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10mths post ankle fusion...hip pain?!!

Posted , 7 users are following.

Morrismanc007
Morrismanc007

Hi. Hope that everyone is doing well. Question to those of you that have had ankle fusions...have you started to have pain in your hip/hips?

I had a left fusion in May last yr, I’ve only been back at work full time for 4wks due to the kind of job I do. I’ve started getting pain in my right hip. I just thought I had slept funny at first but I have it pretty much all the time. Its worse when I go from sitting to standing and then walking is just awful.

I’m starting to really worry that my hip on my ‘good’ side has now decided to give up! I’ve had a lot of ortho surgery on my left ankle and I’m waiting to have the metal work taken out as it’s poking out underneath my skin. This will be my 8th ankle op and I’m also waiting for a CT Scan as my consultant thinks there is something else going on in the middle of my ankle.

This hip pain has got my floored, I’m struggling on at work and home but I’m pretty terrified that at some point I may need surgical correction of my hip!

Anyone else struggled with hip pain on the non op side post fusion???

Claire. Xx

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • paul_87869
    paul_87869 Morrismanc007

    Posted

    Ankle fusions shorten you leg and you need a lift in your shoe to compensate for the shorter leg.  See your dr and get him to send you to be fitted with a proper orthotic.  This solved my problem
  • marian01540
    marian01540 Morrismanc007

    Posted

    I agree I had terrible problems with my hip, turns out I needed a lift in my left shoes, it has helped considerably.Still can't wear normal shoes, however, my birkenstocks have been raised, and I have lifts for my runners. No more normal shoes for me.

     

  • kpower
    kpower Morrismanc007

    Posted

    Claire,

    Relax, your hip is likely not the problem.

    Ankle and foot problems are intimately linked to hip and pelvic physiology. That is the way body works-- all parts are interconnected.

    If your ankle surgery did indeed change your leg height or joint alignment then other posters here are right in the corrective measures needed.

    Also, you should check out your walking and standing posture/gait to see if that is causing hip pain (a specialist can help diagnose this).

    In any case, a regimen of preventive hip, leg, and torso stretches and exercises can often do wonders for common hip and other types of arthritic-like pains and restrictive movement.

    Best wishes.

  • tessa98714
    tessa98714 Morrismanc007

    Posted

    Hi Claire, yes I have had hip pain too on the opposite side from my fusion. I tried the osteopath and that gave some temporary relief but then I finally saw a physio who said that my quadriceps in my left leg were totally wasted. He gave me some simple exercises - lying on the bed and raising the leg up and down, and some simple squats. After doing the exercises for a few weeks I could really feel an improvement in my leg strength and my walking started to improve and be a bit smoother and the hip pain has really improved too. 
  • mammalu
    mammalu Morrismanc007

    Posted

    Yes, yes and yes. Agree with other posters. Custom shoe orthotics, and physiotherapy helped. Need to keep up on it, as if I don't do my stretches I pay the price later.

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