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newbie and heres my story

Posted , 6 users are following.

bugzie
bugzie

hi there at 13 years old i fractured my left femur in three places falling over with a marching drum on me, it was never diagnosed by my doctor even tho i was in so much pain, it took my knee and foot to turn 90 degree out wards for my mother to rush me to a and e, and find that i had hip displacier, and i had a op at 16 to rotate my knee and foot, where they pinned and plated,but i was left with a 3.57cm difference between my legs, at 27 i had the plate and pins removed due to constant pain, but that didnt seem to make much difference. Then over the years between 2007 and present day 2015 i have suffered with pain in both hips and lower back, plus in my left knee now, in april 2015 it got to a point where my hip would go one week then the next it would be my back so my doctor referred me to the physio, to which they tried hydrotherepy, which did help as it didnt agrevate one or the other, but it didnt give me any rotation back in my hip or joint, the physio then did xrays and decided to refer to me a local private hospital for more tests, and with in 12 weeks i was under the hospital and consultant, and i have now just come out of a complex left hip replacement and pelvic reconstruction. 

i am so happy with how it all went due to my concerns of being put under anasthetic, as that is where i dont do well, but i was given a epidural and heavy sudation instead, which was amazing for me. and i am now home and coping well with my new hip and new size of my leg. i now have 18 months of intense physio due to the lengthening of my leg, as my tendants and nerves and muscles have to get used to being this length, and i know that my other hip will be next operation, but im hoping that isnt in the immediate future just yet lol

the only thing i am struggling with is the swelling in the full left leg and the struggle to be comfy for sleep any ideas all.

4 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Hailea
    Hailea bugzie

    Posted

    Hello bugzie

    wow you have been through it. 

    Ok for the swelling you need packs of frozen peas. Do not put them any where near your wound.. Wrap the pack in a tea towel or hand towel to protect your skin. Also when laying down lay with your leg raised above your heart. Put some pillows under your mate press or take the big cushions off the sofa and use those to get  your leg up high enough. As for being comfortable  buy yourself some V pillows they help a lot when you have to sleep on your back they really do support you. 

  • bugzie
    bugzie

    Posted

    thank you so much, yes last night was the first night i elevated my legs and it did help by the morning it was just that i had the worse nights sleep since the op. i will definatly give it a go at packing my leg, how many times a day would you suggest to do the packing?
    • Hailea
      Hailea bugzie

      Posted

      It was a good idea to raise your legs and I am glad it helped. Just make sure your legs are above your heart..

      I would say use the ice packs / peas for about 10 / 15 mins as often as you think you need too. As long as the ice pack soesn't come in contact with your skin but the cloth you have covering it is thin enough to let the cold through to help. Every one is different there are no hard and fast rules to how to help yourself as long as you remember iut isn't a race to who can do what the quickest. Don't get angry with yourself if you see posts on here with people having done something far quicker than yourself. Yes it can be upsetting but just go at your own pace. :-)

    • Jodi-France
      Jodi-France bugzie

      Posted

      You can put bricks under the legs of the foot of the bed to raise up the bottom of the bed, it only takes one or two bricks because you are already laying down.

      i never had swelling but I remember someone writing to put ice packs on your groin area to reduce swelling of the whole leg.

      i'm sorry I don't remember the details of why ice packs on the groin area but when I read it it made a lot of sense.

      for e erything you've been thru for literally decades I am amazed and impressed with your positive attitude biggrin

  • Notabene
    Notabene bugzie

    Posted

    Swelling is horrible and a reminder of the trauma to the area,

    I bought the inflatable compression leg blow up equipment WHICH saved me.   Lovely treatment.  Lie on your bed am and pm and relax with the blow up pressure.  The arterial system in your legs is your second heart.  It saved my life and stored ready for second THR.  In fact two years into my first THR I'm getting it out as I've got high metal ion levels, mainly because I WAS TOLD ID HAVE CERAMIC BALL AND ONLY  FOUND OUT FROM NATIONAL JOINT REGISTRY ID BEEN given metal.

    All of you be aware that any metal surface will articulate against ANY surface and cause metal debris at the molecular level to slowly kill you.  Surgeons are engineers not biochemists. Hospitals will save cash with metal surfaces. Ceramic is more expensive .  Beware the nhs mafia.  I know. Ensure you are getting ceramic not metal. They may be using old stock on old stock patients  (!ha ha!). Ask which materials they'd be using on their own family... It is a very murky  area.  I'm doing an article for a weekend newspaper.  

  • linnet2015
    linnet2015 bugzie

    Posted

    Hi bugzie and welcome

    What a lot of pain and trauma you must have been through already in your young life but I am so happy for you that finally you had the first operation that should start to turn your life around. 

    I have just had my second THR this year and my operated leg is very swollen. As Haillea said ice packs are good and do help pain and swelling. I was told 10 minutes at a time as if you let your leg get too cold it can have the the opposite effect as it tries to warm up again, so def little and often and not directly on your skin.

    I had swelling with my first op and the swelling took nearly 3 months to go down sometimes it can be longer. So when you are ready, do your exercises and make sure you get plenty of rest. I try to have a nap every afternoon.

    Big hug to bugzie 😀

    Linnet x

    • cathie38426
      cathie38426 linnet2015

      Posted

      I had no swelling first time, but this time I have. My

      surgeon says 5 weeks for it to go down. Internal bruising,

      but it makes me looking as if my walk is lopsided.

      I will not worry now as you say it took yours 3 months

      to go down. Doc not to bother putting ice on.

      Cathie

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