Broken Hip

Basically a broken femur. Happened 10 days ago over in Maui.
She spent 3 days in Miami waiting for a transport to Washington, D.C. Once she got to the Trauma Center, they operated and gave her a partial prosthesis—surgery itself went fine, I guess.

But man, she’s just... gone. I don't even recognize her.
She can barely talk, has zero drive—honestly, it feels like she’s just given up on getting better.

She lost a lot of blood. They were going to give her a transfusion on the second day after surgery, but they backed off—supposedly wasn't needed after all. She ran a high fever for a few days too, though I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe pneumonia? Who knows. She's hardly eating, sleeps constantly, and won't even talk about how she's doing or what's going on.

The hospital staff treats her like some frail old lady who's halfway gone, constantly bringing up her "advanced age," which just makes everything feel more hopeless.
They have no clue how much life and strength this woman actually had until a few days ago. Seriously, nobody would ever guess she's 78—she used to have incredible physical and mental energy. She looked and acted at least ten or fifteen years younger, just full of life and looking toward the future.

Less than two years ago, she went in (on her own terms) for knee surgery because of unbearable Pain from arthritis. Even then, the doctors were a bit hesitant because of her age—said it was a pretty intense procedure—but she was so determined to walk normally again that she pushed through, and it went perfectly. She even ditched the cane she’d relied on for years.

A year before that, she had Carpal Tunnel surgery on both hands due to Pain, numbness, and losing sensation in her fingers. About ten days later, when they took the stitches out, the doctor was actually stunned—he said she didn't even need physical therapy, which everyone usually needs, because she'd been instinctively wiggling her fingers and moving her hands so fast on her own. His exact words? "I haven't seen anything like this in my career."

And back when she broke her shoulder about ten years ago, the prognosis was pretty grim—they expected her to only get partial mobility back. Naturally, we were shocked when she made a full recovery through sheer persistence with exercises; within a couple of months, her arm was totally fine.

Now, I just get the feeling she's run out of steam, and maybe realizing that is making her lose even more heart. I don't know if this apathy is just pure physical weakness or if she's mentally broken.
I'm talking to her internist tomorrow, but I'm worried that if she doesn't find her spark again soon, she might be lost. 😢

I honestly don't know what to do.

To be totally honest with you, a hip fracture at her age is a really serious deal and carries a high mortality rate. But, since you mentioned your mom is so full of life, she just needs to tap into that mental and physical grit to pull through this... There’s absolutely no reason why she can't get back on her feet and beat this crisis. You just need to talk to her constantly, stay incredibly vigilant about following all the mobility instructions, and yaaaay watch how she uses those crutches.

She probably received detailed instructions, but you definitely need to double-check her walking technique because she CANNOT put more than ten pounds of weight on that operated hip (an easy way to check is to have her step on a scale). Also, regarding the crutches: lead with the healthy leg, then the crutches, then the injured leg while putting minimal weight on the hip. For stairs: lead with the crutch she needs to lean on most, then the injured leg which shouldn't take much weight, and finally the healthy leg—that's the golden rule, and you have to be super careful with it. I’ve seen so few people actually walk correctly after surgery like this, and unfortunately, physical therapists don't always give patients enough attention. Has she started walking yet? Make sure she doesn't just "sink" into the bed; she has to keep moving. She also surely got instructions on "forbidden" movements: absolutely no crossing her legs, and she shouldn't move the operated leg away from the midline toward the other leg, rotate it, or lift it so the thigh is at a 90-degree angle or less to her torso. Avoid sitting in low chairs just for that reason.

If she doesn't get physical therapy right away, try to find someone to work with her privately. I'm not sure how things are handled at the local Trauma Center since I haven't been there myself, but in most American hospitals, they just don't do enough. Right now, you have to focus on her gait while simultaneously working on strengthening the muscles around the hip.

