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Discrepancy in leg length after hip replacement

Posted , 67 users are following.

annette99709
annette99709

I had a total ceramic hip replacement 3 weeks ago and I have been left with an inch difference in the length of my operated leg the physio has advised me to get an insert for my shoe she said they sold them in boots the chemist but I can't see anything was wondering if anyone else has the same problem

5 likes, 106 replies

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  • sue_brown
    sue_brown

    Posted

    Hi annette i had thr in my r hip and i to have a length difference of about an inch i was told at my six wk check it would settle my doctor just said its common in thr that was no comfort to me as i walk with a limp and ito makes my gd side ache like u i was told to get inserts i had my hip done on the 30 of dec and its no better so i relate to your problem i will try inserts hope u have some success with yours
    • julia1968
      julia1968 sue_brown

      Posted

      Some surgeons need to answer for their incompetence in measurement! Mr Maxwell has done the same to me but He has already operated on me twice & made me worse each time! Now I am being referred to a specialist hospital to see whether they suggest reoperating to lengthen shortened leg due to THR (I know people that have had this done) or whether to replace other side & get legs the same length. Wedges only work to some degree as difference in incline & weight distribution also ended up affecting my back, which I am also getting referred for - that said - 3 months post op & I'm back doing breastroke - totally different person in the water. People cant believe seeing the gymnast in the water transform back to a cripple as she gets out. I now take a raised flipflop & crutch with me sad
    • merryiwas
      merryiwas julia1968

      Posted

      Julia - I am living the same nightmare! Can you update me if you have had it fixed, and if so how??

      I pray you have...   thank you 

    • goodoldrebel8
      goodoldrebel8 julia1968

      Posted

      I think you hit the nail on the head. Incompetent is a disease that has infected the medical profession. An accident resulted in a hip surgery that severly tilted my  pelvis which causes a 2 inche leg discrepancy giving me this Fred Sanford style limp. There has to be an accounting by the AMA etc. for this level of patient danger in which the surgery is permanently damaging. I cannot run period now and I was a good 400m runner everyday. I feel basically like a medical experiment.

       

    • annone70291
      annone70291 sue_brown

      Posted

      The literature that I was given before my THR stated that a small discrepancy in leg length was a "rare" occurrence. So I wonder why your surgeon thinks it's "common"?

  • james80413
    james80413

    Posted

    If the leg is now 1 inch short and if you wish the leg lengths to be equal or almost equal then your lift has to be about 1 inch high. If your insert is 1 inch high then there could be some difficulty getting your shoe on. Inserts are at the most are 1 quarter inch thick so this seems impracticable. I would imagine that a visit to some old shoe repair shop who most likely has had some experience over the years with this problem. Also in the hospital where you had the OP done the orthotist, the person who makes orthopaedic appliances could advise you and or do your shoe for you.

    Good luck

    • beryl29765
      beryl29765 james80413

      Posted

      Mine is half a inch and my shoe repairs shop built them up. Mind it's a bit pricey but better than inserts, you have been left with a lot of difference in leg length, dose  it make your back acke 
  • ros007
    ros007 annette99709

    Posted

    Talk to your GP and see if you can get a referral to the orthotics dept at the hospital.  I would say that 1" is too much for most shoes and you will find that the heels don't grip. You could try putting a heel insert under a full insert which will give you about half an inch or a bit more and see how you feel. Up to half an inch of leg difference seems to be manageable without a major limp.  If that doesn't work then you will need to modify the footwear and I would try a proper orthotist first because then you will see what can be done.  From my mother's experience the NHS will only modify a limited number of shoes and then carry on with occasional new shoes.  Some chiropodists have access to inserts or can recommend private sources of help.  I had a pelvic problem pre-op which created a similar problem.  Thank heavens my surgeon sorted it out at op but I'm having to work to keep it stable.
  • kay88399
    kay88399 annette99709

    Posted

    Hi Annette,  my op was 5 weeks ago. At first I was alarmed by the difference in leg length. It was ver noticeable. Now there is still a difference, but it is about a centimetre, I think. I wonder will it settle a bit more in the next few weeks. I prefer the idea of getting the shoe repairer to build up my shoe, as I find inserts very uncomfortable. 

