Re: Swelling after hip replacement

[Guest guest]

I had both ankle and knee swelling after THR when I did excessive exercising. I found that ice and elevation relieved swelling. Mine was attributed to the different way I was walking after THR. For years I had walked on the balls of my feet because of hip pain. Once I had the THR I could walk like a "normal" person and thus muscles were being used that hadn't been.

[Guest guest]

mary ann, I was very swollen for 10 days, but since then (its now 5 weeks) its gradually gone down but still is swollen in the area, its major surgery. You will have trouble getting in and out of bed for about 5 to 7 days, after that it gets easier - yes I think we all worry ourselves sick about popping the hip, just remember the rules which I find I break now because I'm no longer so stiff - keep having to remind myself. Good luck in your rehab

ann

Swelling after hip replacement

I had my left hip replaced this past Friday, 01/12/07. Came home yesterday, 01/15/07. I am able to walk with my walker. I am having problems getting in/out of bed without help. My husband has been a God-send. I am so paranoid about "popping" my hip out that I'm scared to death that I am sitting wrong or laying wrong or doing something that will cause problems with my knee. My real question is how long should the swelling go on? I don't find any redness or anything. The incision seems to be healing well. Has already begun to itch. The swelling is one of my major concerns. I wanted to hear from others who gone thru this as to how long their operated leg remained swollen. Thanks for listening! Ann

[Guest guest]

just exactly what causes such swelling? thanks!

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

mary ann, I was very swollen for 10 days,

[Guest guest]

how about the operation Lindy, plus a dumb PT who overworked the leg the day after surgery!!

ann

Re: Swelling after hip replacement

just exactly what causes such swelling? thanks!

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

mary ann, I was very swollen for 10 days,

[Guest guest]

i know the surgery causes the swelling but what aspect of it -- the pounding, the incision, the new prothesis, all of the above . . .

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

how about the operation Lindy, plus a dumb PT who overworked the leg the day after surgery!!

ann

[Guest guest]

hell lindy, I only received the op, I didn't do it - but our bodies swell when people do nasty things to it so I suspect all of the things mentioned, plus the excess of work. I have very little swelling now, but it is still a little swollen - it takes minum 6 weeks for muscles to heal, and I'm not there yet.

ann

Re: Swelling after hip replacement

i know the surgery causes the swelling but what aspect of it -- the pounding, the incision, the new prothesis, all of the above . . .

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

how about the operation Lindy, plus a dumb PT who overworked the leg the day after surgery!!

ann

[Guest guest]

i imagine just the trauma of the operation -- injuring the bones and muscles and the incision, etc. all contribute to it. YIKES!

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

hell lindy, I only received the op, I didn't do it - but our bodies swell when people do nasty things to it so I suspect all of the things mentioned, plus the excess of work. I have very little swelling now, but it is still a little swollen - it takes minum 6 weeks for muscles to heal, and I'm not there yet.

ann

[Guest guest]

At 01:21 PM 1/17/2007, you wrote:

i know the surgery

causes the swelling but what aspect of it -- the pounding, the incision,

the new prothesis, all of the above . . .

Hugs,

Lindy Lou

Right THR 1/22/2007

how about the operation Lindy, plus a dumb PT who overworked the leg

the day after surgery!!

ann

Your heart pumps blood into your leg through the large

arteries. The blood then passes into smaller arteries and

arterioles and then capillaries. Some of the fluid in the blood

passes out into the surrounding tissue to bath the cells. It is

usually returned to circulation via the lymph system.

The lymph system is a passive system that depends on very low pressures

from you moving your leg muscles and in the and free and open pathways

for the return of the fluid.

Surgery disrupts the system by cutting off the return flow at the

incision area and damaging the walls of the lymph vessels that now allow

more fluid to pass out into tissue, where with reduced leg movement it is

not pushed back where it belongs.

This is a vast over simplification, but I think you get the

idea.

Larry

[Guest guest]

WOW LARRY i knew there was a REASON. thank you so much. how do you know this? LOL

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

Your heart pumps blood into your leg through the large arteries. The blood then passes into smaller arteries and arterioles and then capillaries. Some of the fluid in the blood passes out into the surrounding tissue to bath the cells. It is usually returned to circulation via the lymph system.The lymph system is a passive system that depends on very low pressures from you moving your leg muscles and in the and free and open pathways for the return of the fluid. Surgery disrupts the system by cutting off the return flow at the incision area and damaging the walls of the lymph vessels that now allow more fluid to pass out into tissue, where with reduced leg movement it is not pushed back where it belongs.This is a vast over simplification, but I think you get the idea.Larry

[Guest guest]

Hi Lindy Lou

I guess I just read a lot. LOL I am a nurse

anesthetist. I am supposed to know this stuff.

Larry

At 05:26 PM 1/17/2007, you wrote:

WOW LARRY i knew there

was a REASON. thank you so much. how do you know this?

