Swelling of my leg and problems with arm when using a crutch.

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Hi i posted a few weeks back and got some good advice.. Hope someone can give me some help again. I had a ceramic total hip replacement six weeks ago and also suffered a hairline fracture of my femur during this procedure.I then had a second operation to wire the fracture 4 days later. Since coming home i have had to use crutches as i am not allowed to bear any weight on my new hip until the 13th Jan when i get my follow up appointment.

I have two problems really and wont see my physio for another week.. I am having a lot of pain in my right arm from using the crutches. I have pain in my upper arm , lower arm and around my wrist. Quite a bit of my lower arm has been numb for about two weeks.. Has anyone had this and any tips on how to ease this...

The second problem is swelling on my operated side. I initially found that the swelling subsided rather quickly and i felt back to normal size after 3 weeks or so. However these last few days my leg has swollen up again and now feels very tight.. Both my thigh and calf are noticebly swollen. I had stopped wearing my stockings last Friday as six weeks were up but have decided to wear them again today..i dunno if i am doing the right thing.. I am trying to move about and wriggle my toes and feet regularly.. I am not a sit around sort of man..I have felt very on my own regarding advice from professionals i am afraid but i suppose he Christmas break hasnt helped but its 4 weeks since any contact happened. Have any of you found their leg has swollen up repeatedly following the operation?? I would feel better to know that this was normal...

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  • Posted

    Hi John my literature also said 6 weeks before laying on your side

    I don't lay on my operated side. I have not laid on that side since my original op as it has always hurt probably from scar tissue but I could also feel pressure in my joint.on my healthy side as I lay with pillow between my leg my operated leg feels strange especially now as my inner thigh is numb. Also uncomfortable but a relief from laying on my back. I always end up laying on my back after a while. Glad she has said your leg is fine. Mine has not been noticeably swollen at all apart from slight swelling around my knee. I was not able to weight bear until 3 months after my accident 22 years ago. but that was a reconstruction of the hip socket. I have been trying to walk about house without crutches but surgeon told me not to as my leg gives way without warning and could damage my hip agaan So it can be difficult. I am able to cook now but takes me a while to prepare as I have to move things around the work top. Also standing without sticks though I get a lot of pain still and have 200mg of Tramadol twice s day. They are slow release. My knee altough numb on outside gets painful. I hope yours is more straight forward when you do start walking without crutches. I am sure it will be. Your fracture needed the extra time time to heal and is going to support your new implant. We both have suffered with a different complication that has held back the normal timetable of progress which is frustrating. Especially when you hear how marvellous some people feel after the op. I have read stories of people in their eighties walking a mile without crutches after 6 weeks!

  • Posted

    Hi i have now seen my surgeon and can now weight bear. I told him about the swelling but he didn't seem worried at all and didn't check it out. My leg is still very swollen and my knee is up as well .my leg goes red and my calf can get quite firm at different times of the day. I suppose this must be normal. I have got walking and went out these last two days walking with both crutches. I did a small walk round the block morning and afternoon. It went well and i did it on my own yesterday. I got to walking around the house with just one crutch yesterday afternoon which gave me a boost. It certainly made me bear on my operated side more and wasn't uncomfortable. I hope i am doing the right thing but with no physio direction as yet i am just doing what i think is best.(she didn't turn up yesterday)

    As for sleeping well i got to half six yesterday which was my first proper nights sleep in eight weeks but today i woke at quarter past three.. I cant sleep on either side yet as it just feels very uncomfortable and just not right somehow..my arm is much better now but my wrist is tender and sore.its a slow job but i am on the up.

  • Posted

    Now you sound so much better I wouldn't worry about the swelling John It's a result of blood vessels being cauterised but they 're-establish over time. Both my ankles are swollen because I'm not as active. The swelling varies from day to day, and sometimes feels quite solid behind the knee

    As for the exercises, then it's really carrying on with your quads in sitting, and progressing your standing exercises, especially the ones out to the side and backwards.

    Sleep is come day go day. Once you can tolerate being on your side it will improve. Try it during the day for a few minutes and try to build up . Experiment with different pillows between your knees, some suit better than others. Discomfort responds to being challenged by touch.

    I walked to the postbox and back yesterday. I never thought it that far. Definitely makes me appreciate how fast I used to walk as I was overtaken by everyone, even old ladies!

  • Posted

    Well John you sound like a completely different person from a few weeks ago. You have had time to recover from the op so now it is strengthening the muscles by walking and exercise. Some of my exercise includes holding on to a chair and standing on my operated leg this is uncomfortable at first but helps the muscles. I also hold on chair and bend on both knees. I think I started these about week 6. I wish I had the confidence to walk out on my own. I have only been out to the surgeon and physio and a few visits to family driven by my daughter or husband. I am becoming a hermit! Judi is giving good advice. I have been feeling too confident as I have been standing without my sticks and it had been a few weeks since my leg gave way so I thought I had it under control. However I picked up my grandson of 8 months from the floor to put into his seat which is low. I did not have to walk just turn and bend back down as I stood up straight I then felt my leg wobble and knew I was going down so held tight to baby and fell backwards. We were both so lucky he landed on me and was ok I managed to put him in his chair while I was on the floor. I had to check my leg it was in an awkward position but it was fine, I was terrified that the hip popped out. Well that will teach me I had to work out how to get up as we were on our own. (My daughter had popped out for a while and I said I could manage) I had to turn my body over and pull myself up on the sofa. Well I am now looking for a brace for my leg to support it. I have my nerve tests on the 5th feb hope it is going to be positive news. If the nerves dont repair my life is going to be more restricted then before. I have not driven yet as I am scared if I go somewhere on my own that my leg will give way getting out of the car. I have an automatic car and a left foot accelerator. I will update you on my results when I get them probably late February. P.S. Physio said I am able to bend down now like bending waist to touch ankles.
  • Posted

    Hi thanks again for the support. I eventually saw my physio again after a fuss. I walked outside with just a stick and she said i should start driving.. So i am going to today. Sleep varies a lot and i am beginning to try lying on my operated side.. Hopefully back swimming next week..
  • Posted

    It's 4 weeks today and this morning I woke up with 2 ankles! I don't suppose it will last, but as both legs have been swollen, it makes a pleasant change.

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