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Extreme pain after total hip replacement

Posted , 33 users are following.

markbeekmans
markbeekmans

Hello everybody,

I am hoping that some one can help me. But before I start I am want to express my sympathy with all of you in pain and suffering. It must be devastating to live each day like that and I feel genuinely sorry for all of you. I hope you will find a solution soon.

Please try to help me. My moth has doen surgery for a total hip replaceent 1 year ago and is still in extreme pain.

I personally think she has two problems. First with her wound/scar and second with the hip itself.

The first because her scar/surroundings of the wound is still extremely painful and sensitive. Even looking at it already hurst and this makes it almost impossible even wear clothes. This problem I suspect must be related to nerves maybe encapsulated by the scar tissue or something. I am not sure.

The second problem must be her hip or the prothese or something related. She has extreme pains which start in the morning. While still lying in bed, she is almost without pain but then getting up and even walking to the bathroom is enough to invoke the pain again. Then during the day active or inactive the pain worsens till a point where she can´t do anything anymore. Sit, walk, stand it all hurts. Riding a bike is still best for her and walking small distances also but sitting is terrible. So why if in inactive stae in the morning is she ok and when she starts moving the pain incurrs? This must be because of the hip or prothese which must invoke the pain. Either the replacement is too big, wrongly placed, causing whatever. Right? I am not sure but still after 1 year no one, even a second opinion was able to shed some light on her state. No one is able to find a casue of the pain nor for the wound nor for the hip.

It is terribly frustrating that after 1 year no one seems to be able to help and give up on her. I kindly ask anyone with similar sympthoms to contact me, it might help a lot and we would be eternally grateful.

Thanks in advance. 

9 likes, 66 replies

66 Replies

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  • sonia0902
    sonia0902 markbeekmans

    Posted

    Hi I had same problem after my Ganz osteotomy I was left in constant pain had no feeling down the side of my leg even if somebody rubbed off it the sensation was horrific I had to fight and fight and I was constantly told the bone was healing they were happy THEY were happy but I wasn't I was using a walking aid constantly after the constanr phone calls and letters to the ceo they got me a 2nd opinion and it turned out the surgeon over rotated my hip also got the excuse it was because I was thin it was slightly turned to much..so had to fight for them to fix it an it was tht bad my only option was to have a replacement which I got 7wks ago..because of last op they had to remove alot of bone too since I'm having problems with my knee an my back it seems never ending 3yrs ago I was so fit and healthy now I feel it's one thing after another and I'm only going on 37yrs old.. Sonia
    • markbeekmans
      markbeekmans sonia0902

      Posted

      Hello Sonia, so sad to read your story. So young also still and then suffering this. Unbelievable. Please try to give me more information. What do you mean with "over rotated" your hip? Sligthly turned too much, it this the angle in which the prothesis was placed?

      The replacement you got was 7 weeks ago. I sincerely hope that this replacement has been successful? Does it feel better now? Or do you still need more recovery time? I am hoping it is still too soon after your replacement and you just need a bit more time to recovery fully.

      Please keep us posted on your progress.

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb sonia0902

      Posted

      Hi Sonia

      Thanks for that information. I'd never heard about the possibility of 'over rotation'. I will need to look into that further. 

      Elaine 

      UK

    • sonia0902
      sonia0902 markbeekmans

      Posted

      Hi the 1st operation I got was a Ganz osteotomy were they used my own bone so they broke my pelvis in a couple of places and tried to fix it into shape this is were the surgeon over rotated it so he turned my own bone too much which left me in terrible pain and very restricted movement the 2nd surgeon told me it was too bad then to fix so I had my hip replacement it was heartbreaking for me to have to fight to find out what was wrong and they kept telling me everything was healing well I had never heard of over rotation.7wks since my replacement I feel I have more movement in my leg still have alot of pressure and pain in my buttocks and back I'd say my posture is the cause of some of my back pain as I've been using a walking aid so long I also have swelling in my knee but I'm taking baby steps and hopefully things will get better soon I no its so hard on people waiting on answers but don't give up keep at them.. Sonia 
  • markbeekmans
    markbeekmans

    Posted

    Hello Sonia, I hope that in the coming weeks you´ll improve and get better. 7 weeks is still pretty early so I´d give it some more time and hope for the best. Goodluck with your recovery.
  • maryann22
    maryann22 markbeekmans

