Broken Hip

stormywolf2 said:frozenangler9,
pressure sores aren't some imaginary thing you just can't see on your mom's body—specifically the spots that take the most pressure when she's immobile. So, if there was bad care involved, you’d actually see those pressure ulcers, skin necrosis, and tissue damage on the exposed areas where bone presses right against the skin and the surface.

If they aren't there, then they aren't there. And since your mom is already moving around, let's hope she stays clear of any pressure sores. They can develop super fast in immobile patients, which means since it hasn't happened to her, the nursing and physical therapy must be doing their job.

Embolisms happen really dramatically and suddenly, unless we're talking about small microemboli. Those show up as sharp, stabbing pain and can lead to micro-necrosis, basically manifesting as pneumonia—small lung infections that sometimes come with really high fevers.

P.S. frozenangler9, anything that worries you or concerns you regarding your mom, you need to talk exclusively to the doctors treating her at the hospital, not some Head Nurse or Chief Physician.

frozenangler9 said:I find it so bizarre that doctors don't even bother to update their adult, capable patients on what's actually going on with their health. 😕

Casey Palmer5 said:Four days without getting out of bed? Honestly, if that’s true, I’m losing my mind. Don't they have an on-call physical therapist or something?

Is she steady on her feet and walking with crutches yet? If so—just ask the nurses if you can walk with her for a bit—ten minutes is plenty, though she should sit on the edge of the bed first so she doesn't get dizzy. Seriously, staying down for four days isn't good, I mean it. Besides, if there's no PT, the nurses should be helping her move around.

I don't get why you couldn't turn her, or why she can't turn herself onto her good hip. The main thing is just putting a pillow between her legs and maybe holding her bad leg while she turns, then immediately sliding a pillow under her knee so you don't get hyperadduction (where the leg crosses the midline toward the healthy side).

Casey Palmer5 said:And don't even get me started on skipping exercises for four days straight... I mean, honestly, that’s just not ideal. It’d probably be smartest if you did some moves with her, but let's be real, that’s probably not the brightest idea either.
All I can say 👎 about this hospital if they’re letting patients go four days without therapy.
Look, nothing catastrophic is going to happen, but it sure as hell isn't good practice.

frozenangler9 says:
Man, I’m not even allowed to turn her over—at least, that’s what she keeps telling me. There’s zero chance for me to get a look at her back to see if anything's actually going on back there.
Nah, I don't think so. Honestly, I'm pretty sure everything's fine on that front. No biggie. 🙂

stormywolf2:
Don't even think about trying that without the Head Nurse knowing and seeing everything. Seriously. If any complications pop up from whatever stunt you're pulling, they aren't gonna blame the hospital—they're gonna pin it squarely on you. You'll be the one left holding the bag.

Hey, could you do me a massive favor? Maybe work your magic and be all polite and charming—you know how you get—and see if you can talk to one of the nurses? Just see if she can help you double-check things, just so you can be absolutely sure your mom hasn't developed any DK ulcerations.
Look, I wouldn't recommend playing hero here. Seriously. It’s just not smart. If you want the real scoop on the therapy or how Mom is actually doing, you gotta go straight to the doctor. Period. And if you're looking for details on her day-to-day care or the physical therapy stuff? That’s a conversation for the Head Nurse on the floor. Don't go off doing things on your own "at your own risk" or whatever—that's a recipe for disaster. You don't want the nurses or the doctors left in the dark. Everything has to be coordinated with them. Just stick to the plan.

frozenangler9:
Could it actually be microemboli instead of pneumonia? I mean, seriously, can a microembolism just slip under the radar like that? And if it does... what kind of mess are we looking at for the aftermath?

stormywolf2:
Every single micro-embolism is gonna trigger some micro-pneumonia. It’s just how it works. But honestly? With her situation, we could also be looking at a specific type of basal pneumonia—the kind that kicks in because she’s been stuck in bed, and those bottom parts of the lungs just don't get enough air circulation when you're immobile. Or, keeping it simple, it could just be resorption fever from the body trying to soak up that hematoma around the fracture site. Just one thing after another, really.

frozenangler9:
She was running a massive fever from day two through day six after the surgery, just spiking like crazy, and then—bam—it suddenly dropped right back down to almost normal. Turns out they switched her over to Klavocin after that first antibiotic totally flopped on her.
The fever finally broke! She’s looking way better and actually seems to be in a decent mood for once.🙂

stormywolf2:
Look, if there was some kind of pneumonia going on, the doctors are the only ones who actually know the deal. They’ve got the X-rays and all those other lab results to piece it together—it's not like we can just guess. Honestly, it could be anything from that weird "rebound fever" thing to some kind of localized infection in the urinary tract or somewhere else down there. Who knows? It's all a mess.

frozenangler9:
I told her that everyone on here was sending their best and rooting for her to pull through, and honestly? It looked like it actually cheered her up. 😉
She told me I gotta go thank her for all the good vibes and pass along her best to everyone. 🙂

stormywolf2:
Look, it’s absolutely critical that we help her break through that depression funk. Seriously. If she can't get her head above water, she's never going to find the drive to actually get moving—and getting her mobilized is the whole damn game if we want this to work without everything hitting the fan. It's all connected.

