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Excrutiating pain after total ceramic hip replacement

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chris.b
chris.b

I had a ceramic total hip replacement 6weeks ago and I'm in agony. I'm 40 yeats old and had avascular necrosis of the rigjt hip.I had a titanium disc replacement 6 years ago in my lower back so I was aware going into surgery it would not be easy. However, when the epidural wore off after the hip repkacement I was in agony, in fact I was in tears and did not sleep a wink until after 5 days when sheer exhaustion set in I have pain in my groin when I move my leg it feeks like it's grating on something.I also have pain down to my knee including my knee. My lower back again is in agony also my right buttock feels like it's being pinched all the time all the way down the back of my leg which I guess is sciatica. I saw the surgeon who preformed the hip replacement today, he says all my pain is coming from my back. What I can't umderstand is why am I in more pain after the op then before. My surgeon was very unhelpful saying I need refered on for my back by my G.P. Has anyone else had excrutiating pain after a total hip replacement. I can't believe the surgeon dismissed my pain and said the hip is fine when the horrendous pain im in only started after the operation. Like I say I'm looking for people with similar situation or knowledge and advice.

18 likes, 376 replies

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  • carol25526
    carol25526 chris.b

    Posted

    Hi Chris I had a right hip replacement Almost 6 months ago After 6 months I have groin pain thigh pain calf pain calf pain & myfeet reall hurt why? No ne seems to have an answer! Why?? Don't know !! Everyone I go says , " you will probably feel better in another 6 months!! Why I don't know why no one seems to know why you feel worse after a hip replacement Wouldn't you think We would feel BETTER after not  WORSE RIGHT??? I'll pray for you to feel better soon God Bless You xxoo Feel BetterSoon ttyl thanks CarolV.
  • Janilamour
    Janilamour chris.b

    Posted

    Hi Chris, I expect this post will now be too late and you are now fully recovered from your terrible ordeal of chronic pain. I am a 60 year old who had a right total hip replacement in April 16. I am now nearly 9 weeks post op and fair to say started to recover rapidly from my surgery. I was able to walk without my crutches after 4 weeks and about 7?weeks had reduced my meds to just basic paracetamol.

    This weekend I feel I must have over done it, but can't think what I have done, but just like you explained am in chronic pain. It started in my groin and feels tight all the way around. Also I have shooting pain down from my surgery site to my knee. Also my skin on my leg feels very sore as though it has been burnt. I am now back on strong painkillers and today have had another X-Ray to check I have not fractured around my placement. 

    The question I want to ask Chris is did your pain settle down and do you have any tips as to overcome this terrible time. Looking forward to your reply or to any other person who has similar problems. 

    • dellar55
      dellar55 Janilamour

      Posted

      Hi I had a THR in January 2014 and I still have pain from my operated hip. I had a very slow recovery and experienced swelling and terrible pain from my scar and done my leg to my foot. My foot still swells at night especially and I have this awful numb feeling in my foot or pins and needles. My hip itself feels very tender around the scar area and I have a burning tingling sensation in my hip. If I sit too long it feels as though something is sticking out from the side of my leg in the thigh region. I am going back to the dr tomorrow. I find bed time a nightmare and sleep in my back . My dr has given me Amitriptylene to take at night and I think this medication does help a little. I sympathise with you and hope you get some relief and your pain will improve
    • liam38933
      liam38933 Janilamour

      Posted

      Hi J...Did you get any answers?

      My situation seems very much like yours!

      Liam

  • brenda92532
    brenda92532 chris.b

    Posted

    Hi Chris I'm sorry you are having so much pain. I can understand how you feel about the surgeon, I've had the same experience. I had the left hip replacement on January 20th and after the op my left foot was swollen and really painful. I complained in the hospital and they didn't seem to understand how it felt. When I got home I went to the doctor and asked for a nerve conduction test, he told me it was too soon to tell. I persevered with pain killers but it didn't feel any better. Eventually I was sent for an ict scan and all they were looking for was any dvt, which was clear. At my 7 week check I didn't see the surgeon and the doctor I saw told me it was plantar fasciitis which I had over 10 year ago and it didn't feel as bad as this does. I have recently gone to a private physiotherapist and he has concluded that he thinks it's nerve damage from my spine. I do suffer with oestioarthritis in my spine and he is going to write to the doctor to confirm his conclusion. I've reverted myself to the podiatry and I have an appointment for Tuesday 14th. Sorry to have gone on but I hope it helps you feel you are not alone.

    brenda 

  • AnnieCole
    AnnieCole chris.b

    Posted

    Hi Chris,

    I know this post is about a year old, wondering if you've found the answer to the cause of your pain? I am 4 years post op from hip resurfacing and 1 year post op from a revision to a THR and was I excruciating pain after my first surgery. Took me 3 years to find a surgeon who could see that my glutes were unattached although many of the other doctors thought it was my back (which it wasn't). Had the glutes repaired during the THR but am still having pain/ weakness in my thigh. Another specialist thinks it is my iliopsoas so I'm having a diagnostic cortisone shot in my bursa to see if that calms it down. May have to have the psoas lengthened .