    Posted

    Hello ALL,

    My husband had a Wright ceramic/plastic hip replacement using the "superpath" method in December 2013. He as 61 at the time and he seemed to be recovering well until 3-6 months after the surgery.  But then it went downdill and he developed the painful swelling near the joint never went away.  MRI showed everything looks "perfect" except a small amount of fluid,  He had elevated chrome cobolt levels and inflammation but the doctor's office said they weren't that elevated and the causes of inflammation could be anything.  The fluid was extracted--no infection. He started physcial therapy and it seemed to help enormously.  They eased the painful scar tissue so that doesn't hurt anymore, but we were only allowed 20 visits by our insurance company.  He now uses a cane (he hardly needed one before the surgery)and this once athletic man is really suffering. The therapists taught him how to stretch and relieve the pain but if he sits at all it's excruciating pain.--so he has to stand all day which is exhausting.  The leg on the replacement side is now an inch smaller in diameter.

    Anyone have ideas?  I am worried about all the ibeprofen he needs to take to relieve the pain.  And we are so discouraged.  We were restoring a older sailboat for retirement--taking a cane with you in the dingy is heartbreaking.

    • Sredni393
      Sredni393 maryann22

      Posted

      You should post this as a new post or not everyone will see it.

      get a metal toxicity test (privately).  The cobalt chrome should have raised eyebrows.  They may try to cover up an allergy to the metals. They should test everyone before surgery, not after.  

      Yes, the reality is that so many surgeries are not a resounding success.

      you can take DMSA before the urine test for metal toxicity. Do your research, you may be on your own.  There is a list of GPS who offer this.  Marlow clinic one central to SE ...   Also the muscle wasting a knock on effect  of inability to exercise due  to pain levels. We are mostly helpless once it's in the body but find out if he has metal allergy... First task. Good luck

    • Sredni393
      Sredni393

      Posted

      Ps the build up is cumulative so regular testing. If it was slightly high in early days, it could be greater now. Find out fr the hospital the metal constituents and test fir those but not in the same establishment
  • maryann22
    maryann22 markbeekmans

    Posted

    Thanks started a new post entitled: Bad results, superpath ceramic hip replacment
    • maryann22
      maryann22

      Posted

      We may have had a break through or at least found a way to manage the pain.  Two weeks ago it got so bad I wasn't sure how I would get my husband off our old boat and home.  I called my son and asked him to run out an buy a set off crutches.

      Two days of bed rest, crutches and a steady diet of Ibuprophen got us to a limping around painfully with a cane--this is 18 months after the anterior superpath hip replacement.

      The doctor suggested we see a back specialist and that it could be sciatica and that it could be sciatica.  I requested some tests be repeated because his blood work be repeated as his chrome cobalt levels had been elevated and the MRI had shown fluids.  He clearly washed his hands of us.  He said the XRAY looked fine but we never saw it.

      On my way out I went to the medical records and asked for all this records so I could give them to our general doctor. Before I mailed them to her I read them.  Really, I am not saying the doctor did ANYTHING wrong.  He probably did not do anything wrong but the records were self-serving and fill with half truths and incensed me.  They stated that patient had tried physical therapy unsucessfully and was that he discussed with us the risks of surgery.  it said he had end stage arthritis in the hip and as I recall the doctor said moderate arthritis. That never happened.  I did NOT want my husband to have surgery before trying alternative less invasive methods but the doctor met us once and was ready to schedule surgery!  I was quite stunned. He said he had only ever had one complication--and that was an obese patient.  My husband was anxious to be fixed and apparently the doctor was anxious to operate.

      But there was something huge in the notes.  The doctor stated that he had a conversation with us about the possibility of my husband having piriformis syndrome.   THAT NEVER HAPPENED!  When I looked at his surgical notes the doctor had to move the piriformis muscle to put in the implant and it attached to the hip.  It is right where the painful scar is--the scar that has not stopped hurting in 18 months.  (The pain the doctor told us was tendinitus--btw that is not is his notes) The sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle.

      So for 2 days we have doing exercises and massages we found you tube videos on the piriformis muscles and using an ice pack when he feels the swelling.  Yesterday he actually woke up pain free and went the entire day without painkillers.  We have to wait 6 months before we can get anymore physcial therapy on our insurance so this will help us survive.

