Hip replacement swelling dropping under foot.

Posted by manitou @manitou, Jun 29 10:48pm

This is crazy. I had a left hip replacement December 17 2023, and after much leg and foot swelling, I thought things were okay. I realize now that a chunk of my butt cheek is missing! A huge chunk where the scar is (I thought it was swollen around the scar for the longest time, but it wasn't.) It's a big depression/hole at the scar, and you can actually feel the moving joint as I touch it. Plenty padding previously, right side is just fine. The worst of it is, this mass is under my foot and it's miserable to walk on. Concern about DVT??

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jun 30 9:32am

@manitou - These concerns should be brought to your surgeon since you are only 6 months post surgery.

But let me share that, 18 years post-surgery I still have major "dips" where each incision was made - I just considered more "battle scars" that show my long and interesting life.
My friend was similarly concerned this winter about feeling her 1 yo emergency implant, done when we were at our winter home. She was sure she needed more surgery, but her trusted ortho at home, who had done her knees, assured her all was well and she just needed a little more PT.
But the mass under your foot? Not normal as far as I know, and deserves a look.
Sue

imay | @imay | Jun 30 11:30am

Any muscle that has been cut is going to atrophy while healing and will need targeted exercises or some kind of physical therapy to regain strength and mass. The right side of my butt has a dent in it that developed during the years I was limping around and not bearing weight. It is improving.

manitou | @manitou | Jun 30 12:49pm

Thanks Sue and imay,

I do have an MRI with contrast upcoming soon. I am sure it fell from my butt, where there is something missing, to my foot, where there was something added. Not normal swelling at all. Feels like I'm walking on a Kotex pad all the time. Or better yet, like a football is taped to the bottom of my foot.