I had a total hip replacement on Dec. 15, 2008. There was more pain than I had anticipated; however, I was sent home on the fourth day with warfarin (3 mg. per day) after having both warfarin and Lovenox in the hospital. The visiting nurses came and checked my blood levels (INT), and the first test showed 1.1, which is not therapeutic, so I understand. After several more days, a second test showed the same levels and my warfarin was increased to 5 mg. per day. Two days later, I was diagnosed with a blood clot behind the knee and the pain was indescribable. At that point, warfarin was increased to 7.5 mg. and I was sent home with Lovenox injections (70 mg.). My blood was then monitored each day, and it took seven days for the blood levels to reach 2.1. At this point, Lovenox was discontinued and now, after five days of no blood draw, I will have a stick test tomorrow to see if the level is maintaining. I was flat on the couch with an elevated leg for 12 days before I felt much relief in the leg. So ... rehab was discontinued, and I am at least two weeks behind now on any serious rehab. My experience makes me furious because I believe the "ball was dropped" on the blood levels. Also, I had huge issues connecting with the surgeon who was "out of town" and had no referral physician. How differently things would have been if I had been more educated and took more control over my own care and demanded closer attention be paid to what was going on. Published: August 27 ::

My husband had a right total hip replacement in Aug. 2006. Shortly after surgery, he developed great pain in the area of the right groin. He went through three pain management injections, which did not help him. In Dec. 2007, after about 18 months of pain after his total hip replacement, he requested a CT scan of his hip. The doctor ended up doing another right hip revision in Feb. 2008. About six weeks after the second surgery, the same exact pain came back to the groin area. He saw his surgeon on a follow-up appointment, and his doctor told him to go to another pain management specialist. He did three more pain management injections, which did not help. I have taken him to other orthopedic surgeons, pain management doctors, and a neurologist. The neurologist says there is no nerve damage, so it must be a hip problem. We are still continuing to pursue solutions. He is in pain all the time. Published: August 27 ::

I had my first total hip replacement in August 2007 at the age of 55. The pain was so great after the healing period that I had to have another surgery. My second surgery was February 2009 and was not successful. My hip has dislocated 10 times since March 2009. I am scared to death of a third surgery. Published: November 06 ::