Chronic pain following total hip replacement
Posted , 55 users are following.
Hi,
I'm Sue and I had both hips replaced in Feb and Sept 2011. Prior to this I had many years of pain and a great deal of difficulty with medical fields trying to determine what was causing my pain. Anyway once it was decided to replace both hips I was happy they had at last found a cause and what I thought was a solution. My first his replaced was my right and this seemed to go okay, it was a total different story with my left. I have been in excruciating back and leg pain since, I cannot walk any distance or stand for any more than five minutes. I need to use a wheelchair if I go out and crutches also, I am stuck at home all day while my family go out to work - I am frustrated and feel useless.
My pain is across my lower back and generates down my legs, my last three toes on my right foot go numb constantly. The pain is tingling, numbness, sharp, deep pulsating pain and electric shock type pain. The more I try to do the worse the pain gets. I spend most of my time with my legs raised as this helps, the pain never goes away but does ease when resting. I have painkillers and muscle relaxants but they do not really help. My hip surgeon like most of the forums I have read told me my hips are fine according to the MRI scan. He then referred me to the Spinal consultant, after nearly a year of seeing the spinal people they have now turned round and said the pain is not coming from my back and there is nothing they can do to help. I asked them what I was supposed to do and they said they had no answers!! I have attended all the physio appointments and even did a three week intensive course along with hydrotherapy - nothing has made a difference.
I lost my job due to all this pain and I am now registered disabled. I had more mobility (although painful) prior to my surgery than I do now. It was nice to read that other people are going through what I am experiencing (although I would not wish this on anyone) it somehow makes me feel better.
I have had numerous cortisone injections in the hips, nerve block of the L4/5 nothing has worked for me post surgery. I had cortisone injection prior to my surgery and guess what it helped - work that one out. I am now being referred to the Pain Clinic (again) and Rheumatology as it was noticed on one visit to the hospital that I had a butterfly like redness on my face and they queried Lupus (still waiting for those appointments - surprise, surprise).
Thank you for taking the time to read this and if anyone would like to respond I would be very grateful.
12 likes, 174 replies
lara69400 sue87388_UK
Posted
experience
Same pain as you. Am seven months
post surgery am in chronic pain ggoing around in circles Mri back normal. On amitriptyline which helps at night to sleep.back with physio had an ok week or two.then back to bad pain again. Let
Know if you get any pain relief
sue87388_UK lara69400
Posted
Sorry to hear you are having a bad time. I also take amitriptyline at night, supposed to relax the muscles. I hope you get some relief soon, to date I have not had much relief!
simonJ78 sue87388_UK
Posted
Sue, very sorry that your injections haven't helped. I googled a few variations on your description hoping to find something that might offer a ray of hope, e.g. that perhaps nerve root injections take time for the benefits to take effect but so far everything is rather general and sometimes a bit vague. Might it be that very precise targetting of the injection site is necessary and that, if injections are ineffective, maybe a repeat procedure could work?
You may have already found this page but I'll link it anyway.
http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/selective-nerve-root-blocks-snrb-and-facet-joint-injections
Eileen, my sympathies to you also, but good that at least your cortisone jab might be helping a bit. Can you explain what this was for? I had one a few weeks ago for 'slight inflamation of the tendon' which is frankly the least of my problems. Now convinced that my issue relates to implant failure.Were you told why your trochanter bone fracture isn't going to heal?
Jayive, I didn't realise that your pain was quite so debilitating, makes mine seem almost trivial in comparison.
Like Sue, I've read that MRIs don't show nerve damage but I've also read that they do. The internet is an invaluable tool, but it can be very frustrating with so many reputable sources contradicting each other.
Really hope your scan results offer some hope, please keep us posted.
edarlingb, great that your second THR is going so much better than the first. It's madness that these operations are such a lottery; you can't help wondering the extent to which this depends on the abilities of the individual surgeon.
Unlike most of us here I'm as sure as I can be at this time that my pains are caused by some sort of implant failure, or possibly a bone fracture, although the x rays didn't show any sign of either.
I also had an MRI a few weeks ago and have the follow-up on the 18th which I'm not looking forward to. The results will be either bad news or no news, and I can't decide which would be worse. The fact that I've lost so much faith now doesn't help and I'm sure we all know THAT feeling.
I'll update when I have news.
Good luck everyone
edarlingb simonJ78
Posted
Elaine
eileen64__UK simonJ78
Posted
The cortisone injection was to try to relieve the pain.
The surgeon that knows me well knows i like straight talking
whereas others had said the fracture would heal, nothing they could do and it would take a long time.!!!!!
He said it wouldnt heal so the next best thing was to cope with the pain I was haiving with it.
He also went through the X Ray pointing things out and as you know if you have a fracture the bones need to be touching to knit together??
