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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / October 2004Hip replacement/dislocation
I need some help from you good folks please I am 59 and I had my left hip replaced on Aug 31st. On the 3rd or 4th day it dislocated, but when they moved me into a wheelchair, it fell back into place again. Six days after the operation, I left hospital and was only home for 4 hrs when the hip dislocated and I had to be rushed back in by ambulance. On Sept 6th they gave me another general anaesthetic, and put the hip back into the socket again, but they also put an 18" long brace on my left knee and told me to wear it for six weeks - the thinking was that an immobilised knee would keep the hip in its rightful place. So now I'm not wearing the brace any more and I'm still being very careful how I move, sit etc., but last night the hip dislocated while I was sitting talking on the phone. It clicked back into place within a minute, so this is where I need your advice. I'm seeing my surgeon next Wednesday, but now I'm getting paranoid about doing anything in case it dislocates again. Has anyone else had a similar problem, and what did they do? If sporadic dislocation happens for no apparent reason, where do I go from here? And what should I be asking my surgeon on Wednesday? I'm getting a bit despondent that I will ever feel "safe" with this hip again. I had my right hip replaced in April 1987 and had no problems with that at all, and I've had my right knee and both shoulders done, but this latest operation is driving me up the wall. Also, how long after a hip replacement can I sleep a) on my operated side and b) on my unoperated side? I can't remember what I did last time! Any help, advice, presonal experiences will be very much appreciated Janet > I need some help from you good folks please > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > careful how I move, sit etc., but last night the hip dislocated while I > was sitting talking on the phone. Wow. I was really scared about dislocation. That's probably why I was extra extra annoyingly careful to avoid it. How were you sitting? I know you didn't cross your legs, but, well, I guess I should ask...? I assume you're still making sure that your knee doesn't come up near the level of the hip when sitting, right? I stuck to the 'rules' religiously for the full three months (and then some) after each of my THRs. > It clicked back into place within a > minute, so this is where I need your advice. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > dislocation happens for no apparent reason, where do I go from here? And > what should I be asking my surgeon on Wednesday? For a second opinion? Well, I'm only half joking. I know my surgeon would refer me to another doc for a second opinion without question, but he'd be pissed off about it. > I'm getting a bit > despondent that I will ever feel "safe" with this hip again. I feel for you there. When mine 'grinds' or 'clunks' I get scared. > I had my right hip replaced in April 1987 and had no problems with that > at all, and I've had my right knee and both shoulders done, but this > latest operation is driving me up the wall. Woah, you certainly have enough experience with these ops! > Also, how long after a hip replacement can I sleep a) on my operated > side As long as you have the foam wedge (or a lot of pillows) in between your legs, then pretty much as soon as the wound allows. At least that was the way it was with me. > and b) on my unoperated side? I can't remember what I did last > time! Same as above, but for three months keep those legs well separated! If you have cats, they will try to sleep on the raised leg. They can't help it. It's a corolary to Einstein's theory of relativity: a cat will flow in opposition to the space-time warping effect of gravity to the highest post-operative site on the human body. > Any help, advice, presonal experiences will be very much appreciated > Janet Cheers, Ari  Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo 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. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I 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/ > Wow. I was really scared about dislocation. That's probably why I was > extra extra annoyingly careful to avoid it. How were you sitting? I [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > religiously for the full three months (and then some) after each of my > THRs. I was just sitting ordinarily, and I'd never cross my legs. When the hip dislocated before I wasn't foing anything either - sitting in a chair on both occasions. I'm being very careful about the 90 degree angle for the hip as well. > For a second opinion? Well, I'm only half joking. I know my surgeon > would refer me to another doc for a second opinion without question, > but he'd be pissed off about it. I have a lovely doctor, but I couldn't ask him to refer me to someone else. Over all my operations he's done so many referral letters re second opinions etc. I guess I'll have to see what they say on Wednesday. I don't expect anything will show up on the x-rays either. > As long as you have the foam wedge (or a lot of pillows) in between > your legs, then pretty much as soon as the wound allows. At least that > was the way it was with me. I've had a rolled up towel between my legs, but I will switch to a pillow tonight and from now on. > Same as above, but for three months keep those legs well separated! If > you have cats, they will try to sleep on the raised leg. They can't [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Ari Thank you for that Ari - and especially as I have two cats. Janet >>Wow. I was really scared about dislocation. That's probably why I was >>extra extra annoyingly careful to avoid it. How were you sitting? I [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > both occasions. I'm being very careful about the 90 degree angle for the > hip as well. I was told 70-80 degrees. 