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

hip and pelvic fracture, followed by 2 surgeries and foot drop!!!!

Posted , 9 users are following.

ashleyd
ashleyd

Hi, I'm 27 years old and had a serious car accident that resulted in me breaking my hip and pelvic bone. I ended up having 2 surgeries and foot drop after my 2nd surgery. I feel like my foot drop is never going to go away. PT has tried the electrical nerve machine thing. (sorry can't remember what the medical term for it is. ) no movement at all even when it was turned up pretty high.  He was shocked! Said my foot drop was one of the worst he has dealt with.  Of course my luck.  I am a single mom of a 7 year old daughter who is my life. I'm so scared I'm gonna be permanently disabled. Surgeon and PT said it is a 50/50 chance that my foot drop will heal and if it doesn't that I will walk with a limp because it throws your gait off and also will never be able to be as active and do the normal activities I did prior to injury.  I am now a little over a month post op. Still in lots of pain. Going through so many emotions. I'm so grateful to be alive don't get me wrong but this has been so life changing. I'm scared for what my future holds. I guess I'm just looking for support. I feel so alone. I'm tired of depending on my mom for everything. My independence is out the window for at least another couple months maybe longer depending on outcome. Tired of depending on pain medications to get by everyday. In so much pain constantly can barely do anything with my daughter whom I miss doing activities with and taking her places. Tired of not being able to sleep.  Just feeling so many emotions. Sorry for such a long post just want to hear from others that may be going through the same thing.  I feel as though I am such a bother and inconvenience to family and friends.  Hope to hear from someone. God bless, Ashley 

0 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

Next
  • Lynn195013
    Lynn195013 ashleyd

    Posted

    Well Ashley you have been through the mill, but please dont think you are beng a burden on anyone especially your mum I bet she is just so pleased that you are still here with what sonds lke a horific accident.  These things take time,  if you need your medication you must take it.  This is a good form and I am sure someone will be along with knowledge of your problem.  If you want to rant we are all here for you, I do hope you feel stronger soon.  Big hug for you x
    • ashleyd
      ashleyd Lynn195013

      Posted

      Thank you that means so much to me.  I just needed some outside support as I feel like know one around me understands how and what I am going through. Thanks again smile
  • jackie56101
    jackie56101 ashleyd

    Posted

    Hi Ashley,  Hang in there your family loves you I dont know how i would of made it without this last your. I was born with Hip hisplaysia Last your i needed Revised Hip replacement I couldnt put weight on my leg for 6weeks . When i woke up from surgery last year oct 2013 my foot felt weird my doctor said this should go away !!! Well it didnt I have sciatic nerve damage from surgical site down to lower exremity foot drop didnt find that out until six months after surgery, I have lost my job still on disability going to physical therapy 3x week , I have learned to take one day at time im single mom too , but my kids are adults now but you will make it just hang in there it does get better. Reach out to your family you need them please keep in touch let forum  know how you are I will be preying for you . I understand the nerve pain is horriable i cant stand or sit for long period of time hang in there

    Jackie

    • ashleyd
      ashleyd jackie56101

      Posted

      Thank u so much I needed to hear from someone that I am not alone.  I mean I knew I wasn't but this forum is just what I needed to lift my spirits. God bless u and thank u so so much. 
  • debbie04463
    debbie04463 ashleyd

    Posted

    Hi Ashley  I have replied to your post but because I have aadded my email  address they have kept for approval. I know exactly how you feel having also been in a car accident  with pelvic injuries requiring surgery. You are still probably traumatised and need a long period of recovery. PM me and I will  give you my email address so I can answer any questions  you have. Your post brought tears to my eyes as I can identify with you. My children were 10  and 13  I was 34. I am now a gran of 4 beautiful  children who are the light in my life. I had a hip replacement  a year ago and have femoral nerve damage from that . Unfortunately  pelvic injuries  are high risk for nerve damage. I was fortunate not to have been damaged from my original surgery. You definitely need someone who knows exactly what you are going through to talk too. I felt like my friends were fed up with  hearing my problems and eventually I had counselling. You have a while to recover from the trauma of the accident. It was certainly  the worst thing to happen  in my life and life won't be the same but you will  adapt. I am happy despite my problems walking and pain.
  • james80413
    james80413 ashleyd

