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Femoral nerve damage after THR

Posted , 71 users are following.

debbie04463
debbie04463

Hi I have had THR last November and sustained femoral nerve damage. I have posted on other discussions but want to ask if anyone else on this site has had the same damage. I am now 8 months post op I have been told by surgeon he thinks  my nerve will recover but nerve specialist cant promise. So far I have had no improvement in the feeling of my inner thigh knee and half lower leg. It is still as bad with also electric type shooting pains. I still need 2 crutches when out dometimes I still use leg brace inside if I have grandchildren as not easy to be with them using a crutch. I now see significant muscle wastage in top of thigh and shin. I can't walk up or down stairs normally my leg muscle won't take my weight to lift me up the step. I I am seeing surgeon tjis week and want to ask for more nerve tests to see if nerves are connecting. Has anyone had this and recovered if so what time period? Thanks in anticipation. 

11 likes, 239 replies

239 Replies

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  • patricis
    patricis debbie04463

    Posted

    Debbie, so sorry to hear about your situation...I hope you get some support here from someone going through the same set back....will be thinking of you!
  • kaleani75551
    kaleani75551 debbie04463

    Posted

    Sorry for all your problems Debbie, it should not be that way.   If it were me i would definitely go back to the surgeon and insist on getting more answers and a possible way out of it.  I had my anterior hip done March 2014 and still have swelling and numbness in a large area of the front thigh.   My surgeon said it could stay like this permanently.  
    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 kaleani75551

      Posted

      Thank you , it does help to share the worries. I haven't had an issue with the operated area as I have been unable to sleep on that side since original op it has always been tender. Sorry to hear yours may be permanent does it affect your walking ability?
    • kaleani75551
      kaleani75551 debbie04463

      Posted

      No, the numbness and slight swelling (it has come down a bit lately but still have a bump there) do not affect walking at all.  It is just annoying, especially that my right hip, done posterior approach, has none of this.  No need to say that i regret having done anterior for the left.   It may not be as serious as what you go thru but same here, it should not be that way.  The doctor, when asked, was very casual about it, like saying 'what are u complaining abt? You got a new hip, be happy'..  I was quite upset then...
    • mark357
      mark357 kaleani75551

      Posted

      What if your consultant could refer you to a nerve specialist?
    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 kaleani75551

      Posted

      So bloody insulting for a specialist to belittle your suffering,  he is not the one having to live with it. 
    • kaleani75551
      kaleani75551 debbie04463

      Posted

      Actually what he says (in a very casual way) is that numbness happens with this type of surgery and that it may go away, sometimes it takes a year or more, and for some patients it is permanent.  So at this point all i have to do is wait, my anterior hip was 17 weeks ago.
    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 kaleani75551

      Posted

      Kaleani I don't know what type of cut I had but he followed my scar from original scar which is a large Y on my thigh going round my backside.  He did not follow round the whole Y just on thigh side. I do have a light numbness on there which doesn't affect me as I don't lay on that side. The Femoral nerve is near the groingoing down the leg .The numbness is weird feeling it prickles with slight touch. I cant feel my leg when I swim dont know whst its doing. It affects walking as you think your leg is going to give way which it has done a few times. It affects the message to the muscles so part of them dont work. Thats why my muscle is wasting andit wont lift me on a step.
  • jackie56101
    jackie56101 debbie04463

    Posted

    Hi Debbie, I just had total revised hip replacement I also have nerve damage

    Hard to walk long distance, And sleeping i can only sleep on my back to much pain

    and throbing if i sleep on my side. I did go back to work april 2014 2 months is all i lasted after four hour shift i could barely walk to my car. So im back on disability and better not working . My job is assistant manager so standing for long period of time lifting pulling etc. To say the least I can not do my job and thats not what i signed up for. So I found another doctor to see that has better bedside manner so we will see what happens. I am very thankful for this site

    wish you luck

    jackie 

    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 jackie56101

      Posted

      Its terrible the suffering.  I also read (post op) that a revision is riskier than the first op and more likely to have nerve damage.  Were you told that? The thing is we are all desperate to improve our quality of life we don't consider that we would be the unlucky ones and come out worse. I can sympathise with you be unable to work,  if going to work means the pain will increase(personally I think its a form of physical torture and also affects your mental state). I have been unable to work prior to the op as I was not able to cope with the increase of pain. I was an accontannt so had a desk jo. Sitting upright on a chair increased pain in my pelvis so hard to concentrate.  I loved my job and carried on for 9 months when I had a second op to remove some screws I could not cope anymore and became suicidal. Thankfully I eventually came to terms with walking difficulties and pain, took several years. Though I am in pain now and am worse I count my blessings and get a lot of joy from my grandchildren. 
    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 jackie56101

      Posted

      I hope you get a better outcome with your new Doctor. If   our nerves grow back it grows about a centimetre a month. Based on that mine should be improving by xmas. If there is no improvement after 2- 3 years it is unlikely to come back. I would not go for any nerve repair ops, I am too traumstised by it all and don't want to risk anymore damage. 
    • jackie56101
      jackie56101 mark357

      Posted

      Hi mark357,

      Yes im still waiting for the referral in the mail !!

    • jackie56101
      jackie56101 debbie04463

      Posted

      Hi Debbie ,

      I was not told about possiable nerve damage but i read about it the day going in to surgery. When i woke up from surgery my foot felt different when i ask my doctor he said it will go away with time. Thats all he says is I will get better with time. Im at 9 months now in alot of pain, and limb even more so now then i did before the surgery. All we can do is take one day at time and thank god

      Thanks again

      Jackie

    • mark357
      mark357 jackie56101

      Posted

      Jackie can I ask what surgery did you have? In February I had surgery and the surgeon had to open up in four different places, 1) top of foot by toes, 2) outside ankle joint 3) from back of ankle going down and to the side 4) alone the calf muscle inside of leg.

      My consultant shown me the x-ray and where he had put the 4" screw and other metal implants and my foot is okay now. I'm waiting for the right side to be done now.

    • lillie7362
      lillie7362 jackie56101

      Posted

      I know this is new but I was turned down for disability.I have to much pain cant lift the left leg its like the ceramic is to heavy.feels like bone stickig in my groin I cant work/ walk on top of that both doc r pointing at each other. Maybe I should seek a nerve doc
    • lillie7362
      lillie7362 jackie56101

      Posted

      Wish u look Jackie my stupid doc told me i will never heal. I was turned down with disability.and i cant work hes sayiny my back surgery is causing my problem he did his job so he says.
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee debbie04463

      Posted

      Debbie, I so understand not being able to cope anymore despite the best efforts to remain on top of our thoughts.  Right now I am refusing to believe those negative thoughts that this pain will never end and there is no future for me and my body is so out of whack that I will never be able to regain my former shape....it goes on and on.  The truth is  that constant pain changes a person.  It wears me thin.  I fight to control my thoughts about it.  I fight to keep a pleasant countenance and attitude instead of complaining or walking around with a pinched face.  This is a challenge!  

      Sending you positive vibes and hang in there!  This site is great for encouragement and sharing!  

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