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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / August 2006Pls help. Mother had hip replacement and is continually falling down after....
My mother (about 89 years old) had one hip replaced 4 years ago with no issues. Other hip (right side) was replaced about 2 months ago. Since that time she has tripped on a curb or fallen for little reason - 3 times. 2nd time she broke her clavicle. She had rehab after the hip was replaced, home health and had plenty of rest and exercise. Sure her age this time could be a factor or perhaps she needs more rehab and strength or perhaps there may be other factors causing 3 falls since the operation and rehab. Any ideas are appreciated. We have looked at her medicines to ensure none could make her dizzy, had a CAT scan done yesterday, and she is currently getting more tests and perhaps more rehab. Thanks for any ideas? Sincerely Patty Maybe use a rollator walker? It would prevent her falling > My mother (about 89 years old) had one hip replaced 4 years ago with no > issues. Other hip (right side) was replaced about 2 months ago. Since [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Sincerely > Patty patty wrote: > My mother (about 89 years old) had one hip replaced 4 years ago with no > issues. Other hip (right side) was replaced about 2 months ago. Since > that time she has tripped on a curb or fallen for little reason - 3 > times. 2nd time she broke her clavicle. > Thanks for any ideas? Patty, is your mother walking with a cane or a walker? ... This sigline was luxuriantly hand-crafted from only the finest ASCII. > My mother (about 89 years old) had one hip replaced 4 years ago with no > issues. Other hip (right side) was replaced about 2 months ago. Since [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Sincerely > Patty How is her bone density? How is her strength in BOTH legs? Has her proprioception been assessed along with strength? What was the CT scan of? Brain? Hip? Other? Has she had any other coordination issues that could be pointing towards spinal or peripheral nerve problems? Regards, Ari  Signaturespammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ presuming that you have already looked at, and discarded, knee/ankle problems, sudden drops in blood pressure, periodic diabetic low/high sugar episodes, lower extremity neuropathy, and/or impaired cognative/mental state: given age, and probable 'general' loss of physical muscle tone and strength, is is very possible that she is not 'lifting' her feet as she takes each stride. it is not at all uncommon for an elder person to gradually begin to assume a 'shuffle' walk and family doesn't really notice - it just becomes the norm. problems come in because with lowered general strength and balance, those instances when the toe or heel of the foot/shoe 'brushes' a minor flaw in the floor or roadbed, the body can't adjust as quickly anymore. remedial 'gait' training may be indicated if the above is the case. hth be well paul > My mother (about 89 years old) had one hip replaced 4 years ago with no > issues. Other hip (right side) was replaced about 2 months ago. Since [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Sincerely > Patty Great info from you all. I am not in the same state as my mother so I cannot really talk in depth about everything she has had done. This is what I know thus far. The CAT scans were of her entire body and they found nothing. She does take blood pressure medicine to lower the BP, and indeed perhaps there could be a drop (not sure how one would check this) that perhaps (note I am not a medical professional) could make her dizzy. She has been told she is borderline diabetic but my mother takes no medicine for this. She has not been using her cane or walker as she should since she feels she is "strong" enough when in fact it has proven by her falling 3 times in the last 3 weeks that she is not strong enough. The falling started about 4 weeks after the hip operation. My sister and I took turns watching her for 4 weeks. She did go to rehab for a few weeks and also had in home rehab (Physical Therapist) overseeing her doing exercises. She does indeed shuffle as pointed out by my sister and brother. 2 falls were when she was walking across a parking lot and I think involved a curb. The last fall was in the bathroom while she was merely standing brushing her hair. The neurologists are in today to perform some other tests. She is underweight and I feel the strength is just not there. I am not sure she is falling from the hip or knee. Mental state seems fine except some short term memory loss (very slight) and becoming a little harder of hearing with age. More info to come. Thanks so much Patty > presuming that you have already looked at, and discarded, knee/ankle > problems, sudden drops in blood pressure, periodic diabetic low/high sugar [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Sincerely > > Patty patty wrote: > She has not been using her cane or walker as she should since she feels > she is "strong" enough when in fact it has proven by her falling 3 > times in the last 3 weeks that she is not strong enough. > > The falling started about 4 weeks after the hip operation. I used a walker full-time for 8 weeks after my THR - I was 63. Six years later, I still use a cane most of the time outside the house. I've even walked into a square dance with one. I call it my "insurance policy." <g> ... WARNING: Do not reuse sigline. Discard safely after reading. I think this might be strenght of the hip, etc. She is only 2 months from surgery. My dad was 86 w/hip replacement and used walker for 6-8 weeks and used cane from then on. He never was as strong as he was before, but he could get around w/o falling. I think if they don't find anything physical then she might need more rehab and some help with how to walk with some kind of assistance. debbie m. > My mother (about 89 years old) had one hip replaced 4 years ago with no > issues. Other hip (right side) was replaced about 2 months ago. Since [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Sincerely > Patty Thank you very much. Patty > I think this might be strenght of the hip, etc. She is only 2 months > from surgery. My dad was 86 w/hip replacement and used walker for 6-8 [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Sincerely > > Patty |
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