Femoral nerve damage after THR
Posted , 71 users are following.
Hi I have had THR last November and sustained femoral nerve damage. I have posted on other discussions but want to ask if anyone else on this site has had the same damage. I am now 8 months post op I have been told by surgeon he thinks my nerve will recover but nerve specialist cant promise. So far I have had no improvement in the feeling of my inner thigh knee and half lower leg. It is still as bad with also electric type shooting pains. I still need 2 crutches when out dometimes I still use leg brace inside if I have grandchildren as not easy to be with them using a crutch. I now see significant muscle wastage in top of thigh and shin. I can't walk up or down stairs normally my leg muscle won't take my weight to lift me up the step. I I am seeing surgeon tjis week and want to ask for more nerve tests to see if nerves are connecting. Has anyone had this and recovered if so what time period? Thanks in anticipation.
11 likes, 239 replies
jackie56101 debbie04463
Posted
Thanks
Jackie
debbie04463 jackie56101
Posted
jackie56101 debbie04463
Posted
Im glad i found this site it sure helps to know im not alone please let me know what happens with yiur next doctor appt
Take care
Jackie
georgia61514 debbie04463
Posted
hi debbie you posted this a year ago ,, I recently went thru a prostier approach right hip replacement and came out with fermoral nerve damage .. Leg is numb above the ankle to the top of thigh of my leg , my knee feels like a log. I can't come off the walker as my leg will give out I get brave with my cane but I just know if I continue at some point I am going to fall .. Not good .
How are you a year later ? I have been told they hope it comes back . And I have been to . But now I just don't know it's hard to tell how bad it's damage . Is their a way to see how bad it's damage ? I start outside pt today with the pool ., I keep telling my self I am only 5 weeks ..
debbie04463 georgia61514
Posted
Hi Georgia it's very early days for you and it will take time for your nerves to repair. Apparently about an inch a month if it is not too damaged. My leg gave way in the hospital on my first physio walk after op. I went to sit in my chair and my leg just crumpled. Luckily I managed to grab chair arms. It was very frightEni g. It also gave way after about 3 months when I was holding my grandson I fell backwards and luckily he wasn't hurt and my hip did not come out. Third time a few weeks after that when I had started to manage to stand in the bath for a shower as I got out. You must be careful continue using your walker while your legs gain strength. Ask for extra physio it's a lot harder to recover than a straightforward op with no damage. I was given a leg brace after 4 months it made a big difference. I was able to walk without falling until after about 8 months my muscle was strong enough to bear my weight. I still can't go up and down stairs normally and don't walk far I still use crutches for support. I did have muscle wastage early on but the strength is not as good as before. I have done pool physio but it feels very strange. My leg always feels tight the more I do. You should ask to have nerve tests which will be able to confirm how much damage you have. It's been 2 and half years post op for me now and I am told I will not have any more recovery. I have learnt to live with it and do have bad days. You may be luckier and not have so much damage and recover. Good luck let me know how you get on.
georgia61514 debbie04463
Posted
Hi , Debbie yes it's early but early is crucial ,, I wore a brace in the hospital and broke two trying to get in and out of bed . My leg felt like it weight 50 lbs . Now at 4 weeks I am walking with the walker , cane minminal as I am afraid to fall the leg is getting stronger.but , does give out on me . I know the feeling your talking about . The leg isn't their when it goes . Mind I feel is stronger as I have recovery It's numb from below the knee to the top of the thigh . It's stinging and theirs movement in it , the knee Feels like a hollow log feeling . It feels like it swells up and does get very hot feeling . I just started pt outside of the house and forced my self to drive to get their ., I am in pt all the way to oct 24 th . They have a pool to ., it's the tightness ,stinging,and hot feeling that bothers me. I feel bad you total did not recover as I know what you went thru .. I will stay in touch .
anne77555 georgia61514
Posted
I had the right hip replaced in 2012 and this isn’t too bad but, at 75, I don’t expect to be running the marathon any time now. Re my recent operation, on week 5 I’m still using one arm crutch although I ‘lost’ the other arm crutch on week 2. I seem to be unable to get enough purchase on my new leg at the knee and, like Debbie, I feel my leg will give way like it did in 2008 whilst going upstairs – and I broke my wrist falling down the stairs! As you get old life’s a drag – although it’s better than the alternative!
r7777 anne77555
Posted
At first I was not able to stand up with my knees. There are numbness, stinging , and electrical shocks , swelling , pinching and movement loss in the legs.
