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Whoever I speak to says ...

Posted , 16 users are following.

Jayive
Jayive

It seems whenever I explain why I'm struggling to cope with standing or taking a few steps the person I'm talking to will reply with, my husband, mother, friend etc had a hip replacement and got over it in a couple of weeks and was able to go back to work. Then they usually continue with they've never heard of anyone having problems afterwards.

From what I read on here there are many of us with major problems following THR's so my question is, Are we not shouting loudly enough to let the world know that having a replacement joint doesn't always work out?

3 likes, 48 replies

48 Replies

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  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK Jayive

    Posted

    Hi Jayive

    I agree with all that has been said.....if people havent been through ti they cant walk in our shoes.

    My first THR .....I had loads of so called friend telling me about people they new that had THR and were now "new women"!!!!!  At the bginning I got really down about it thinking I wasnt healing as fast as others until I realise that we have our own speeds and everyone is different.

    Where are you now? How did your trip go?  wink

    Love

    Eileen

    • Jayive
      Jayive eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Hi Eileen,

      I think you have me mixed up, I haven't been on a trip and am at home in UK

      I guess friends mean well but they don't realise just how hurtful it is do they? Jay x

  • roadglide1959
    roadglide1959 Jayive

    Posted

    I hear you Jayive. And don't you just hate it when they tell you that they understand? How the hell can anyone 'understand', if they've never experienced what you're going through? Or, 'oh you're just exaggerating a little'. I think that relates to the term. Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.

    I strongly believe that every case is totally different. I have a friend that had a THR about one month before I did. His recovery was great. And he has very little pain or discomfort. And with all of the metal on metal recalls. Why in the hell does the Surgeon General allow the manufacturers to continue to sell them? Wait I know, financial kick back's.

    I may sound a little disgruntled, but with reason. I've been dealing with a workers compensation claim for 3 long years. The insurance companies dictate the outcome of these cases. Whether it's mediated or goes to trial. Such a farce.

    Jayive, I wish you well and trust that things get better for you.

    roadglide1959

    • Jayive
      Jayive roadglide1959

      Posted

      Hi, I guess we're all somewhat disgruntled with the oucome of our THR and, although you're now in the process of a compensation claim,, it will not make up for the suffering you have had or the hassle of getting a lawyer to take it on.

      Unfortunately we cannot turn back the clock nor can we put the surgeon through what we've been through so I guess our only way out of this is to assist each other in keeping cheerful when we're down?

      Take care, Jay x

  • DonDon71
    DonDon71 Jayive

    Posted

    I am totally disabled because of THR. Its bad when you wake up with no sensation from the knee down but it's even worse when your prescribed an AFO that's o small. Giving you a blood clot that travels to your lung and Damn near kills you. The surgeons get paid well for messing me up the physical therapists get paid well to mess me up. Why do they have to ruin my life. All they had to do was not clip a nerve let alone give me an AFO that cut off the circulation in my already numb left leg. The guy where I got my custom brace told me that he knew that OTC AFO would be to small when they ordered it. Why would they do that then? Anyhow it's been 17 months and I'm on full disability. The blood clot messed up my whole cardio vascular system. I have diastolic dysfunction and peripheral vascular disease along with AFIB now plus the drop foot from the surgeon. Thankyou Southern Indiana Ortheopedics for disabling me along with the physical therapists at Columbus Regional Hospital and their under sized foot drop brace.
    • Jayive
      Jayive DonDon71

      Posted

      Dondon, I am so sorry to hear your story, what a terrible time you have had. Have you spoken to a lawyer? It sounds as though you have a good case.

      I understand you, I had my THR 16 months ago and have been in severe pain ever since and also can hardly walk.

    • DonDon71
      DonDon71 Jayive

      Posted

      Yes I obtained one but that don't guarantee that I will get the satisfaction of watching them pay. They told me it could take up to five years to settle. I don't know if I will make it that long. They really messed me up. I get out of breath when I walk 20 ft. They have a festival today and I don't want to be pushed around in a wheelchair. So I'm staying home. I'm so tired living like this. There's days I just want to die. The pain the not being able to breath the walking with a limp and the falling. They didn't go over nothing with me the receptionist had me sign a consent form.
    • ginger47520
      ginger47520 DonDon71

      Posted

      Oh my you are really suffering.my heart goes out to you.keep pushing thought each day. I understand Joe hard that is.

      Dont give up on you law suets. 