frozenangler9:
So, they finally pulled her stitches out today, which totally killed her physical therapy session. Just one thing after another, right? Typical.😕 So, tomorrow's a holiday, then the weekend hits... that means four straight days where I don't have to lift a single finger. Four whole days of staying firmly planted in bed. Honestly? Sounds like heaven.
I mean, I honestly don't get it. How does something this massive—this critical—just get put on ice just because of a bunch of holidays? Like, seriously? It makes zero sense to me. 😕

stormywolf2:
So, here's the deal with this "physical therapy" they’re running around here—it’s basically just a joke. It’s always the same old routine: some stripped-down version of PT that consists of nothing more than basic bed exercises and turning you over every few hours. Honestly? The nurses end up playing physical therapist because, let’s face it, the actual PT staff probably all took the holidays off to go somewhere sunny. So yeah, instead of real rehab, you get the bare minimum. Total joke.
Look, this isn't anything out of the ordinary. You can't just go forcing things here—honestly, trying to push through it could end up doing way more harm than good. But hey, you didn't actually tell us what caused the fall in the first place when you broke that bone. Was it some kind of fainting spell? Or maybe even some TIAs—you know, those transient ischemic attacks in the brain? Just wondering.

frozenangler9:
Man, if I could've just actually gotten a hold of my doctor... that would've been something. 😉
Honestly, I think that nurse actually did us a solid favor for once. She went ahead and dragged the internist back in to check on my mom again, which gave us a much clearer picture of what's actually going on. It finally put some real facts on the table and shut down those nasty little suspicions we were all spiraling about.
It honestly blows my mind how doctors don't even bother keeping their adult, capable patients in the loop about what's actually going on. 😕

stormywolf2:
Look, it’s definitely not right for doctors to just go dark on their intentions or everything they’re doing with a patient—especially when we're talking about your mom, since she's still holding her own.

But honestly? Your best bet is to just hash it out with the doctor directly. Don't overthink it or feel awkward; just straight-up ask how your mom's health is looking. Let them lay it all out for you, and if something sounds like gibberish, push them for an explanation.

That’s really the only way to deal with medical staff.
Everything you do should be totally in sync with the medical team, whether you're dealing with a nurse or the doctor.
If you start having doubts about the treatment or the care she's getting, you can call out those slip-ups critically without making anyone catch feelings.
Later
M.

frozenangler9 said:So, where are you living, Casey Palmer5? 😉
Of course that's true...
Just a heads-up that there’s no physical therapy scheduled on weekends or during holidays...
It was exactly the same way at the rehab center near Krapina after her knee surgery...

frozenangler9 said:The nurses? Yeah, I’m really skeptical about that...
What should I bring them? I only brought coffee and some pastries once... that feels a little thin if I'm really trying to show this much appreciation for my mom...😉

frozenangler9 said:I’m just not totally convinced she’s steady enough yet. She’s been lying in bed for quite a while, and her muscles have definitely lost some strength because of it. She’s really adamant that she’d walk better using standard crutches instead of that walker, though. She used crutches after her last knee surgery and knows exactly how to handle them, but I can't help feeling uneasy... since this was her other leg, I worry she might rely too much on muscle memory from before. I'm scared she might get a bit confused and accidentally step out with the injured leg instead of the good one...
For some reason, my physical therapist is insisting that I really need to get my steps in with this walker first... I'm not entirely sure why they're being so adamant about it...

I think I'll just ask the nurses if they can walk with me for a bit, or maybe if I can take a few steps on my own...

frozenangler9 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around it either. She’s being told she isn't allowed to turn over by herself, but I’m guessing that’s just a blanket rule they give everyone because some patients just don't listen and won't follow instructions...
Maybe she actually can.

Besides, what happens when she finally gets home (she doesn't get to go to the spa resort until August 29th)?
How long does she need to be careful about not letting her leg cross that midline?

stormywolf2 said:Casey Palmer5,
if she’s dealing with pneumonia, physical therapy has to be kept to an absolute minimum—just enough to prevent pressure sores. Usually, they scale it back because pushing too hard can actually do more harm than good.

stormywolf2 said:if she had pneumonia, then physical therapy stays at a bare minimum—just enough to prevent bedsores. Otherwise, you scale it back because it might actually do more harm than good.

So, yeah, they have to stabilize the internal stuff first—the pneumonia—before moving on to actual physical therapy.

I wouldn't recommend taking matters into your own hands. That wouldn't be smart. Anything you want to know about the treatment or your mom's general condition, you have to ask the doctor. For anything regarding her care or physical therapy, you should talk to the Head Nurse on the floor. Don't do anything "on your own" without the nurses or doctors knowing. Everything needs to be coordinated with them.

However, you didn't tell us what caused the fall during the fracture. Was it some kind of fainting spell or maybe even TIA—transient ischemic attacks in the brain?