    Kay

    • suzannesadiqa
      suzannesadiqa kay88399

      Posted

      Hi .I had mine done just over a week ago. I had to wait for two years to get it done so for a long time I was 'favouring' that leg. This meant not only were the tendons and ligaments looser than they should have been but my posture was thrown out of kilter. Given time and exercise I expect that much of this will improve and as it does the prosthesis will tighten up and my sense that that leg is longer will disappear...................Admittedly there wasn't much discrepancy, miilimetres rather than centimetres but scary none the less. It's a bit like putting your tongue into the cavity left by tooth extraction, the hole seems enormous. If I have to wear a shoe lift it is a small price to pay to be pain free and to be able to swim and cycle and walk again. I do sympathise with all of you who have a greater discrepancy in leg length, with todays surgical/electonic measuring devices this should not happen. I'm 71 and will have an opposite knee replacement next year. If my small problem hasn't resolved itself by then I shall ask them to 'level me up' a bit. Best wishes to you all for speedy recoveries and satisfactory resolutions to your problems.
    • Whalie
      Whalie suzannesadiqa

      Posted

      Hi, the analogy to the cavity following tooth extraction is a good one! I think the discrepancy I had/experienced immediately following the op is lessening, though still there. I'm 4 weeks post-op now and it will only be fully resolved when I have the right hip done. Good luck with your recovery process.

      blessings

  • jeanjeaniepaula
    jeanjeaniepaula annette99709

    Posted

    Hi I feel very disappointed to hear so many of us with leg length differences after hip surgery it really shouldn't happen.  I was born with a dislocated hip and it wasn't detected until I started walking the corrective treatment wasn't what it should have been and I was left with a leg length descrepancy and a limp.  I have now had a full hip replacement privately and the consultant told me he would be able to correct the leg length with a custom made implant.  Well he hasn't and the descrepancy is an inch, more or less what it was before.  I have seen a podiatrist and I have orthotic insoles but they cannot make up that amount of difference, the backs of the shoes are just not high enough, they are uncomfortable and expensive £220 for a pair.  I am now considering revision surgery.
    • beryl29765
      beryl29765 jeanjeaniepaula

      Posted

      I have just over half a inch discrepancy so ha my shoe built up at a good  shoe repairs and it's much better than the in soles 
    • amie17116
      amie17116 jeanjeaniepaula

      Posted

      Hello,

      I realise this discussion was a while ago so I am not sure if you will pick up this message.

      I am 3 months post hip replacement and my situation sounds very similar to your own.  I have developmental hip dysplasia and have had a variety of surgery in my childhood years.  I have had a leg length discrepancy of just over an inch my whole life and the surgeon who completed my surgery was optimisitic at increasing my leg lenth by 1.5 cm but no more due to not being able to extend the nerve that innervates the foot.  After surgery I was told that this was successful however as I still needed orthotics for the 1.5 cm remaining difference I was measured last month and still have a 2.75cm difference.

      Obviously this is disappointing but moving forward I have been looking at orthotics.  The NHS will only provide a single innersole and raise 2 pairs of shoes.  As you will attest to there are limited number of shoes which will fit this level of innersole and still function.  My trainers fall off with anymore than 1.5 cm inside.  At 30 years old I feel unhappy at the thought of wearing boots and highbacked trainers indefinately smile

      I was wondering if you had any success with innersoles? Any improvement in leg length discrepancy during your recovery? Or have found different alternatives that are helpful?  Do you wear raised shoes for e.g.?

      I hope you are well and in other ways you surgery and recovery have been a success. 

      Best wishes

      A

  • kaleani75551
    kaleani75551 annette99709

    Posted

    Hi Annette, I had the same problem when I did my right hip replacement May 2013, but in my case, the doctor told me then that when we do the left hip (yes I needed both replaced) then the discrepancy would be eliminated.  I had my left hip done this past March 2014, but for about 10 months between the 2 surgeries, it was Hell.  I got lots of Dr.Scholl's gel heels to put in the shorter leg but they did not really help a lot, I could not go for long walks - it was simply misery.  Now my two legs are the same length (i think!) but it still feels funny walking, I do not think I have a limp but it is not exactly perfect and I do not know what to make of it.  I have my 6 weeks follow up visit next week and plan to discuss this with doctor.
    • julia1968
      julia1968 kaleani75551

      Posted

      old fashioned cobbler is in process of raising 5 pairs of my shoes at the base then incline/weight distribution should even out x 
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