omaggi
11-26-2005, 07:00 PM
I had a total hip replacement (THR) 4 weeks ago. According to the surgeon & physical therapists, the new hip is functioning well. Unfortunately, however, I awoke with Foot Drop, a condition I had never heard of. Basically, on my operated-on leg, I can't pull my foot and toes back toward my ankle more than slightly. (Right after surgery, the foot wouldn't budge. Now I can move it perhaps three-quarters of an inch toward my leg.) In addition, my leg from knee to toes feels constantly asleep with frequent stabbing waves of pins and needles. An EMG reveals damage to the peroneal nerve, so I am scheduled for a Peroneal Nerve Decompression in 6 days. The surgeon is hopeful that it will solve some or all of the new problems, but cautions me not to get my hopes up, as nothing may change. I was fitted in the hospital for a very uncomfortable off-the-shelf foot brace and have been measured for a custom foot brace that I am supposed to get this week. The brace is necessary to keep me from tripping myself with my dropped foot when I walk (although I had the non-cement type of THR so I am still not able to put much weight on the operated leg and am walking or rather hobbing on a walker). I'm told I'll have to wear the brace for as long as the foot remains dropped, which could be anywhere between 8 months more and life-time. // Although most of the replies to threads on this board are relentlessly upbeat, I would advise anyone thinking about having THR to keep in mind the possibility of unwanted side effects, such as foot drop and peroneal nerve problems, and weigh these possibly life-changing alternatives against the inconvenience of an arthritic hip. If I could go back in time, I definitely would NOT have had the surgery.
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Kiricki
11-26-2005, 07:37 PM
Maggi--
I answered your post on the wrong topic......sorry! Check *6 months after replacement* for my reply to you!
I answered your post on the wrong topic......sorry! Check *6 months after replacement* for my reply to you!
happybunny
11-29-2005, 04:49 PM
I really feel for you as I developed long term unwanted side effects ( nerve pain) after a big op myself. Don't give up hope that it will sort out. It sounds as though they have some strategy for you and although it may not seem like it to you it really is early days yet. Bodies are remarkable at being able to adapt and adjust to the strange things we put them through. We are very resilient and there is every chance that you will soon find the problem sorting itself out with the help you are getting.
I admire you for pointing out the negatives with the op though. So many people are afraid of giving someone else a realistic opinion of treatment. We need to be aware of what can happen. It is not natural to have surgery, chopping bits out and so on. Usually we can recover well and benefit in an incredible way from the skill of the surgeons and teams. But problems do arise and we need to be aware of the risks. The "before surgery" situation has to be bad enough to take the risks. Don't weigh up your own "before and after" balance until more time has passed.
I worry that my 80 year old mum-in-law is rushing into this THR she will have (see other posting). We feel she may not be bad enough to take the risks but she has made her mind up so all we can do is support her. The surgeon seems to have told her "everything will be fine in 6 weeks" and we have had to try to warn her that it will almost certainly be longer and that there may be unforseen problems but her mind seems shut to it. I think such promises by surgeons are cruel. They should warn of possibility of longer recovery and that things will not be 100% perfect as she knows it. A "new" hip is never like the original structure.
Push for all the help you can get but it can sometimes take up to 12 months to see the true benefits of an op, allowing time for things to adjust and settle down. Don't give up hope. Our bodies do a grand job with healing.
Best wishes with your recovery. Take care.
I admire you for pointing out the negatives with the op though. So many people are afraid of giving someone else a realistic opinion of treatment. We need to be aware of what can happen. It is not natural to have surgery, chopping bits out and so on. Usually we can recover well and benefit in an incredible way from the skill of the surgeons and teams. But problems do arise and we need to be aware of the risks. The "before surgery" situation has to be bad enough to take the risks. Don't weigh up your own "before and after" balance until more time has passed.
I worry that my 80 year old mum-in-law is rushing into this THR she will have (see other posting). We feel she may not be bad enough to take the risks but she has made her mind up so all we can do is support her. The surgeon seems to have told her "everything will be fine in 6 weeks" and we have had to try to warn her that it will almost certainly be longer and that there may be unforseen problems but her mind seems shut to it. I think such promises by surgeons are cruel. They should warn of possibility of longer recovery and that things will not be 100% perfect as she knows it. A "new" hip is never like the original structure.
Push for all the help you can get but it can sometimes take up to 12 months to see the true benefits of an op, allowing time for things to adjust and settle down. Don't give up hope. Our bodies do a grand job with healing.