Regarding any potential breathing issues—after surgery, they definitely taught her breathing exercises (it’s not rocket science), and I don't know what her current status is or how many days have passed, but those exact exercises are what prevent pneumonia and other respiratory problems. If she's still doing them, ask her to do them again when you come to visit, because it can't hurt and it's extremely important. You could also ask her to do circulation exercises—like circling her feet, moving them up and down, etc. She has to stay active if she wants to recover. Honestly, after orthopedic surgeries, staying in bed does more harm than good. Of course, that's assuming all the restrictions are being followed.

And most importantly of all—you need to talk to her and try to motivate her, because until she decides she wants to get better, there won't be any progress...

I am sincerely hoping for a speedy recovery and that no infections pop up!!! Keep me posted on how things are going!

So, last Christmas, my grandma ended up shattering her kneecap—total patella fracture—all thanks to our beloved local transit system. She had her main surgery at the Trauma Center, and they said everything went smoothly, plus they jumped right on physical therapy; a therapist was even coming by the house every two weeks to get her moving again. A month later, she spent two weeks down in Miami, which honestly did wonders for her recovery. Now, you have to understand, this woman is 67 years old, incredibly vital, and has never even been under anesthesia or broken a bone in her life before this mess. But when I saw her for the first time in May, I was absolutely floored by how much this whole ordeal aged her. It wasn't just physical, either; she completely lost her spark, wouldn't even try to push herself, and was spiraling into this pretty deep depression. Things are finally looking up, but she’s still terrified of letting go of her cane, even though her doctor is telling her straight up that she doesn't even need it anymore. I’m heading back to the States in two weeks to check on her, and while it seems like she’s doing better, I just know deep down she’ll never be quite the same person she was before all this happened.😢

Hi frozenangler9,

I've lived in a retirement community for six years now, where we all live in two-bedroom apartments.
At 62, I’m actually the youngest one here. My wife is 66, and everyone else ranges from 70 up to 100.
I touched on this in my last post, but these seniors are truly full of life. For instance, Doris is heading out at 87 to get her artificial elbow replaced.

Her husband had two major surgeries after turning 86.
He dealt with prostate cancer and ended up needing a pacemaker.
I’ve noticed a massive shift in him. We used to joke around constantly, and while we still talk, his mind is miles away now—he’s dealing with a heavy sense of depression.

I’ve observed that many people change significantly after facing health issues or surgery. Some even face complications during the procedure itself, like a brain hemorrhage, which can leave them immobile in a nursing home.

Most of the folks here are generally cheerful and vibrant, but once they hit something major, like a broken hip or more serious operations, many slide into depression.

We have to realize that an experience like that changes a person's entire world. One day you're walking, and the next, you're immobile and struggling with Pain.

Our whole existence is a circle of physical and psychological factors; when a major injury hits, the depression and anxiety follow close behind.

There are about 50 to 60 of us in this community, so I see just about everything.

I really hope your mother finds her way back to her old self.
Right now, she's likely preoccupied with worrying about what comes next.
No one wants to feel like a burden to someone else; we all value our independence.

Best regards,

🙂 😉 😎

Hi frozenangler9,
Man, I am so sorry to hear about what happened to your mom. You know, I was actually just out on vacation in Maui over on Maui myself, and I only got back about a week ago.
The heat has been absolutely brutal lately, and with older folks, that kind of weather can trigger fainting spells or other weird sensations, which leads to trips and falls. And then—unfortuantely—you get those hip fractures. It doesn't really matter if it's medial or lateral; for people in that age group, the standard move is a TEP—a total hip replacement—as long as there aren't any contraindications. And looking at your mom's situation, it sounds like she was a clear candidate for it.

I see they went ahead with the TEP implant. Honestly, it would have been way better if the doctors in Miami had just done it right away. You want those surgeries happening within 24 hours of the fracture to get the best results. Waiting three days? That's a long time, man. It can definitely mess with the final outcome of the whole procedure.

