What Causes Swollen Bluish Leg Post Hip Replacement Surgery?

Posted on Mon, 31 Aug 2015

Question: hi. I had a hip replacement last week. my leg is sooo swollen and black and blue. I cannot do my exercises because if the bad swelling. Is this normal? It doesn't sound normal to me, but hopefully I am wrong. Also, I cannot take pain meds with antiinflammatory in it as it bothers my stomach. They gave me tramadol 50mg, but it doesn't help my pain at all. do you know of another pain med that may be stronger without antiinflammatory? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please attach a photo of your leg if thats possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Can you please attach a photo of your leg so I can see how large is the bruise and swelling? Do you have any fever? What is your heart rate? Does your calf hurt and is it swollen and tender? Did you get any anticoagulants?

Hip replacement is quite large surgery. It can result with hematoma in the wound area and veins thrombosis. Swelling can be a sign of veins thrombosis. Bruise and wound tenderness along with fever and accelerated heart rate (over 100) are symptoms of hematoma in the wound. So it is hard to tell if your leg is fine not being able to see it.

Oxycodone (Vicodin) would be a good choice for pain management.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (53 minutes later)

I am not sure if u can tell anything from this picture. I don't have fever. Heart rate around 86. calf doesn't hurt. I am giving myself blood thinner shots in stomach. it bothers me because I cannot lift my leg and it hurts so much to walk. I hope you can tell something from pic. Thanks again

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It does not look bad.

Detailed Answer:
It does not look bad. This is rather normal after such surgery. A week is a very short time. Your muscles are now in different position, stretched. And the wound is so fresh. That is why the pain is present and you have problems with walking. Try to give it some time.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)

thanks. I have been icing and sitting with my foot up on a pillow. more so than walking. Is this OK for now until the swelling goes down a little? thanks in advance

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes its ok.

Detailed Answer:
Yes, this is a good idea to heal the swelling. As long as the pain is too strong to perform the exercises, you may continue icing and elevating the leg.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 hours later)

on another note , I didn't have a bowel movement for 7 days. when I came home from hospital, I took a stool softener and went the next day. Yesterday I didn't do anything, but today I had diarrhea. Is this something I should be concerned about? I did take a pepto bismol later today. Thanks again

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No need to be concerned at this point.

Detailed Answer:
Such symptoms can appear due to whole surgical procedure and long staying in bed. Additionally given antibiotic (I assume you have had one) has caused intestinal bacteria destruction. It can result with constipation and diarrhea.

Please start probiotic intake and fiber supplementation. This should help with the stool problems.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (8 hours later)

thanks again. I guess I am just so upset that I got this awful swelling and bruising and I hear other people just get a little and that's it. I guess I just don't understand

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Every person is different.

Detailed Answer:
There is no similarity in medicine. Every person is so much different and so is every surgery. There is no standard symptoms or standard complications. And everything is possible.
I understand you would like to stand up and walk right after the surgery. This is very normal behavior. And it means that you are healthy. But some things must take a time. No rush in healing process. So just give it a break and try to rest. The improvement will come.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (11 hours later)

here is another pic of my leg.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Veins thrombosis should be ruled out.

Detailed Answer:
How abut the calf? Is it still painless and not tender?
Your leg comparing to the other one is swollen. It would be safer for you to have Dopplers veins ultrasound done at this point., to make sure veins thrombosis is not causing it.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar