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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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  • gertraudr
    gertraudr sue87388_UK

    Posted

    Sue, I did a search online and found your page there. I myself just had a Hip Replacment revison, because my first device was defect from day one, it would pop real loud and walking was very difficult and caused pain in the groin and also he shorten my leg by 3 cm and I voiced myself about this 8 years ago. Last year 2014 it got so bad I just couldn't deal with it anymore. So I went back to the same doctor who did it ( because no other doctor wanted to touch it, because it was not they handy work ), so as I said had to go back to the same doctor and he done a revision on the left hip, from day one,( in the hospital)  I started to have real bad back pain and even told my doctor so and I told him about the numness, ( I couldn't feel my left leg for almost 1 1/2 days, but he pretty much brushed of my question about this matter. Now here I'm like I said 11 weeks later and I still have to walk around with a walking device. During the night when I sleep I have really bad back pain, have this feeling that my hip is on fire and I feel numbness all the way down my leg and my leg get's cold and wake up alot because of it and by the time I get up, I have to hold on to the walking device just to make it out the door to the bathroom. Standing for more then 5 minutes causes so much pain, bending over causes even more pain. I can't do anymore shopping, unless there is a motorized wheelchair at the store and pretty much have to wait on my husband to do certain things for me, which I was able to do on my own, even with the defect device. They told me at my last visit, that they need to do an MRI to see if my back is the cause of all this.I live in the U.S.A and now don't get any further treatments unless, I pay my whole co-pay up front, which is alot for our bugdet. They said that since 2015 your co-pay has to be paid upfront first, before the insurance here in the US pays anything, your co-pay can range from $500 dollars or a whole lot more for the whole year, that does not include, fees for office visit, or any type of medications, they only pay 80% of your medical bill, everything else is out of your own pocket. So for me that means, without the insurane co-pay up front, means no treatments and they don't over any treatments, unless you pay the co-pay first.   I went into hospital to have them make it better and now it is even worse then before. I'm a new grandma and from the way it looks I won't be able to run or play or lift my grandchild. Has anyone of you got any form of treatments to make your problem better. I cry alot, because of this matter. What the hell is wrong with this doctors now? Is money all that matters to them now? Do you have co-pays in the UK? Do you have to pay an office fee everytime you see a doctor? If anyone has some positive results, if they had something like this done to them, I would be so greatful to hear about it.-
    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK gertraudr

      Posted

      Hi,

      So sorry to hear you are suffering with pain, you actually sound worse off than I am.  I am in the UK and therefore do not have the office fees every time you see a doctor or any insurance issues (that must be really stressful for you).

      Unfortunately I do not have any good news for you regarding a cure.  I have been told I have to live with it although I have not given up hope as yet but not sure where to turn to next.  It may be that I have a second opinion which means visiting my GP to get this arranged.  I have seen spinal surgeons and pain clinic consultants since my THR's and neither of them can help even though I have been told I have stenosis of the spine.  My hip consultant just says that the x-rays and MRI's all look fine so nothing they can do either - I beg to differ!

      I wish you luck with a diagnosis and getting back to leading a normal life.  Like you I have a granddaughter and another granddaughter due in three weeks and I would love to be able to take them out for a walk and play with them in the park etc that is what keeps me going.  Stay strong and keep everyone posted if you have any positive results.

  • bullwinkle
    bullwinkle sue87388_UK

    Posted

    I'm with you sue, I had a hip replacement 6 months ago and have stinging pain in lower back also. I am also searching for an answer. Chiropractor says it stems from hip, but I don't know who to see either. Doubt the surgeon would guide me. Just want you to know were in the same boat. See ya bob.

    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK bullwinkle

      Posted

      Hi Bob,

      Sorry to hear you are suffering too.  I don't know where to turn next as the Pain Clinic have now discharged me saying there is no more they can do for me and told me I have to manage my pain!

      Was the chiropractor of any benefit to you or did he suggest any other form of treatment?

    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK sue87388_UK

      Posted

      Hi Sue and Bob

      I've got very bad back pain and like you Sue have been discharged from the pain clinic. Also discharged from the back specialist.

      The only person I'm likely to see is the surgeon/consultant that did the ops

      I'd love to know if you get any help from anyone?

      Havent tried the chiropractor

      Love

      Eileen   UK

    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Hi Eileen,

      Have you got any further with the surgeon/consultant?  My situation is still the same unfortunately.  Keep me up to date with what happens and good luck.  Will you be trying the chiropractor at all?

  • sylvia29202
    sylvia29202 sue87388_UK

    Posted

    hi sue ive been looking on the internet for like wise cases. ive had both my hips replaced the left one almost 7 years ago no probs at all. ive had the right done in August 2014 now getting terrible pain just as you have described im glad i saw your post i thought it was just me whinging, I too will probably lose my job over this im still seeing the doctors though but it feels like sciatica and lower back pain as you said. i wish i had put up with the hip pain now it was easier. anyway hope you keeping your chin up it's hard i know when your in so much pain. 
    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK sylvia29202

      Posted

      Hi Sylvia,

      Sorry to hear you are also going through this pain.  My hip consultant sent me to the spinal consultants and they couldn't help me (said it was not severe enough) and they sent me to the Pain Clinic consultant where as you probably know I had further injections into the back S1/L4/L5 but these did not help either long term.  I am still in the process of deciding what I can do next as I seem to have exhausted all possibilities and my Pain consultant said I have to accept the pain and learn how to manage it (very easy for him to say). 

      I hope you get some answers and a solution to what is causing your pain, please keep me up to date.  If you lose your job that causes a whole new battle for you as I know only too well.  I am still stuck at home and rely on family/friends to get out, its miserable!  Its funny how one hip can be done without any problems yet the other one can change your life.  Thanks for your post and I wish you well for the future.