As for her getting depressed after all this... honestly, I’m not even surprised. That happens a lot at her age, especially if she was super active—both mentally and physically—before the accident. She’s going to need some solid psychotherapy, which a big hospital in Washington, D.C. should definitely have on tap. But also, you and the rest of the family carry a huge responsibility here in how fast you can help her pull through this depressive slump. Just being there, visiting, showing love and affection—that's high-level stuff for her mental health. You’ve gotta spark that will to live and that sense of family connection. It’s huge.

Of course, there are always complications that pop up during a hospital stay or after surgery.
I really hope they're taking good care of her with:
Thrombosis prevention,
Antibiotic protection—especially since you mentioned she's running a fever,
Analgesics,
A decent, proper physical therapy program,
And hopefully having a psychologist on the ward check in on her.
Getting her moving early is going to be vital, but only *after* they get that fever under control. You don't want her straining herself if she's fighting off pneumonia, which can develop super fast due to being immobile and stagnant. Especially given her age.

I guess I should probably mention some of the other complications that can happen with a TEP.
1) Damage to blood vessels or nerves.
2) Re-fractures or the TEP head popping into the acetabulum, or even fractures of the femur itself.
3) Blood clots or embolisms from being stuck in bed, even if they're using Heparin for prevention.
4) Hematomas.
5) Infections of all kinds, both at the surgical site and generally.
There's also about a 1-2% chance of a late-stage infection.
Physical therapy plays a massive role here, though; it's absolutely critical for getting her back on her feet quickly.
6) Dislocation of the prosthesis.
7) Loosening of the TEP, which depends on how old she is and how bad her osteoporosis is.
8) Heterotopic ossification—basically, bone forming in the soft tissue and muscles around the TEP.
9) For seniors (over 70), the clinical mortality rate is around 8-10% post-op, and it can climb as high as 30% within a year.

At the end of the day, everything hinges on proper treatment, nursing, and mental health support to get her mobile again as fast as possible.
Once she's out of the hospital, physical therapy is still a big deal, so Casey Palmer5 gave some great advice regarding that process. Regular check-ups are a must.

Look, what happened to your mom is incredibly painful and heavy, but it's sadly common with older folks, especially women. Their bones get brittle during menopause and post-menopause because of those hormonal shifts. It can also trigger other issues she might not have dealt with before—like diabetes, cardiovascular problems, or rheumatism—leading to a whole mess of multi-morbidity.

She needs top-tier medical, physical, and psychological therapy
to get through this hospital stay, which she should be getting at that Washington, D.C. facility.
But things change drastically once you get home.
I really hope she can push through this mental crisis and rehab quickly.
All the best to you guys—wishing her a super speedy recovery!
Sending you some good vibes, man. Just a heads up though: keep your chin up. You can only do so much for her if you don't find a way to actually show that love and care in a way she can feel.
At this point, there’s really nothing else left for you to do. Everything else is out of your hands and up to your mom and the medical team over at the hospital.
M.

stormywolf2, seriously, great post. It’s about time we got a pleasant surprise like this...

frozenangler9, if it helps, my dear grandmother went through the exact same thing. It was resolved quickly thanks to TEP, and she stayed disciplined with her breathing exercises—using a straw and all that. She’s bright and alert today. There's a massive risk at that age if the patient stays bedridden too long. As stormywolf2 already noted, "Early mobilization will be absolutely critical..." because staying in bed kills any motivation to try, creating a vicious cycle. I suspect you'll have to step in as the amateur psychologist here, constantly pushing and encouraging them until things actually start looking up.

I get to see this elderly lady every single day—she’s way older than your mom, by the way—who’s recovering from hip surgery after a bad fall, and even though she’s moving pretty slow, she’s actually doing quite well. She walks every day now and isn't nearly as frail as she used to be. She lost a ton of weight, but honestly, her spirit is just incredible; you see her smiling more and more often lately. 🙂 Not once has she complained about the Pain.

