Continuing pain 1 year after hip replacements doctors can't find problem

Posted , 8 users are following.

Surgery went well. After first replacement Jan 5 and March 7 PT was going well until mid May sever pain started back in both hips. No doctors have figured this out. stuck on narcotics, can't work or have a life.

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • Posted

    Sorry to hear that. Where's your pain, it could be bursitis...Heating pad soothes it, and ibuprophen helps... I had anterior approach in May 2015.

    • Posted

      It's in the growing area both side, outside both hips that's bursitis, it's a deep pain, pill take of the edge but the more activity I do the pain increases pain the pain pills. Have sharp pain attracts when I use my hips a lot. Sitting for 40 minute, walking for 30. Minute or just standing all increase my pain.

  • Posted

    This may be totally wrong, but have you looked up polymayalgia rheumatica? It is nothing to do with hip replacement but affects the muscles and is very painful. 
    • Posted

      Thank you not to sure that fits my symptoms,the reason for my hip replacements was a vascular necrosis. I don't know if that has anything to do with anything, the pain doesny feel as much as muscular more like mix of nerve and muscle.

    • Posted

      It was just thought, but rather a long shot. Interestingly enough polymyalgia is a type of vasculitis and so the blood does not feed the muscles properly thus causing awful pain. Taking corticosteroids usually gives a miraculous result very quickly. 
    • Posted

      corticosteroids can give great relief, just be judicious in their use. Steroid withdrawal symptoms are real as are adverse side effects such as osteoporosis.
    • Posted

      Corticosteroids are a wonder drug with around eighty two side effects!! I have fifteen of them. They have given me curly hair and strong nails on the plus side. 
  • Posted

    I've had constant pain in my hips and thighs. My hip replacement on my right side was in 2010 and the left was done in 2011. Did all the physical therapy both times. My surgeon says nothing wrong with my new hips so I endure the pain with only over the counter pain relievers all these years. I thought the surgery would make me feel better but now all I have is a different kind of pain. I can't work either.

    I truely hope you have better luck than I've had in finding the source of your pain. Best wishes to you.

    • Posted

      Thank you, I hope we can both get this solved, over the counter doesn't even touch me. I don't want a cortical stimulater either. Something is causing this and I am going to find out what it is. If have to go to Kathmandu and see the Bhatta priest I will.

    • Posted

      That's the spirit. Get all your surgery records and find what may be the issue by reading reports on manufacturers and parts and recall,online. Also to get another opinion go out of your area otero another state. These ortho gypsum don't like to rat their Otho partners in the same business. 

      What at is the manufacturer and name of implant? It's all on the OP REPORT . ASK FOR A COPY AND START DIGGING. GOOD LICK. I WILL SAY MY FIRST Thr was POSTERIOR approach had a bone graft AND VERY DIFFICULT THRU RECOVERY IN WAS IN MY 40's and I was in  in great shape . Just a few weeks after surgery I noticed mumcaboose completely disappeared. It didn't take long to loose muscle it took me a year to get back in great shape. Then I was cleared to regain my sports and active life. 

  • Posted

    So very sorry.

    Where in the hips is the pain, can you describe the pain...has your spine been thoroughly checked out?

  • Posted

    hi solowflyer, 

    warm welcome to this wonderful forum of hippies ..

    So you had 2 THR surgeries 3 months apart ?  That is a big trauma for your body to deal with ..

    Most healing takles place in the first couple of months, however deep aches and pain around in the hip can last for a longer time because bone, a living tissue, continues to re-model and adapt around the metal implants. 

    this might cause swelling as well -

    Could it be scar tissue?  I have that and it is very painful to the touch .. Had trochanteric bursitis in 1st new hip as well -

    Maybe a MRI or similar scan might give some insight in what is going on with you ... Surgeons just look at x-ray to see if their job was done properly and the hardware is in place ... the rest is up to us -- 

    do you have physical therapy?  

    let us know how you are getting on okay ?

    I know how you feel ...

    big warm hug

    renee

     

    • Posted

      Thank you Rene, I did physical therapy for most of the year, it way more a major irritant, any extra activity, increases pain and the amount of sharp pain spasms, I guess is how I can disribe it. It's Increasing Evey day, even with the oxy, and morphine, I really have to like the activity I do extra because I pay for it later and pain going beyond proscribed, persciption dose aloud. IAM 48 as of 5 days again to young.

      e

  • Posted

    I hate to suggest either of these, for different reasons, but in the interests of an attempt to help at least eliminate some things....

    Complex regional pain syndrome? I have a friend with this, it's awful pain - and doctors neither know what causes it nor what the cure is. So obviously I am hoping it's not that.

    The other suggestion is one that I have heard about but not seen. Have you thought of trying hynotherapy? I know it sounds daft, and I am not exactly suggesting it's all in your head. But I have heard of people that experience something akin to "phantom pain" - you know, when people lose limbs but can still feel pain in them? From something a have read, it is possible for the brain to become so accustomed to pain that in some cases it just carries on "feeling" it, but the pain can be odd because it actually isn't really interpreting any real pain signals. Pain doesn't really exist - it is simply a function of the brain that acts as a warning signal. Some people can't even feel it because their brain doesn't alert them, and others can learn to control it. As I understand it, the brain can become stuck in a rut and feel pain even when there is no trigger.

    Now on that second one, I've only read about this. It was in something "sensible" - by that I mean it would not have been something that peddles fiction as facts. But for the life of me I can't remember where. It might have been New Scientist. I'll see if I can find something about it. But I do recall that the article I read said that they were making inroads to the condition with hypnosis which was retraining  the brain. The thing that made me recall this was your saying extreme pain meds make no difference - it said that in the article. Pain meds don't kill pain ( because it didn't exist!) They alter the brain chemistry so that your brain didn't register it. And in this article it said that they can't work properly because the brain isn't acting as it should in the first place, so what the pain meds do is not the right thing. 

    That's a really rubbish explanation. You can tell I'm not a scientist! But hopefully it will make sense to you. I'll try to find something later on about this if I can. But I am honestly not saying it's all in your head! Sort of!

    • Posted

      Hi Beth. I have thought of both of those 2 things the narcodits do work under the prescribed dosage, only when I add additional usage of my hips pain increases.
    • Posted

      Also the complex pain syndromes does not fit the criteria. I have asked my doc about that as well. Also I am seeing visual changes in and around the insition area.

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