Moaning minnie here again...

efleure
efleure Member Posts: 139
edited 28. Aug 2010, 17:08 in Living with Arthritis archive
Can i just ask you fellow thr posters how long the swollen leg business usually lasts?? find as soon as i start moving about in the morning , it swells up. And how long did you rest on the bed during the day?? Thanks for any help as usual.
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Comments

  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    you are not moaning any one would want to know that hope some one comes along soon who can help you val
    val
  • border
    border Member Posts: 94
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    efleure wrote:
    Can i just ask you fellow thr posters how long the swollen leg business usually lasts?? find as soon as i start moving about in the morning , it swells up. And how long did you rest on the bed during the day?? Thanks for any help as usual.

    I cannot really remember legs swelling up, but I do remember the struggle getting the TED stockings on. I rested when I could, but as it intially took an hour to wash and dress, I was pretty tired after that, and had to have a rest. I still occasionally have a 10-15 rest in the pm on the bed, but am wary of (a) going to sleep and (b) getting stiff. It does eventually get better, but takes time.
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Efleure

    I think it varies from person to person. My leg/ankle is nowhere near as swollen as it was in the first 2-3 weeks (when it was HUGE) but it's still quite swollen and I'm 13 weeks post op!!

    I saw my GP about it several weeks ago and he said it was because it was quite a 'rough' operation and all the tissues and muscles were 'disturbed' - and also I was less mobile and sitting down with my feet on the floor for a lot of the time. He said it would clear up in due course, but it could take a few more months. He told me to lie on the bed with my leg/foot raised on 1-2 pillows for 20 minutes 'several times a day' (actually, the hospital also told me to do that)..

    I sleep with pillows under the mattress so that it does go down overnight, but, as you say, it soon swells up again...

    None of my shoes would fit, so I've had to buy some wider fitting shoes and even then I've had to cut the elastic on the front.. I will probably just throw the shoes away when it finally settles down.


    Marion
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,788
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It can be ages

    My MIL had her hip done and it was months for her. Mind you she hasnt got brill health anyway, but I do think it can be months so you are not doing anything wrong.

    Love

    Toni xx

    Moaning minnie indeed!! :roll:
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Efleure,

    I kept asking questions like this too after my op, and now I realise how difficult they are to answer!! You tend to notice when it is a problem and cease to notice when it stops.

    The first few weeks after my op were the worst. My leg swelled up more when I first got home (in hospital I spent more time in bed.) In the early weeks I needed to elevate my leg on the bed always after lunch and spent the evening on my bed too. If possible a short rest on the bed mid morning helped too - but didn't often manage that one. I bought myself a recliner chair - as the sofa and armchair are very old and saggy and "on the way out" so soon transferred to elevating my leg in that in the evening.

    I'm 12/13 weeks post op now - just get a bit of swelling in my knee and the very top of my hip/bottom.

    Speedy

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • denpen
    denpen Member Posts: 389
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI
    I didnt have the swollen leg so sorry I cant help you, but I did go sit on the bed as often as I could, I found it too uncomfortable to sit in a chair for any length of time so I sat on the bed reading.
    Denise.
  • efleure
    efleure Member Posts: 139
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks very much for the replies...i guess i'll just have to put up with it for now... always try to spend at least one or two hours lying down in the afternoon but can't see it makes any difference...if it wasn't for these blooming ted stockings it wouldn't be so bad. Thanks again.
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    OOH Efleure - YOU ARE IMPROVING GIRL!! To be complaining about the TEDS - you must be feeling a bit better!! My consultant wanted me to wear mine for 14 weeks ....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • efleure
    efleure Member Posts: 139
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    speedalong wrote:
    OOH Efleure - YOU ARE IMPROVING GIRL!! To be complaining about the TEDS - you must be feeling a bit better!! My consultant wanted me to wear mine for 14 weeks ....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Speedy

    Ha Speedy...that's true ...must be getting better...i think your consultant was not the full ticket....mine has said 6 weeks...and almost every consultant in the hospital i was in had different instructions...so that makes you wonder if any of them know what they are going on about! x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning effleure, I've been hunting for your post-op thread and cannot find it, so I'm borrowing this one to ask how you are. We haven't heard from you for a few days so I hope that means you are keeping well and getting on OK. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • efleure
    efleure Member Posts: 139
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    dreamdaisy wrote:
    Morning effleure, I've been hunting for your post-op thread and cannot find it, so I'm borrowing this one to ask how you are. We haven't heard from you for a few days so I hope that means you are keeping well and getting on OK. DD

    Hi DD...thanks for asking...having a bit of trouble, depression-wise, and feel too down to post...but thanks very much for thinking of me and i hope you're ok.x
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Efleure

    Just to say hope you pick up again soon..

    Marion x
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am so sorry to read you are down Efleure.Have you got someone to offload onto? I find it helps to get things off your chest.


    Elizabeth x
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Efleure, sorry you are feeling down.

    How many weeks post op are you now?

    Think back to how you were the day before and after the op and how you are now ... see you are getting better!!

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning effleure. I hope things are a little brighter - when I feel low I come on here and it does help. Don't foget (!) you have had a big operation and these things do take time to get over. GA can take a while to clear the system and that doesn't help. Thinking of you. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Yes as DD says it can take a while to clear your system and psychologically getting over an invasive op is not easy. Also its that feeling of big build up and now it is over. You should feel happy but really its a big shock to the system. I vowed I would be so happy when the op was done and the worry was over and the pain less but that isnt the reality. There were days when i felt low and every twinge panicked me. Now a year later I still get aches and sharp twinges in my operated hip and I wonder what' s happening and have I done something wrong.

    Elzabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I guess I'd better say hello today, otherwise you'll think we don't care! I hope you are feeling brighter. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Same message as yesterday effleure. I sincerely hope things are improving for you. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • sharmaine
    sharmaine Member Posts: 1,638
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Efleure

    Sorry to hear about your swelling - I had a TKR and the swelling last just over 2 weeks and the bruising about 3! I had to rest a lot during the first few weeks. I think you've just got to listen to your body.

    I'm sure someone will come along with some good advice. I hope you feel better soon.

    Sharmaine

    efleure wrote:
    Can i just ask you fellow thr posters how long the swollen leg business usually lasts?? find as soon as i start moving about in the morning , it swells up. And how long did you rest on the bed during the day?? Thanks for any help as usual.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning effleure, how goes things? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Effleure - give us an update and let us know you are ok.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • efleure
    efleure Member Posts: 139
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Apologies to all on here for not replying to those kind enough to post...i think my hip's recovering quite well, but not my mind at the moment and that's sort of taken over ...I've been to my gp who knows my history with depression, and he's upped my normal antidepressants . After researching the way I'm feeling, it helps to read that a lot of people go through this, and eventually get better, so that helps. So anyway, thanks again for thinking of me. Hopefully I'll feel more like me soon and post a proper, coherent message..xx
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Take your time Efleure. Glad to see you still read the forum,


    Elizabeth,
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Efleure

    Glad your new hip is settling in OK and hope the increased antidrepessants kick in soon..

    Marion x
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Effleure, good to hear from you and that the new hip is progressing well. Sorry you are still feeling down, hope the increased meds help. Hopefully as you get more active and can be out and about more it will help you feel more positive too.

    Keep in touch, even if it is just a line to let us all know you are ok.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.