90 might be too much of an angle. >>For a second opinion? Well, I'm only half joking. I know my surgeon >>would refer me to another doc for a second opinion without question, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I've had a rolled up towel between my legs, but I will switch to a > pillow tonight and from now on. I used, at the minumum, two pillows. >>Same as above, but for three months keep those legs well separated! If >>you have cats, they will try to sleep on the raised leg. They can't [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thank you for that Ari - and especially as I have two cats. > Janet Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo 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. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I 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/ >> I was just sitting ordinarily, and I'd never cross my legs. When the >> hip [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> the >> hip as well. > I was told 70-80 degrees. 90 might be too much of an angle. > I used, at the minumum, two pillows. Ari, I probably confused you. What I meant to say was:- I got told not to get a lower angle than 90 degrees. ie when sitting down, don't lean forward etc. Hope that makes sense. I tried one pillow last night, and woke up at 3am to find it was on the floor. (I hate the sheet being tucked in). I'll try putting the cat at the bottom of the bed tonight lol Thanks Janet >>>I was just sitting ordinarily, and I'd never cross my legs. When the >>>hip [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > to get a lower angle than 90 degrees. ie when sitting down, don't lean > forward etc. Hope that makes sense. Yep, that's what I understood you to be saying. However, 90 degrees is still too far forward! I was told that I would substantially increase my risk of dislocation if I went above 80 degrees, and was given a large foam wedge to sit on that when seated kept my hip joint above my knee joint (as in, when standing the leg is at 0 degrees, when sitting with the wedge it's at 80 degrees, and when sitting without the wedge it's at 90 degrees in the danger zone). > I tried one pillow last night, and woke up at 3am to find it was on the > floor. (I hate the sheet being tucked in). I'll try putting the cat at > the bottom of the bed tonight lol > Thanks > Janet Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo 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. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I 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/ Ari wrote: > I was told 70-80 degrees. 90 might be too much of an angle. I was told 90 degrees max. I still follow that rule, 4 years later. Still use a long handled back brush for the lower legs and feet while in the shower. Still use a sock aide and a long handled shoe horn while dressing. Drop something on the floor? I kick the left leg behind and bend well beyond 90 degrees with the right leg. Both the OT and PT who visited me at home thanked me for showing them little stunt. Neither had seen it before. > Ari wrote: > > > I was told 70-80 degrees. 90 might be too much of an angle. > > I was told 90 degrees max. I still follow that rule, 4 years later. After the first year post op I didn't feel the need to worry about 90 degrees anymore (my surgeon didn't either). I don't deliberately go aorund seeing how much range of motion I can get, but I've relaxed somewhat. Then again, I tend to have remnants of some very strong hip muscles adding support to the joint. > Still use a long handled back brush for the lower legs and feet > while in the shower. Still use a sock aide and a long handled [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > OT and PT who visited me at home thanked me for showing > them little stunt. Neither had seen it before. Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo 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. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I 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/ Ari, I called a few years ago about being a marrow donor and found that I was already too old to be considered. Gwen > > Ari wrote: > > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > OT and PT who visited me at home thanked me for showing > > them little stunt. Neither had seen it before. > After the first year post op I didn't feel the need to worry about 90 > degrees anymore (my surgeon didn't either). I don't deliberately go > aorund seeing how much range of motion I can get, but I've relaxed > somewhat. Then again, I tend to have remnants of some very strong > hip muscles adding support to the joint. I don't go out of my way to avoid a 90 degree limit, and do exceed it while washing my legs. But if I attempt to reach the feet, I'm reminded of that limit with the same kind of pain I had before the THR........the same kind of pain that prompted the OT 10 years ago to get the sock aide and the long-handled shoe horn through my insurance. I will add that the second time my surgeon was not on duty that night and another in his group put the hip back in place. He put a knee brace on me, but it did nothing to help my hip. The next morning, my surgeon ordered rehab to come by and measure me for the other brace. It worked! Gwen > > I need some help from you good folks please > > [quoted text clipped - 65 lines] > > Ari Hi Janet Sorry about the problem with the hip. I dpn't have any experience with hip dislocation, but thought I would share what I remeber about sleeping on my side after the surgery. My ortho surgeon told me I could lay on the operated side (with a pillow between my legs) after the wound was healed (me thinks it was about 4-6 weeks). He recommended that I refrain from sleeping on the