You've just got to find some way to pull your mom out of that depression. Just give it everything you've got.
I really believe her mental state is going to take a massive turn for the better once she finally gets discharged from the hospital.

Well, I don't know what else to tell you. Hang in there. Give my best to your mom; I'm rooting for her to feel better as soon as possible. 🙂

Thanks for all the advice and support, everyone. 🙂

Mom was actually pretty lively today—really happy about that. 🙂

I went through what Casey Palmer5 and stormywolf2 wrote. Everything they mentioned as vital for recovery, she’s getting. The only thing missing is some actual professional psych help.
Also, I'm not totally sure if they're watching closely enough for any potential pressure sores. 😕

Regarding the psychological side, I stirred the pot quite a bit yesterday over her being so apathetic, and this morning I had another word with the head nurse—insisted this gets sorted out once and for all.

I brought up the idea that she might just be terrified and anxious because the doctors aren't telling her anything about her condition (probably assuming she's too old to wrap her head around it 🙄 ), so she's likely imagining the worst. Whether that was actually it or not, I don't know—but after the head nurse talked to her and brought in an internist to take another look, Mom was lively and pretty cheerful again. 👍

Her voice is strong and full again; she's finally starting to act like herself. 😉

I just hope none of those possible complications start popping up and discourage her again. She looks good right now. 🙂

👍 🙂
I’m honestly just really glad to hear that. 🙂

frozenangler9 said:On top of that, I’m not entirely sure if enough is being done to prevent pressure sores from developing.😕

I’ve honestly never seen a patient develop pressure sores after getting a hip replacement. Granted, I haven't worked specifically at a major Trauma Center, but I’ve been in plenty of other hospitals where they perform those kinds of surgeries. Personally, I don't think you need to worry about that part. Why do you ask, though? Are you feeling like they aren't paying enough attention...??

I'm really glad to hear things are starting to look up!

Hip fracture followed by surgery—now there are lung inflammation symptoms... one absolutely has to rule out a pulmonary embolism! (perhaps an angiography should be ordered)

I trust everything will proceed smoothly.

quietharbor2 said:Hip fracture and surgery, then lung inflammation symptoms... definitely gotta rule out a pulmonary embolism! (maybe get an angiography done)

Hope everything turns out okay.

Hmm, I don't guess I'm really in any position to decide how things should be ruled out.

Am I being naive if I just assume the doctors on the floor are competent enough—and conscientious enough—to know what needs to happen?

There's only one Internist for the whole hospital, though—hopefully they have enough time to not miss the big stuff.😕

I have no clue how I'd even verify if they've done everything necessary. Doctors usually hate it when laypeople try to tell them how to do their jobs.🙂

Casey Palmer5 said:I don't think you need to sweat it. Why even ask? You actually think they aren't keeping enough eyes on it?

Look, if prevention just means flipping someone onto their side—and I guess that's all there is to it, who knows—and the nurses are "too busy" to bother, then maybe they don't have as much time as they claim.

frozenangler9 said:My mom actually lost her cool today, and honestly, I’m pretty stoked about it. 🙂

Honestly, I’m happy for you! 🙂
Give her my best (you know, the one who called dozens of times last year before she finally managed to get through to the Pain Center 😁).

frozenangler9 said:Look, if prevention just means turning her on her side (if that's all there is to it, I'm not sure), and the nurses say they "don't have time" for that, then I really wonder if they're making enough time in general.

Could you let me know which postoperative day she's on now? And has mom been walking or even just sitting up in bed? Because if she’s already starting to move or get out of bed, you really don't need to worry about pressure sores. If she hasn't yet, she won't have time to develop them since she'll need to start walking very soon—and once she gets moving, you're all set. With this kind of surgery, there isn't long-term bed rest involved. Prevention mostly just involves turning and repositioning in bed. For patients at high risk for pressure sores (like those in a coma or in the ICU), other methods are used, but seriously—don't sweat it. I honestly haven't seen that become an issue in any orthopedic ward I've worked in...

