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Facing surgery to repair gluteus minimus tear & possible revision

Posted , 40 users are following.

AnnieK
AnnieK

I had a THR in July 2015, and have never yet been able to walk without a limp/pain. I had no limp pre-surgery. My previous thread was titled "22 weeks post-op, still can't walk unaided...". 

My orthopedic surgeon has been unable or unwilling to figure out what is wrong, or to even admit that there is a serious problem. He sent me to a physiatrist who ordered a lumbar MRI (no problem found) and did a sacroiliac joint steroid injection (no improvement). Went back to orthopedist and he ordered an MRI, which I had to push him to do, and the radiologist's report said there was a mild strain in the gluteus medius. I told the ortho that I thought I had an actual tear in my gluteus medius or gluteus minimus, and asked about surgery. He says surgery is never done for that. He said to take prednisone and go back to PT to strengthen the weakness in my hip/thigh.

I was unhappy with this, as I know that there is something wrong. More exercise only makes it worse. If it were a mild problem, it would have corrected itself by now. I do walk a fair amount, considering that I use a crutch or walker, and my healthy leg muscles are in good shape. I did a lot of online research about what my problem could be and to find a new doctor.

I saw a new orthopedist yesterday, one who has pioneered methods of gluteal tendon surgical repair. He ordered a bone scan, to rule out prosthesis loosening and infection, and another, better MRI. Again, the radiologist who read the MRI didn't see much, but the orthopedist looked at the scans and DID see evidence of a tear in the gluteus minimus. He says a "tear" is the same thing as "non-healing". The gluteus minimus and medius have to be separated during surgery in order to do the anteriolateral approach that was used on me.

The new doc says that my tear won't get better on its own. It requires surgical repair. He is also wondering if the positioning of my prosthesis might have prevented the healing of the muscle/tendon. So he is sending me to a revision specialist for a consult to see whether he thinks a revision is necessary to reposition things. I see him on Tuesday.

Steeling myself for further surgery. I am tired of being debilitated for 7 months now. Plus I have had a rotten head cold/sinusitis for the past 3½ weeks that has me really down. I had two orthopedist appointments on my birthday, while really sick with this cold, hardly able to speak. I hope I won't need a revision in addition to the tendon repair. Will know soon. Sigh.

Main takeaway: keep pushing for answers if something is wrong.

13 likes, 168 replies

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  • Chefel
    Chefel AnnieK

    Posted

    Hello my name is Ellen. I'm sorry to hear what all of you have and are going through. I also have been going through similar things with an undiagnosed gluteus minimus and labrum tear for 4 yrs. The toll it has been on my body is indescribable.

    If you don't mind me asking. ..who and where did you find your dr.

    Thank you in advance and best of luck and health.

    • Chefel
      Chefel

      Posted

      Hi this is Ellen again. I was wondering if anyone knows of any excellent Dr's who specializes in this gluteus minimus tear and labrum tear situation. I live in NJ but will travel if necessary. Thanks in advance.

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK Chefel

      Posted

      Chefel, I have sent you a private message with the names and websites of two doctors who do excellent work repairing gluteal tears. Hope it will help! They are both in the midwest, where I live, though. It is possible that one or the other of them would know of someone in your part of the country who can help.

      I know what it has been like, having to use walking aids for over a year now, and being in pain all the time. My health has nosedived in many ways. I can't imagine 4 years of this, like what you are suffering.

      I found my doctor through a google search. Feel so fortunate to have found such a great surgeon, who has even pioneered surgical techniques for GM repairs, so close to where I live.

      Best wishes to you, Ellen.

    • moojiminder1
      moojiminder1 Chefel

      Posted

      Hi Chefel, This would be a long flight for you and probably not feasible because of that going back but if you have friends in the San Francisco Bay Area Dr. Mark Lawler from Marin Orthopedics Sports Medicine was my guy. He is great.
    • Chefel
      Chefel moojiminder1

      Posted

      Thank you and yes I don't think I could make it that far away as I can't even sit to drink my coffee. I do appreciate the help however

    • bunny23334
      bunny23334 Chefel

      Posted

      Just wondering what you have done on GM tear repair...I have a tear for 5 years and can't walk much or drive for past 4 1/2 years. Looking for drs who have done this surgery and people with recovery outcomes...please help!