A piece of bone had broken of and moved quite far up.....His words....that bit of bone is as far away from the other bone as the moon is from the stars.....or was it the sun from the moon...You know what I mean.
So at the moment in the house I can lurch around or waddle like a duck
but not outside. Outrside for short distances I need one crutch and for any length I need both of them.
A bit further or if its hilly I use the scooter.
One good thing....I can still drive and I have my own car. Thats a blesing.
If thats not explained......just ask
Do keep us updated on the MRI and the results of it.
Love
Eileen UK
Jayive simonJ78
Posted
I got the result of my MRI today from my GP who says it's normal!
Obviously it doesn't show nerve damage so I'm not sure if the surgeon who gave me the second opinion wants to see me again as his secretary is off sick.
GP suggests increasing the pain relief - increasing it only makes me spaced out but even then I can still feel the pain.
So where do I go from here, any suggestions welcome,
eileen64__UK Jayive
Posted
Does an MRI show nerrve damage???? I know it doesnt show ordinary pain....no matter how much we feel it.
If the pain relief spaces you out I wouldnt increase them..especially if you can still feel the pain.
What about asking your GP for a different pain relief that is stronger even if it is only temporary?
I think you know all the other things........eg distraction tecniques, heat/cold TENS etc......dont think I need to remind you
How long will it be before you find out if the surgeon wants to see you again or not??
Love
Eileen UK
Jayive eileen64__UK
Posted
Yes, I know about the TENS etc and have asked my GP for stronger meds but the advice was to increase the ones I already have and wait to see what the surgeon says.
Thanks for your kind support, I'll let you know how I get on.
Take care, Jay
eileen64__UK Jayive
Posted
Yes do keep us updated on what happens
Love
Eileen UK
sue87388_UK simonJ78
Posted
Thanks for the link but I looked at it prior to my nerve root injections. I hope you get some answers when you go back to your consultant on 18th, good luck and keep us all posted.
sue87388_UK Jayive
Posted
Sorry you have not got any answers either. Increasing pain relief is not the answer as like you say it spaces you out and I know when I was on stronger pain killers I was knocked out and slept all the time - not really the answer. No one seems to have any answers for us I'm afraid but live in hope. Good luck.
sue87388_UK simonJ78
Posted
Do you have any more news for us yet following your last appointment? How was the physio?
ellen17204 sue87388_UK
Posted
IM ELLEN, I HAD A HIP OP IN FEB THIS YEAR, AND IM WORSE OF NOW THAN BEFORE, IM STILL ON A CRUTCH, STILL IN PAIN IN MY HIP AND NOW MY BACK.
THEY SAID I HAVE BURSITIS NOW, I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A STERIOD
INJECTION, BUT IT DID NOT WORK.
REALLY RUINED MY LIFE THIS HAS.
sue87388_UK ellen17204
Posted
Really sorry to hear you are now worse off than before your operation. Like you they said I may have bursitus but did nothing about it at the time!
I hope you are able to still get out and about and are not housebound. There really is nothing I can say apart from keep pushing the consultant to investigate further and hope they find out what is causing your back pain. I do hope you improve and get some answers, keep in touch as its this site that keeps me going sometimes.
eileen64__UK sue87388_UK
Posted
Thats one thing the consultant told me {when he told me the fracture would never heal} on top of everything I have bursitis.....but that was it unless the cortisone injection was for that as well??? Due to go back and see him next Monday
Love
Eileen UK
sue87388_UK eileen64__UK
Posted
Good luck with your appointment on Monday I hope it you get some answers
eileen64__UK sue87388_UK
Posted
Thanks for your good wishes.
Its 7.30am and I'm sitting here stilll in pj's
and in pain
I've just taken some pain killers/dullers and will sit for a little while before getting ready. I'm not rushing anywhwere this morning
What about you? How are you?
Love
Eileen UK
eileen64__UK sue87388_UK
Posted
I tried to send this before but the computer crashed
Thanks for your good wishes
Its 7.30am and I'm sitting here in the bedroom in my pj's and in pain
I've just take a couple of pain killers/dullers
I'll sit for another 10 mins or so and then start getting ready
What about you?
How are you?
Love
Eileen UK
sue87388_UK eileen64__UK
Posted
I'm not doing too badly at the moment. Injections have made a little improvement but nothing major, maybe they will repeat them! I go back to the Pain Clinic on 2 January so have to wait and see.
Keep us up to date on yourself and I really hope you get some answers.
eileen64__UK sue87388_UK
Posted
Glad the injections have made a little bit of a difference......I am either realistic or pessimistic
but I dont expect to be completely pain free but if they work at all and ease the pain thats a result.
I dont think he'll tell me much else......either he will repeat them at some time or wont. He has already said the fracture wont heal and that I'll be on crutches so!!!
Remind us about your Jan appointment.....I've got a memory like a goldfish
I'll forget!!!
Love
Eileen UK