Theres a lot of expertise here, is there anyone with any knowledge around recovery from a total hip replacement that would be willing to give some advice. The Mrs had one nearly 6 months ago and is still in constant pain.
You'll have better advice from a private physio. I've recently extensively fractured my pelvis and hip socket (bike fall) and would normally have had a total replacement but our good old NHS missed it until I went back to A&E after the GP practice wouldn't see me to discuss any issues. Told me I could see a physio in at least a month. I'm still in limbo. Pelvis was non-union and I've been sent home - currently hobbling about on crutches. I've seen no-one other than when I asked for a CT scan, then horror hit the doctors faces. I don't get an ortho appointment until April, 3 months after fracturing my pelvis.
I know it takes a while to recover from an operation (BIL had one and it took some time) although I would expect the pain to reduce by now). Does your partner have an exercise routine. When is the next scheduled ortho follow up ?
I've been told I'll need mine replacing in the future now the socket has been broken. My GP doesn't want to know, and hasn't followed up on the A&E Department's recommendation (Healthy Bone Clinic).
Push to see the Ortho Team, and/or go see a private physio for some real advice. It's the physio's where I work who discovered my break.
Shes been seeing a private physio weekly since before the op, sees nhs physio occasionally, no other real follow up. The excersise routine they gave her she does religiously, along with daily gentle yoga and swimming 5 days a week. Now considering trying to get back to fasics at Edinburgh Uni, they really helped years ago when she had plantar fasciitis.
We just don't know what normal recovery looks like but most people seem to be back at work after 3 months or so and she can barely put her boots on at nearly 6
Might be worth seeing if she can get an Ortho appointment but I assume that will mean seeing the GP first. This is where it all falls down now. Our local GP practices are terrible, and we've no walk in centres.
My dealings have been shockingly bad, and even when they found how extensive my fractures were, just sent home to carry on none weight bearing. Can't really go and do private physio yet as I don't know how bad the breaks are (other than extensive).
I've lost complete confidence in the NHS as once you are an outpatient, your on your own. I had good care in the Clinical Decision Unit, once they found I'd done a "proper job" on my pelvis.
I just spent time answering this on my phone only to get 502 bad gateway and lost it!
Anyway, it doesn't matter who you see as long as they've got what I call "eyes in their fingers".
I have a Chiropractor (yes, they often get dismissed as charlatans) who identified something in my back and helped me persuade the NHS to do an MRI which was so alarming that the consultant who saw it and read the results phoned me straight away and said "how soon can you get here - don't have anything to eat or drink".
The NHS physio only days before had said it was just weak core muscles and gave me exercises that would have resulted in me being in a nappy for the rest of my life.
Post surgery the surgeon was impressed by what I told him about the Chiropracter's approach he told me to stick with him for my rehab.
I have no experience of hip surgery, but have had knee surgery a couple of times. Second one was for a tibial plateau fracture and i was getting some strange pains on the inside of my knee post-surgery. Turns out one of the screws was too long and had gone through and out the other side of the tibia and was aggravating muscles and tendons. I was able to recontact the surgeon through the NHS facility who carried out the original surgery and get them to take it out.
6 months seems a very long time, (couple of mates were up much sooner having rehabbed on my borrowed turbo). If there is no improvement happening, i would be asking my physio why improvement is not happening and what could be the issue. I would also contact the orthopod via his NHS secretary and get a reassessment of the original outcome as it seems that there might be some issue with what has been done. There should be literature on what usual hip replacement recovery looks like from the NHS. You could try PALS at the hospital and get some feedback on how to get some kind of care to address poor recovery
IANAD
Good Luck
When I had a knee replacement the booklet they gave me had a number to call if I had any follow up issues, it specifically said don't go through GP/NHS 24, call them. I had to as about 3 months in I tweaked mine swimming and it blew up in a terrifying manner. Has she not got such a number to call?
I had limited NHS follow up and no NHS physio other than the above booklet, but I did have one at 6 months, one at 1 year and should have e had one at 5 years but we'd moved away. Does she not have those follow ups?
Off to Perth Infirmary tomorrow for a yeah or nay on my other knee being replaced. Fingers crossed for a yeah...
I have a Chiropractor (yes, they often get dismissed as charlatans) who identified something in my back and helped me persuade the NHS to do an MRI which was so alarming that the consultant who saw it and read the results phoned me straight away and said "how soon can you get here - don't have anything to eat or drink".
Sorry this is a hijack (although also following with interest as I suspect a hip replacement isn't too far off in my future)
Was this Cauda Equina? And if so what flagged it up (and also are you OK!?)