Best wishes with your recovery. Take care.
gram17
12-01-2005, 06:23 PM
Omaggi, I had hip replacement surgery 3/9/05 and like you woke up to a numb foot except for the sole, the left side of my leg (surgery was on left hip)has a numbness about two inches wide which continues down to the foot, I always feel as though I have a very tight sock on the foot. Like you I wish I had never had the surgery done, its been 8 months now. I have had an emg, and was told that I will get some feeling back, when and how much they cant tell me.
On top of all that because of the way I'm walking, I developed bursitis in the same hip. The surgeon keeps saying " the numbnessis moving down on the side of your leg, which it has about 3 inches, but the top of the foot toes and left side of the foot are totally numb. In the hospital they gave me a brace, which was very uncomfortable.
My primary Dr. sent me to a specialist "Diplomate American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal/sports medicine, after examining me he determined that the operated leg is 3/4 of an inch longer then the other, he gave me a cortisone shot in my hip for the bursitit, referred me to the Hanger Orthopedic brace maker, where the made a mold of the bad leg/foot and now I have to wear a new brace from mid calf to the bottom of my foot, with velcro straps, and I cant wear any of my old shoes, and had to buy a pair of special sneakers for #139.00
I'm also back in P.T. where I have to do exercises to strengthen back and buttock muscles because the foot and calf muscles dont work therefore the other muscles aren't working properly. I also get heat and electrical stimulation to the muscles.
At this point I feel I will be handicapped for the rest of my life, which is not what I anticipated when I went in for pretty routine surgery.
On top of all that because of the way I'm walking, I developed bursitis in the same hip. The surgeon keeps saying " the numbnessis moving down on the side of your leg, which it has about 3 inches, but the top of the foot toes and left side of the foot are totally numb. In the hospital they gave me a brace, which was very uncomfortable.
My primary Dr. sent me to a specialist "Diplomate American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal/sports medicine, after examining me he determined that the operated leg is 3/4 of an inch longer then the other, he gave me a cortisone shot in my hip for the bursitit, referred me to the Hanger Orthopedic brace maker, where the made a mold of the bad leg/foot and now I have to wear a new brace from mid calf to the bottom of my foot, with velcro straps, and I cant wear any of my old shoes, and had to buy a pair of special sneakers for #139.00
I'm also back in P.T. where I have to do exercises to strengthen back and buttock muscles because the foot and calf muscles dont work therefore the other muscles aren't working properly. I also get heat and electrical stimulation to the muscles.
At this point I feel I will be handicapped for the rest of my life, which is not what I anticipated when I went in for pretty routine surgery.
simpatica
01-12-2007, 11:33 AM
I had a peroneal nerve decompression 2 weeks ago so I am very interested in the outcome of this surgical procedure. I actually had a freak accident where I jumped on my foot the wrong way 6 months ago and as I had another injury which was what the doctors focused on, it was not discovered that the nerve was entrapped. Now I am also wondering if I have tarsal tunnel syndrome which is even less common than peroneal nerve entrapment. I have been through the brace saga and found that a regular boot that goes up to the knee works better than the brace to provide support and is meuch more comfortable. Also, i would like to know if there is anything I can do to encourage the regeneration of my nerve. And what is the time frame if there is hope for recovery?
Brainalley
09-28-2009, 01:38 AM
I had a THR because of an auto accident on 9/3/08, awoke with left foot pointing inward, had PT but was very painful to walk-I used these forums to understand that the doctors are not honest. They know immediately. Going for EMG and then decompression and tendon transfer. A doctors job is to do no harm....The walker does not work nor the afo brace because the foot turns inward and the brace weakens the good ankle-its like having club foot< edited >
liverpool sue
09-29-2009, 08:33 AM
perhaps your doctor wasn't totally up front with you about problems which may happen, and i'm very sorry for the way your thr has turned out, but what anyone contemplating having a thr should know is that for the vast, huge majority of thr patients, the outcome is very good.
there is a risk with any operation, and we either accept the risk and go ahead, or don't have the op. it was laid on the line for me, the things which could go wrong, but i chose to go ahead. if i hadn't, i'd be in a wheelchair by now and in constant pain.