non-surgical side for at least the first 8 weeks. I sure hope your dr. can get to the bottom of the problem. Take care. >I need some help from you good folks please > > I am 59 and I had my left hip replaced on Aug 31st. On the 3rd or 4th > day it dislocated, but when they moved me into a wheelchair, it fell > back into place again. Six days after the operation, I left hospital and > was only home for 4 hrs when the hip dislocated and I had to be rushed > back in by ambulance. On Sept 6th they gave me another general > anaesthetic, and put the hip back into the socket again, but they also > put an 18" long brace on my left knee and told me to wear it for six > weeks - the thinking was that an immobilised knee would keep the hip in > its rightful place. > > So now I'm not wearing the brace any more and I'm still being very > careful how I move, sit etc., but last night the hip dislocated while I > was sitting talking on the phone. It clicked back into place within a > minute, so this is where I need your advice. > > I'm seeing my surgeon next Wednesday, but now I'm getting > paranoid about doing anything in case it dislocates again. Has anyone > else had a similar problem, and what did they do? If sporadic > dislocation happens for no apparent reason, where do I go from here? And > what should I be asking my surgeon on Wednesday? I'm getting a bit > despondent that I will ever feel "safe" with this hip again. > > I had my right hip replaced in April 1987 and had no problems with that > at all, and I've had my right knee and both shoulders done, but this > latest operation is driving me up the wall. > > Also, how long after a hip replacement can I sleep a) on my operated > side and b) on my unoperated side? I can't remember what I did last > time! > > Any help, advice, presonal experiences will be very much appreciated > Janet > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Janet > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Take care. Thank you Sunny. I hope he can sort it out too. Janet Janet, I dislocated my replaced hip twice. The second time my surgeon put me in a brace that went from my waist down the side of my leg almost to my knee and held my leg out to the right (my right hip) for six weeks, day and night. Since then I have had no problem at all and have done the same thing that dislocated it both times . I guess it just needed to stabilize in the right position, and the brace made that happen. Someone else on the NG has had the same thing happen to her. Gwen > I need some help from you good folks please > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Any help, advice, presonal experiences will be very much appreciated > Janet > Janet, I dislocated my replaced hip twice. The second time my surgeon > put [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > in the > right position, and the brace made that happen. >Someone else on the NG has had the same thing happen to her. >Gwen Jayne just emailed me to contact you, Gwen, as she vaguely remembered you having a dislocation. She also mentioned Nann as another person who might be able to help me. The brace I was given was about 18" in length, miles of velcro with a hole in the middle for my knee. Yours sounds a lot worse than that. I bet you had trouble sleeping with it on, didn't you? And do you mind me asking what the surgeon did after it dislocated for the first time? Thank you for your help. It's nice to know I'm not alone out here!!! Janet Janet, the first time it was just put back in place and my surgeon warned me that if it happened again, I would have to wear the brace. And he showed me how I would have to walk with it on; was a hoot! The first time was three months after the THR, and the second was just about a year later. The last one was in 2001. Gwen > > Janet, I dislocated my replaced hip twice. The second time my surgeon > > put [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Thank you for your help. It's nice to know I'm not alone out here!!! > Janet Hi Janet, Sorry to hear about your hip dislocations. I, too, experienced my right hip dislocating within a month of being home and also wore a brace (as described by Gwen). I'm doing well, but of course was frightened enough to avoid extreme positions. My doctor said if I dislocated again, that he would go back in and replace the size of the ball head and insert a restricting cup (my words) to prevent further problems. Gwen has been an inspiration to me and I appreciate her achievements in dealing with her surgeries. Joan > Janet, I dislocated my replaced hip twice. The second time my surgeon put > me in a brace that went from my waist down the side of my leg almost to my [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Any help, advice, presonal experiences will be very much appreciated > > Janet Joan, thanks for those very kind words. Gwen > Hi Janet, > [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > > > Any help, advice, presonal experiences will be very much appreciated > > > Janet > Hi Janet, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Joan Nice to hear from you again Joan, and thanks. It's nice to know I'm not alone out here. (But the thought of yet another brace is a bit scary!) Janet That brace helps to limit the strain/range of motion of muscles and the incision, etc. and helps to give you peace of mind that you won't dislocate. Other than that, it can seem to be a hassle to put on/off in addition to using aids for dressing. Great when the six weeks are over and you can continue more with the ease of walking distances and leg exercises. We will all be cheering for you! Joan > > Hi Janet, > > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > alone out here. (But the thought of yet another brace is a bit scary!) > Janet Sorry, me again. I forgot to mention that I went to in- patient rehab on Saturday after THR on Wednesday. I immediately started