      I see many people complain about sitting and the painful scar.  This was his problem along with the perpetual swelling and just plain pain. Maybe this can help some of you who are suffering with mysterious post THP pain.  Google "piriformis syndrome videos."    I hope it helps.

      I put in a request to the hospital for their records as the doctor's records do not actually state which model implant was installed and his office told me he puts in whatever the hospital gives him. That seems ridiculous to me.  Even the hospital bill did not break it down.  We have a right to know.

      It seems that most of you are from the UK.  I am from the US where corporations and greed sometime rule.  

       

  • brenda84111
    brenda84111 markbeekmans

    Posted

    i had a total hip replacement over 6 yrs ago shortly after i started getting electric shock and bad pain down side of leg and in front kept goin to dr i have had every test done u can think of mri ct pain mangament injections nothing helps i dont have to do anything for this to happen been to dr after dr i get told the same thing nothing is wrong i know something is wrong but i guess no one wants to admit it i take 2 types of pain pills for the pain does it help a little but when the pain is real bad no they dont i have to use a walker to walk when im able to my husband has taken very good care of me i am able to do more than i could now i was told id have to live like this for the rest of my life and i said no way someone will find the problem so far no luck so i deal with it day after day after day maybe one day i will find the right dr and can be fixed im not giving up

     

    • brenda84111
      brenda84111

      Posted

      went to dr for my hip replacement problem 6 + yrs ago said theres nothing they can do i have to live like this the rest of my life cant believe this hip replacement now not able to work limited on what i can do i hope someone will read this and find an answer for my problem so i can get back to like before
  • lynne88756
    lynne88756 markbeekmans

    Posted

    Hell Markbeedmans

    I had surgery 7 months ago and the above i can relate too, I am still under investigations as i have more pain then i did before and can hardly walk and have not returned back to work , I work for the NHS and i am very disappointed in the after care and follow ups.  I cry every day and still on very strong painkillers which i did not take before. Riding a bike is the best sort of transport for me too, I have a built up shoe as my thr left me with a longer leg on so i have a heavy limp. I hope you get some answers , I am due for another mri and physio which i did not have after surgery,was only sent home with a sheet of excercises what a joke.

    Yes terrribly frustrating for yourself and partner like mine all we want is to know why this has happened , all they do is send me to the pain clinic and group sessions how to cope with the pain .

    Kind regards 

  • bill30384
    bill30384 markbeekmans

    Posted

    My hip implant was over 4 months ago. Started great. I had the impression that if I followed the P.T. at home I would do OK. They had me walking down the hall and up some stairs 4 hours after surgery. Released the next morning, with some PT. to do at home, which I did faithfully. After rest with leg elevated for 2 weeks I started in town theripy. I was doing great. Walking with out a cane down the road for 30 min. I was always in some pain. After thought I should have stopped as now I realize my pain was to much. Things went down hill. Week 12 I started to use a cane because of pain under the scar. I am a snowbird from IL. and now in Fld. Seen another Orthopedic Dr. He does not know what is wrong, but possiblity's could be a very slight movement in inplant which would cause a fibourous bond from bone to implant instead of a solid bone bond. May be in a little to much of a angle? When I get up I do very little waking aroung the house with out the cane before it starts to hurt much. I am now back in theropy. They are starting me over with a fraction of what I was doing back in IL. My pain under the scar is not changing. I wish I would have found this forum before my surgery. I would have tried another injection. The first one was great for 6 weeks. Presurgery I did not have as much pain as I do now. Hind site I could have controlled the pain by not riding horse so much or playing piclel ball so much as now I cannot do anything. I will not give up yet. I will keep trying and Pray with my frinds for healing. We will see what the Lord says? 
  • dusti1209
    dusti1209 markbeekmans

    Posted

    Hello, Sorry to here about your Mom. I had total hip surgery Feb 18th 2016. I know it has only been 3 months but I feel I should be better than I am. I still can not put pressurs on my right leg unless I'm in the pool where it does not hurt. I do my excerses in the pool. I don't want to be on pain meds forever but its the only thing that gets me though each day..I do have some back problems but have had them for years. my Dr. wants me to see a back Dr. for an evaluation to make sure I don't have a nerve problem. So that is my next step. I hurt but nothing like before surgery. I just want to walk normal again. I did one day for just a few min & I don't know how that happened except for maybe it being a nerve...

    get some help soon. Thank u for listening..

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