Hip Replacement and RA

[Angie2212]

Hi Everyone,

I am 4 weeks, 3 days post op after a hip replacement. Whilst I'm doing great and getting out for daily walks ect, my non-operative leg is swollen from my knee to the ankle. Both knees are painful and I have difficulty bending them. I expectexpected this from the operated leg, however not to have swelling and pain in the good leg. I'm wondering if it's coming from my RA. Has anyone else with RA had a hip replacement and suffered similar things?

I never had to stop my RA meds pre-op. I am on Sulfasasalzine, hydrochloriquine, tramadol for RA and have been for a long time now. Tramadol replaced dihydrocodine a couple of months ago.

[Amnesiac3637]

Today I think you should ring 111 and ask for a clinical opinion. It’s not unusual for your operated leg to swell but I’d be concerned if your other leg was swollen and you had pain. Check for heat in your calf and tightness - either could be signs of a DVT. Unlikely as you’ve been up and about and walking but best not to take chances and leave anything like that for any more time. Best to be safe……..Hope you get some answers very soon and stay well. I’ve had both hips replaced and t’was the best thing I could have done!

[Jackie1947]

Following my 2nd hip replacement I had terrible pain in both knees. I was told that was due to how your lower body is twisted during the operation. However my advice to you is to ring 111 for advice.

[Fruitandnutcase]

Just asked my husband if his *good* leg was swollen after his new hip and he says ‘No’. I’d go with what the others say and call 111 - unless you have a contact number for the person who did your op in which case you could contact them.

So you have compression socks? He had them for both legs for quite some time afterwards.

[Angie2212 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you for your reply.

I never got compression socks as my surgeon told me to inject blood thinners into my tummy for 35 days after the operation. I had the op at Ross Hall through my private medical plan and my surgeon is one of the best in the UK.

I am elevating both legs throughout the day, have no heat or noticable changes in either legs other than the swelling in my good leg and pain in both knees.

Im able to walk without issue, but the swelling does get worse after walking. I'll give the staff nurse a call to check if this is all OK just to be safe.

Thank you for your advice.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Angie2212]

Good idea to speak to someone at the hospital just to put your mind at rest. . My husband had the compression socks as well as the daily blood thinners. I used to worry that I would pull his legs off removing and replacing the socks - then a friend told me to use lots of cream on his legs first and that worked. I can’t imagine how anyone living on their own could manage the compression socks. Hope the swelling goes down soon.

[Nyreedw in reply to Angie2212]

I've never had compression socks either. Research has shown they actually don't make any difference. I had 7 weeks baby aspirin. They used a massage machine for 12 hours after surgery. I had mine done in an orthopaedic hospital.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Nyreedw]

I think all hospitals do things differently. That was about five years ago. I’m not sure my friend who has just had a knee replaced had to wear stockings, maybe getting the socks on and off did more damage to their post operative patients than anything else.

Husband had his operation done in the afternoon, he had an epidural plus sedation. I was there when he was brought back to the ward and he said he was hungry. I left then because two physios who had stayed a little later to get him when he came onto the ward got him out of bed and up on his feet for his first walk. I’m squeamish so I definitely didn’t want to see that.

He was fine and came home two days later, he’s have been home a day sooner if the pharmacy had been open in time to get his take-home drugs. I was a nervous wreck when he started to go out and about - he was back at work in six weeks the minute he was allowed to drive.

I like the sound of the massage machine though.

[Angie2212 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I had the spinal epidural and moderate sedation. I woke up half way through the op and started singing dancing queen! It became a standing joke with all the nurses and I remember it so vividly.

My surgeon is not a believer in the stocking being helpful, hence getting the blood thinner injections for 5wks post-op. I was back in my room at 4pm and physio came round, however, my leg was completely numb as the surgeon put in a blocker as an extra measure to control pain so I couldn't get up until the next day. Was in Wed-Fri . I was also given 3 lots of antibiotics as a precaution too so yes, every surgeon has their own methods I guess.

[Nyreedw in reply to Angie2212]

My reputation was I was in the bathroom washing, make up and perfume and dressed on as soon as I was able to get up lol. Undiagnosed Osteoporosis has caused me some complications and I've had to have mine redone but it's one of those things plus I'm one of the rare 1% who had an infection but thankfully being sorted.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Angie2212]

Yes that is true, professionals have their own individual recommendations from their patients experience! I hope all goes well for you and a good recovery! Take care

[Nyreedw in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I had mine 2 years ago. Scientific research has proved there is no reduction in blood clots in patients who have stocking on to those who don't. I had spinal and sedation as well. Went down lunch time back on the ward at 4pm, had something to eat and was up as soon as spinal worn off, with a frame. Taken by physio,in the morning to gym, to use crutches and steps then home in the afternoon. They have been doing day case now for a number of years as well. I was given paracetamol and codeine for afterwards. Because you only do 24 hours now I didn't have any visitors as none allowed day of op and day you go home. Although 4 patients,in the ward, come in for op together and discharged roughly same time.

[Jackie1947 in reply to Angie2212]

It's drainage and happens regularly. What I did was to elevate my legs and kept them moving.

[KathleenMary]

I had a hip replacement in January , following a fall. I have limited cutaneous scleroderma and like you take hydroxychloroquil but also methotrexate, folic and fluoxetine. I was horrified at how my damaged leg swelled up it was huge ...I couldn't get any of my trousers on and resorted to long skirts ,,even had to buy nighties.

Anyway since then I have made slow progress and can now walk reasonably well.i had to fight for physio and that helped a great deal.

Anyway to answer your question. My undamaged leg didn't swell so I would follow the advice given and get yours checked (NB the"good leg' is now distinctly flabbier than the other-perhaps because the excercises concentrated on the injured leg)

Good luck with your recovery

[MJSlide1958]

I do wish you the best of luck, and you look so young like my daughter with RA! I do hope you make a good recovery soon and RA controlled better. My daughter longs to have a baby one day but needs to come off of meds??? to do so! for a while at least! She is only 31 years and had RA for 15 years on correct meds, but having baby is a big decision that she has to make to do so. Good luck and best wishes

[Angie2212 in reply to MJSlide1958]

I am 57 and been diagnosed for over 10yrs, but I think I had it long before then. Hypermobility was what they kept saying.

Your daughter is so young. I really feel for her. I do hope she is managing on the meds and hopefully she will be able to have a little baby without issue soon. If we could only take away all the pain from out children.

I wish you all well.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Angie2212]

Ah your photo, you look so young! I hope all works out for you. Yes my daughter so young, she was in middle of A levels when RA hit her and been on meds ever since, meds have worked, Enbrel was great on its own for 8 years, then she went to Denmark, extreme cold and never recovered, so had to add 15mg MTX week tablets to get stable with Enbrel again. Would like to have a baby soon one day though?? Good luck and get well soon.