I could not stand up about 2 weeks after that I started to stand up and from then my improvement going on .Now I can walk without any support ,started to climb up and down stair little bit. I am going through medicine and physiotherapy .
My symptoms is remain same but increase movement.
Want to know is anyone here who is recovered 100% from Femoral Neuropathy and get back normal life ? Is Femoral Neuropathy is curable? I am very frustrated …How long does it takes to recovered ?
barbara46231 r7777
Posted
r7777 barbara46231
Posted
Thanks for the reply . By this time I get back most of the activities of legs and I can walk without any support , can strengthen legs, can up leg but the only problem going through that my legs are very weak specially my quadriceps muscles. My physiotherapist told me that my quadriceps muscle are started working and started regaining its strength but it will take some time.
Pray for me .
Thanks and regards.
barbara46231 r7777
Posted
hope4cure debbie04463
Posted
Hi Debbie ,
i have read about this issue in my case my hip was recalled by the manufacturer. Less than 6 months after THR. It has cause cobalt poisoning due to metal on metal smal peace in the modular neck in the femur.
I am am going in for revision and there are two ways to remove the femur device from the femur bone. One is ti chizzle & it hammer it loose or they use a small saw and cut the bone the 3 sections away to remove the femur implant recalled. I know how risky this revision is and could end up with foot drop nerve problems in the leg and more back issues. I have severe back issues as it is. As much as the poor leg is manipulated to remove the explant and the rheeemed out for the new longer implant almost to the top of the knee joint. My knees have OA And with a torn meniscus. I will be in a cast for three weeks in rehab for 6-8 weeks. All because a manufacturer REP paid a THR doc to use Their products &'the small piece causing cobalt poisoning was to make it easier for the doc to use the anterior approach and faster time in surgery. Therefore do more patients.
I can only walk with a cane or stand long basically have lost my life style over ther past five years. My hub is unhappy cannot perform my wifely duties. I forget what it feels like. He doesn't hug me just ignore me mostly and doesn't help me do things around the house. In fact I have become his caretaker. After 35 years of marriage is this how we end?he had care for me for two THR and been so happy since this hip recall my whole world has changed.one doctors decision effected the rest of my life.
I had to wait 5 years living in pain before a revision surgeon would do the surgery. Their protocol was to have physical evidence on MRI to justify the surgery. I guess worrying about metal fretting in my tissue causing pseudo tumors and fluid in the lymph nodes or metal in my blood and pain wasn't enough to justify revision. They are going in bilateral approach and this will cause muscle damage to a already weaked glute and IT BAND.
Drop foot and nerve pain and infections I signed off on as the risk for this surgery.
its a sad state when docs are not held accountable for putting a THR device in that is metal on metal known since the 70's to cause many reactions even death. The original surgeon lied to me when I ask if there were any metal on metal parts in the implant. My first THR doc 18 years ago told me a lot about the many complications in the designs and recalls with manufacturers
and there were many different THR parts in his office . I remember trying to match all the different types of systems together like a puzzle. They are really heavy. 4-6 lbs each side. I look at it as well at least thats 8-12 lbs I can blame on metal implants.
I can sympathize with what this whole thread is pointing out and what everyone is suffering from. Not many have the luxury to share negative experiences on THR on this forum.
I know there are many things that can go wrong from revision surgery I am trying to think positive. Yet I have had 5 years to research everything from soup to nut on THR and revision surgery.