  • ali2301
    ali2301 sue87388_UK

    Posted

    Hi Sue,

    I've not read every response to your OP but have to say the pain you describe, i.e. pain radiating down your legs is exactly as I had before having a spinal decompression, laminectomy and discectomy 18 months ago. It was L4 and L5 causing the problem but since my surgery I have been pain free. I was still unable to stand up straight due to my hip but pain-wise I haven't looked back. It was a neurosurgeon who did my surgery and he was amazing! I had 2 lots of nerve root injections but they didn't work for me. 

    I hope you get sorted soon as there is nothing worse than nagging sciatic pain!

    Ali x

    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK ali2301

      Posted

      Hi Ali,

      So good to hear a positive post.  When I visited the spinal consultant they said I have a slight stenosis of the spine and a tilted pelvis, L4/L5 causing the problem.  They are reluctant to do anything about it as they say it is not severe enough (I am not able to live my life is that not severe enough for them) to operate! Like you I have had to nerve root injections and they did not work for me either.  What was your diagnosis by the neurosurgeon?  This is giving me some hope so thank you for your post and please forward any further information you think may help.

    • ali2301
      ali2301 sue87388_UK

      Posted

      Hi Sue,

      Basically I had a trapped sciatic nerve, causing neurological pain down both legs. I was in so much pain I almost passed out sometimes. L4 and L5 were nipping the nerve which was causing the pain. My surgeon pretty much shaved some bone from the vertebrae above and below the sciatic nerve, giving it some room so to speak. Since then my sciatic nerve is no longer being nipped and the pain has gone. It's wonderful. Don't give up hope and you will get there.

      I will see if I can dig anything up from back then that might help you.

      Ali x

    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK ali2301

      Posted

      Hi Ali,

      Thanks for the reply and any other information may be helpful.  I have been like this for nearly five years now, the consultants just don't seem to understand how this affects my life (although they say they do!), they just repeat themselves and say you have to live with it.

      Anyway thats enough of that.  I am so glad you got a solution to your pain and wish you luck in the future.

    • ali2301
      ali2301 sue87388_UK

      Posted

      Warning, some graphic details.

      What swayed it for me, Sue, was that one night, I woke in bed to feel something tickling my leg. I Jumped out of bed to find urine running down my leg and yet I couldn't feel it coming out and felt no urge to go. Something which makes surgery imperative and a medical emergency, is the possibility that the nerve gets so badly trapped it can cause incontinence. I emailed my surgeons secretary to tell her what had happened and I got a call asking me to go straight in. One MRI later I was told my condition had progressed to cauda equine and that my surgeon wanted to operate the very next day! I've never looked back!

      Keep hounding the docs, you do not have to 'live with it'. I lived with mine for 2.5 years and it was extremely debilitating. Good luck.

      Ali x

    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK ali2301

      Posted

      Hi Ali,

      Thank you for your response.

      Its a shame that it had to get to that stage before anything was done.  I have read about that happening and if so it becomes an emergency.

      Not sure where to go next as all departments are now saying the same thing - live with it!  Anyway glad you are sorted and have got your quality of life back again.

  • Jayive
    Jayive sue87388_UK

    Posted

    Hi , I haven't been back on this site for some time but today thought I'd look in to see what's happening. I also have been in extreme, constant pain since thr 2 years ago and gone through many doctors and had injections etc, none of which has been able to cure my pain.

    Now they tell me there's nothing they can do and I must live with it!

    In an attempt to get my doctor to listen I suggested that I had a large bottle of pills and said goodbye. Now he has prescribed me anasthetic patches to apply for 12 hours each day while I wait to see an Anaesthatist in the local pain clinic.

    Has anybody else tried these, if so how did you find them?

     

    • sue87388_UK
      sue87388_UK Jayive

      Posted

      Hi Jayive,

      Sorry to hear you too are suffering with chronic pain.  I was offered the patches but unfortunately I am allergic to all plasters etc (even mircropore lol)  and therefore were not suitable for me. 

      The bottle of pills is a rather drastic approach but I know why you did it and it got their attention (but do think of your family and friends also).

      Have they said what the anaesthatist in the pain clinic is going to do?  Good luck and please keep me up to date.

    • Jayive
      Jayive sue87388_UK

      Posted

      Hi SUe,

      Don't worry the pills was really more of a joke as the doc said they come in blister packs nowadays and laughed. But I had been to see a consultant recently who told me to ask my GP to write and get me an appointment to see an anaethastist. The GP didn't think he could do anything but I wasn't going to be put off if there was any possible chance that there was something he could do. So now I wait in the latest NHS queue to see where I go next. I've just applied the 2nd patch and, so far, no bad reaction to the first one, it's not like a plaster but more like a lint (and painful to remove if you pull too quickly).

    • ali2301
      ali2301 Jayive

      Posted

      Hi Jayive,

      Its Such a shame you had to resort to such tactics but somtimes it's needed to make people sit up and listen! It annoys me so much that in this day and age, with advancements in medicine the way they are, that people are still told they will have to live with it! At least you are travelling a different path now and hopefully at the end of it there will be a consultant/specialist who has an answer for you.

      Good luck.

      Ali x

    • LillySue
      LillySue Jayive

      Posted

      Are this the lidocaine patches? I use the Flector Patch which is the only way I can tolerate an NSAID. It seeps into my system slower via transdermal than taking an NSAID tablet. GI tract issues contraindicate NSAIDs by mouth. By reducing inflammation proper blood flow is restored to vital tissues taking away toxins. Inflammation is the culprit here with this pain. Also, the bursa near the hip girdle become inflamed overtime after hip surgery; no one told me that up front! I had to press the orthopedic surgeon for an answer! 
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