1 year down
Posted , 18 users are following.
Morning fellow hippies!! Well I'm coming up on a year since my revision. As most of you all know I had my first hip replacement then 3 weeks later I'm having a total hip revision due to a dislocation. It was traumatic for me as I had to be non weight bearing for 6 weeks. It was so hard not to be able to get around and doing what I normally did. I'm still not feeling better as now I'm having nerve pain and sensitivity in my thigh. Has been going on for 8 months now. Injections, medications are not helping much. I saw my surgeon and he has lifted more of the restrictions I had. This time he referred me to a neurologist to see what is going on. I'm still so stiff and limp without my cane. It's been a disheartening ordeal for me. I try to think positive and have hope one day I'll wake up and finally feel good. But it's hard......it's like I'm never going to feel better again......this forum has been good for the most part, giving me a glimmer of hope, some ideas and support. I've tried to do the same for others....but some days I just don't have it in me. I feel like not getting out of bed. I'm unhappy with my outcome if only I could get over this nerve pain!! I'm not in the bone on bone pain anymore. I don't see much on this forum from other hippies about the nerve pain and sensitivity in the thigh and wonder if I'm that odd ball! The one who will get that one condition that's rare! Please note my first surgery was anterior, the revision was posterior. Thank you all for your support, and advice. Wishing you all the best and God's blessings!! Hugs 🤗 Linda.
3 likes, 84 replies
Sal16 linda81469
Posted
When I had my second hip replacement on the right side it was done anteriorly. I have permanent nerve damage from it, but now, four years later it is only a nummy sensation unless touched, then it hurts, but compared to bone on bone, no big deal for me.
I have no great words of wisdom for you, but hopefully, like me, you're near the end of the road for pain and your nerve damage will settle into mostly a nummy feeling.
Good luce!
linda81469 Sal16
Posted
Thanks Sal. Is your nerve pain in the thigh too? How was your nerve damaged? Was it right away that you had this issue? My started 4/5 months later. Right now when the softest blanket bothers me! I'm wearing shorty shorts cause I don't like anything touching my thigh. 😩
AnnieK linda81469
Posted
Linda, you are on a hard road! My sympathies to you as you try to get further to total health. I gather that your OS thinks it is nerve pain, but that you don't have a definitive diagnosis yet, and that's why you are going to the neurologist. When do you see the new doctor? Here's hoping he can help you with solutions.
I wish these surgeries were guaranteed and complication-free, but they are not. My THR was 2 years ago, and I had another hip surgery 15 months after that for torn gluteal tendons that happened soon after the THR. I have never walked pain-free or without a limp. These days I can walk unaided without too much of a limp in the morning, but as the day goes on it gets worse. There is a weakness that I can't seem to correct. I have a bad back, which further complicates things. Overall I am glad not to have bone-on-bone hip joint pain, but I am nowhere near 100%.
You sound despondent, and I urge you to surround yourself with people and professionals who are supporting you. Do you have help from a significant other? I assume you are unable to work, and I hope you don't have financial fears on top of everything else. Please report to us what the neurologist says, and I am hoping for the best!
linda81469 AnnieK
Posted
Thank you Annie. I go see the neurologist this Thursday. I have been seeing a pain dr for a few months now. He wants to shoot the cutaneous nerve with phenol. It will numb my whole thigh. Side affect? It this solution spreads to nearby other tissue I won't be able to bend my leg for months and need therapy once it wears off! Or I can get an ablation, burn the nerve, and have numbness permanently ! I'm not ready for those options and my surgeon felt the same way so he referred me to the neurologist. Yea I too wish these surgeries were more guaranteed and without complications but no surgery is. And yes being free of the pain from bone on bone is good, just this nerve pain. Yes my husband is the best! He's always there for me. But I don't want him to see me cry or know I'm depressed. But I think he knows. I do get mad easily....just get tired of not feeling good. Thanks again. Hugs 🤗
maureen24786 linda81469
Posted
HiLinda: I was also offered ablation therapy for hip pain before surgery (still haven't had the surgery - because I needed emergency gall bladder surgery and then a horrible recovery) - when I lived in a different city. He didn't suggest burning the nerve completely, just shrinking it to get relief. I didn't have time to do it was I was moving to the south of Thailand...but I would have done. The nerve does grow back but it offers at least a chance for the inflammation to calm down. However, after my experience with surgery and a less than optimal outcome, now I am not sure about anything. My hip surgery is now scheduled (anterior approach) for next month. Best of luck!
linda81469 maureen24786
Posted
I hear you Maureen. Like you I'm not sure of anything! I'm sorry for your issues. I have gall stones, diagnosed several years ago but I opted out of surgery. So far, knock on wood, I'm doing quite well with regards to my gall bladder. I can't imagine going through something like that! Listen, best of luck to you for a speedy recovery and healing. God's blessings to you. Hugs 🤗Linda
maureen24786 linda81469
Posted
To be honest, no one tells you that g/b surgery is not always the answer. Between 10% - 30% of people experience digestive issues afterwards. I had (have) chronic gastritis - so have delayed hip surgery as a result. I am feeling better after adding a super pro/pre biotic which is in soluble form as well as an alfalfa chlorophyll soluble remedy. Both of these have helped enormously. I have realized that one can end up with digestive issues after g/b surgery and I wasn't doing enough to support my gut. Still, far from 100%. But better. I should say the surgery itself wasn't a problem, I only took 2 Tylenol post operatively - just have a sensitive stomach and the constant leaking of bile into the gut has been a big issue for me. Of course, should you ever need g/b surgery, you may well be in the majority percentage. Most people I know have had no problems afterwards. But I would do everything I could to avoid it if I were you. Should you end up like me with problems, as well as the nerve problems you are experiencing, it would be awful. I am hoping for a problem free hip surgery...I have an excellent surgeon, anterior approach, but who knows. Fingers crossed! Wishing you well. Hope your meeting with the neurologist was positive. Best of luck!