Thanks for for taking time to read my story.
many Heeling blessings sent your way .🙏🏽
Hopexxxx
r7777 barbara46231
Posted
Can you give a rough idea how long does it take to regain muscle strength. Only for mental preparation .Thanks
Pray for me .
r7777 barbara46231
Posted
Can you give a rough idea how long does it take to regain muscle strength. Only for mental preparation .Thanks
Pray for me .
r7777 barbara46231
Posted
Can you give a rough idea how long does it take to regain muscle strength. Only for mental preparation .Thanks
Pray for me .
r7777 barbara46231
Posted
Can you give a rough idea how long does it take to regain muscle strength. Only for mental preparation .Thanks
Pray for me .
barbara46231 r7777
Posted
hi. It is hard to say. It sounds to me from your note that you are already gaining strength and have improved over the last 6 months. I would say the improvement for me was steady but gradual over time. I am very active and i believe that helped the strength to come back. I don't believe that the doctors have a good handle on how long it takes as i had the docs say that nerves heal at a certain rate and that i shouldn't expect additional healing after a year/year and a half. All i can tell you is that for me that was not the case and i have continued to grow stronger and stronger. At this point in time most of my strength is back but i still believe i will continue to get better if i keep working at it so i am. good luck and stay positive.
r7777 barbara46231
Posted
I want to know something from you
Did your quadriceps muscle get back to its normal form??
take care
barbara46231 r7777
Posted
hi. yes they did., you can't tell my quads from each other --they both are the same. i do encourage you to excercise.in the early months i also got something from my PT called muscle stimulater. Ask your doctor or pt about it--i think it kept the muscle moving even when i couldnt move it. Careful if you use it to follow the directions so you don't hurt yourself. best of luck.
AraSevera debbie04463
Posted
Gads - I can't beleive I just found this site and all of these popele that have very similar issues that I have. I am 13mo post-R THR. Had thigh pain since the night of the surgery, it has never gotton better, and is much worse than it was 4 mo post-op. I have had nerve conduction tests, and MRI and a bone scan. All say nothing is wrong, but I honestly think they are covering something up. I have moderate atrpohy in my R thigh, and severe pain when I walk - I walk with a pretty severe limp now. Last week, my leg suddenly started giving out completely. I have fallen 4 times. Yes I am active and still do my exercises and I move 1.5-3mi daily (I wear a tracker for proof). I ice my painful thigh, use 3 different TENS/IF units on it and take NSAIDS (docs won't prescribe real pain medicine anymore due to all the press about addicts - sheeeesh - so we have to suffer). Docs won't do anything to help me. I am in Boston MA (yes - Boston. Medical care here is NOT that great - docs refuse to admit errors or complications and just push you aside if you don't fit into their diagnosic checklists.) I am at a complete loss as to what I should do. I'm only 53. I had the original replacement b/c of avascular necrosis in the head of the femur. I had 5 months of PT and my therpist was at a complete loss as to what was going on with me - said she had not ever seen anyone with the issues I was having. Was unable to continue as I wasn't progressing - besides all that I was doing at the PT was the same stuff that I do at home.
r7777 barbara46231
Posted
Hi barbara46231
How are you ?
Thanks for let me know about EMS.I start using EMS .Lets see what happen .By this time my legs are little bit stronger then before. I start handling stair and lower sitting arrangement. Only problem my legs are very weak but they are improving .
Take care
r7777 barbara46231
Posted
How are you ?
Thanks for let me know about EMS.I start using EMS .Lets see what happen .By this time my legs are little bit stronger then before. I start handling stair and lower sitting arrangement. Only problem my legs are very weak but they are improving .
Take care
sue07187 hope4cure
Posted
Hello thank you for sharing your story. Like you I am awaiting a THR after a resurfacing op in 2006 has now failed. I have metal on metal and metal in my blood plus a psedo tumour on my hip. it all sounds so scary and could mean I could be worse but it doesn't sound like I have a choice. Is that the decision you have come to. xxx Sue
Tajmahal r7777
Posted
mandy0819 Tajmahal
Posted
Yes Tajmahal, I too can't walk after having my hip replacement done. I had the initial replacement done back 10 years ago. Then I found out it was a metal on metal (on my own by the way! no one notified me!) so I had it done again 3 years ago. I have progressively gotten worse and now cannot walk because the leg doesn't comply with the brain signal to move. I have done extensive research and have found that during hip implants there is a high probability of nerve damage. There are 2 nerves that run through that area that could have been damaged during the operation. There is a femoral nerve and a sciatic nerve. You need to get him to a neurologist for examination immediately. Once nerves are damaged, they can regenerate but only if something is done quickly. Good luck. This is a horrible problem that the orthopedist want to ignore. They should be sued when these implants cause this issue.