Discomfort 6 months post lthr

Posted , 9 users are following.

I am 6 months post lthr. When walking, although I have no arthritic pain I still have discomfort in my thigh and around the scar area, is this normal and if it is, how long before it eases.

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • Posted

    I tell you Chris, I think everything is normal, have you been doing more lately? It takes several months to heal, a good year.
    • Posted

      Hi Annette. Yes have done quite a lot of walking lately but it's still there when I don't. I might give it a little longer and see how it goes and if it stays the same I will get it checked. X

  • Posted

    Try and see a physio they can assess if you have any weak muscles  in and around your hip, that adds to pain in other muscles and causes you to walk incorrectly only adds to discomfort.

    I did, amazing how fast i improved once I and the physio identified where the weakness was, only a small muscle but helps with stablity in your hip, she had me do very specific exercises for that muscle and what a differnece it made within a month or so, taught me how to feel  the muscles twitching and confirmed I was nice and strong in my other musclesand doing very well otherwise.

    • Posted

      Hi Lynn. Thanks for your reply. will leave it a bit longer, then if no change I will get it checked.
  • Posted

    I am 5 months out from surgery and I still have numbness on the outside of my thigh and hip, and muscle pain! It feels very tight and it gets sore! I also get nerve pain,as they are coming back around and waking up but boy is it painful!!! Stings like crazy but I am glad they are repairing themselves it is an awful feeling to touch your thigh and have no feeling there, pressure but no feeling! My surgeon said it can take up to a year to fully feel that area again! The numbness is very normal!! Good luck!
    • Posted

      Thank for the reply. I am probably panicking to much. I am going to leave it a bit longer and if it stays the same, I will get it checked.
  • Posted

    Hi Chris, 

    Are you walking unaided?  are you limping?

    It might be that your body is not in balance yet and muscles are  still in healing/repairing mode if you had posterior approach -

    do youb have physical therapy? gentle massaging the area around scar and that big butt muscle will help also -

    but hey, that nasty arthritic pain is gone, right?  you are getting there -

    big warm hug

    renee 

     

    • Posted

      Hi Renee, thank for the reply. Yes walking unaided which is great, but would love to have no discomfort, it's probably me being too impatient, but just wanted to know it was normal. X

  • Posted

    Hi Chris, 

    I'm about to hit the 6 month mark for a RTHR.  I still have discomfort in the area where the scar is and occasional pain in the my inner thigh. If I over do it, I feel swelling around the new joint (it almost feels like a ball of fluid). I've been seeing the physio who has me working hard to rebuild my glutes which seems to be helping a lot. 

    I've been told it'll be about 8-12 months until the joint feels normal again...

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    • Posted

      I seem to have ended up with a lot of rubbish attached to the end of that message... weird!
  • Posted

    I did not have such a problem.  But I do want to say "normal" is a big word.  What is normal for me may not be normal for you.  Your health before the operation, age and body weight also can make a difference.  Cement or cementless?  Training? Honestly, it was discovered that I had osteoarthrtis because I complained about discomfort in my left thigh more than I was concerned about my actual hip.  I had trouble lifting my leg up, like to get into the driver's seat, or lifting my leg to go up some stairs.   2 years  after the operation, I still have the same problem.  My right side . . . I can feel that it is indeed my hip that is bothering me.  I will be having that replaced after December.

  • Posted

    I had my op in October last year, followed by revision on the same joint in January, and I get this - it's not exactly pain, but it is uncomfortable,  it just feels 'tight' around the upper thigh.  I walk well, but still get the occasional limp, usually when commuting to/from London.  I have just put it down as a side effect of the operation - it just doesn't seem to be getting completely better, but it is tolerable compared to the pre-operation pain.

    It didn't get much worse on holiday, despite the heat and climbing of churches and castles that we did.  In fact, I was doing rather better than my wife who has not needed a new hip cheesygrin.  

    • Posted

      Hi thank for the reply. I also walk with a limp at times and have to concentrate when walking to stop it. Like you say it is tolerable and I can walk a good distance, just wish I could do it without any discomfort
    • Posted

      I definitely had those twinges and discomfort at six months too, now nine going into ten months it is going/gone now.

      Different twinges and aches and pains come and go, I occasionally get a trapped nerve feeling, swelling, no swelling. I did go to my GP to check, especially when over the summer when it was very swollen from over doing things with the children, he said this is all completely normal within the first year to 18 months...to be expected.

      Our bodies are still in recovery (even if think the recover should be finished by now, it is not) and we still need to focus on looking after our new hips, not doing too much, although I can walk for miles and miles without thinking about it, but some things do 'jolt' the joint which isn't comfortable. I know you are probably sick and tired of it by now, as I feel too, and feel you should be completely well, but six months isn't that long when you really think of the operation and what has happened to you.

      Ten months down the line it is much better I walk, stand, go to gym, jump in and out of the car, run down the stairs I have completely forgotten I have even had a THP most of the time. Every now and then it plays up, lord knows why, I have come to the conclusion it just has a mind of its own, and I just go with it. As always the it is much slower than we would like! smile

    • Posted

      Really excellent post Rose. Thank you.

      I have also become ultra conscious of diet as well - keeping it protein-rich and good balance of various oils and vit c, d and e and calcium. I retain too much iron (10% of us do)! but others need to maintain levels.

      It nice to know you are doing well even if occasionally reminded of the journey you have been on. Thanks for this thoughtful post and take care.

      L

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