4 Weeks on and still can't walk unaided

Hi LadyCupcake

I found this both times after TLH and TRH.  Both times my surgeon said there was no issue with one leg longer than the other and as time went by I found he was right.  4 weeks is still too soon and I feel that once you get to around 8-10 weeks you will feel a difference.  Even though I was mobile and back working after 3 months with both hips, I have to say that it took around 2 years before I felt that my replacement hips were really a part of my body. That dead weight feeling was completely gone and I was a lot more agile.

You will probably get different responses to your post as everyone has their own storty to tell.

I've had a difference of about one cm but never noticed it but an ankle surgeon made the observation recently. I suggest that you try a pair of walking poles and then to really concentrate on a really good and balanced gait without thinking about speed.

Cheers Richard

Hi Lady Cupcake, I was measured just today. My operated leg is 1.5 inches longer than the other. I find it impossible to balance my weight evenly on both legs with shoes on. Today we removed the shoe from the operated leg and for the first time I felt balanced! They tell me patients complain about the longer leg frequently. I guess it will improve when I have THR on my other leg!

Evening LadyCupcake. Prior to my rhr I was 4 cm short....1&1/2 inches short. Dr and I talked about giving me all my length back but said it would depend on the sciatic nerve...said if it got over stretched I could get a dropped foot from that. So right before I went into surgery I reminded him to NOT stretch that nerve cause I didn't want the dropped foot. Currently I am same length but I think the hips are not quite level. I look in the mirror and it appears that the new hip is slightly lower. I'm 9 months out and still limping without my cane. I've had terrible sensitivity in the front and side of thigh. dr thinks the cutaneous nerve is being irritated. Possibly scar tissue. I'm more than sure that's it as I have all the symptoms. I have been seeing a pain dr who has injected that particular nerve twice with a numbing solution and steroid. First round it helped some but still was pretty sensitive he then injected me again this time targeting the nerve in a different location. It seems to be helping a lot more!! Also was on gabapentin but dr gave me a sample of lyrica and that was so much better!! Was also using voltaren gel to put on thigh. I think too with giving me almost all my length back it's been pulling on the muscles, tendons, nerves and tissue making it more difficult with sensitivity, pain and discomfort. I also was diagnosed with IT band tendonitis, Rectus femoris tendonitis, quadriceps tendonitis and bursitis too boot!! 😖 It's been a struggle and long recovery, dislocated first hip replacement and had to have a total hip revision 3 weeks later. I wish you all the best and for a speedy recovery!! Hugs 🤗LD

It is a long and uneven recovery. Mine was two years ago, and I was certainly not walking unaided at 4 weeks. At around that time it was I crutch for outside, a bit of furniture hopping within the house so 1 or 2 steps then a bit of support from the furniture. The cut muscles were soft ill very week so spent a lot of time doing exercises. Was walking with a stick by 6 weeks, it was a folding one which spent more and more time in my bag. So do not worry it will happen

i had no trouble re leg length so did not have to contend with that

Hi I'm 7 weeks post op and still walking outside with 1 crutch.

I saw my surgeon yesterday for a follow up and he said he managed to get my operated leg ( was shorter) more or less the same as the other one! He also said I can start driving I was over the moon, came straight home and had a go and I couldn't do it, my thigh muscle is too weak yet so cracking on with the exercises even more. I'm not confident enough yet to lose my crutch, my hip muscles were really poor before my THR so with the trauma of the op and building the muscles back up is going to take a long time.

So disappointed but I will get there, and you will to. It takes time :-)

dear lady 

congratulations for doing so well !!!  I mean, really ...no pain meds after 2 weeks (apparantly you don't need them ... )

I am sure you mut be getting sick of reading that you are still early in recovery from major surgery, but you really are, darling -

Any type of major orthopedic surgery causes disruption to the rest of your body. 

The difference in leg lengths was pretty big before and your body has been compensating for years -

Now your body is realligning yor leg into a joint that prior surgery was not formed correctly - your legs are more or less the same lenght and that too needs time to readjust -

please, use a walking aid as long as you need to - too many are dismissing them too soon and overburdening the leg which hampers healing of tissue etc. 

Your body is a wonderland - healing is taking place all the time -

Be patient and be kind with yourself, dear friend -

big warm hug -

renee

 

Hi please remember that you have had a major operation. It can take over a year to get back on your feet properlyHave you tried Hydrotherapy? Please take it easy.regards Amanda h .

Hi, my operated leg was slightly shorter, and my surgeon made it the same length. I had a good pain free recovery, but I used a crutch until my first, and only, physio appointment at 6 weeks. I don't think that you should feel bad about still using a crutch. Your leg should keep on getting stronger.

I wish you all the best.