Pain 3 weeks post hip replacement
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi my daughter is 16 and 3 weeks ago had an uncemented total hip replacement. She is still in a considerable amount of pain, is this to be expected?
Thanks Vicki
4 likes, 17 replies
NeilColeclough vicki_04437
Posted
I hope your daughter manages to get her pain resolved, but I think I would be contacting the surgeon if I were you, pain can hinder recovery.
Neil
vicki_04437 NeilColeclough
Posted
Jackie_k vicki_04437
Posted
vicki_04437 Jackie_k
Posted
Em's had a pretty tough life, she suffered a brain injury at birth which caused a stroke, she has mild cerebral palsy and refractory epilepsy. She also has DDH which went undiagnosed until she was nearly 1. She has had many operations on her hip and pelvis, the last 5 or so have just been firefighting really until she could have a thr.
She's been in terrible life changing pain for about a year and was made wheelchair bound by it, when the surgeon did the thr he found her ball and socket had totally crumbled away it was far worse than he had thought it was. Emily kept saying it felt like crumble topping!
I think the problem is she has very little muscle in her left leg, this is the side of the surgery, so it's going to take time, she was also on big pain meds pre op so has probably built up a tolerance. I was hoping to cut down on her codeine, but I think I've probably jumped in too soon and need to give her longer.
Vicki
Jackie_k vicki_04437
Posted
renee01952 vicki_04437
Posted
Welcome to this wonderful forum ...
I am so sorry to hear that your daughter is in so much pain ...
Can you tell us what kind of pain she is feeling? And, if you don't mind, why did she have THR surgery ...
Is she walking and doing exercises - could she have overdone it ?
IS she taken medication for pain? If it is really bad, please contact your GP or consultant to put your and her mind at ease ...
Warm hug for both of you
renee
Some pain is normal and to be expected
vicki_04437 renee01952
Posted
She has been doing a bit of walking, with a frame, as she can only partially weight bare which is a big thing for her as she has been almost totally wheelchair bound for the last year due to pain and weakness in her hip.
She is taking Naxaproxen, paracetamol and codeine. I had decreased the codeine as she seemed comfortable but I'm thinking I've done this too soon.
Em finds it hard to describe pain, she says it hurts in her thigh like it's got a bruise on it and hurts over her knee.
Vicki x
Kate53CornUK vicki_04437
Posted
vicki_04437 Kate53CornUK
Posted
That's really useful to know because that's exactly where most of the pain is. I had read that uncemented joints can take longer to settle pain wise.
Kate53CornUK vicki_04437
Posted
Oh, and 5 weeks in I still get quite a lot of knee pain but it gets a little better each day.
renee01952 vicki_04437
Posted
what a strong girl Em is to handle all these challenges - and you too Vicki ..
THR involves prothesis to be put in the bone of the thigh (and ball in hip socket - not a medical term, I know) - So that might explain the soreness in her upper thigh as well around the knee - If she is walking, muscles are being used that have not been used for a long time ..
You might consider giving her the codeine for a bit longer - to be in pain is exhausting and debilitating ...
Love, light and healing rays send to both of you ..
Bless you
renee
bridget54922 vicki_04437
Posted
laura85375 vicki_04437
Posted
pain is so subjective and with her history she Has certainly had a fair amount of it. Most of us on here will tell you that although we were able to start reducing our pains meds after a few weeks, we still have days were we need the, again for the whole day. I'm having one of those today 8 weeks on. I too had an uncemented hip, uncemented both in the femur and in the acetabulum but I was walking and exercising before my op so potentially have more muscle strength than your daughter. Just encourage her to keep doing the regular gentle exercises, keep relatively mobile and keep taking the painkillers for now.
We we will be interested to hear how she is progressing. Big healing hugs for her.
laura
vicki_04437 laura85375
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Jujube56 vicki_04437
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I'm at 11 weeks and the first 3 weeks were tough primarily because the pain meds didn't really work. I did find that icing my hip would help. Your daughter has probably gotten through the worst and it should be better soon. If not, I would consult with the surgeon. Prayers going out to you both.