Cannot walk AT ALL :(
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi, Last Christmas I used to get taxis as I had a bad right groin pain that prevented me walking very far. In January the pain mysteriously disappeared. In February it came back with a vengeance in my right groin & the front of my right thigh. By the end of that month I was limping badly and in March I had to buy a mobility scooter as the pain was sometimnes unbearable. In April, when lying down in bed, the pain in my LEFT thigh, knee and shin woke me up every night. I now cannot even walk across my lounge. I have to use a rollator!! 
I had a hip x-ray in March which showed marked loss joint space on right side and a bone spur but it wasn't really all that bad a result. IF it's my hip that's the problem all I can say is it must be a heck of a lot worse than what showed on that x-ray!
My lumber spine mri 2 years ago showed spinal stenosis. I've just had another lumbar mri to compare the two results but have to wait 2 weeks for the results. I just need to know if anyone on here also couldn't walk BEFORE their THR...i'm really scared as all this pain has come on in the last four months and I'm truly in agony. The Morphine 10 patch is no good whatsoever and the amitriptiline 10mg, iboprufen and paracetamol don't help much either. It's really hard coming to terms with all this pain that's left me totally unable to walk unaided.
1 like, 15 replies
AnnieK sarah22500
Posted
My sympathies to you, Sarah, for all the pain you have. Severe pain before a THR is common, but yours sounds worse than most. If your x-ray in March showed marked loss of joint space, then that IS a bad result. Since you are having that much pain, it is likely that the damage to your joint is worse than can be seen on the xray. I've heard of that before. Also, people often go from OK to having bone-on-bone agony overnight.
For example, I had some pain, used trekking poles for long walks, but didn't dream that I needed a new hip. Then I in March 2015 I hurt my knee and had to use the other leg for extra support for a month. THAT was when my hip started to complain, I had an x-ray, and my surgeon said he didn't understand why I was able to still walk around! Then, suddenly I started getting excruciating pain episodes from time to time, making me unable to walk. In July I got my THR.
sarah22500 AnnieK
Posted
AnnieK, thank you for all that and would you please have a look at my next discussion as I disagree with how trivial my surgeon is making my condition appear.....(or maybe he isn't...I don't know....)
jimbone sarah22500
Posted
While you are waiting for mri results, my advice based solely on my own experience would be to seek out a good deep tissue massage therapist and plan to go twice a week for a few weeks while simultaneously beginning a god stretching program and exercize regime. I have a similar orthopedic set of parameters, am not yet convinced my prognosis wil require surgery, and the abve regime has managed to reduce my pain, increase my mobility and allow me to improve greatly over the last 6 weeks. For now, I am putting my money on soft tissue repair and strengthening before electing for surgery. In any case, if surgery is the final and only option, the work you do prior to strengthen, loosen and repair the soft tissues will only be beneficial and might relieve your current difficulties.
sarah22500 jimbone
Posted
jimbone sarah22500
Posted
Sarah,
My similar ortho parameters are reduced space in the ball/socket of the hip: 3mm, indications of mederate to severe arthritis and some additional conditions in the vertabrae. Can't detail those as I am expereincing no difficulty with my back and have chosen to ignore the medical details of the xray report on that and deal wit the hip ad leg pains. I can walk now. Sometimes with difficulty, sometimes stairs are one at a time but a year ago getting out of bed in the morning required an hour or 2 on crutches to get around and most o the day was a crippled, hobbled agony. 6weeks ago a break in my schedule allowed a full time concentration on getting myself better. Physio twice a week, exercises every day, lap swimming 6-800 yards 3 times a week and deep tissue massage twice a week has done a wonder of good. Range of motion improving, strength increasings, hip stabilizing and pain reduced. There are days I rarely see more than 2-3 level pain out of 10; before it was 6-7 with spikes to 8-9. I'm 62 yo, 6', 173 # so weight is not an issue and physically active with a good base core and muscle strength from early life- so I have an advatage there. The same regimen- massage, exercize, swimming activity helped me recover from a ruptured disc and cracked vertabrae when I was 32 yo and my experience tells me it works. Can't say what the future holds for me considering the arthritis and the still not fully recovered range of motion, normal gait [still a bit of a limp], residual pain, but I'm pinning my best hopes on the bodys ability to recover first before surgical alternatives are the only recourse. Does any of this relate to your condition?
rose0000 jimbone
Posted
I found your post incredibly inspiring Jimbone. It is very helpful to some of us whom are at the earlier stages of hip problems, and no doubt will keep some of us out of surgery for longer. Yo be able to reduce your pain to that level is really outstanding and long may it continue!