  • moojiminder1
    moojiminder1 AnnieK

    Posted

    Hi Annie. I just had this surgery two months ago. I had a snowboarding accident over 10 years ago and my butt landed on a sharp rock. For years they did exrays of my back and hip, put me on 2 years of medication management. I gave up. Finally they did an MRI the Orthopedic said the MRI showed I had two tears to my gluteous min. tendons but he didn't think that was significant and said that in his 25 years of being a dr. this wasn't an issue. but he sent me to another specialist and he saw that when I had no strength to lift my leg from the side and a cordosone shot didn't work that he needed to fix the glute min. tendon tears. He did! They were torn to the bone. He had to add hooks in my hip and tissue to help them connect. I am getting there but I am so mad it took 10 years to take this seriously. So, I say go for it. Apparenty the right doctor said, this is the new rotater cuff injury for atheletes. Good luck

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK moojiminder1

      Posted

      What a nightmare that it took ten years for you to get a correct diagnosis and surgery. And it is just so WRONG that it took so long. It's not uncommon for orthos to be completely unaware of the possibility of glute med. or glute min. tears being able to cause such disability. And I don't get that since a reading of the functions of those muscles tells the tale. My second opinion surgeon was fairly certain just by a physical exam of what I could and could not do on that leg, and confirmed it with the MRI. Two radiologists and my original surgeon saw the MRI as well, and didn't see it. You have to work HARD to get this diagnosis, and even harder to get proper treatment or surgery if necessary.

      Congratulations on finding a surgeon who knew what to do and on getting your tear finally taken care of! I know how very careful we have to be during recovery so that we don't tear them again. I will be wearing a brace that will limit my movements and be my reminder for 6 - 8 weeks, 24/7 not to move in ways that could hurt the repair.

      I am cheering you on for full recovery and getting your life back. Love your attitude! I needed to read this today, as I am feeling kind of low, especially with the back trouble I am having that makes everything ten times worse.

    • Chefel
      Chefel moojiminder1

      Posted

      Mine also probably happened@ 1p or 11 years ago . did your body start compensating? The muscles on my hip have shortened greatly affecting my whole body. May I ask if anyone has bowel problems because of this and if so any advice? Sorry to be so personal. Thanks.
    • AnnieK
      AnnieK Chefel

      Posted

      Chefel, it's been a year for me using either a walker or a crutch all the time. I saw on my MRI 6 months ago that my GM muscle was smaller and had lots of fat shot through it, a sure sign that it wasn't being used and was degenerating. It looked completely different from the same muscle on my "good" leg. I have always been careful to use a walking aid, since whenever I tried to go without one, I immediately got pain in my back, or in one leg or the other. Also, I had a severe limp due to lack of my gluteus medius/minimus being able to work as necessary. I have definitely NOT been able to keep nearly as active as I would have liked, and my health has spiraled down a lot in this last year. No bowel problems. 

    • bunny23334
      bunny23334 AnnieK

      Posted

      Just wondering what you have done on GM tear repair...I have a tear for 5 years and can't walk much or drive for past 4 1/2 years. Looking for drs who have done this surgery and people with recovery outcomes...please help!

    • bunny23334
      bunny23334 AnnieK

      Posted

      Yes I have been reading your post. Thank you for all the help. Wondering if you did blood thinners until you could put full weight to floor after surgery repair and lastly could you PM doctor you used. ....thank you I'm willing to travel wherever to find top rated surgeons with experience

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK bunny23334

      Posted

      For both my THR and my gluteal tendon repair surgeries I was on blood thinners for several weeks post-op. I was another 4 weeks without them until I was allowed to fully weight bear. I will happily PM you the name of my excellent surgeon!
    • bunny23334
      bunny23334 AnnieK

      Posted

      Thank you so much... I will check for your PM.
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