LOL

Hugs,

Lindy Lou

Right THR 1/22/2007

[Guest guest]

Hi Linny, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck for your operation and a speedy recovery and let us know how you are doing after the operation .Take care and have a nice day:-) Susie lindy <everyothername.istaken@...> wrote: just exactly what causes such swelling? thanks! Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007 mary ann, I was very swollen for 10 days,

[Guest guest]

Hi ann... I used cold pack therapies which I purchased from my doctor as needed. I don't think my leg/hip was swollen for more than a week or so. Make sure you're drinking lots of fluids, too. I know what you mean about being paranoid ... so was I. But as you get used to the precautions and heal more, you won't feel so scared. If you can get a leg lifter that will help you get in/out of bed. Take care.In Beauty, JackieFrom: Ann Donaghy [mailto: sheldons51@...]Joint Replacement Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2007 22:57:10 -0000Subject: Swelling after hip replacement

I had my left hip replaced this past Friday, 01/12/07. Came home yesterday, 01/15/07. I am able to walk with my walker. I am having problems getting in/out of bed without help. My husband has been a God-send. I am so paranoid about "popping" my hip out that I'm scared to death that I am sitting wrong or laying wrong or doing something that will cause problems with my knee. My real question is how long should the swelling go on? I don't find any redness or anything. The incision seems to be healing well. Has already begun to itch. The swelling is one of my major concerns. I wanted to hear from others who gone thru this as to how long their operated leg remained swollen. Thanks for listening! Ann

No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

[Guest guest]

Ann,

I've had quite a bit of swelling after my hip revisions (except for this

last one which was only of the cup). It was expected at the hospital, and

gradually went away . . . but if I was on my feet too much or didn't keep my

foot up when sitting it would swell back up. The PT folks said the best

things for it is to ice after exercise and do ankle pumps (flexing your foot

up and down . . . start out w/ 3 sets of 10).

After every hip replacement I was worried that the least little thing would

pop it out or break up the bone grafting. I'm a naturally born worrier . . .

both my parents worry, and so does my brother.

Good luck. I know how awful it can feel.

Pat

>. I am so paranoid about " popping " my hip out that I'm scared to

> death that I am sitting wrong or laying wrong or doing something that

> will cause problems with my knee.

> My real question is how long should the swelling go on?

[Guest guest]

MARY ANN

Thanks for checking in. You sound like you're doing wonderfully. I sure hope your swelling goes down SOON! You take care and rest, okay.

Hugs,

Lindy

I had my left hip replaced this past Friday, 01/12/07. Came home yesterday, 01/15/07. I am able to walk with my walker. I am having problems getting in/out of bed without help. My husband has been a God-send. I am so paranoid about "popping" my hip out that I'm scared to death that I am sitting wrong or laying wrong or doing something that will cause problems with my knee. My real question is how long should the swelling go on? I don't find any redness or anything. The incision seems to be healing well. Has already begun to itch. The swelling is one of my major concerns. I wanted to hear from others who gone thru this as to how long their operated leg remained swollen. Thanks for listening! Ann

[Guest guest]

Thanks Susie. So Much!

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

Hi Linny,

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck for your operation and a speedy recovery and let us know how you are doing after the operation .Take care and have a nice day:-)

Susie

[Guest guest]

that's right Larry, i forgot. i think maybe i should have a brain replacement -- i forget so much. ;-)

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

Hi Lindy LouI guess I just read a lot. LOL I am a nurse anesthetist. I am supposed to know this stuff.Larry

[Guest guest]

Please tell me how you get in and out of bed, Ann, I may have to do it that way.

I've had a bad bout of constipation this week, due to the iron I'm taking. I'm also taking Colace -- a stool softner, but had to double my dosage. UGH! I was SO miserable, so I know what you're going through, only it's probably worse for you because you've been on stronger pain killers.

Gee, will Tylenol be enough for you so soon? Don't let yourself hurt too much.

Have you tried a stool softner or a lot of prune juice? I'll tell you what REALLY worked for me -- I bought some "Bolthouse Farms" juice. It's in the produce department of my grocery store. It's a little expensive but I only had to take a couple drinks of it and WHOA MAMA -- the next day -- BAM. It worked. LOL

I got the Blue Goodness flavor. And, it has a great fruity taste. They have other flavors -- I'm not sure if the others help constipation -- I've only tried that one -- and I selected it due to its high Vitamin Bs, luckily, it also helped me in other ways. LOL

Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

Thx Lindy,

I am doing ok. FInally got the getting into/out of bed thing down. Not very pretty but it works! I had a BAD bout with constipation that I think was due to the pain meds? At least, that's what some folks have been telling me. SO I am going to try using Tylenol and hope for the best.

I sure hope I start walking better soon. The leg hurts when I first start walking after sitting or laying for a while. I can't seem to find the right amount of excercise time for me. I know it's important but sometimes I'm too pooped.

Thanks for the reply.

Ann

[Guest guest]

Ann,

Are you on iron pills? Those can cause constipation also. Eat lots of raw fruite and veggies if your digestive system can handle it. Otherwise, go and get one of those supposedly tasteless, non-gritty fiber products and add it to anything you drink. I made a point of eat 8-10 servings of fruits and veggies, and the only reason I didn't have a bowel movement the day after surgery is because I was afraid I would expel my catheter. Days later one of the nurses explained that even though people think that it just doesn't happen.

As for your exercise sessions. How often are you "working out"? If you are doing them at home spread them out more. Do then while you watch television or read a book and go on auto pilot. I seem to remember that I did 3-4 workouts a day. Of course, my home PT insisted I move slowly, so I didn't get tired . . . ever . . . but I was in very good shape (for me) before the surgery. On days the pain wasn't bad I was walking my dog anywhere from 3-5 miles a day. The doctor at the rehab hospital raved about my muscle definition (it's gone now) and I nearly pulled the med student (a rather small young woman) onto the bed when she was testing arm strength.

How long are you sitting? I've always been told to get up once an hour and move around a bit. This stiffness/soreness you are feeling are typical.

Pat

I had a BAD bout with constipation that I think was due to the pain meds?

The leg hurts when I first start walking after sitting or laying for a while.