    Posted

    Hi Ashleyd,

    Sorry to hear of your predicament. I am sure that like any operation there is a percentage that do not go as according to plan. I am curious at the comments by the PT, Re "the worst he has dealt with", to me they would all be the same if the nerve was severely compromised. The nerve could be stretched at the hip level or compressed at the level at the knee. From my old high school biology days of what seems a hundred years ago I remember it is easy to stimulate a denervated muscle. A direct current will do this and an alternating current will not, why he did not use this direct current I do not know. I can't visualise a nerve being cut from a hip operation so there is a good chance a recovery could be made. From what I know some nerves are bruised and recovery is good and relatively fast, in others the nerve fibres degenerate but will grow down the nerve sheath at a certain rate, the time escapes me but search the web, it will be found somewhere, google neuropraxia. In the very rare event your drop foot was permanent I would think that nowadays there are braces which correct foot drop very efficiently and enable you be almost as nimble as ever. I do not think that a drop foot will be the cause of pain. Just found something, Google, "peripheral nerve injury Wikipedia".

    • ashleyd
      ashleyd james80413

      Posted

      Thanks James and unfortunately from the severity of my injuries the orthopedic surgeon actually did have to cut the nerve sad I actually have researched quite a bit and they have also told me what to expect if my foot drop does not heal.  I'm mainly here for support.  I mean thank you very very much for your knowledge but the whole ortho team has pretty much explained my potential outcomes and which if it doesn't heal I will unfortunately walk with a limp from the foot drop it will cause an unsteady gait.  It's just a lot to take in right now as the accident itself was my first ever and it was bad.  I thank god everyday that I am alive I definitely had a Guardian Angel on my side because of the severity of the accident I should not have survived. Obviously my car did not make it.  But that's material.  I'm just so grateful to still be here to raise my beautiful daughter.  Anyways sorry for all that and thanks again for your support. 
  • cherrelle57794
    cherrelle57794 ashleyd

    Posted

    Ashley I can relate the feeling of uselessness esp when you have kids. It's the worst feeling. Not being able to bath them or make their dinner. Drive them to school or even get their clothes ready for school. The sadness and despair as a parent unable to be the mother you were is the worst pain. That I can relate to I really can. I don't know very much about footdrop but I know a month is still very very early. There are a few very good hip replacement forums on facebook and I've read of others with footdrop and it taking a long long time to recover. I can't advise but I just want to say take each day at a time. Don't look past that day and focus on getting better. Eat well. Do your ot and research as much as you can on footdrop so you know as much as possible. I've been having surgeries for five years. Some failed and I now have an infection and what I want to share is to take one day at a time. Otherwise it will seem overwhelming. I changed from taking my kids to the park to sitting reading with them instead. It's hard and the guilt is the worst pain you will feel but this will get better. Stay strong have hope and take one day at a time x
    • ashleyd
      ashleyd cherrelle57794

      Posted

      Thank you so much.  Yes I feel horrible that I can't be the mom I am used to being.  My mom is now doing my job as being her mom right now and it breaks my heart.  I mean I do what I can like we play card games or read and watch TV.  We have talks and cuddle. And we play on the tablet. But it's just not the same not being able to take her places and give my undivided attention. It hurts me so bad. But I do keep looking up on the internet about everything especially the foot drop. I'm trying to relax and take one day at a time but it is very tough. But I am so beyond thankful to be alive and I know in the long run this will all make me more appreciative and a stronger person... Thanks so much for your support. So glad I decided to reach out on here. It's really boosting me up and giving me more hope and a better outlook on all of this. Thanks again, Ashley 
    • cherrelle57794
      cherrelle57794 ashleyd

      Posted

      Ashley I'm really glad you reached out too.  It's so tough no one understands the heartbreak of being a mum who can't do everything they used to. I completely relate and I know it feels like it's an eternity. My children at times would also misbehave or be over emotional and I often thought it's because their lives have changed and they had and we do our best but it is hard for them.  I used to find myself feeling angry at other people who were completely able bodied and who would just sit on their phones while their kids played. I'd find myself thinking they were taking their health for franted and if I could id be playing with my kids not watching and that really looking back was judgemental on my part but I was just so consumed by my own anger and frustration  ironically I'm in a better place just now because I've changed my expectations. I used to think " when I'm better" I don't now now I think what can I do today and I take it one day at a time. I know that's easy to say esp as you are only just post op and independence must seem a million miles away but day by day you will get stronger. The pain will lessen and you will improve. I've accepted I'll never be back to the way I was but I also see how much I've already overcome and achieved and I know there's only so much control I can have but the body has an amazing capacity to heal . One thing I think is important is not to compare your recovery to others as so many factors influence recovery and as bad as you are just now it can only get better. For a long time I felt really angry and quite bitter this had happened to me and to my kids but that thankfully has gone and I now just think about where I'm going to get to and how im going to get there. From your post you are an extremely strong woman and you can do this , it will take a long time but you will get better. Please keep reaching out as I found a lot of strength in the people who were going through similar to me. X
    • ashleyd
      ashleyd cherrelle57794

