Post surgical problem

Posted , 5 users are following.

hi everyone 😃 I had left THR 8 weeks ago. The surgery was difficult, posterior entry because I broke the hip 4 years ago in a car accident and they had to work around quite a bit of hardware. It took 7 hours. I'd been in a world of pain for years and was so happy to finally start putting all that behind me. Recovery was going perfectly. On the morning of May 5th, I did regular household chores, including emptying cat litter and packing up and carrying out garbage, up and down stairs, etc.

Later that morning my left knee and foot gave out. I called the doctor to see if weakness in the affected leg was normal, yes of course it is, so I reluctantly pulled out the walker.

The next morning, I fell, taking the walker with me. The knee, ankle and foot are intermittently useless and incredibly painful. The doc had me come in for exam and x-rays. There was a steroid shot to the knee and there'll be a follow up appointment soon.

The hip is fine, but the pain from my knee to the bottom of my foot is excruciating, my neighbors would think someone is beating me if they didn't know I live alone. The pain feels like it's in the joints and tissue except for the bottom of the left foot, that feels like nerve pain. Sometimes I can lift the leg (PT exercise), others, no way. Sometimes I can walk, but kinda have to drag the leg. Sometimes, I can't walk at all.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? I was so excited to finally be able to get this done... this new thing is quite a letdown.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    Sorry to hear you are experiencing such pain. I am also 8 weeks post-op and like you have found pain in hip and knee seems to be increasing. I've yet to start with a physiotherapist so in the meantime just staying gently mobile and not pushing myself too much. Had to take painkillers last night for the first time in weeks - very frustrating but as I keep being told recovery is a marathon not a sprint !

  • Posted

    Sorry to read this Deborah. I had a THR of right hip 12 weeks ago but I have been lucky and not experienced the problems that you have. I live alone too and I guess we often do a bit too much.

    I hope that your follow up appointment happens soon and you get help to relieve the pain you are having. I also hope that everything settles down again quickly and you can get back to a normal recovery of the THR.

    In the meantime perhaps you could rest and relax a bit more? Best wishes

  • Posted

    Hi Deborah. I'm 7 weeks post-op anterior right THR. I found this forum because I'm sitting here and asking myself shouldn't I be feeling better already? I live alone and I think I've been totally pushing myself to do things around the house instead of focusing basically on my recovery. I have three cats so I can totally embrace the whole cat litter thing. I'm sorry you're having the pain that you're having perhaps you're doing too much as I know that is my problem. I use a cane inside the house and use my Walker when I go out. I also need a hip replacement on my left hip which is scheduled for the middle of August. My Ortho doctor told me this would happen that once I got my right hip fixed my left hip would get bad fast. I feel like I'm only 50% fixed. I need my pain medications especially at night to sleep. I hope you feel better soon.

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