Regarding pulmonary embolism—no internist or specialist looking after your mom would ever overlook that. It's such a dangerous complication that they watch for it specifically. If her respiratory issues have cleared up, you shouldn't have to worry about her lungs. If it's still weighing on your mind, why not just chat with the doctor about it? They won't be upset with you for asking questions about your mom's condition...

Casey Palmer5 said:Can you tell me what day post-op she's on right now? And has mom been up walking or even just sitting up in bed? Because if she’s already started moving—even just getting out of bed—you don't need to worry about pressure sores. If she hasn't yet, they won't have time to develop since she'll have to start walking soon anyway, and once that starts, you're good.

Then everything's fine. I honestly don't know how long it actually takes for a pressure sore to form, but she was lying down for three days before the surgery and another week after (I guess they didn't move her much after a couple of days because of the fever).
It's been 10 days since the surgery, and for the last 3 days, she's been walking a bit with a walker and some help from a physical therapist.

As for an embolism, I'm hoping we dodge that. Do you know if there's a specific window of time after which you can basically say the risk of complications has passed?

luca said:(give her my best—you know, the one who called like a million times last year before she finally made it to the pain center 😁)

I'll say hi, but I don't think we really need to go through such a long-winded intro about you. 😁

frozenangler9 said:Then everything is looking up. I honestly don't know exactly how long it takes for pressure sores to develop, but she was down for three days before surgery and another week after (I assume they weren't turning her much after a few days because of the fever).
It’s been 10 days since the surgery, and for the last 3 days, she’s been walking a little bit with a walker and help from a physical therapist.

As for an embolism, I’m really hoping that doesn't happen. Do you happen to know if there’s a specific window of time after which you can feel like the risk of complications has passed?

There is absolutely no way she's getting pressure sores if she's already up and moving. Those things usually happen from being stuck in bed for weeks on end. Since the staff was turning your mom and now she's actually walking—you can totally forget about pressure sores... It's wonderful that she started walking, though; she should do it as much as possible! It might be a great idea to walk with her whenever you visit, provided the hospital allows it. You really have to push for her to move and exercise as much as she can.

When it comes to the other part, stormywolf2 is way more qualified than I am, so I'm hoping they can give you a better answer. My gut feeling is that the most dangerous period has already passed and that complication has been avoided. Prevention mostly comes down to circulation exercises, so hopefully, she's doing those regularly. Anything else is really up to the doctors (anticoagulants and all that)...

Casey Palmer5 said:There is zero chance she’s going to end up with pressure sores if she’s already up and walking around. Those things only happen when someone is stuck in bed for weeks on end without moving an inch. Since they were turning your mom and she’s actually mobile now—honestly, huge win—you can pretty much forget about the whole bedsore issue. It's a non-issue. Seriously though, it's awesome that she started walking. She needs to keep that momentum going and walk as much as humanly possible. If the hospital staff doesn't give you grief about it, a killer idea would be to take her for walks whenever you drop by to visit. You’ve gotta push her to stay active and keep up with the exercises. Movement is everything.

Look, stormywolf2 is way more of an expert on this stuff than I am, so I’m really hoping they can give you the real scoop. Honestly? I think you've already cleared the biggest hurdle and dodged that nasty complication. Just keep up with the circulation exercises—that's the main thing to prevent trouble. As for everything else, like the anticoagulants and all that medical gear, that’s strictly between you and your doctor.

This one's for you two.
frozenangler9,
Look, pressure sores aren't some imaginary thing you just make up. You can see them plain as day on my mom's body—specifically in those spots that take the most beating when someone's stuck in bed and can't move. If she wasn't getting decent care, you’d be looking at actual pressure ulcers and necrotic skin and tissue right where the bone is slamming directly against the skin and the mattress. It's real, and it's brutal.