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your support.  Yes I am going through so much anger right now but also sadness and feeling hopeless.  Just trying to accept the things I cannot change is really hard right now.  I just want to get up and give my daughter a bath heck myself a bath and take her places and all the things I did pre op.  I know in time I will overcome all of this but it definitely is life changing.  It's such a long recovery and the pain and no sleep from being so uncomfortable and in pain is so stressful. I'm just so exhausted all the time.  sad  but thank you again so much for your support I will definitely keep everybody updated on my road to recovery. God bless
    • cherrelle57794
      cherrelle57794 ashleyd

      Posted

      And you ashley God bless. I don't know how to pm you as I'm quite new to this site but if you want to pm me I'll give you my email. Please feel free to message me anytime. Remember everything you feel is normal and it took me a long time to realise what I felt was part of the process of recovery as this isn't jyst s physical recovery but an emotional, mental and psychological one as much as a physical one. Expressing these emotions and acknowledging them is what helps you move forward and ironically what gives you strength. I found a lot of strength in my anger about my situation although it very nearly cost me my marriage because everything changes. Suddenly you're thrown into a position you've never known. Vulnerability and dependence on others. I'd never known that my whole life. My anger though while it gave me strength it became destructive until I acknowledged it and could accept it. I'm not suggesting that's you I just want you to know emotional recovery is just as important as physical recovery and in these situations at this time of our life acknowledging that this is unfair and I know you are glad to be alive its ok to be angry that it happened and it stole your life. For just now or at least the life you knew   It's ok to feel that and express it. I think we deny ourselves sometimes the right to feel these emotions. I did for a long time and it almost destroyed me but once I did acknowledge them I felt stronger and more in control and I saw a better future regardless. I'm facing a revision on my thr as its infected. Im two years post op and it's been infected from day one and ironically I feel more able to cope because I don't have the baggage of surpressed emotions . I spent a lot of time this year talking about my feelings and my anger and God it helped so much. God bless you ashley you are a strong determined woman and You will recover. This will get better. I am happy to message you privately just pm me. I hope you don't mind me saying these things I just feel often this is the things we don't always feel we can say to others as they can't understand but it's hugely important to recovery to express how you feel and every emotion you have a right to feel x
    • ashleyd
      ashleyd cherrelle57794

      Posted

      Thank you so much.  I will pm u tomorrow as I can barely keep my eyes open. Thanks so much again for all your support. Can use all the support I can get.  Will talk more with you tomorrow.  smile
    • ashleyd
      ashleyd

      Posted

      And also I appreciate everything you have said.  Your are so right and I need to allow myself to feel the emotions without feeling guilty but it's very hard.  I definitely would like to talk to u more privately so I will pm u tomorrow for sure.  So glad to be able to talk to someone who understands what I am going through. I was beginning to feel so alone.  Also so sorry to hear that you have to have a revision sad I hope that goes well and I will pray for you.  God bless and talk to u tomorrow 
  • val_54026
    val_54026 ashleyd

    Posted

    hi ashly what is foot drop not heard of this before i had 2 knee replacements left and right and i have damage nevres in my feet it is awful
    • ashleyd
      ashleyd val_54026

      Posted

      My foot drop was caused by my surgeon when he cut me open from my outer hip down to almost my knee during the surgery he had to cut a nerve that connected from my upper thigh all the way to my foot. He said he had no choice in doing so to operate on the hip.  Anyways foot drop is nerve damage where you cannot lift your foot towards you basically while laying down I am unable to flex my foot towards me only away from me.  Therefore this will cause my foot to drop so to speak, to where when I am able to walk my foot will drag from loss of nerves. If this remains permanent. I do have a chance of regaining the nerves back but chances are slim due to surgeon having to actually cut the nerve. Im still learning myself.  If u want better clarification I would say just google foot drop. Also I always have the feeling of my calf and part of my thigh and my foot feeling asleep basically.  Some numbing feeling and pain as well.  Very uncomfortable and aggravating sad
Back to top
Next

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.