Exercising and physio can relieve pain, and getting in the best possible shape for surgery is very wise. The recovery will be faster and easier, and safer during surgery.
I too am in pain with my left hip (I had the right one replaced 18 months ago) I am fit and young(ish) at 42 and I exercise through the pain every day at the gym, and have massage regularly or do it myself to relieve the pain. Nothing much can be done at night when it stops us from sleeping, but definitely I feel happy to be able to continue for the moment.
I do know from experience though there will definitely come a point when exercise and physio does not work - you just can not bear the pain - I couldn't even stand properly for five minutes towards the end before my last THP much less exercise. If you are towards the end of the hip cycle it can be impossible to work through the pain because you simply can not walk afterwards or before. Everything should be done to avoid surgery, and if you are able to reduce pain in this way it is a marvellous option.
For Sarah given how little she can walk or function probably needs a surgical solution sooner than you and I. I have been in her position and it is a living hell.
Wishing you the best with your hip - you sound very focused on feeling better and this will be a tremendous benefit to you regardless of the outcome. All the best
geraldine16251 sarah22500
Posted
julie49207 sarah22500
Posted
Hi Sarah
So sorry your in so much pain.
When I first started with my hip it gave way and pain in my groin. Had x ray told oh it's arthritis put up with it. Got no better pain got worse had Mir. Told spurs on tight hip and disc gone lower back. So told new right hip. Waiting for hip pain got horrendous had to go off sick was in agony.
New hip last June .. no pain and my life back.. by the way after the op surgeon told me I was bone on bone!!! Yet x ray only showed up some spurs. Keep going and push for your new hip.
Look after yourself and push ...you will get your life back after your new hip.🎀
rose0000 sarah22500
Posted
I have been on this forum a long time. I had my first hip replacement in Dec 15 and over and over we hear your story so often. People that are reduced to agony and can not function and yet for some reason the xrays do not reflect the pain they are in....this is very common and simply put Sarah they can not see everything that is going on in your hip...so what might seem not so bad but could indeed be much worse. ANYTHING that stops you walking needs a solution.
I could not walk towards the end, I completely understand the despair you are feeling. It is no fun being in agony all of the time either. The morphine will stop working, because nothing will work forever.
I would be looking at a hip replacmenet if I were you, you might be able to reduce your symptoms with exercise and physio but I don't think it is going to be a long term solution....really I don't, quite apart from the fact you are going to be quite unlikely to be able to do most of them given the pain you are in.
I couldn't bear it any longer, that is how you are know you are ready for a THP. Be brave and go and get your life back.
renee01952 sarah22500
Posted
dear sarah,
great responses from fellow members, don't you think? even though these are personal experiences, they seem to have a common thread -
At some point, all pain medication stop working - exercises will be too painful to do and might even do mare damage - -
I was in denial for a long time and did go the exercise route, dry needling, massages - it was torture and did not help ... I was desperate for relief and scared to get the surgery ...(Didn't find the forum until 20 days post-op!!!)
I hope you will be able to get a second opinion soon - I don't why doctors don't listen to their patiens sometimes ...
big warm hug
renee
SKYE17 sarah22500
Posted
Hi Sarah you poor thing. I really dont know what to advise.
I am 10 week post op for a partial hip replacement as i fell. I was doing really well, no crutches, a little bit of a gait in my step but not too bad. Last Thursday, i went for physio - grand, did them at home but today I can hardly walk and got awful pain in groin.
Does anyone know if physio makes you worse before you get better or has anyone had experience with pt's.