Look, if they aren't there, they just aren't there. End of story. And honestly, since your mom is basically on bed rest already, let's just pray to god she doesn't end up with pressure sores. Those things can wreck an immobile patient incredibly fast. The fact that she hasn't developed any yet means either she's holding steady or the physical therapy is actually doing its job for once. Fingers crossed.

Look, when it comes to the other nasty complications—specifically things like thrombosis and embolisms—it’s not like you’re totally off the hook just because the patient can move around again. Even if they aren't stuck in bed, there's still that lingering percentage of risk hanging over your head, even with heparinization in the mix. It's never a zero percent chance, no matter how much you try to stay ahead of it.
Look, here's the deal with anticoagulants: they're supposed to protect you from thrombosis, which then keeps those nasty embolisms at bay. But honestly? There’s always going to be this lingering "residual risk" hanging over your head. Since your mom is getting up there in years, you can't just go overboard with the heparinization—it's not like you can just flood the system. If you push it too hard, you're looking at a massive risk of bleeding, and at her age, that's a terrifying tightrope to walk. It's a messy balancing act, really.

Look, if she’s already mobile and on anticoagulants, the risks are basically dialed down to almost nothing—but let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's never a zero percent chance, right? Still some danger there, even if it's minimal.
Look, all those complications? They can hit you anytime. And they aren't mutually exclusive, either—meaning one thing leads to another—but that doesn't mean you’re guaranteed to get hit by the whole damn truck at once. It’s just... it's just a heads-up, you know? Like, the doctors list everything that *could* go sideways while you're stuck in the hospital or once you finally get discharged, but that's just a list of possibilities. It doesn't mean it's actually going to happen to you. It's just information, not a prophecy.

Look, embolisms... they don't just sneak up on you. They hit like a freight train out of nowhere—total drama. Unless, of course, you're dealing with those tiny little microemboli. Those are a different kind of nightmare. They show up as this sudden, sharp pain, honestly feels like someone’s stabbing you with a freaking dagger. And then you get those micro-necroses happening, which basically just masquerades as pneumonia. You end up with these localized lung inflammations and sometimes a fever that'll absolutely cook you from the inside out. It's brutal.

Look, serious pulmonary embolisms? They’re absolute chaos. We're talking full-blown, high-stakes drama where you're scrambling to resuscitate someone, and honestly, even then, success isn't a guarantee. It all just comes down to one thing: how big that blocked vessel actually is. If the caliber of that obstructed lung artery is off, everything else is basically up in the air.
Look, when you're dealing with the heavy stuff—we're talking big calibers here—it doesn't matter how fast the medics jump on you. Even with full-blown resuscitation efforts, they just end up dead. It’s because that embolus... it just won't clear out of the vessel properly, or sometimes, not at all. Total game over.

Look, from what I can see, she hasn't developed any pressure sores or dealt with pulmonary embolisms yet. As for that fever? It could just be a reaction to the surgical site—you know, those hematomas absorbing—or maybe some minor pneumonia in the base of her lungs because of blood pooling and poor ventilation down there. That’s probably why she’s doing that weird breathing exercises during physical therapy. So, nothing life-threatening or crazy happening right this second, but don't go thinking all the danger has passed. You can't say that. Those complications are always lurking in the background; that's literally why they're called "post-op complications." Still, there's a decent shot things turn out okay, especially when you factor in your mom's age.
Mobility is everything. Seriously, if you can't move, you're stuck. It’s the bottom line.
Casey Palmer5,
Honestly, you hit the nail on the head with that info—it’s spot on. No need for me to go in and fix anything, really. Maybe just a few tiny little add-ons here and there, but otherwise, we're golden.
Everything's all good!
Hey ladies, hope you're all doing alright and staying upbeat out there!
Sending all the good vibes to our lady in the hospital—wishing you a super speedy recovery and hoping you get discharged without any drama!🙂
M.
P.S. frozenangler9, listen, anything that’s worrying you or any questions you have about your mom, you gotta take that straight to the doctor on duty at the hospital. Don't go bugging the Head Nurse or the Chief Physician with it.