swelling and stiffness after Hip Repacement?

kate3

Morning all
After eventually getting Hip Replaced 5 weeks ago.
Suddenly for no apparent reason, the Knee and Thigh on the operated leg,has swollen and is very painful, pain in the front thigh is like a taught bit of string.There is has been no pain at the actual site,and can take full load bearing.
Always these things happen at Bank Holiday Doh!!!
However spoke with the Physio at the Hospital, that did the Op, says this does happen.I have been resting with leg raised and alternate ice and heat.
Whilst the swelling has reduced, it is still uncomfortable.Such a dissapointment after the relief from the arthritis, to now have this.Grr!!!!
Would really appreciate,your valued views and comments.
Many thanks
Kate :???:

constable

Hi Kate,

Sorry to hear that you now have swelling and after5 weeks. Hope it goes down soon.

Karen xx

julie47

Hi Kate

Sorry that you are having problems at the moment with swelling and discomfort and I hope it gets bettter soon.

I have no experience of hip replacements I just want to wish you well.

Take care and rest plenty

Juliepf x

frogmorton

Hi Kate

glad it's not actually the hip at least, but poor you!!!

Just responded top Constable's threa about her imminient opp and it reminded me that my legs swelled up too when l had my back opp and interestingly....so did my BELLY

I looked about 6 months pregnant :shock:

what was that about? can't remember but l do know that it took a week or so for the swelling in the legs to go away and l hope yours goes sooner.

Love and hugs

toni xx

mp1952

Hi Kate

I had my hip replaced last May (its the 'anniversary' this week!) and those first few months really were a case of 'one step forward, two steps back' .. I had major improvements, followed by minor 'setbacks' which happened for no specific reason.

My whole leg did swell (including the foot) for quite a long time afterwards and I had more problems with the fact that the muscles had been cut through rather than that the joint had been replaced!!

It's good that you were able to speak to the Physio and get some reassurance (honestly, in those early weeks I could have done with a 'direct line' through to the hospital as I was constantly worried that something wasn't right!)

Hope everything settles down in the next few days, but if you continue to be worried then contact the Physio again...

Marion x

kate3

Ah!!! thank you all so much for replies,Marion that is a help, to know that someone else suffered similar, you do tend to panic and think, what set that off....
I don't see consultant for check up till end of May.
Today it is easier but still swollen, I am raising the leg on three pillows at night and occasions during day.Doing limited walking,.So I just hope it does settle down, it makes you so depressed to have got rid of one pain to be replaced by another.
Still I should not moan, when I read how many of you are suffering far worse.
Your support is very much appreciated.
Kate

barbara12

Hi Kate
Not had mine done yet, but I really do hope like you that I would have someone I could ring, it must be so worrying when you dont know what to expect.
I do wish you well with it, and hope this is just a little glitch
Love
Barbara x

kate3

Thanks Barbara
Hope they don't make you wait too long!!!!In my earlier posts you will see I should have had it done years ago, certainly three years ago, when was dismissed as having RA doh!! even though this had been checked and said No it was Hip....Forunately this last consultant was shocked that it had reached this critical stage...(and then what did he do??? he went sick just after they gave me pre med,and was postponed for a week, to a different consultant Ha!!! :roll: ) Still it is done, now I just want to go forward, with a better life.
Take care all.
Kate

woodbon

I hope all goes well for you. When duodenal ulcer burst and gave me peritonitus, my legs were swollen until I started moving, but your op is very different, I suppose!!!

Take the advice the others gave you it sounds good to me. Love Sue

kate3

Ah! we have an answer!!!
Pain was so bad yesterday managed to see GP!!!(Today is excruciating Doh!)
It appears that, I have torn one of the thigh tendons,and the knee swelling is where the bruise dropped down.

So if anyone else looks in on this post, or for anyone about to start recovery, from OP.
I am told that stiffness is normal, but just take extra care as mine must have reached its threshold, and popped when I got out of the chair Grr!!!

I am now endevouring to walk out the pain and keep movement going.
So for a few more weeks I am swapping one pain for another, and THEN HOPEFULLY.I will be well on my way to normal(Ha!) life.
Take care all, and thanks for your support.
Kate

speedalong

Oh Kate sounds very painful. Not heard of that tendon thing happening post op. The thing is after the op we start to do more and more ....

Don't apply heat until the bruising and inflammation passes, stick to the ice. Arnica is good for bruising too.

After my op, a friend put a row of pillows under the end of my mattress (sticking out a bit at the end, so they wouldn't slip, this supposed to be more effective than just raising the leg on pillows. Having a lie down during the day and elevating the leg at intervals really helped my swelling.

It is worth resting as much as you can to let the tendons recover as quickly as poss so you can get abck to focussing on your rehab.

How infuriating!

Speedy

mp1952

Gosh Kate - just what you don't need - on top of everything else!

Hope it settles down soon.

Speedalong has given you some good advice..

Marion x

kate3

Hi Speedy and Marion...

Thanks for support....
Well this has really not got an answer, as to, WHY,it actually happened.
The treatment centre and my Doc , says it can happen.Doh!!
But I cannot fault NHS on this occasion for support.
The home visiting Physio,re visited and she cannot understand, how the tear happened without me hearing a 'pop',but on examination and touch(very painful) confirms it is the Quad and the Lateral.She spoke with the Hosp Physios,then Duty Doc rang me, and it was decided for me to attend for an xray and discussion that same afternoon, with Ortho surgeon(not the one who did my Op).
OUTCOME, was that implant settled a few mm off the xray taken immediately after op.He doesn't know if that would have caused the tear to happen,and his 'crystal balls' are still on order'
So I am back to square one, i.e on Both Crutches and walking on 'egg shells' with house confinement for this week.Doh!!!
Home visiting Physio, rang me on her day off to check my results from Hosp,and we decided, to follow instructions do only minimal bed excercise and she will ring me next week.
Today 8 days on Swelling and Bruising horrendous around the Knees and still following gravity, but pain less excrutiating.

If I could offer any advice after this episode, is that if you experience stiffness in the thighs after OP(which is natural, as the new implant is making the Muscles realign to this new and strong position).Then just be very aware and check on how much tension,you should be allowing on the excercises.
I had followed all the rules and this happened at 5 and half week.
Still as long as it recovers, that is the main object.(So 'onwards and upwards' we go)
Next visit to my surgeon is 26th.Hopefiully i will have nothing more to report till then.
My grateful thanks for a chance to discuss and gain some comfort from you all.
Take care
Kate (Phew what a saga sorree LOL!!)

mp1952

Hi Kate

Gosh!

I didn't know that could happen.

I wiill warn my sister - she is due to have her hip done in late summer..

Keep us updated on your progress won't you?


Marion

kate3

Hi all
Update, saw Surgeon yesterday, he does not know why Quad should have gone, and said for the amount of bruising, it is definitely a bleed from the ligament, but is a catch22 i.e Blood thinners or Thrombosis.He has not seen a leg quite so bruised.

Can come off the crutches, and to go back in a month for further xray and check repair of Quad,he wants to keep an eye on the progress.

Good news Pain is easing and can actually bear a massage now.
But walking still slightly stiff in the knees and thigh.

So as before,its onwards we go.
Thank you for your support.
Kate