Posted , 11 users are following.
I wrote the other day about 11 mm leg length difference which Surgeon says is within range. What I did not say is that I bad back ache when I have walked. Has anyone else experienced back ache with leg difference bad does it go in time?
1 like, 21 replies
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frustrated61 margaret86599
Posted
Hi Margaret ~
I would think if one of your legs were a bit longer, it would throw off your gait. My husband had an accident years ago and cut his thigh area hamstring in half. The problems it caused was a two inch different in one leg. He puts in a lift and it has helped with the problem and kept him away from surgery!
I wish you well and with the power of prayers, you'll get this situation figured out!
Good luck,
Frustrated
hope4cure margaret86599
Posted
I am sorry to hear that you also have back pain. I did too and knee. I think we struggle so hard at first just getting in and out of bed do all the required movements to get out of the hospital.mthen home it's all a constant rerun. On pain meds it's hard to know if we pulses a muscle or disk is out.
in my case I asked my doc to be carful because I explained I had exhisting back issues. It didn't help as they have to manunipulate the leg and hip in many positions especially while inserting ( that a polite word) the implant in the femor bone. That was posterior approach. Really messed up my back and knee. Ask for extra ot to help strengthen those other area of stress and pain. It really helps.
frustrated61 hope4cure
Posted
Good luck to all,
Frustrated
hope4cure frustrated61
Posted
So sorry to hear of the accident and back pain is miserable. Do you wear any back support? It help me a lot.
I have learned thru PT and many other ways to cope with the pain and improve my muscle stregth. The best thing that helped me in my case were the stregthening exercises. To stregthen my core muscles and muscles around the spine was a big improvement. After all muscles hold up our skeletons. Even the glute squeezes we do from THR still help build those core muscles.
However, there are many things I still don't dothat I have learned will always aggravates my back or I am down for days.
Hope you can feel better soon?
wendy38896 frustrated61
Posted
hope4cure wendy38896
Posted
Great to hear Wendy. Yeap sitting was a pain still is. I took a air cushion along to sit on. Easy deflate stick it in my pocket.
After THR my bum just flat out disappeared. Certainly don't want Nicki Minaj's bum either.Things that make ya go mmmmmm! But eventually it's back.
We eventually make thru the daily struggles of rehab. When we do, I think we should treat ourselves to something special because all of us hippies know we deserve it! My hubs took me to Vegas. Always something good to look foreword too !
Its a lot of work pain rehab. I think I rather build a new bridge. Lol
HOPE
julie90197 margaret86599
Posted
Hi there. Frustrated is right. It will throw off your gait and it does cause problems with not only your back. But your knees as well because the side that doesn't have a problem, needs work much harder than it normally would. Maybe you should asked for a wedge in your shoe to help with your walking, that would take the strain out of your back.
Good luck. Jules. X
hope4cure julie90197
Posted
Jut a tidbit of info. OA wears down the joint and the carthledge is usually gone by the time we undergo THR. We are walking uneven bone on bone.
The surgeon replaces that difference with the prothesis in order to prevent dislocation after THR . A very serious problem if not corrected at the time of surgery
Thts why we feel our leg is longer cuz it is back where it needs to be usually by about 1/4".
linda81469 margaret86599
Posted
Hello Margaret. I've had back issues for years. Before surgery I was 1 & 1/2 inch short. So I naturally leaned to compensate when I walked. I had surgery thr, 2 because of a dislocation, and am now almost the same length now! But I'm still having back problems because now my back is having to be straight. One of the things the dr told me to do to help with gait was marching in place while holding on to counter. Physical therapy says that is good too. It helps with the back if you do slowly as you lift that operated leg up. It was hard at first and a Lulu painful but it's getting better.Just a thought. Hope it gets better cause I know what it's like to have back pain! It was hard getting in and out of bed for awhile. 🤗 LD
hope4cure linda81469
Posted
Hi,
Height issue after THR is normal. We hippies due to OA have worn off the cartiledge and been walking wonky for awhile. Doctors make special computer generated templates to help match the leg length in many different senerios.
Your major concern is your leg feels longer. That's because it is slightly.
In some cases (mine)more than others on the second THR.I used shoe lifts for awhile, available at your dr. Until my body adjusted.
