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Differing leg lengths post op...

Posted , 9 users are following.

sportsw4
sportsw4

Afternoon folks. First of all, a massive thank you for the good vibes sent in the run up to my op yesterday - really, really appreciated 👍🏻😊 All went well and felt remarkably good when I woke up. Although still feeling great this morning, I'm now a little worried - the head nurse said to me last night that my operated leg looked longer than the other one. Sure enough, I've just taken my first walk with the frame - and the operated leg IS quite a bit longer (more than just a few millimetres...) And not sure I'm going to see my surgeon again to quiz him about this. So just curious as to my fellow hippies experiences with this issue. Should I be worried? I'm sure there are discussions on here that relate to this, but only have access on my phone and can't seem to locate them... Thanks for any help

2 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Lallydye1
    Lallydye1 sportsw4

    Posted

    Hi

    Thats great that you are feeling so well post opbiggrin.

    I think it is really far  too early to say anything about leg length discrepancy (LLD) yet and I am surprised at your nurse for worrying you so.  There will be lots of swelling and the prosthetic has had no time to bed in and your pelvis has not realigned at all.  All your ligaments need to stretch and heal.  Almost everyone feels this post op so you are ot alone. I am sure you will get to see your surgeon even briefly before you are discharged if not ask to see him. He will ease your concerns I am sure.  You can also discuss this with your physio. Please dont worry this early on.

    Take care Alison x

    • sportsw4
      sportsw4 Lallydye1

      Posted

      Thanks so much Alison for a very reassuring reply. Everything you say makes sense - and I wouldn't have worried if the surgeon had said something about it beforehand (annoyingly, it was the one question on my list I forgot to ask him before going in!) I knew rationally it probably wasn't the best thing for the nurse to comment on, but alas it sowed a seed of doubt... Your reply has really helped though, so thanks again 😊
  • CelsB
    CelsB sportsw4

    Posted

    Hi Sports,

    Welcome to the other side, and glad you're feeling well.

    My operated leg certainly felt longer, and my physio asked me if I thought it was longer when she told me stand up straight and my operated leg ws a little bent at the knee.  It concerned me.  I thought as she has asked she must think so too.  I asked her what would happen if it was a little longer and she said 'Perhaps nothing'  But it's early days yet".  When I saw my surgeon before I was discharged I completely forgot to ask him, it was already feeling better.

    Over the last 3 weeks of healing it seems to have "bedded down"  into the femur.  I still think it might be slightly longer but I can't be sure.  I searched online and it is a very common feeling, probably due to all the swelling around the operation site.

    I also think we got so used to limping around that we didn't use our poorly legs properly.  When we start to again, it all feels strange.

    My advice is to give it time.  Ask to see your surgeon and put the question to hiim, but I feel sure that as you walk and bear weight on it I think it will start to feel different.  MIne certainly has.

    If it turns out that it is longer, they could give you an insole to raise you unoperated leg a little, but I don't think they can tell until it's all healed.

    Hope that helps a bit xxx

    • sportsw4
      sportsw4 CelsB

      Posted

      That helps a LOT thank you Cels :-) One of the surgeon's team flew by on his way out yesterday and said that everything was good and straightforward. The paperwork for the op says that legs were measured the same at the end of the op too - so I hope it's a combination of the things you mentioned that are causing the issues. Thanks again Cels and all the best!
  • annie.conway
    annie.conway sportsw4

    Posted

    Surely your surgeon would have measured leg lengths while doing the op? Differing leg lengths is a sure-fire way to future complications? I've read that it may feel that way at first due to muscle memory. Your surgeon should be the person to discharge you and I'd most definitely raise the issue with him sooner rather than later.
    • sportsw4
      sportsw4 annie.conway

      Posted

      I'll do that Annie. The paperwork for the op says legs measure the same, so it may be bedding in issues. Would just like to hear that from the surgeon though...
  • CelsB
    CelsB sportsw4

    Posted

    I read that they use an overlay of the Xray to measure the implants against to ensure that they are the right size, so if there is any difference we would only be talking in millimetres.
  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK sportsw4

    Posted

    Don't worry, my leg felt the same, it does happen, but apparently it usually just feels like there is a difference.  It's in my website ............. 

    Mine are perfectly balanced now at 11 weeks.

    Graham - 🚀💃

  • hil123
    hil123 sportsw4

    Posted

    I had the same feeling about my legs as well but now I am 10 weeks post op they feel fine now . There is so much swelling and stuff to settle down , thumbs down to the nurse who worried you : (
  • MichaelTN1UK
    MichaelTN1UK sportsw4

    Posted

    Ditto here too. The leg does feel longer. I was convinced about it too. I agree with everyone else that it is probably the swelling and the drugs. They will also effect the way your leg feels. Mine felt normal once the swelling went down and the drugs wore off. So, it will take time and all should be well.

    Michael 

  • renee01952
    renee01952 sportsw4

    Posted

    hi sports, 

    lovely comments and I totall agree with them - funny, my surgeon immediately grabbed my legs and said happily: Same length !!!!   It didn't fell that way, let me tell you - same after 2nd THR , but now reversed ... 

    please be gentle with yourself and warm welcome to this side 

    big warm hug

    renee

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 sportsw4

    Posted

    From somebody who has a real leg length discrepancy. At first my leg felt nearly 2 half inches too long, that was my impression after the surgery, and even for some weeks afterwards. I saw a physio, my local GP, and even the surgeon's registrar who did the surgery, and they all said it would settle.

    They were right, it did to some extent.

    I got really angry and very emotional for a while, but finally got help through my local GP, after alot of whinging, it came down to its in your head, no it isn't.

    Well lets prove it then, either you are right or I am right, one Long Leg x-ray later and local GP apologies offered for suggesting it was in my head.

    What they did find is I had a natural leg length difference, that wasn't identified before surgery, formal complaint in for that. awaiting answers and investigating legal options.

    Also they added 3/8 inch during surgery on top of the natural leg length discrepancy, and this is where I had real issues 3/4 inch and I did not cope.

    Finally found that if I wore a shoe insert it helped, but the surgeon's don't like you going down the shoe insert option too early, the swelling all needs to settle down first, the lift is only for what the surgeon added, so I am back to my naturally long leg that I have lived with my entire life.

    Have since seen (paid for) private surgeon, he has agreed that natural LLD, should have been indentified before surgery, and taken into consideration. But and big but, you would have noticed the difference if they had corrected you completely, you grew with that LLD probably from a child.

    This LLD has taken me nearly a year to get used to but finally with the shoe lift, and working with a good physio I have strenghten up the muscles I need to, and i don't even notice the diffence any more, just like I never noticed I had a natural LLD.

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