Casey Palmer5 said:At Shalat, they actually have a physical therapist on duty even on Saturdays—just one guy covering the entire orthopedic department, but hey, he gets some work done. I don't know how things run at other hospitals, but honestly, this should be standard everywhere. It cuts down on potential complications and speeds up recovery after surgery, which ultimately saves the US healthcare system money. They’re just cutting corners in all the wrong places.

The nurses should be helping her to the bathroom—I don't see why walking a patient around would be such a massive ordeal. Honestly, this whole thing about carrying coffee, juice, and chocolate? I'm not a fan, but whatever... if you think bringing those things helps, then go for it. At the end of the day, your mom comes first—not some outdated debate about hospital etiquette. This part is actually fine; it's the stealing money that I find absolutely disgusting.

Look, it’s a vicious cycle—the more she stays stuck in bed, the weaker she gets. As for that walker—we usually reserve those for patients dealing with neurological issues, like balance problems or general weakness, or if their grip is shot for some reason. It basically just offers extra stability. For pretty much everyone else, standard forearm crutches are the way to go. Maybe your mom should just chat with her physical therapist about switching to crutches, assuming there aren't any medical reasons not to. And don't sweat the idea of her walking "wrong"—she's gotta learn at some point.

If you actually get the green light to walk her around, you gotta grab her by one upper arm—kind of like walking arm-in-arm—and just be ready to catch her if she starts feeling dizzy. If that happens, you need to wrap both arms around her from behind, right under the armpits, and whatever you do, don't let go. Make sure she leans on the walker. And listen, she can't be squatting or bending down. Just keep an eye out for her breaking a sweat or turning pale, but maybe don't bug her every five seconds asking if she's okay. That's annoying. 🙂

I honestly don't get why she's not allowed to turn. Maybe it's just hospital policy or whatever, I really don't get that part. Just ask the physical therapist why she can't turn—that's their area. If you catch them at the right time, obviously 😢

I’d recommend finding a solid private physical therapist to work with her before the spa trip.

The leg can NEVER cross the midline again, and she can't ever cross the operated leg over or rotate it inward. Same goes for sitting in low chairs—the max allowed is a right angle between the thigh and torso. Don't worry, they'll explain all this when she's discharged /hopefully, let me know if they don't. She’ll have to learn to live with these limits, otherwise there's a risk of dislocation in the new hip.

frozenangler9 said:I’m going to check in with the nurses today about that walking idea. Since it's a holiday, I'm guessing they'll be running on a skeleton crew, and it really comes down to how many emergencies they have to juggle...

Her arms are probably just feeling weak; she isn't exactly tiny, so it takes a lot of strength to lean on them. She might also be a little anemic following the surgery and all that—I don't know the exact underlying cause—but I'm assuming she's just not feeling very steady right now.

I wouldn't try any experiments like that without a nurse present. I'll talk to them and see if they have a spare moment to help out.
(It honestly feels like the nurses are swamped, which is a real hurdle when you're trying to handle things that aren't life-or-death. It's unfortunate, but there's not much anyone can do about it...)

frozenangler9 said:Ugh, that part doesn't sound great at all. 😢
I really hope those specific movements don't seem as vital to her quality of life as they do to me. 😉
I'm sure she'll adjust, but I can't tell if she'll always have to sleep with a pillow between her legs?😕

Andrew Wells58 said:Hi everyone,

My mom (85) broke her hip on Monday morning, so it’s been about 60 hours now. The hospital actually missed the fracture for the first 30 hours after she was admitted. Now, we’ve been waiting about 24 hours for a cardiologist to weigh in on whether she’s even cleared for surgery, given her heart issues. From what I can tell, the evaluation was pretty basic—just a stethoscope, nothing like an ultrasound or anything more intensive. I have this nagging feeling they might just tell us tomorrow that her heart is too weak and call it quits.

Based on what I’ve gathered, if she doesn't get the surgery for the broken hip, the chances of her ever standing on her own two feet again are basically zero, and she'll probably be in constant pain every time she moves. Am I reading this situation correctly?

Does it make any sense to go out and seek a second opinion right now? If so, how and where should we look, and is there a specific window of time after the break where surgery still makes sense?

velvetmoose9 said:It's a tough reality, but a hip fracture combined with advanced age is one of the most common drivers of disability. You end up dealing with serious complications like infections—mostly pneumonia or UTIs—and various blood clot issues that, unfortunately, can be fatal even when the doctors follow every single standard protocol perfectly.

The fact that she's 85—even if she’s surprisingly healthy for her age, which is pretty impressive—really bumps up the risks associated with any kind of general anesthesia.

A standard pre-op workup usually involves basic blood work, a quick stethoscope check, and an EKG.
An echocardiogram isn't actually part of a routine pre-surgical screening.

And honestly, a hip fracture isn't always caught immediately upon arrival at the hospital, even with a top-tier clinical exam and X-rays. In older patients, it sometimes doesn't even show up clearly until about ten days later.

If the medical board decides the surgical risk is just too high or the chances of a successful recovery aren't there, there's a very strong possibility they won't move forward with surgery at all.

Looking at the whole picture, in either scenario, the odds of your mom walking again are unfortunately pretty slim. 😢