total hip replacement

[carlyon bay]

i am 3 weeks on from having a hip replacement and on crutches my foot and ankle are still swollen and most of my discomfort is coming from my shins i am wearing compression tights has any one got any expierence of these after effects

[bednobs]

my leg was swollen for weeks afterwards. i had had a previous DVT and so used to constantly worry that the swelling was due to anothe rone from my lack of mobility. my dad had a dvt approx 4-5 days after coming home following a hip replacement. Are you doing exercises every day and often? Are you moving your foot and leg on the affected side? The bruising took weeks to go away too,and seemed to travel down my leg so that at six weeks on my foot was black and blue. To put your mind at rest, why dont you make an appointment with the gp who could check you out for a dvt Are both legs swollen? Are both shins hurting?

[carlyon bay]

thanks bednobs yes doing all the exercises the shin pain is in the operated leg, like you the brusing seems to gone to my foot, gravity i suppose, and yes i will give my gp a call tomorrow i dont know,i dont have any classic signs of dvt but will check it out .

[patsyann]

3 weeks is early days .Of course it would be wise to check out the swelling for peace of mind but I think you will find that it is quite normal.My leg was black and blue and painful all the way down my leg.I had swelling of the foot but tried to keep it up on a stool when resting.It is a very brutal operation and all the ligaments and muscles get disturbed,even my knee was painful but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The physio you are told to do is of vital importance to aid recovery.Painful but so necessary. 18 months on I cant even believe that I have a replacement joint and I was very mobile and healing after a very few weeks. So good luck you will soon be feeling much better.

[ethandron]

if you knew exactly what they did to you during the operation, you wouldn't be at all surprised that you have bruising and swelling. it's more like carpentry than surgery!
i found my ankles took weeks and weeks, maybe even months, to stop swelling up, and at every opportunity i would sit with the affected leg raised on a stool (i've had both hips resurfaced in separate ops). i also got rid of the compression stocking after a week, and instead, used to walk around for about 10 minutes every hour to keep the circulation going. and while i was sitting i used to do the flexing of the foot exercise, and the drawing a circle with the toes exercise - all designed to keep the circulation in your leg going.
3 weeks post op is very early days, you'll be loads better in another 3 weeks. as bednobs has said though, put your mind at rest and contact your gp if you're really worried.

[patsyann]

Point of interest why are you still in compression stockings now that you are out of hospital and mobile.? At our hospital we were told there was no need after we were up and about..

[carlyon bay]

thanks patsyann yes i am still having to wear these compression stockings i am very mobile and very fit normally i am a 60 year old male

[carlyon bay]

thanks patsyann yes i am still having to wear these compression stockings i am very mobile and very fit normally i am a 60 year old male ps i went into hospital on the 28th jan and was discharged on the 31st ja again thanks for your help

[carlyon bay]

thanks ethandron your posting explains a lot good job i didnt watch!!

[ethandron]

you're very welcome. just as a point of interest, i too was advised to wear the compression stockings for 6 weeks post op, and did so with my first hip. blooming awful things especially in the summer months! with the second hip, as i said, i binned them after a week. i think each surgeon has their own opinion on how long they should be worn, be it 1 week or 6 weeks, but feel it's a matter of common sense as to how active and mobile you are yourself as to whether you follow their advice. good luck, and get well soon.

[bednobs]

i never wore compression stockings, not even in thehospital

[carlyon bay]

thanks to all of you for your kind and informative help im not alone!! in what i am going through and yes i have to wear these wretched stockings for 6 weeks i see the consultant on 6th march and hopefully get rid of the stockings and crutches and start getting back some life and get in the swimming pool for starters regards

[carlyon bay]

hello to all who gave me advice on my hip replacement went to gp yesterday not a DVT

[DaveBC]

I am 3 weeks post op total hip replacement and these comments have been very reassuring to me. On leaving hospital, my operated leg and particularly the knee, became very swollen. My GP sent me for an ultrasound, but no dvt was found. He advised me to wear compression socks on both legs. I have quite a lot of pain all down the operated leg and take paracetamol. I was given Tramadol in hospital, but couldn't get on with it. The compression sock on my swollen leg means I can't do some of the exercises as well as I would like,but I guess these things will take time.