Lorraine hip revisions

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Lorraine,

I had Avascular Necrosis from a scuba diving accident in 1991.

This affected all my joints except my left knee,I also had numerous lesions

removed from both tibia's and femur's. with a total of 30 orthopaedic surgeries

related to the one accident,

First hip was 1993, after 8 years the first hip needed re-doing but he was only

going to replace the cup part and leave the stem, I had that done, and within

the first week it kept popping out, but they sent mne home hoping that physio

would improve the muscles etc and hold it in, well that didn't work and every

timne I sat down it fell out, I had a check x-ray to be told I now had a

fractured femur, and pelvis.

I was admitted and had to wait a week for a special cage to arrive from France.

I had it redone and all is good now, but I was on minimal weight bearing for 5

months post this surgery, which is why I said earlier a revision isn't to be

taken lightly.

I dislocated this same hip in June last year while I was in the middle of

shoulder surgery.saw my surgeon again and I decided to get another opinion at

the same time which I did.Leaving well alone at this stage as it hasn't touch

wood happened again. both of them said that if it keeps happening they would

have to change the liner.

I had my right shoulder replaced in 1995, and in December 2008 I had a revison,

that went well until I tore the supraspinatus tendon from the bone, June 09 I

had that repaired with only a 50/50 chance of that working., it didn't so I had

a reverse shoulder replacement on 30th Nov 09.

I woke with pins and needles in my fingers and thumb, to be told it was from

the nerve block, and went home day 3. I had been home 5 days when I noticed that

I had worse pins and needles and now numbness going up my arm, rang the surgeon

and was re-admitted that afternoon. the next day he took me back to theatre and

I had a smaller stem put in to allow room for the stretched nerves to travel

over the prosthesis.brachail plexus stretch injury.

this left me with a totaly paralized arm, I couldn't do a thing with it only

move my fingers. I had the same anaesthetist and asked him if it was from the

nerve block which he then answered and said I didn't give you one, so had the

nurses just done a check to make sure I could have had the surgery earlier thus

preventing such a bad injury.

I am very slowly improving but I still can't get my arm up to feed myself etc, I

can't move it in any direction but the oins and needles have ceased, so I am

hopeful of a near full recovery the surgeon thinking 80% but having been at 0%

anything is a bonus.

I know this has been long, but I just wanted you to know that all my first

joints went really well no complications, no hassles and they are still

perfect. BUT the second and third ones were not funny, and have never gone

smoothly.The risks go up with each subsequent surgeries for example I was told

the infection rate goes way up to 5% for 2nd 3rd etc.I am so lucky as I have

never had an infection from any of these major surgeries.

Oh gosh I better shut up now, e-mail me privately if I can help further.

I'd like once again to thank Annie for all her help through this very difficult

time.

x