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Increased anxieties

Posted , 10 users are following.

susie74530
susie74530

I have emailed a friend of mine in San Francisco who had a THR. She replied overnight, and has said that during her pre op consultation, she was advised that post op, she could loose the use of her foot.  In that case, she would be worse off than before the surgery!   Footless, or should that be  "footloose!"  What she came out of surgery with were two numb toes and a "flattened" toe nail.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?

She was kept in hospital for four days, and had a friend pick her up and stay with her for two days.  She says that she slept for almost a week.

This scares the hell out of me, and it is straight from the horse's mouth!  Four days in hospital is more than enough, particularly if I should find myself in the sort of situation that Hailea has run into.  She could have been made really ill by this filth, potentially penetrating the wound.

I live on my own, although I do have a daughter in Bath.  She does not drive, so it would be more or less impossible for her to get here to me, and her job would make it very difficult to get away to spend time with me.  She has not offered assistance, anyway.  Ths is not surprising as she has just lost her father to a hip replacement that went bad.  Consequently, I would never consider asking her for her help.  

The thought of being left totally on my own for the first few days is very worrying.  I have lived where I am for the last ten years, when I bought new.  Now, there is not a single original owner/occupier in this urbanization that I know, and most of them are now sub tenants. So, no help there, much less an awareness of my situation, and I do not think they would care even if they were.  One of them watched me as I struggled to get my shopping out of my car, struggle to the front door, with my shopping, which I had to take into the building in three separate journeys, leaning on my stick.  He just stood there, having turned his back on the situation.

I have no idea how much Social Services is going to do.  As far as I understand it, it is a 15 minute in/out type visit.  So, how am I going to manage on my own and with an animal to care for as well?  Cannot afford to put her in a cattery even if I was inclined to do that, which I am not.

I  have put out a few feelers into the local community for so called professional assistance at anything from £8.00 to £18.00 an hour.  We are sitting ducks for exploitation.  £8.00 is affordable, but £18.00 for I don't know how long is out of the question.  More to thepoint, I would be allowing a stranger into my home, when I am at my most vulnerable.  I can check in their background up to a point, then I run straight into the Data Protection Act, that will protect them, but not me!  It is far too risky.

Anticipating the usual question about family; no, other than my daughter, all deceased.  Due to circumstances that were beyond my control, I have been unable to form and maintain my friendships.  I will not go into detail, but it involved police action and the ASB Team's intervention.  I lost friends because I was unable to return dinner invitations, etc., asmy guests were subjected to harassment and ASB.

I am wondering how other lone dwellers manage?  My situation is probably unique as per the above, but it does have to managed,, somehow, and I must be safe after release from hospital.

0 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • tony628
    tony628 susie74530

    Posted

    I am not sure if the direct anterior method is available for you.  The incision is made on the front side of the hip with no cutting of any muscles.  This process is less invasive.  I had the surgery 11 days ago and am walking unasisted with little to no pain.  I have not heard about such warnings regarding the possibility of losing use of the foot.  Perhaps this was unique circumstances to your friend.  I live in Florida so we have many surgeons who perform the traditional posterior method which I believe is most commin in the UK.  i was fortunate to find a doctor that only does the anterior method.  Hope this helps in some way.  Best of luck to you.
    • susie74530
      susie74530 tony628

      Posted

      Hi Tony:

      Elfi, in Mill Valley's incision was lateral.  I was surprised that she was advised that she may lose the use of her foot.  I am not sure if this information is given to pre op patients as a matter of practice with regard to any malpractice suits, etc., should the surgeon "mess up."  My own experience f surgery in San Francisco was to have been a cosmesis to remove Heberden Nodes on an arthritic finger on my dominant (left) hand.  The surgeon totally messed up the surgery, and I left with with a missing top joing to the middle finer, that was bent at a right angle.  Needless to say, it had to be redone by another surgeon.  I later discovered that the first surgeon was actually a "foot" doctor.  Maybe he specilaised in hammer toes!   This is why I am apprehensive, but having read up on my surgeon, I have found that he is probably one of the best, if not the best in the area, and often referred to by other surgeons.

      I am not sure what his approach is, but I shall be meeting with him tomorrow afternoon, and should know a lot more by then.  Fortuantely, for the surgeon, I am quite "rabbity" around my hips, so he wont have to cut through a lot of fatty tissue!  However, I have quite strong bones, so he may have a bit of a tussle with me.  It may be a two man or even a team effort!  

      I will be posting after my initial consultation tomorrow.

      I have visited Florida only once, and that was when I was working as a publicist in New York.  We went to Miami on a promotional tour - product publicity with Ginger Rogers!  Loved the Art Deco hotels along Miami Beach. First Class all the way - marvellous!  Those were the days, but I was definitely the bag carrier!

      Many thanks for your fedback.  

      All the best to you.

      Susie

  • annone70291
    annone70291 susie74530

    Posted

    Hi. I've just looked back at my booklet from the London Hip Unit. I had my THR 5 months ago. The booklet mentions "Foot weakness" as a complication/risk of THR and states: "Damage to a nerve during surgery can cause foot weakness. This is a very rare complication (less than 0.1%) and over time these injuries often improve and may completely recover". I do remember the physiotherapist running her hand over my foot soon after the operation and asking if I could feel it. I assume this is what she was checking for. I hope this helps.
    • renee01952
      renee01952 annone70291

      Posted

      You are so right!!!!!

      surgeon did a thoroughly foot examination

      as well ..duh

    • susie74530
      susie74530 annone70291

      Posted

      I am doing everything possible to strengthen the entire, hip, leg and foot.  A lot of stretches to get the quads, gluts and calf muscles stretched out, as they have atrophied, somewhat.  Added foot flexes and rotations, so that, with any luck, I shall have a head start on post op complications.  My friend in San Francisco had a complication to her surgery, as there was hole in her hip that needed repair, presumably with a bone graft from somewhere else in her body.

      I am going to ensure that any medical niggles are takenn care of before surgery, and any dental work necessary taken care of.

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