Well she had an appt with her NHS physio today, turns out she's not even a physio! Now waiting a month to see the actual physio! She has a contact number for the specialist nurse at the treatment center where it was done, i'll suggest she gives them a call, as far as I am aware there was no follow up arranged
A few people I know have had hip replacements recently and all seem to have got back to being active in one or two months. One friend has had both hips done with a gap of 3-4 months between the first and second operation and hasn't had any problems.
6 months seems faar too long to be suffering - I would suggest going back to the orthopedic department and surgeon who undertook the operation to get it resolved.
Was this Cauda Equina? And if so what flagged it up (and also are you OK!?)
It was within one good sneeze of Cauda Equina. So yes, the post-op checks were all about bladder function and "squeeze my finger" 🥴.
Pre-op was pain and inability to stand up properly straight or walk for more than 15 minutes. Walking around pain free within 2 hours of coming round. Mountain biking within 10 days and Windsurfing within 4 months ( but that's only delayed due to it being winter.
Fully mended, but when I asked the surgeon if this was the op that people refused because of the risk, and instead subjected themselves to a life of pain and immobility. He said "oh, yes". Good thing I wasn't given time to research it.
Sweepy - Did Mrs Sweepy have the Op done at an outsourced Orthopaedic private centre (could be badge as NHS but actually a private company)
Its highly odd not to get a follow up appointment.
Normally you are given all the info in clinic as to what to do if any issue ie this will normally be a telephone number for the clinic. Ring this if you have it.
Failing that she will have been under a named consultant. Look at the hospital website, or ring the hospital switchboard and ask to be put through to the secretary for the consultant. Politely explain what has happened. They are normally very good and will at minimum speak to the consultant, but should hopefully come back to you with a clinic appointment to see the consultant.
The NHS is fairly broken at the moment. You have to push to get the care you need. Otherwise now there are layers of delay / issues (as you have seen with Physio) to get what you need. Is the Physio service you are seeing part of the physio service attached to orthopaedics or is it the general physio service for the region. The reason I ask is that it can make a big difference. If its the rehab physios attached to Orthopaedics they usually have regular MDTs (meetings) with the surgical team and can refer back in to clinic with the consultant.
The other option is to speak to your GP, there should be a letter from the Consultant on her record. The GP should be able to refer her back. However they may say there hands are tied and they can only send her back through normal referral routes which would possibly mean more delays, seeing physios from a separate service before eventually getting referred back to the hospital clinic.
Happy to chat privately if you like?
Thanks to all, especially Funkydunk.
It was done at the National treatment centre, 'physio' has been the general area rather than specialist, not actually a physio and appointments have been missed due to staff absence. The arthroplasty nurse she contacted at the treatment center was so dismissive she has not felt able to call again and the promised callback never materialised. She has been in contact with Fasics at Edinburgh and they have agreed to see her but it is a 3hr journey each way and she can barely walk. She is on the phone to the treatment center now so fingers crossed.
As a nurse myself I can understand the pressure they are undersbut hopefully with this advice we can get the folow up she needs.
Thanks again all, FD I may send a private message if we have any further concerns if that is ok
I’m a total layman, but it sounds like something is wrong. Any replacements I’ve know have seen the pain reduce amazingly quickly. The exception was my cousin, who was told he was the 1 out of 100 where it didn’t go as planned. He had to have another op, after which everything recovered as expected (quickly).
Sweepy I’m not clued up on the Scottish NHS system, but treatment centres in England are privately run under the NHS badge and are about through put, not wrap around care.
It would explain why your physio isn’t linked to the surgeon, and they certainly won’t be able to refer back in.
Try the treatment centre , but also no harm in going to GP and saying you want a 2nd opinion from the orthopaedic department at your local hospital (not treatment centre)
The treatment centre may refer you back to the GP anyhow as they are not ordinarily a follow up service
Only ‘Simple’ cases are supposed to be done at treatment centres so they are not great for proper care and recovery
I think she's going to just try everyone, she got a call from an OT today whose opening gambit was 'so I hear you are worried about a lot of things'
Shame there was no sign of an OT before the op when an assessment of any aids required might have been useful.
I don't mean to moan, I know just how stretched everyone is. Thanks
Keep pushing. I'm keeping it calm till my request for the x-ray and CT scans are sent to me, and I see a specialist Ortho trauma person in April.
That's very odd OP. I had an OT check my home before my knee replacement for things like toilet height incase I needed a raiser and stuff, and I know both my friends who had hip replacements did, as well as my Mam for hers. My wife is actually a community OT and it's a regular thing.
On my other knee front the consultant yesterday said I have quite advanced OA in my knee and I'm not in the list of another replacement, the waiting time is.....2.5 years!!! So now trying to decide whether to spend a big chunk of my recent small inheritance on going private for a new knee 😖
