Hip replacement recovery

Hi again Danny,

I just reread your comments on all Debbie has been through, and admire her courage and your support. I've been very fortunate with joint replacement surgeries - both knees, right hip, left shoulder (anatomical, not reverse). I have been very dutiful re: rehab and doing what my Dr and PT tell me to do. There is still an element of luck in it all, and your comments on Debbie's experiences make me realize I have much to be grateful for.

I can't tell from your comments how many of these problems could have been avoided with better medical help. Infection is a risk in any surgery - and Debbie has been hit particularly hard. And the fact that both hips got infected, well that makes me suspicious of the precautions taken by the surgical team to prevent these things. Maybe that's wrong. It does raise concern. But even that doesn't change things as far as the following recovery, and the immense time that must be invested in fixing things.

My thanks to both of you for sharing your ordeals. It helps me with gratitude, and also to keep people who have not been as fortunate as I in my thoughts.

I wish you both all the best. You are very brave.

Joe

@dannyandebbie
When it comes to back pain 6 mos to a year or more from ablations is great. As long as you exercise and build up muscles around your core and problem areas. Every situation is different. Every spine surgeon I go to has a different opinion of what to treat since I have 3 levels of various issues. Just go to the very best surgeon you can who also has a good bedside manor.

@cs53 my wife declines any further medical treatment for her back, right now anyways! She has a terrible walk when she walks, like one leg is 2/3” shorter. They say her legs are normal, it’s her back; god only knows. I do know due to lack of mobility, one has a tendency to add a little weight which can and will apply more pressure to the body; it’s a vicious cycle!

twin52, I am wondering your age....because at 9 months past hip replacement surgery, I was completely 100% back to normal. Was like there was never anything wrong with my hip. I had a great surgeon, and started physical therapy like right away after surgery. It pains me when I hear other people's not so great post-surgery issues. Makes me wonder why?? Was it the surgeon or did the patient not follow post surgery instructions?? I'd say you definitely need more physical therapy. Question... did they do a post-op xray? To make sure things looked good? If not, you should do thar now.

@cindisue One of the puzzles of modern medicine is why some people sail through a surgery, an illness, or a chronic condition while others seem to suffer one complication after another. This seems to be really true with joint replacement surgeries.
Here is a recent article exploring the issue:
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aaos/120139
One conclusion was that many receiving joint replacements have pain in other joints, or the back, or other health issues. When these are not addressed, patients are unable or unwilling to fully participate in rehab, leading to ongoing issues. When underlying health is poor, healing may be impeded.

So what is the answer? Better screening? Better presurgery education? Denying surgery to people at high risk for poor outcomes? Better followup protocols? All great ideas, but who gets to decide? And how do we pay for this?

@sueinmn We, my wife and I both felt she was dropped during her total bilateral. She had black & blue from head to toe, chipped tooth, broken toe and suffered a compressed femur nerve. A month later, follow up appointment, fractured pelvis on right side, delayed revision until nerve woke up, 9 months on heavy narcotics. 12 months later a revision due to toxic levels of Cobalts and Chroumin. 6 years later a revision again due to Cobalt & Chroumin, 4 years later yet another revision for same reasons along with two staph infection! Hopefully no more hip surgeries. And no! No one took any responsibility for Any of this! She was even dropped in the shower at rebab due to negligence on the doctor on staff, who took zero responsibility for omitting orders from the orthopedic surgeon. Each time she receives epidural, now suffers from lower back pain!

Get an ATTORNEY!!!!

@heidipie we pursued an attorney and because notes from various facilities were contradicting and lacked information the attorney felt that one doctor was covering for the other doctor. Some of her notes shared knee surgery or shoulder surgery and that she had multiple falls. While in rehab she was dropped in the shower and when I consulted their attorney about the receiving physician orders for his nurses who omitted direct orders from the orthopedic surgeon which lead to her fall. the attorney told me that the attending physician followed all steps and that she had an assisted fall and they called me once they were able to retrieve her from the floor and back into her bed. I told him he could stop his Lying because I was there when she fell and it was me that retrieved her from the floor. They never even offered as much as an apology….because that would be admitting that they messed up! We spoke to a few different attorneys and they all felt the same; the doctors were covering up for one another! My wife’s initial surgery was at Dartmouth Hitchcock in Lebanon New Hampshire; a teaching hospital and rehab was at Fanny Allen in Colchester, Vermont; I provide this information for anyone seeking a hip replacement facility and follow up rehab.

Is you hip replacement leg the same length now.? My hip doctor injured the leg he operated on. I have a have a 1/2 inch discrepancy. I have a limp now and back pain. I knew I might have a discrepancy but I didn't know that the doctor would damage leg by damaging the psoas muscles. I can't raise my leg now. I have a terrible time getting up if I sit on the floor.

@ams
I'm so sorry you are dealing with these issues. Yes, one leg is now longer than the other. It causes lower back pain and maybe the plantar fasciitis that has developed. I plan to see a podiatrist to have shoe inserts that will correct the limp. Good luck seeking help.