?!!! My that must have been a very interesting conversation at the time.... Slightly terrifying to imagine he may have attempted to repair your hip without previous instruction or experience had it not been for your perseverance (and given you can not have been in a brilliant place in terms of pain and shock, all credit to you Rocket) 

Every now and then it pays to be bloody difficult 

It is encouraging that other surgeons were there to learn from your surgery. I am so glad Rocketwoman is back on form flying to the rescue (feel like buying the woman a gin and tonic myself) 

My husband is not relishing my next surgery (I can tell)  but has seems to be looking forward to a break from his long London commute so every cloud and all.

I would second the post about our long suffering partners. It must be pretty daunting dealing with it all.

You are def walking so well Rocket, you are out of the woods now for sure, keep going and all this will soon be a very distant memory.

Don't remind me about the London commute, I am so happy not going there on a daily basis any more.

I am now returning the favour to Rocketwoman, she's had a small problem looked at, and needs some TLC too, but no G&T as she's on drugs now.

I'm just about to post about a new website I found from a Facebook friend ... it's the new top reference in my website on the "online resources" page, entitled "HEALTH PAGES - Hip Precautions After Hip Replacement Surgery - The best article I have seen on this subject"

Best  XXX

Graham