Your hip is stronger and the most stable if the hip is restored to its original position. As your cartilage wears out, the hip loses height. With the hip restored back to that height or in some cases more to stabalize the joint.
Restoring your natural leg length during hip replacement helps prevent
hip dislocations, a major complication. The diferences we are talking about are less than a centimeter, approximately 1/4 inch in most cases.
After surgery, your spine and pelvis have to adjust to a new leg length. It is common for people to feel excessively long at first. The surgeon can verify leg length with x-ray and can reassure you that it is not “inches too long.” I encourage you to walk and use your leg and over time, as most people adjust and by 12 -18 weeks after surgery the leg length feels appropriate after a few months. I finally tossed my lifts.
Also so accounts for some of the back pain we expierence. Our poor bodies go thru a lot of changes to adjust to our shinny new joints. Creating other joints to go? Ouch!
finally after all the heeling rehab pain complications and adjustments it was worth to me to have my mobility back and a better quality of life!
get better soon Linda. Time is on our side. By the Holiday's you'll be in a much better place. Be active in your treatment for your back and pain meds to take the slack off.
HOPE
linda81469 hope4cure
Posted
Hi Hope! Thank you! But I'm sorry I don't understand what you are telling me. I'm not having any treatments on my back. I've walked with a limp and have always leaned to the right side for many years. Never really had back pain or issues. I've had an MRI (I bent over using my back only and hurt it to where I couldn't straighten up and it hurt to walk) and it shows some damage probably due to me leaning like I have been. And after dislocating my hip and not weight bearing or exercising, my back along with my shoulders were starting to hurt. It wasn't until the dr allowed me to weight bear after 6 weeks did I get to start standing straight not hunched over on a walker or shrugged shoulders on crutches. Even now as I walk I still am leaning and I'm not putting equal weight on my legs ( I'm still scared) the therapist is having to correct me but she knows with so many years walking like I was this is not something that is going to happen right away. Now when I stand I see me straight. In the beginning I felt this leg was longer I felt like I was standing on something but I could see my hips are straight and I stand straight. Even my grandson notices! He said he didn't like the way I was before, leaning. He felt sad for me. So my back does bother me at times cause it's having to adjust to not leaning. It's getting better as the marching in place has helped especially with the gait. When I lift my operated leg I need to concentrate in lifting with hip and not back. That's been a challenge but it's getting better. I'm getting better but the joint is still stiff and I can't get to 90% hip flexion yet. That's my hip precaution per dr. Not past 90 but still can't get there yet. I'm working on it and I get scared that I'm passing 90 then therapist measures it and I'm at maybe 80!! Hope all is well with you and you are healing!! Time....yes it's on our side but I'm ready to feel better! Groin, tendonitis and bursitis has been a problem too not to mention that darn lump feeling when I sit!! Thanks again for your post. This forum is great. 🤗🤗. LD
wendy38896 hope4cure
Posted
madla39168 margaret86599
Posted
Dear Margaret,
My operated leg is longer too . So fare I don't have a problem with my back but my onother leg hurt because work much harder.
I will be 6 weeks on Monday and I was told not to put anything to my shoes. I will see surgeon on Thursday ands I will see what he will to say. Also I started physio same day. I hope when my swelling go down leg will be same length like other one. Im sorry about ur back but please give the time and im sure it will setle down. I hope a for both of us. Cheer up and chin up love Madla
hope4cure madla39168
Posted
HI Madla,
Ask your doc if you can get therapy for your back! Also a X-ray of your back may be helpful. I had disc and other issues before THR and it was challenging to do therapy for both back and hip and it all paid off in the end. I know how back issues just add to all the other adjustments we are going thru as our bodies heel. We hippies struggle so hard just getting in and out of bed after surgery.
Good luck at the next exam. Plz see my response to Linda on leg length something you can ask your dr Thursday.
Peace & Heeling
Hope
hope4cure
Posted
Sorry, just retread your post you have no problems with your back it's the other leg. That may be becuz walking bone on bone and all the cartiledge missing for awhile effects the other leg. I think THR is a major adjustment to the whole bost and takes months really to adjust to the new shinny hip.
Ask your doc about that now that I've gone thru all the back stiff. Just ignore it.