Differing leg lengths post op...
Posted , 9 users are following.
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 ðð»ð 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
Lallydye1 sportsw4
Posted
Thats great that you are feeling so well post op.
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 Lallydye1
Posted
CelsB sportsw4
Posted
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. Â It concerned me. Â I thought as she has asked she must think so too. Â I asked her what would happen if it was a little longer and she said 'Perhaps nothing' Â But it's early days yet". Â 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" Â into the femur. Â I still think it might be slightly longer but I can't be sure. Â 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. Â When we start to again, it all feels strange.
My advice is to give it time. Â 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. Â 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 CelsB
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annie.conway sportsw4
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sportsw4 annie.conway
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CelsB sportsw4
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Rocketman_SG6UK sportsw4
Posted
Mine are perfectly balanced now at 11 weeks.
Graham - ðð
hil123 sportsw4
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MichaelTN1UK sportsw4
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MichaelÂ
annie.conway MichaelTN1UK
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Rocketman_SG6UK annie.conway
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renee01952 sportsw4
Posted
lovely comments and I totall agree with them - funny, my surgeon immediately grabbed my legs and said happily: Same length !!!! Â It didn't fell that way, let me tell you - same after 2nd THR , but now reversed ...Â
please be gentle with yourself and warm welcome to this sideÂ
big warm hug
renee
lyn1951 sportsw4
Posted
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.