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Recovery Time for THR with femur fracture

Posted , 8 users are following.

julie65672
julie65672

I wonder if anyone can tell me how long the recovery time (being able to go back to work, drive etc) is for a THR where the surgeon fractured the femur and had to do revision surgery a week after the original THR was done?  The hip replacement became unstable and the fracture made bigger when I was told I could partial weight bear whilst in hospital.  The surgery included a longer stem being used and wires being clamped around the bone to hold the femur in place.

I had to have a week's complete bedrest before the second operation, and have been told to use crutches for 6 weeks (full weight bearing).  I had my other hip replaced in July and was back at work after 6 weeks.  I am doing the physio exercises as recommended by the physio team, but still can't walk very far and cannot walk up the stairs using both legs.  I am just starting to use 1 stick when walking round the house.  I had the surgery done 5 weeks ago.

Thanks in anticipation.

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • claudia95892
    claudia95892 julie65672

    Posted

    High there, I was able to go back to work after 3 months, gradual return to work and I am still doing physio on my own. Every 2 hrs I have to get up, stretch my legs. Walking without a cane with a slight limp. Still going swimming 3 times per week and doing all my exercises. Sitting down and driving for more than 2 hrs, still difficult. As long as I keep on moving I am fine.
    • julie65672
      julie65672 claudia95892

      Posted

      Thank you claudia95892.  Having some idea helps me get my head around the implications.  When you think you will be off for only six weeks and then find out that it's going to take longer it plays with your mind a bit.  Not to mention I don't get paid for being off on sick leave - just SSP!

  • t3chiman
    t3chiman julie65672

    Posted

    ...longer stem being used and wires being clamped around the bone to hold the femur in place...

    Hi Julie-

      Too bad about the back to back surgeries. You are in for an extended recuperation period from the ordeal. Probably 2 months to feel like doing much of anything. Another 2 months to get back on your feet with anything like a reasonable level of balance and energy. Pace yourself. No need for heroic rehab efforts. Take a day off from exercising once in a while, just walk around. Try to get out of the house. May or so, you will be a new person. Plan a nice celebration; it will be great to get all that hip work out of the way.

    • julie65672
      julie65672 t3chiman

      Posted

      Thanks t3chiman.  Some good advice here.  I'm only 54 and had been reasonably active so I am chaffing at the bit to get back to "normal".  I like the idea of a celebration, it will be a nice goal to work to.

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure julie65672

    Posted

    I sympathize with you on a similar journey myself. Revision does in any case require the removal of all the femur components, and more. The femor origional implant must be removed by resectioning of the femor bone to remove the old implant. A wire clam system is also in my case put in place to help the bone heal where longer insert in The femor was 13" in my case.

    It took me a total of 5 months to get back into a normal life without any aides and confident to go back to work. Walking and core strength exercises are the best to acheive independence. 

    See X-ray of my revision better shows the cable system with ring and wire

    attachments. 

    All my best to a complete recovery. Click on pic for larger size.

     

    • claudia95892
      claudia95892 hope4cure

      Posted

      I had my revision done and I have 2 rings to secure the implant as I had bone loss. After 21 years of limping since after the THR, they had left my leg 2.5 inch shorter and suffered from horrible back pain and adjusted by walking on toes. It had been a year since the revision and I am more or less pain free. When the weather changed I feel the top of my rod close to my knee and tightness around where what looks like orings in my xrsys. I asked my surgeon what on Earth was that tightness like I had two very strong elastics around only 3 spots and the area is just about 2 cm in thickness. He explained that I am so petite and muscular that it is the area where they had to put the o rings. As long as I can walk, dance, garden, go to the gym, bike, work and take care of my family I am grateful that he could help me. I am only 53 so I hope this hip lasts till I die because I have almost no femur left.
    • julie65672
      julie65672 hope4cure

      Posted

      Thanks hope4cure.  The Consent form you sign before the operation doesn't really prepare you for when things go wrong.  When I had my first hip replacement by legs were a different length.  The surgeon said he would be able to sort that out when he did the other hip - ironically there is still a significant difference! and he admitted that the first replacement was not quite aligned as he would have liked!  I wish I had had the foresight to take a pic of the X-ray, perhaps when I have a follow up I can resolve this.

      In the last day I have had my first shower without my husband having to help me. I was so pleased with myself for the achievement - sad I know!

       

    • judith12644
      judith12644 julie65672

      Posted

      It’s seemingly small achievements, like the shower, that keep us going though! I remember going on a bus on my crutches about 3 weeks post op. It just felt fantastic to be part of the wider world again. I wish you all the best, Judith 
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure judith12644

      Posted

      Yes gaining mobility back and leaving the pain behind does feel like life is a gift! Hip replacement has come a long way today. Always a great alternative even if we hit a bump or two along the way! 
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure claudia95892

      Posted

      Very true when we sign the surgery consent forms at that time we are full of hope and optimism. We have only the thr , one option to gain back mobility and live with no pain. That is always the outcome we all hope for & when all is said and done it may not always be the same for everyone. 

      I agree with you as long as we can have a life after thr then moving foreward is positive no matter what it takes. I am so glad that my hip revision went well and for you too, I know you have a better life ahead. Enjoy ur gardening biking even just walking. I enjoy going to the store now I don't need to ride those grocery store karts any more. I can walk now and push a grocery cart, &  lift a gallon of milk . WOW ! Something I wasn't able to do for years after my implant was recalled. Revision brought life back and I am so grateful! 

      Tulips will be coming up next month where I garden! 

      Best wishes to you!🌷

  • claudia95892
    claudia95892 julie65672

    Posted

    Without my left hip revision and my right hip replacement, I don't know how much longer I would have kept going. Groceries was a challenge and I had to depend on someone carrying them and sometimes the pain was so great that I just could not go. I had been on a year of pain killers that would just make me asleep so I would compensate by drinking lots of coffee. My mind was slow and I was not as witty. Every activity was carefully planned and sometimes cancelled because if the pain. That is not a way to live. It has been a year. I have my independence back. I can properly take care of my son and best of all I no longer need to take opiods or pain killers. I am so grateful and I look 20 years younger. Pain can slowly destroy you.

  • Llewis1035
    Llewis1035 julie65672

    Posted

    HI Julie,

    ?I am interested in that myself as I am in the middle of this nightmare myself.  My hip collapsed and fractured in December from arthritis. Due to me getting injections, having the last one in November, I was unable to get the hip replaced until Feb.1. I had what I was told was higher pain level and difficulty moving and was kept for 2 days. As I was being discharged, getting up from the chair, I had a severe pain all around my thigh. They took an xray and told me the implant broke out of the bone! I had to be stabilized and transported to another facility and had to have revision  surgery on the hip and the femur fracture repaired. I was in the hospital for 11 days. Having two major surgeries in 5 days. Healing has been slow and to date I am still not walking unassisted. I also seem to have a shorter leg now to deal with. 

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