lieing on and sleeping on my operated side. It did not hurt at all and did no damage to the hip or incision. Being on the other side pulled at the incision. Gwen > I need some help from you good folks please > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Any help, advice, presonal experiences will be very much appreciated > Janet > Sorry, me again. I forgot to mention that I went to in- patient rehab > on [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > the hip or incision. Being on the other side pulled at the incision. > Gwen Gosh, that was quick, Gwen. I can lie on the operated side but it's still a little sore. Thanks again Janet Geez, Janet, that's a tough one. I'd ask the Dr about the possibility of the implant being defective. Then I'd ask if the supporting structures were still attached, i.e., tendons and ligaments. You'd need an MRI for that. If he can't come up with an answer and it keeps happening, I'd ask for a new implant. Good luck! Kitty Perhaps you need a different size ball/socket in there. Quiz the surgeon about that too when you speak with him. tanya TACHANKA SIBERIANS "All Four Paws Rolling" Wenatchee, WA > Perhaps you need a different size ball/socket in there. Quiz the > surgeon about > that too when you speak with him. > > tanya Here's hoping I don't Tanya. I hear rumours that the surgeon is on annual leave next week anyway, although I shall still attend for the appointment. I don't have a lot of faith in The Great Man's underlings, so I may well write to him afterwards for another appointment - assuming I can still walk, drive etc., and haven't dislocated again lol Janet > Geez, Janet, that's a tough one. I'd ask the Dr about the possibility > of the implant being defective. Then I'd ask if the supporting [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Kitty Nice to see you posting again Kitty. How are you now? Normally I'm not scared of operations, but I'm dreading the possibility of yet another one. Apparently I was violently sick between "going under" and arriving on the operating table for the first op. The Anaesthetist said I'd given him "lots of scary moments". And I don't have pleasant memories of the second one either. At the hospital I'm going to there's a long waiting list for the MRI scanner, but I live in hope.......... Janet Janet wrote - ~~~~Nice to see you posting again Kitty. How are you now?~~~~ Thanks! I'm OK. ~~~~Normally I'm not scared of operations, but I'm dreading the possibility of yet another one. Apparently I was violently sick between "going under" and arriving on the operating table for the first op. The Anaesthetist said I'd given him "lots of scary moments". And I don't have pleasant memories of the second one either.~~~~~ I know kiddo. I need a couple myself, but I'm putting them off as long as possible. Before I knew I was allergic to morphine, they pumped my knee full of it while I was on the operating table and put some in my IV for good measure. I started vomiting while asleep on the table, they had to leave a nurse next to me in the recovery room because I kept retching and I retched all the way on the ride to my room. I was violently ill for 5 days. I woke up in the middlle of another surgery. I stopped breathing during another one. Stopped breathing in the recovery room once. Geez, I have a million stories LOL!!! Needlees to say, I hate hospitals. ~~~~~At the hospital I'm going to there's a long waiting list for the MRI scanner, but I live in hope.......... Sorry about that. I hope you get in soon. -g- Kitty My MIL had the same problem and had to have surgery again. With different surgeon I might add. Turns out that the first one seemed to have inserted to different sizes and one was a medium and one was a small... Hence the non fit and the constant dislocation. Hers never slipped back in themselves and once she spent 36 hours on her bathroom floor waiting for someone to find her. I would ask around for the best surgeon available and hold that info in your hands if you need it. I have also heard that they can put a pin in front of the lower section to help keep the upper from separating from the lower. Not really sure what I am talking about but that was not from first hand knowledge. ;) The other thing I would do is call your surgeon IMMEDIATELY. Something is not right and he should know it sooner than later. If the keeper's of the gate tell you to relax, yada yada... Try the method of my choice which is that you are returning his call and he needs to talk with you. hehehe That always gets me through. He needs to hear this from you first hand. Duckie > I need some help from you good folks please > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Any help, advice, presonal experiences will be very much appreciated > Janet Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) Sorry to hear about your hip. I have a pin in one of mine and sometimes I feel like it is hung up. weird. How are your shoulders? I have to get mine checked monday. they feel like the dentist is drilling in my bones in my shoulders sometimes. very painful. God Bless audie > Sorry to hear about your hip. I have a pin in one of mine and > sometimes I feel [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > shoulders > sometimes. very painful. God Bless audie My shoulders are fine thanks, Audie, now they've both been operated on. I have restricted ROM on both, but it's wonderful to be free of all that pain. Good luck for Monday. Let me know what happens? Janet >I need some help from you good folks please > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >was sitting talking on the phone. It clicked back into place within a >minute, so this is where I need your advice. I don't have any answers for you Janet, but just wanted to wish you well on Wednesday with your appointment with the Surgeon. -- Andy |
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