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Swollen Ankle after Anterior Hip surgery
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Aug 4 6:10pm | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
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
Replies to "I am going through the same problem, just had total hip replacement, was assured I’D be..."
I think everyone’s recovery is at a different rate. I felt like I failed when at 6 weeks I still was far from recovered. I kept on with PT and elevation, however. At 3 and a Half months I finally feel mostly recovered. I just gave up a came a week ago. I was able for the first time to get into the drivers seat of our van and drive again yesterday. I had extreme swelling for a couple of months in spite of compression stockings, elevation and icing. It takes a lot of patience and persistence. At one point I did too much and caused more pain. I backed off activity some and added more rest and it paid off in a few weeks. Best wishes for a Good recovery no matter how long it takes.
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I would like a dollar for every joint replacement patient who wrote, "assured I’D be up and walking and we’ll recovered but 6 weeks..." - I would take a trip to Hawaii!
Please read this message, which I wrote last night after reading it for the 3rd time just yesterday:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/had-hip-replacement-wondering-about-topical-numbing-agent/?pg=2#comment-837174
25 years ago, if you had your hip replaced, you would only have gotten home from the hospital a day or two ago. Your stitches are still in your leg, your bone has been sawed and pounded, and you lost a lot of blood (that's the swelling and bruising you see.) Bones, nerves and muscles need to heal, your blood volume needs to return to normal, and you need to rebuild your strength. Today, in our instant society, there is an illogical expectation that nature no longer rules, and somehow we can speed up that process.
As for "I try to elevate it, but been told to rest is to rust..." True, to a point. You do need rest to heal, and that alone takes at least 6 weeks. Also, as long as the swelling and bruising is there, when you are seated, elevate that poor leg and ice it as much as you can. I went back to (office) work at 4-6 weeks, after both knee and hip surgery, with my trusty ice packs, and kept my leg propped up unless I was up walking around. But, that also means to get up and move - 5 minutes or more every hour. Do your PT exercises every day - twice a day - for several months. And walk, walk, walk...
I hope this encourages you to understand that what you are experiencing is normal, and that if you allow your self time to heal, and do your therapy, you will have a happy result - it just might be more than 6 weeks.
Sue