    • DonDon71
      DonDon71 ginger47520

      Posted

      Thankyou 2 years ago I wouldn't be in these discussions. I would walking around a festival in Vallonia Indiana. All my family and friends are there. Who wants to be pushed around in a wheelchair? Especially when I was just fine 2 years prior. I'm sitting on my back deck right now watching traffic pass feeling the wind on my face. When you have the color of fall in you back yard it helps ease my pain. I am sad about my condition but to look out your door and the birds chirping along with the crickets and the Katie dids all that noise is life. I am thankful for all my senses. Some days though it's worse. I wanted to die when I woke up because of pain and knowing what my day will be like. I hiked a lot and use to miles every day. Lol I made it to the back deck. I am almost 17 months post op. 
    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 DonDon71

      Posted

      Don you have suffered a very traumatic time in your life and your emotions are normal slightly different from you but I had my hip socket and pelvis fractured 22 years ago. I spent several years suffering with very negative thoughts due to my complete change of life because of the chronic pain causing limited walking. I eventually accepted what I can't do and adapted my life. I stopped socialising for about 5 years then eventually started to mix with others. It has not been easy but I came through. When I had my THR last November I signed the disclaimer form without being given any detailed information of the consequences of anything going wrong. I was so traumatised by the op because I woke with femoral nerve damage and excrutiating pain I also wanted to die I was tired of fighting the battle. As the days went by after 3 weeks I decided I needed to get out of my bed. I was in so much pain that it was impossible to think of walking round on crutches. To be honest I wanted to be a happy grandmother to my grandchildren and they were my motivation. 11 months post op I am still in pain can't walk outside without crutches but I am enjoying being with the children. I have improved muscle strength but still have numbness and unpleasant sensations in my leg. You will get through it and learn to live with it. I can also appreciate your limitations i n your breathing as I am asthmatic, though thankfully not severe as I used to be. Keep going and don't let the hospital get away with fobbing you off. Yes the money won't bring you health but you will be able to have more options to enrich your life doing other things that you might not afford now. Thinking of you all the best.
    • debbie04463
      debbie04463

      Posted

      I forgot to say in my early recovery I learnt its better to go out with others in a wheelchair than to sit at home on your own. Because of my walking distance restrictions my husband insisted I take the wheelchair on holiday this year. I am glad I did otherwise there were places I wouldn't have been able to walk to. It does take a bit of courage to face it but its worth it.
    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK debbie04463

      Posted

      I completely agree with you about the wheelchair.

      You dont think of it as giving in......you think of it as a coping mechanism....letting you do things you couldnt otherwise do.

      The only difference with me is it wasnt a wheelchair....it was a scooter but the same thingwink......my scooter always goes on holiday with us.....its not used all the time but there are times I really need it

      Love

      Eileen

    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Hi Eileen I don't want to consider a scooter until perhaps I am in my late 60's! I know they are very useful and give a bit of independence but that is one step too far for me. As long as I am able to drive (adapted automatic wth left foot accelarator) that is what I will continue to do and use my crutches for short walks. It is difficult thinking of yourself as disabled. I once joined a few disabled clubs swimming and sailing but they had the effect of making me depressed.
    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK debbie04463

      Posted

      Hi Debbie

      I am in my late 60'scheesygrin but have been using a scooter when needed {holidays} for about 5 years now.

      I drive....ordinary car....although its my left leg that has the fractured trochanter bone, and that was my last THR. Mostly I stick my crutches in the back of the car and go.....but cant walk very far with those.....long walks or if I go to our large shopping centre I like to hire a scooter so that I can do bits and piece o shopping which is harder when you are on crutches.

      I belong to our arthritis care group and find it great....we are a very lively group...do lots of things....zumba/yoga/walking, day trips away holidays

      Anyway everyone to their own. I prefer the independence rather than have to have my husband push me around

      Love

      Eileen

    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Hi Eileen I think you are doing very well despite your problems. I admire your outlook. It is only our willpower that drives us. My mum is 82 and has been through a horrendous 4 years but still goes out on her own. she has vertigo, had two operations whe her appendi burst. Wasnt in the usual place it was below her bust. then less than a year after she had two operations when they discoverd breast cancer. the first they thought they had cut it out the second because they found a bit more so she had a mastectomy. Don't know how she got through it.

      Take ca\re Love Debbie

    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK debbie04463

      Posted

      Hi Debbie

      Your mam sounds great....Mine is 91 and not very mobile {look who's talkingcheesygrin} but has all her marbles, lives on her own still with my brother popping in every day to keep a check on her. She is in Northern Ireland and I'm North East England so I'm not a lot of help. She is very stubborn.

      Wont have any aids until she absolutely needs them whereas I think of them as coping mechanisms that let me do things i couldnt otherwise docheesygrin

      I'm happier now to be honest ...after my appointment with the consultant on Friday. Who told me the fracture would never heal {he knows I like a straight answer} so the best we could to was to try and ease the pain and I should use cructches as much as possible.....I've got osteoporosis....so he says "safety first"

      My arthritis and all my other complaints are chronic and I know they wont heal so I've accepted them over the years and do things differently or obviously there are some things i cant do. But this stupid fracture.....others kept telling me it will heal but will take a long time....thats been going on for 9 months.,I was so frustrated because I kept expecting it to heal.....but now I know that it wont......just have to get on with itbiggrin

      There is no doubt I'll have my down days and may be on here having a moan...but I'll do my best

      Love

      Eileen

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