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Chronic pain following total hip replacement

Posted , 55 users are following.

sue87388_UK
sue87388_UK

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

174 Replies

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  • simonJ78
    simonJ78 sue87388_UK

    Posted

    Hi all

    Ellen, sorry to hear you're worse off than before. That's my situation too and it REALLY sucks. Fingers crossed for both of us...

    Sue, glad to hear your injections have helped if only a little bit,. hopefully this might encourage them to repeat the procedure. 

    Eileen, thanks for explaining, I understand now. Good luck for Monday. It really is time you got some encouraging results!

    Elaine, I wish I did have a suggestion that could help you but all I can offer is that, as i understand it, there is a very wide choice now of pain meds and different ones, in various combinations with others, can have markedly varied effects on different people, and it's possible that your doctor(s) just haven't yet hit on the right ones for you yet. Could you ask to try different combinations? I know I'm not being much help and sorry if you're ahead of me but it's all I can think of. I realy hope you find something that works..

    Jay, (and everyone) I had my mri follow-up the other day and mine didn't show anything either. I have mixed feelings about this, as I'm sure you understand. I was dreading that I'd need corrective surgery so the fact that there's nothing glaringly amiss is I suppose somewhat encouraging.

    On the other hand it's frustrating and worrying because something clearly is wrong and while they're trying to work out what it could be getting worse.. And there's always the concern that possibly the consultants are missing something simple through sheer inexperience..

    I have to go back in a couple of months, in the meantime they want me to go for physio. This won't help but at least they've promised to keep trying.

    Good luck everyone.

     

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb simonJ78

      Posted

      Thanks Simon. 

      While I've given an update privately I haven't done so via this open thread, so:

      My 6 week follow up took place last week. I expressed my satisfaction, even delight, at how the latest THR in my left has gone. He was equally pleased. 

      Then we turned to the 'problematic ' right one. (First THR 2007, utter failure, resulting in much pain and nerve damage - still; revision in 2009 and no improvement. )

      He referred me to the latest cray and explained that the 'cup' of the device, together with the 7 screws meant to secure it, has come loose and been driven 3 cms up through my pelvic bone. Explains extent of pain and shortening of leg. 

      I asked him to go back through older xrays to see when this should have become apparent. He did, and suggested at latest 2012. 

      He is confident he can correct it, though will be rather major op, with significant bone grafting. It would have been done urgently but has to wait until I've had the 6 months on Warfarin, for blood clots on lung after recent THR. 

      Must admit to being in a bit of a state of shock. Can't help thinking that every step I'm taking with my right leg is driving the thing further up and still, of course, totally reliant on painkillers. 

      Bummer!

      Elaine

      UK

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb

      Posted

      Oops, should have included reminder that this surgeon didn't do the right hip. 
    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK simonJ78

      Posted

      Hi Simon

      I'm sorry your MRI resport was so disappointing.  Its so much better knowing what is wrong then you can deal with it {to a certin extent}

      Like this fracture........When I was told it would heal although would take a long time......I was so frustrated because it didnt seem to heal but when I was told it would never heal I've accepted that and am more relaxed about it. Still got the same pain but the frustration has gone, and I'm just trying various self help things to ease the pain.

      The nights being the worse time.

      Go for physio.......you never know where that might lead to.

      I was having physio on my back {scoliosis} and the physiotherapist who is now head of the dept. suggested acupuncture.  I'll try anything once....so tried it and he did one a week for 6 weeks. For 5 days out of the 7 I wasnt pain free but a lot less pain then the last 2 days before the next one was due it started getting sore again.

      I had 2 lots of 6 weeks and it really helped even if it was temporary but meds are temporary aren't they, you stop taking them the pain comes back.

      The following year I had the same......once a week for 6 weeks, months break then the same again but because its on the NHS and free they can only allow you to have a certain amountcry

      It stopped when I had my last THR............One of the things I'm going to ask the consultant on Monday when I see him is "can I have physio again?" or can I have some acupuncture again {for my back not the fracture}  He might say no but.....if you dont ask you dont getcheesygrin

      Keep uis updated please...about therapy or anything else that happens

      Love

      Eileen UK

  • linda51489
    linda51489 sue87388_UK

    Posted

    Hi,Are you any better now? I was amazed to read your story as it could have been written by me. I feel like I am on a roundabout and getting nowhere with this pain. Good luck.
    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK linda51489

      Posted

      Hi Linda,

      Sorry to hear you are also suffering following THR.  The remedial nerve root block helped a little but not anything major as I still couldn't get around due to pain.  I go back to see the consultant at the Pain Clinic early January and I will ask them if they can repeat the injections to see if I have a better outcome next time.  Not sure what there response will be! 

      So how long ago was your THR?  Have you had investigations into what is wrong?  Let us all know as this is a great site with lots of support.  Good luck to you.

  • linda51489
    linda51489 sue87388_UK

    Posted

    Hi there Sue, At last I don't feel like I am on my own with this.I had a THR Aug 2012 and it has gone down hill from there.Like you I have been referred to back people. nerve people, physios etc etc.I have just been to see my GP and he has said I need a secound oppinion. Here I am getting passed about again and I don't think I could go through another operation. Thanks for your concern.sad
    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK linda51489

      Posted

      Hi Linda,

      My first THR was in Feb 2011 and second August 2011 so not much difference timewise.  Where is your GP sending you for a second opinion?  I have been full circle now just like you, everyone medical person is saying I have to accept the pain and live with it - well I WILL NOT ACCEPT IT, they did this to me.  Let me know where you go next as it will be interesting to see what happens next for you.  Good luck.

  • linda51489
    linda51489 sue87388_UK

    Posted

    I am going to the same hospital but seeing a different consultant in the hip clinic.I will let you know the outcome.  All I want is my life back to normal. Before the THR I could walk and go places. Now I am vertually house bound as can't lift my leg to walk.My husband is more fed up than 
    • edarlingb
      edarlingb linda51489

      Posted

      Oh, Linda. I do hope all turns out well. 

      After a disastrous left THR and revision, I opted for a different surgeon and he did a brilliant job. I'm hoping he will do equally well with my next revision on my right. 

      The very best of luck to you!

      Elaine

      UK

    • linda51489
      linda51489 edarlingb

      Posted

      Thanks for the encouragement. I am a bit concerned that a different surgeon might not be of any benefit as to me they should all do the same job.I think that I am bit too trusting of our NHS.

      Linda NE UK

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb linda51489

      Posted

      Tend to agree with you. 

      Where in NE are you?  I'm in Gateshead. 

      Eileen, on here, is NE too. 

      E

    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK linda51489

      Posted

      Hi  Linda

      Yes where are you in the NE?

      I was in Gateshead but am now in Northumberland.

      PM me if you dont want to discuss it on the forum

      Thats how Elaine and I got chatting

      Love

      Eileen   NE

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb eileen64__UK

      Posted

      And you and I still have to get together at the Metro Centre, but guess it's now sensible to make it after the New Year. Hope you're well x

      Elaine 

      NE UK 

    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK edarlingb

      Posted

      Hi Elaine

      I havent forgotten......looking forward to it.

      I agree.....sometime in January?

      Are you driving yet?

      Hope you're OK

      Eileen   UK

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