Originally Posted by
Hanr3
Long story short. I've had both knees and both hips replaced over the past 6 years. My right hip started acting up recently. It's been 2 years since it was replaced.
I dislocated 3 times in the last 3 weeks. Dislocated- leg ball pops out of the hip socket. you can't control teh leg, it hangs there, extremely painful and the muscles go nuts. Dr gives you a concoction in the ER that puts you in twilight and pain meds. 5 minutes later they pop it back in place.
1st time I dislocated it was while emptying the tanks on my 5th wheel after a weekend camping/fishing trip to my local lake. I pulled the drain valve, let it drain, reached down to push the valve back home and pop. I felt the joint come apart, I lost control and slide down the side of the camper and landed on my back under the rear bumper. Fortunately, someone was in line behind me and saw it happen. They jumped out of their truck and wanted to help me up. Nope, that wasn't happening. I asked them to get my wife out of the truck. She called 911. Nearest town is 10 miles away and nearest hospital is 30 minutes. While waiting on the EMT's I walked my wife thru draining the other tanks. When the EMT's arrived I was in so much pain it was unbelievable. Now, several things need to happen and in a relatively short time. They need to get me in teh ambulance, administer pain meds, and on my way to the hospital. At the same time I need to teach my wife how to drive the truck while towing the 5th wheel. She never drives the truck, and has never towed anything. I had to walk one of the EMT's thru the slider hitch and how to send it home for travel. One EMT is sticking me while I'm teaching another how to work the hitch. Hour later I'm being discharged from the hospital and my wife has to drive another hour home. The real challenge, my campers parking spot is uphill, backwards at an angle on teh blind side. Mind you, this is a blind driver side maneuver uphill backwards. Passenger side is the garage with 3' overhang. No way she was parking the camper. When we got home, I climbed in teh driver seat and parked the camper. She had to unhook it. I know, I know. Your not supposed to operate heavy equipment while on hard narcotics. Gotta do, what ya gotta do.
2nd time I dislocated it was a Wednesday. I was putting on my shoes heading out to work. EMT's picked me up off the steps and drug me to teh hospital. The Hospital is a story for another day.
3rd time- Sunday- 4 days later. I dislocated it while mowing teh yard on my rider. I leaned to go under a tree. Pop. This time I had my cell phone, started carrying it everywhere since the campground incident. Called my wife. told her to bring out my crutches. I managed to get off the mower. She had to park teh rider. I was trapped by a fence, shed, rider, and tree. Of the 4, the rider is the only one that could be moved. EMT's pulled up and I'm standing behind a tree in the back yard next to teh shed and leaning on the fence. I could imagine the conversation. How the hell did he get in teh back yard, on crutches with a dislocated hip? Not just in the backyard, but behind a tree? Hospital went great, other than the life/death emergency that delayed my treatment.
Dr. scheduled revision surgery for last week Wednesday, first Wednesday after my Sunday 3rd dislocation. Awesome. Why is it popping out so easily? I'm in my backless gown, IV, pre-meds administered, surgery room is being cleaned, and I just spoke with the Anest ologist, then the head nurse comes in and tells us teh Dr. is sick and they have to cancel surgery. Wait, What??? I'm literally 5 minutes away from surgery. 30 second cart ride, stick in the back and I'm out.... Bummer!!!!
Round 2 Hip Revision Surgery scheduled again for Wednesday this week, a week later.
I need all the luck I can get.....