    Hope you are soon better , let us know how you are doing and if you found any answers.

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK AnnieCole

      Posted

      Annie Cole, so sorry for all of these horrible problems you have been having, and the multiple hip surgeries with continued pain and weakness. I've had pain and a bad limp since my THR in July 2015. At 8 months post-op, I finally got a second opinion and diagnosis (via MRI) of gluteus medius tear so bad that I need surgery to repair it. They may have to pull gluteus maximus muscle through to act as my new gluteus medius, if the medius is too degraded to work now, which is what I suspect is the case. These soft tissue gluteus complications are hard to deal with, especially when some orthos don't seem to recognize these injuries and are unable to diagnose them.

      Wishing you all the best as you seek for answers about your new soft tissue problems. I've got no advice for you, just trying to cope with my pain and disability as I wait for surgery in August with new surgeons.

    • liam38933
      liam38933 AnnieK

      Posted

      Hello Annie, I hope you have had some success and ease since you posted. Not sure I understand all the terms you used but what would cause the glutes to be torn in the first place? result of surgery or wear and tear?

      Best of luck!

      Liam

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK liam38933

      Posted

      Liam, no success for me yet, as I had a compression fracture of one of my vertebra in July and that postponed my hip surgery yet again. I will be having it on Oct 27. So I have had much more pain, but in a different place. And the continued difficulties with my hip. Three weeks and two days to go, and I can't wait!

      I had an antero-lateral approach for my THR, where they come in from the side. With that approach, the gluteus medius muscle is "dissected", meaning the muscle is teased apart lengthwise, not really cut, but separated so that they can access the hip joint.

      After the surgery, it is sutured back together. In my case there is no way to know exactly what happened. Either it never healed after the separation, which sometimes happens in older people, or it tore shortly afterwards. The tear is a definite possibility because I was given some exercises by my in-home physical therapist within a week of the surgery in which I stretched my leg at a 90 degree angle rather aggressively, did straight leg raises and a few other things that may have torn it. My new surgeons have a much more conservative approach to PT post-surgery to avoid glute tearing. They don't usually do the lateral approach, in part for that reason.

      I will have to wear a brace for 6 - 8 weeks for 24/7 post surgery, not for support, but to limit my movements so that I don't accidentally or forgetfully move my body into positions that could compromise the healing.

    • liam38933
      liam38933 AnnieK

      Posted

      Thanks Annie:

      You have certainly cleared up some of my misunderstanding ofyour situation and thrown some light on what might be happening with mine. i see the consultant today and I am hoping for some greater understanding of the sitaution. It does sound like you were very aggressive with your Physio exercises...but sounds like you have the correction in hand. Good luck with your Oct 27 surgery! If i find out anything new I will post. thanks again!

      liam

  • Leslie4077
    Leslie4077 chris.b

    Posted

    Hi Chris,  I am so sorry to hear about all the pain you are in.  I think you're getting lots of good feedback here and I don't really have anything new to add but to say that I'm thinking of you and hope you can get this resolved.  Hugs.

  • catfay12
    catfay12 chris.b

    Posted

    Hi Chris I have the identical symptoms as you. The only difference is my symptoms came on slowly.over a 3 year period. My pcp has referred me to a pain management clinic. My surgeon says the pain (which is excruciating ) is coming from my back. I had back surgery prior to my hip surgery. I am almost past walking and I don't know what to do about it.

    • Moboise
      Moboise catfay12

      Posted

      Hi everyone! It's been a long time. I'm exactly two years post op left THR. This all scares me. I have horrible low back pain, stenosis, herniated disc, bulging discs, knee pain, buttocks pain, thigh pain, foot pain. Scared in Boise, ID.

      Mollie

  • Walter_C
    Walter_C chris.b

    Posted

    Hi Chris had 1 hip done 6 weeks ago was on liquid Morphine for 4 days pure agony for 3 weeks had Ceramic fitted was discharged with a bottle of liquid Morphine only got a trickle left pain killers I took were Tremadol slept every night like a baby

    Remember that you have had Major Surgery it's going to Hurt . Keep doing the Exercises threw the pain But get some pain killers

    Hopefully in 4 to 6 weeks I get other Hip done and I'm looking forward to the Pain because after 5 to 6 weeks you start to feel normal .sometimes you have to self manage your symptoms good luck for the future regards Walter.

  • shane78561
    shane78561 chris.b

    Posted

    I broke the tip off of my left femoral head while in the Army. I was diagnosed with AVN Avascular Necrosis and had a partial left hip replacememt. They didnt do the cup part. I live in constant pain. It causes me to walk with a gait, I have torn my meniscus in my left knee so many times that I now have a bakers cysts in my which cause me severe pain. I have lower back pain and shortened disc in my lower spine. I have been to numerous V.A. doctors and all they can tell me is they dont

    know why I am in pain and prescribe me nsaids. The nsaids help with my muscles but if you know what AVN is it attacks the bones and cause them to die off faster then they can regenerate. I'm so bad off that at times I cant even walk and most of the time I feel like my bone(s) are breaking. I feel like I am not being taken serious. I feel yournpain and everyone else who has to deal with this. I am looking for any advice myself.

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