Chronic pain after total hip replacement
Posted , 10 users are following.
I had total hip replacement last December. It had been a long and painful recovery. The surgery apparently is going well thru x rays, but I still have chronic pain in my butt causing a limp and still walking with a cane. I am almost as bad as before the surgery. The hip was bone on bone. I have done everything to try to alleviate the painful muscles, but nothing helps. I take 4 Advil every 8 hours for pain. Hoping someone can shed some light on what to do next. Thanks!
1 like, 25 replies
claudia95892 linda69959
Posted
Hi Linda, it is a slow process that takes a lot of patience and work. We're you assessed by a physiotherapist and it sounds like you have muscle pain and weakness and you must be shifting the weight or c ompensating with other muscles. I had to re learn how to walk since One of my leg s was shorter and the other was seized with arthritis so I would use every muscle but my glutes. I cannot stress physio enough. They suggested I video taped my walking on a regular basis and hot everyone at home on board to force me to be present and pay attention to how my pelvis and back were behaving. My limping has greatly improved. I don't use the cane anymore. I do my exercises every day in the pool or at the gym. Now the goal is strengthening the gltes and the hip abdominals. It is hard and I do get muscle pain but I push forward. Now if I do not exercises and stretch my body aches and I get that annoying and sharp pain in my butt. It is the psoas muscle and for being so tiny I cannot believe it can be so painful. If you can do squats or roll a tennis ball under your butt while sitting shifting the weight and moving your pelvis. If you have aqua fit or aqua movement enhancement classes, try them out. Hard ware is ok so the muscles, tendons, nerves and ligaments need to be tuned. Hope this helped.
linda69959 claudia95892
Posted
Hi Claudia! This sure does sound like me! I must admit, I don't do the stretching as I should. I thought if I had a tear, that maybe, I shouldn't be doing them. It really does feel like sciatica from the piriformis muscle. The PT thinks this. Thank you for reminding how important it is to do excercises! People are so wonderful in this forum. Thank you.
Donni_L linda69959
Posted
im hearing your feel the same way, its been a long road for me and finally at 6mths post op from my 7th surgery, i thought id be pain lighter BUT nope i still have so much pain yet my X-rays same everything looks good.
where to next.
2young linda69959
Posted
Oh my gosh, I can totally relate to your issues. I'm 14 mos post op and still limping, using a cane. Some butt pain, but that has eased up. Now, I'm dealing with Psoas tendonitis and a botched hip replacement. Back pain, hip pain, groin pain, everyday, all day. I just want to be able to walk! My surgery was an emergency procedure, so I didn't get to choose my Dr or hospital. I now have a new incredible surgeon but I'm scared to death it will all be the same! PT thought all my butt pain was torn muscles but the MARS MRI didn't pick that up. I'm now wondering if the surgeon attached the muscles too tight. I can stand on my surgery leg but not for long. My Quad muscles have atrophied and not responding well to exercise. I'm 63 and hate the way I have to live now. I'll be watching this thread - can't wait to see where this goes for you.
RichardKen 2young
Posted
I'm sorry that you are having such a tough recovery. Have you tried exercising in your local swimming pool? Having had a hip revision last year which was very successful and a revision this year to my five year old replacement ankle joint I am at last regaining lost fitness by going swimming.
All the best, Richard
2young RichardKen
Posted
Getting in my pool today! The pool temperature is finally warm enough for me. I do all the exercises my PT gave me. I went through 9 mos of PT. Since the surgeon who did the emergency replacement only did a partial hip replacement I am left with a revision in my very near future. I'm scared to death of what that involves. I had such a difficult time recovering from the first surgery. I also developed Psoas tendonitis because I exercised too hard, desperately trying to build muscle strength in my quads and glutes. I had to stop all exercises below the waist and only do certain exercises my PT instructed me to do. My right quads are pathetic, much smaller than my left side. I'm fearful that when I do the revision, I'll lose any muscle mass I've worked so hard to get.
RichardKen 2young
Posted
I'm interested in why your surgeon only did a partial hip replacement.
Good luck with the pool exercises.
Cheers Richard
2young RichardKen
Posted
When I asked him after the surgery he said " because you are young and do not have arthritis in that joint" Well, I do now!! Thanks to his decision, I've gone through hell trying to recover. I suspect he did the partial because the surgery was done at 9:30 pm. It wouldn't surprise me he didn't have to proper replacement components available, maybe just used what the hospital had. I really don't know.
RichardKen 2young
Posted
Cheers Richard