Mom - Broken femur

My, now late, wife had metastatic breast cancer in various sites including her right femur. This led to a pathological subtrochanteric fracture of the femur at the site of the lesion. She was fitted with a femoral nail which is a long titanium rod which is secured at the lower end of the femur with cross-fastened screws, and a transverse lag-screw up into the head of the femur. Sadly this was only one metastatic tumour but she was able to bear weight and was free of pain in that area. She died from multiple organ failure from mainly liver mets. The procedure should leave the patient in very little pain after recovery.

We moan a lot about the NHS but it s really blooming wonderful, my friend who s nearly 90 and had her hip and a knee done has had every kind of aid offered, seat risers, a walking frame, a seat for the shower and carers, entirely free for 6 weeks after the op to help her recuperate, which she did so well, she told the carers there was no need for them as she could do everything so they just came in three morning a week to be in the house while she had a shower. After her 6 weeks it finished but she could have continued if needed, but paying of course.

Could you call the secretary of the specialist and say you would be able to accept a cancellation?

Here in the UK that often hurries things up.

Like many of you have suggested, I believe that there’s more going on. The problem with our healthcare is that it takes months to get in to see any specialist doctor. And, we can only be referred to one doctor at a time. I may have to take her out of country (the U.S.A.) and have her see a doctor at a private clinic. That’s the only way to get a quick diagnosis.

I am in Canada (in the province of Ontario). Our doctor has referred her to an orthopaedic surgeon in London, Ontario but we have not heard back yet.

I’ve been taking my mom to physiotherapy and they think she has bursitis on the outside of her thigh. They massage it and do ultrasound therapy. They also gave her exercises to do. We’ve been going 3 times now and no improvement yet. We’ll keep going for another 7 treatments and see if it’s helping.

Your mother has had a hemi -arthroplasty and shouldn't be in the amount of pain she is. She needs to be seen by an orthopaedic surgeon and if she was in this country she would have a total hip inserted.

Usually hip replacements are trouble free but if one does go wrong it can be very difficult to correct. A friend has an infection in a knee replacement which has not settled after a year.
The OPs mother sounds like a nerve issue, with MRI and other diagnosis it should be possible to find where the problem is and correct it. Very likely it's damage to the nerve in the pelvis or back due to the fall. Don't accept pain killers push and push to get the proper diagnosis

My wife had an irritating pain her shoulder, MRI revealed a trapped nerve in the spine. Her osteopath suggested it, so she pushed the GP for the MRI, they sent her a computer disc which showed every bone, disc and nerve and clearly where the problem is.

I have pain, numbness and weakness 14 years after a hip replacement. No-one can seem to get to the bottom of it and it just gets steadily worse.

My sister broke her femur in 2024 and had pelvic fractures too. It's affected her mobility and she also walks with a frame but not very far. She's now 84 and can't live independently but she is pain free. I think your mum needs to have x-rays and a thorough examination.

I hope you can get some help for her.
Can you contact the surgeon's secretary and ask for advice?

I was told to do this (admittedly in the UK) after my hip operation if "at any time" I was concerned.
I am assuming you are America as we call Tylenol "Paracetamol".

She really shouldn't be in this much pain so long after the op. I suspect something has gone wrong with the implant. She needs an X-ray asap and a orthopedic consult.

Are you in USA ? I m not sure most on here can help as our medicine is different and our hospitals and surgeries work differently too
She should have been given advice about exercise etc I m sure sitting around wont help but needs to be gentle exercise not running a marathon
My elderly friend had both hip and knee done and has had no problems at all but we all react differently