I was walking every day and there are stairs in my house so i was going up and down fine. The physio exercise is go up and down one step 30 times on one foot and 30 times on the other foot then stand up and down on your bad foot sideways 30 times then stand at a chair and stretch your bad leg out 30 times then place it backwards 30 times. The last one is lie down with ankles together legs bent and lift operated knee up as far as you can 30 times. I have to say i am very bad today.
Liz
renee01952 SKYE17
Posted
dear skye ,
I am not sure what to tell you -- I have not so great experiences with PT's - maybe it was me ... always felt worse and cancelled a few times because I was in so much pain after wards --- what is the purpose of doing physical therapy for an hour and then not able to move for 2-3 days, right ...
can you discuss this with your PT ? I tried but did not help ... They have been taught to do it a certain way and because of lack of experience, that is what they keep doing ... arghhh ...
listen to your body ... I don't believe that there is GAIN IN PAIN after hip replacement surgery ..
angel blessings
renee
ann73107 sarah22500
Posted
Hi Sarah, I've had spinal problem's for over 6 years Spinal Stenosis, L1/L5 bulging disc's arthritis at Base of spine oh and Sciatica, I was diagnosed 4 years ago with right hip artheritis and at that point was having difficulty getting around I've now got artheritis in the left hip. Last September things came to a head from managing to limp around with the aid of a stick I can now manage only minimal steps inside the home and have to resort to a wheelchair for outside with help from my hubby. I was referred back to hospital for a CT, MRI and Xrays which are now showing bone on bone on the right and minimal space on the left, after being refused for 4 years as I'm high risk for complications re having Hughes Syndrome the hospital have finally relented and I had my pre op on may 17th all being well I'll have my 1st hip replaced early July followed by the 2nd 3/4 months after. I was to soft and kept accepting the refusals and on reflection feel if I'd been more pushy I wouldn't have been left to rot. Keep going back and challenge them once you leave the surgery your forgotten. Good luck Sarah I so hope you get your op. Annx
sarah22500 ann73107
Posted
Oh I'm so sorry to read that
Poor you...But so pleased you're finally getting things done. It's so depressing not being able to walk. People keep telling me to push more and once I've had my MRI results I'm definitely getting another appointment to see the hip surgeon. xx
beth2509 sarah22500
Posted
Yes, I have spinal stenosis and arthritis of the hips - one replaced now, the other not painful yet. And yes - I also couldn't walk before the op. Mind you, I can't now either, but that has nothing to do with the hip, and everything to do with a very poorly ankle that needs surgery! But yes, I was very bad before, and I was on 25mg patches (my doctor said this strength is usually reserved for terminal cases), plus tramadol at the maximum dose, plus high-strength co-cocodomal, plus naproxen, gabapentin and lansoprazole - all of which did virtually nothing for the pain!
?I understand how difficult it is. But I found that there was no point dwelling on it. I just had to manage, and dwelling on it definitely didn't make me feel better! My hip actually died and starting breaking down, which would normally necessitate an immediate hip replacement. I was rushed into hospital, and it would usually be the sort of "send home for your things, you aren't going anywhere" thing. If it weren't for the fact that at the time the opposite ankle was in a cast having broken! I had nothing to weight bear on on the other side, and so had to wait three months in this state whilst they let the ankle heal properly ort the bone could break again.
?One thing that got me through it was - well, it could be worse. Hip replacement is extremely successful. I wasn't dying. It could be treated. So a lot of people were far worse off than me. Being pragmatic about it, I still had a lot going for me.
?Shame the same approach is slightly less use now I am waiting for my ankle to be operated on. The odds are 40 - 50 % "failure rate" - as in at the end of a very painful operation and 6 - 9 months recovery at least, there is a very good chance I will be no better or even worse! Not liking those odds at all. But it is what it is, because I can't walk now AFTER the hip replacement either, and it's getting worse day by day.
?But in the end I still have a lot going for me compared to many. There are lots of worse things in life. No, it isn't easy to live with pain. But my approach is that if you have no choice, you just have to suck it up. Because if you don't it will suck you up!