8 weeks post op THR

Boardergirl....I know just howyou feel....I'm about l6 weeks post op and after l0 weeks was driving, no pain, running a few errands - life was beautiful - then out of the blue I got a set back with excruiating pain around the side of my knee and just above (think it was from lifting  my l2 pound poodle a few times), well back to square one with knee brace and more phsysio and pain (which I never experienced my whole recovery)...now I know what people mean on this site when they say "take it easy"...I thought was ready to go and apparently not...will learn from this lesson!!!

My theory is that THR starts a whole new story of pelvic realignment and slowly as yr skeleton adjusts, it starts at the pelvis.... Is it dead central? Mine one side and shows sacroiliac opposite side to operated. Gotta have regular Osteo, physio and chiro. It all eases fir a few days. Plus Osteo adjusts the pelvis which you can do with a rubber physio band rotating a bent thigh while you lie on the floor, band around thigh. Maybe u can look it up but my Pilates teacher does it in class and it is bliss. Can you feel your lower spine with fingertips? Mine has bits which stand out esp at sacroiliac joint... Know thine own body!  Good luck, the skeleton has been loppo all those years leading up to THR and now it's been jolted back into an alien posture... Whether that's a plus.........

If you've had this pain before and it goes away in a few days that's good but you probably have a bad disc in your lower back.  The pain you feel is when it moves and touches a nerve.  Try an anti inflammatory medication and heating pad.  If the pain continues and become more frequent get an MRI to see which disc is causing the problem.  Most back issues can be managed with therapy and medication.  Hope this helps.  

If you've had this pain before and it goes away in a few days that's good but you probably have a bad disc in your lower back.  The pain you feel is when it moves and touches a nerve.  Try an anti inflammatory medication and heating pad.  If the pain continues and become more frequent get an MRI to see which disc is causing the problem.  Most back issues can be managed with therapy and medication.  Hope this helps.  

Hi bordersgirl

I'm so sorry.....its such a downer when something happens....like me...weeks post op and fractured my greater trochanter bone

I think I've just about come to terms with it now {crutches permanently}.......just trying to relieve the pain.

Try heat as has been mentioned.....a microwaveable bottle...they are great.

Heat pads that you can buy......lots of different kinds.....you can usually use them for about 8 hours

What about a TENS machine......ever tried one of those?

Are you seeing your consultant or physiotherapist anytime soon?

See what they say.....if not go to the GP and see if they can refer you again.

Hope things sort themselves out

Love

Eileen  UK

HI bordersgirl....that sciatica is caused by the sciatic berve being pinched by the periformis muscle. The sciatic nerve is about as thick as your index finger and it passes through underneath the periformis muscle...in 20% of people , it passes goes through the periformis..The periformis goes into spasm and that causes pressure on the nerve...in 99% of the cases it only requires stretching of the periformis , but if it is in spasm it is probably swollen and can not move freely through the formis opening. The periformis muscle is attached to your lower spine on the inside of your illium and goes through this opening called the formis to the outside and inserts on the greated trocanter on the outside of the femur....If it is swollen , it is too big to move through the formis when contracting and that is also very painful....The sciatic is not a slipped disc...the Sciatic nerve serves the upper leg area down to the knee and the pain can be all over that area...called a refered pain....check with your physio what stretches you can do...I dont think the normal stretching is a good idea for now....

As they say - one step forward - two steps back!  Oh so true! Could just be because you were so much more relaxed sleeping that you pulled something.  I've been going great guns (12 weeks tomorrow) and then, 2 days ago, after a really good nights' sleep, I had really bad pain in the back of my thigh. Very uncomfortable to walk or sit and hurt in bed.  Tonight it's much better! I have been emptying out summer bedding in pots and replacing with bulbs so a lot of bending and lifting and hey presto! Guess I shouldn't really have been bending so far forward really but it seems to have helped!!

I wholeheartedly agree that THR can, in some cases lead to pelvic realignment issues, I have the most terrible lower back pain now (I'm 6 months post op) than I had hip pain before! I was born with a dislocated him and have been " off centre" for 47 years so it's probably no surprise that my back is shouting no to my new straighter body, I went to a mc timoney chiropractor ( it's very gentle) and I feel tons better for it, might be worth you checking one out? I also have the most marvellous book on backs and how to get yourself out of pain, it's called " treat your own back" by Robin McKenzie, it's like my bible, wishing you better soon x

I wholeheartedly agree that THR can cause pelvic realignment issues, I'm 6 months post op and my back is worse now than my hip was before the op! I am walking straight for the first time in years and my back doesn't like this new me! Lol, I've been to a mc timoney chiropractor who has worked wonders for me, and I have a wonderful book called " treat your own back" by Robin McKenzie, the very simple excercises have got me out of real pain more than once, wishing you better very soon x

Apologies for the double reply, I had an error on my I pad so started again! X