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Swollen Ankle after Anterior Hip surgery
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Aug 14 8:04pm | Replies (29)Comment receiving replies
Swelling is normal after major surgery, and one week is very early days in recovery. UNLESS you develop a hot, painful or red area, which may be a sign of a blood clot, you can do some self-care and see if it resolves. If this develops call the doctor immediately or go to the ER.
From my own experience in hip replacements (5 of them) the tendency is to "feel pretty good" and slack off on icing & elevation. I know that most literature recommends icing "20 minutes, 3-4 times a day." Here is my personal experience - if you ice pretty much full time, whenever seated or lying down, for the first month, you will not see the swelling. Also, especially for the first month, whenever you sit for more than a few minutes (like to eat a meal) your leg should be elevated.
Remember, your body has been assaulted. Never mind the promotions saying "anterior is easier" - you have still had skin, muscle, nerves and bone either cut or moved around - they are NOT happy. The fluid and swelling is your body's response to the assault, a reminder that all is not healed.
To get the swelling down, elevate your leg above your heart & ice - it may take up to 48 hours to calm down. Then follow the icing/elevation guidelines above. While swollen, if someone can massage the elevated leg, "pushing" the swelling from foot toward your groin, it may help get things moving. Don't quit walking unless your doctor tells you to - just make sure you get that leg up whenever you are not using it.
If the swelling doesn't go away in a couple days of doing the elevation & icing, call your doc.
Are you noticing any improvement today?
Sue
PS After my first hip replacement, I went back to work at 4 weeks, tried to keep the leg up at my desk, and even used my ice a few times a day. But I went home swollen every night for the first month. After the second operation, I worked from home weeks 2-6, so I could stay elevated. It was a much better plan!
Replies to "Swelling is normal after major surgery, and one week is very early days in recovery. UNLESS..."
I am going through the same problem, just had total hip replacement, was assured I’D be up and walking and we’ll recovered but 6 weeks. Now I’m 9 days post op and have bruising down my leg, swelling in calf (not too bad) and swelling and some bruising around the ankle and top of foot...I try to elevate it, but been told to rest is to rust. I do the ankle pumps , the other exercises and ice pack as much as you can to a foot and ankle...all say normal healing process, ebb and flow of liquids etc..
PT comes again tomorrow...I guess after reading your article I should be somewhat assured which I am, but feel that the med team should tell a patient more of what to expect in the following weeks after surgery..
Any feedback welcome thanks
Hi, you’ve had 5 hip replacements?
Hi Sue,
Just curious regarding the icing, did you ice the foot and ankle as well as the hip. I am 17 days post surgery with significant swelling in my left foot and ankle that came on during the first 7 days and has not improved. I have been icing the hip, but not every time I sit down. My sister and brother-in-law both had hip replacements within the last year and neither of them had this kind of swelling. The Doc says it varies from one individual to the next and is normal, just as is the bruising. Just kind of becoming frustrated because it's hard to do the exercises they give you with this amount of swelling. Sorry for the long winded question but what I am after is do I ice the ankle and foot and will that help reduce swelling because my understanding of the issue at hand is the fluid is moving down from the hip so not sure whether ice on the ankle has any value. Thanks
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Thank you Sue for the very complete and thoughtful answer. I was surprised at having so little swelling and then after sitting without elevation for a couple hours, I have significant swelling in leg and ankle.
The swelling has not settled down as much as I would like. I will take your suggestions to heart and hopefully see decreased swelling over the next day or so. I will continue my walking and hospital exercise regiment.
I have been doing so amazing and I was shocked that after only a brief period of not elevating my leg, things fell apart. I won't let that happen again. 🙂
Thanks so much,
Craig