anyone who thinks a hip replacement, or any joint replacement, is going to make them 100% fit again is deluding themselves, and this too should be pointed out before the op. my guess is that the majority of thr patients have never regretted having it done though :)
there is a risk with any operation, and we either accept the risk and go ahead, or don't have the op. it was laid on the line for me, the things which could go wrong, but i chose to go ahead. if i hadn't, i'd be in a wheelchair by now and in constant pain.
anyone who thinks a hip replacement, or any joint replacement, is going to make them 100% fit again is deluding themselves, and this too should be pointed out before the op. my guess is that the majority of thr patients have never regretted having it done though :)
Silver Swan
09-29-2009, 03:39 PM
Dear Happy Bunny:
I have been amply warned before both my 2 hip sugeries and a couple of GYN elective procedures of all the possible bad effects known to man, it seems. This information is very scary, but we have to realize that the doctors must protect their interests by mentioning every possible bad outcome.
I think we all have to enter surgery with faith and trust in our doctors - and in my particular case, the Almighty.
Deciding to have surgery is not easy or fun and we must consult with our doctors and our family and then decide for ourselves what is the best solution, to have or not have the surgery.
It is not fair to not fully inform patients contemplating surgery of any kind, and we all are different in our rate of recovery and the results of the particular surgery.
Shirley H.
I have been amply warned before both my 2 hip sugeries and a couple of GYN elective procedures of all the possible bad effects known to man, it seems. This information is very scary, but we have to realize that the doctors must protect their interests by mentioning every possible bad outcome.
I think we all have to enter surgery with faith and trust in our doctors - and in my particular case, the Almighty.
Deciding to have surgery is not easy or fun and we must consult with our doctors and our family and then decide for ourselves what is the best solution, to have or not have the surgery.
It is not fair to not fully inform patients contemplating surgery of any kind, and we all are different in our rate of recovery and the results of the particular surgery.
Shirley H.
Brainalley
09-30-2009, 04:46 AM
Thanks everyone. The need for my THR was caused by an auto accident which occurred in Oct. of 2007. I was struck by a car going 30 mph making a left turn with my hazard lights on because I had a also flat tire around the block from my home. This happened in a strictly residential suburban neighborhood where the speed limit was 15mph. The driver who hit me was given a citation for causing a motor vehicle accident. Immediately after the accident I felt find thanks to my 2000 S70 Volvo; the drivers side door and the entire left side of the car was dented.
I was unable to get a proper diagnosis in Massachusetts so after 8 months I came to NYC and got diagnosed in 2 hours. My NYC doctor told me I would dancing in a month after the surgery. The only negative outcome the doctor warned me of was that I would not be able to walk unless I had the surgery as soon as possible.
So to anyone in the NY metro area what hospital did you use and what was the out come.
I was unable to get a proper diagnosis in Massachusetts so after 8 months I came to NYC and got diagnosed in 2 hours. My NYC doctor told me I would dancing in a month after the surgery. The only negative outcome the doctor warned me of was that I would not be able to walk unless I had the surgery as soon as possible.
So to anyone in the NY metro area what hospital did you use and what was the out come.
JennyAr
10-03-2009, 03:08 AM
Hi Brainalley,
I'm so sorry for all that you've been through. I guess that I'm just beginning the journey of having a THR because of a congenital problem with my hip, and I was just wondering what hospital you went to for your NYC surgery. Obviously you've had some problems, and it would really be helpful to find a place that diagnosed you so quickly, even if the results have been difficult to live with. Thanks for any information you can provide. Jenny
I'm so sorry for all that you've been through. I guess that I'm just beginning the journey of having a THR because of a congenital problem with my hip, and I was just wondering what hospital you went to for your NYC surgery. Obviously you've had some problems, and it would really be helpful to find a place that diagnosed you so quickly, even if the results have been difficult to live with. Thanks for any information you can provide. Jenny
Brainalley
10-04-2009, 02:35 AM
The Hospital you want is the Hospital for Special Surgery-if you are on an HMO you will need a referral. I am on Massachusetts PPO Insurance for $70,000.00---the hospital care was terrible and dirty, I developed a secondary infection which I left the hospital with. They practice Defensive Medicine in NYC and I had doctors lying in my records but being a former New Yorker I never allowed any doctor to exam me without a witness (friend) in the room. The rate for a 30 minute consult is $660.00 cash upfront-Welcome to NYC @@
I can't mention the name of the hospital I used but they did not follow a normal standard of medical care...good luck !!
I can't mention the name of the hospital I used but they did not follow a normal standard of medical care...good luck !!