maureen24786 linda81469
Posted
Oh too bad, so sorry to hear about this...I empathize. I had gall bladder surgery last year and whilst most patients do well afterwards it left me with chronic gastritis...it has been a struggle and like you, I wonder if I will ever be really well and able to eat normally again. How did you dislocate the hip and need the revision? It's so disappointing when the outcome of surgery is not what you expected. I am hoping that my hip surgery will go well...at least then I shall only have the ongoing gastric issues to deal with - and not that combined with hip pain. Wishing you well...
linda81469 maureen24786
Posted
Thank you Maureen. Oh man I can't imagine what you are going through! I have gall stones and they wanted to take out my gallbladder but I wasn't ready. It's been over a year now and no problems with stones. Knock on wood!! When is your surgery? Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery and healing.
RichardKen linda81469
Posted
Dear Linda
I'm sorry that the nerve pain and sensitivity in your thigh is still holding you back from making a complete recovery. Yes it is a real bummer and so dispiriting having to be non weight bearing for six weeks. I had to be for five weeks and it seemed to be forever so I feel fir anyone in a similar situation.
I wish you and others having issues an improvement very soon.
Best wishes Richard
linda81469 RichardKen
Posted
Morning Richard! Yes being non weight bearing is hard. My hands and shoulders were killing me after those 6 weeks!! My hands were calloused. I wound up getting injections into my shoulders cause they were hurting so bad. I could barely get out of bed!! Thank God I'm better from that!! Yea the nerve pain is keeping me from getting better no doubt. I hope when I see the neurologist he will be able to help me without drastic measures like numbing my whole thigh!! 😖 I remember when you said how you fell in the ambulance because they didn't stop you in!! That was terrible!! But you made it!! Like I said gives me hope when those of us struggling are starting to do better!! That's my hope for me one day SOON!! I just need to keep my faith and hope up. I'm still sad and feel like crying. Cheers 🍻 hugs 🤗 LD
auntiebeanie linda81469
Posted
linda81469 auntiebeanie
Posted
Afternoon Auntiebeanie...where was your nerve pain? What symptoms were you having? Can this be treated? I have pain and sensitivity beginning in front of hip down mid thigh then side of thigh to the knee. It's sooo sensitive to touch. They call it Meralgia paresthetica. But the way you get it doesn't fit me as I'm not obese or wear tight clothes. But the symptoms fit my issue. It may also be inflammatory neuropathy, nerve damage after hip surgery. I will ask neurologist about the drug you are taking. I'm on lyrica but dr also wants me to try topamax. I haven't tried yet. Any information is greatly appreciated. As I'm so worried and sad about this. Just feel like this is so unfair as I got this surgery to be pain free but it didn't go that way. Possibly if I hadn't dislocated my first hip replacement. 😢 Maybe outcome would of been different. Hugs 🤗 Linda
auntiebeanie linda81469
Posted
Hi Linda my pain was down the front and side of leg. Also used to tingle and burn. I had an infection post op that no one could find the cause for. I woke up in pain, I have a high pain threshold but it was awful for around 5 weeks. Saw GP as I said4 months post op. He checked out hip said that was fine and put me amitryptaline. It's an anti depressant that is used for lots of different things. It cleared up in around 4-6 weeks. You have had an added complication with the dislocation. Good luck xx
RichardKen linda81469
Posted
Dear Linda
Thanks. I'm aware that some hear rather doubt some of the reports of a quick pain free recovery but I think I have proved it to be possible twice with twenty years between.
I have to admit to occasionally feeling a bit embarrassed when saying how it was for me but I hope most members will gain some hope as to what is possible even by an old like me!
Cheers Richard
RichardKen
Posted
Cheers Richard
tabby72761 linda81469
Posted
Re:Topamax
I took this for a short time for nerve pain from my back. It was terrible! After a while on it, I noticed an uncontrollable eye twitch, I thought it was eye strain at first but it kept getting worse. I started looking online at the side effects, and that was one. Then I found a thread of people talking about it and they all had it in the same eye! Right.
Not long after, I started noticing my ability to concentrate was deminishing. Then on a road trip, I missed an exit. That doesn't sound bad, but I drove 60 miles before I realized it. Oh everyone has done that, right? Well the road I was supposed to be on, I had driven multiple times. It has destinctive hills and sweeping valley views, and I never noticed...for sixty miles?! I chalked it all up to the topamax which I now call 'stupid-max'. It made me stupid!!
linda81469 tabby72761
Posted
Thanks for the info on that. Dr told me to be aware of tingling in hands and feet. And possible weight loss and depression. Didn't say anything about eye twitching!! Did say about the mind fog. I haven't taken it yet. Wanted to talk to neurologist first. Hugs 🤗 Linda