Foot Drop after total hip replacement AFO causes blood clot

Posted , 10 users are following.

I went in for my total hip replacement on June 6th of 2013. When I awoke I had a tingly numbing sensation from my knee down to my foot. It turns out I ended up with what is called foot drop. My surgeon Dr. Gallagher said he was pretty sure he didn't cut my sciatic nerve but he might have stretched it some. I had physical therapists come and strap a foot brace on me and walk me around the hospital. When I was time for me to be discharged the physical therapists didn't send me home with a foot drop brace instead one showed up at my house later that week. I wore it only when I was out shopping or at therapy. It felt snug on me it felt tight. I went walking with my girlfriend one day and kept the brace on for 2 hours by the time we made it back to the car my calf where the brace strapped on was really red and sore. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. I also was diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction stage 2 peripheral vascular disease and atrial fibrillation. Almost 2 months after my hip replacement I am back in the hospital. When I got out my physical therapist told me of a place that custom makes AFOs so me and my girlfriend went there. The guy that worked there said he don't know why they bordered the over the counter foot drop brace because he knew it would be to small. Well my life was ruined. I had a great job with awesome insurance. My weight was good. Now I am 85 lbs. bigger and draw permanent disability. When you are sitting there listening to your surgeon say that you will be back to work in 3 months and you will be playing gulf and dancing. Lol don't always believe what you hear.

2 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • Posted

    Wow..sorry for you! Hope you are doing better. Take it one day at a time. D
    • Posted

      That's what I'm doing. My foot drop is permanent and I do draw disability. I'm only 43 and had a very active life.
    • Posted

      Don, just curious could you share the reason for replacement at such a young age.
  • Posted

    So sorry, now going on 4 yrs next month post op with Anterior, I now know anything can happen with these barberic surgeries.....yes I called them traumatic but another member uses barberic and they sure are when you really think about was goes on.....

    I have a lot of damage and who knows if I'll ever be in better shape.....

    Again, what a shock for your outcome..... j

    • Posted

      Yeah it's learning how to live all over again. I fall a lot and with the blood thinners I'm on its always scary. My surgeon played in the NFL all his life guess he wasn't rich enough so he wanted to play doctor. I think they should've had me a foot drop brace that fit. I am furious over my surgeon blowing me off like it was nothing and I'm nobody. That's the bummer of it all.
  • Posted

    I feel badly that anyone, let alone someone so young, could come away from THR

    with the complications you describe.  I hope you can find someone that has some

    answers and you can improve your situation.  Are you in the UK?  I am in California.

    • Posted

      No I'm in Jackson Co. Indiana. I did sign with a lawyer that is representing me in a malpractice claim but he said it could take up to 5 years to settle. I truly don't know if I can make 5 years. THR ruined my health
    • Posted

      And we only hear from handfuls of people here, can you imagine the number of cases that are not successful... we were all counting on success....
    • Posted

      Hi, my name is Yolanda and I was wondering how your lawsuit was going. I went in for a total hip replacement and I came out with drop foot and sciatic nerve palsy.
    • Posted

      Yes I do too have suit going. Would reply PM IF U R interested . 
  • Posted

    Have you had additional Dr's opinions on your condition?  Is it possible to get a

    check from a large teaching hospital, or better yet--Mayo.  With multiple problems

    you need a real hot-shot team on your side.  I'm all for the lawyer route as a last

    resort but what you really want is your life back.  Exhaust all your options.

    • Posted

      I would be totally happy with my life back. The heart failure is the worst part.
  • Posted

    Hello Don, OMG!!! Same thing happened to me I went in Oct 24, 2013 of last year so its almost been 1 year I had toral revised hip surgery . When i woke up my foot felt weird i told my surgeon. He said it will go away with time . Well im at 11 months and the pain in my calf and foot is numb still, I went to see nerve doctor I have nerve damage sciatic nerve damage and he says its from the surgical site. I didnt get foot brace . I did try to go back to work modified in april of this year at the end of my shift i could hardly walk to my car , So im back on disability lost my manger postion at so no job Im in physical therapy 3x week my surgeon didnt even know what i did for living. Im in pain every day I have the worst back pain and unable to sleep at night . I feel for you Im just beside myself I also have gained weight 20 pounds . My first hip replacement i didnt have any problem

    Anyways hopefully there light at the end of the tunnel for us

    Take care

    Jackie 

    • Posted

      Amen to the light. Its nice to know I'm not alone out there. It really is terrible. I have a good team of lawyers on my side. I just want to get out of this bed

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