Femoral nerve damage after THR

Oh my God Carolyn, I had a fluid filled cyst that grew inside my spinal cord too.  Doctors thought that it was because of being thrown through a windshield when I was a child in an auto accident (drunk driver who was uninsured and killed 3 people).  I had to have my hip replaced then.  Fast forward 30 years and the hip joint got arthritis so the hip had to be replaced.  I hated that surgeon who didn't believe i had tremendous pain after the surgery, he thought I only wanted pain meds.  NOT the case!  I have been through hell in my life and believe me, I can take pain.  But nerve pain?  There's no way anyone can handle that pain, day in and day out.  He finally refused to see me anymore because I wrote a letter telling him and his staff what a terrible physician's office they had.  He told me he was "offended".  Fast forward 7 years, the hip implant failed.  Left me on the street while on vacation one day.  Hip implant come to find out was a metal on metal and I had to have it replaced.  During that surgery the doctor damaged the femoral nerve.  I found all of this out through research on my own.  The doctors don't want to tell you that.  I believe you had damage to your sciatic nerve.  If you had pain in your buttocks area, that's the sciatic nerve.  Be careful, get that taken care of because it can cause you to lose function of your leg.  That's what has happened to me.  I've completely lost function of my right leg now.  It's the doctors and the medical implant company's fault totally.  I hired an attorney, took 4 years and you know what the medical mfg gave me as a settlement?  $190,000 of which the attorney gets 30% and court costs and medical reimbursement to my insurance carrier and I'm left with $150,000 if I'm lucky.  I signed the settlement agreement 2-3 months ago, you would think I could receive my check now right?  Nope, not until they're ready.  I have lost so much, I don't even have time to write it all here.  My recommendation for pain...the only thing that helps me is Hydrocodone.  It actually makes nerve pain go away or at least more tolerable.  Of course, now that's in the news everywhere because kids have abused it.  Now the government is going to get involved and cause me trouble with getting scripts filled I just know it! I'm not a drug addict, it's just that nothing else works.  Oh and you can't just go to your doctor for pain meds any longer, they require that you go to a pain mgt specialist.  That's a total joke too.  I wish I could be born again and get out of the mess of a  life with medical issues.  I've been dealing with them for 52 years now and it's getting terrible to live with it!!!!  Doctors don't care, insurance companies don't care, no one cares anymore.  I miss the days of having your 1 doctor that you went to for everything and he actually cared about you.  Good luck!!!! 

Good luck rhea72453.  I hate to tell you but my right hip was replaced 7 years ago, I started suffering with the implant and it eventually failed all together.  Come to find out, the hip implant had been recalled.  I never found this out because my doctor dumped me.  I told him his office and he were terrible and showed no concern for their patient.  He was "offended" and refused to see me any longer.  Fast forward 7 years, I find out the implant has been recalled so I found an attorney who referred me to another doctor.  I had the implant replaced 3 years ago.  My right foot has foot drop so bad I now cannot walk.  Once nerves die, they are dead.  I don't know the time frame but you better get on that one REAL QUICK.  That will take a neurologist to determine if the nerves will regenerate.  If you do nothing, you won't be able to walk.  I cannot use a cane because I have no balance because of this.  The cane actually makes it worse.  The only assistance that helps is a walker.  I'm 54 years old, was in great shape before this debacle!  I now can't drive, can't go to the grocery store, you know the little things that you take for granted.  It's horrible.  My lawsuit against the manufacturer, Zimmer has been settled.  They won't recognize the foot drop issue AT ALL, even the attorney says that they could have gotten out of paying anything if I pushed it because I had been in a bad car accident many years prior (when I was 2).  You can read the thread here to hear the whole story I have.  Anyway, my lawsuit gave me a whopping $200,000 BEFORE the attorneys and court costs were paid.  I'm imagining I will walk with about $150,000 if I'm lucky.  I was in sales before all of this, I could travel.  Now I CAN'T!!!!  I made over six figures every year because I'm damn good at what I do.  Now, I can't command that kind of money in inside sales.  No way!  I could quit work and claim disability for the great sum they will pay me but wait, I can't even get what is rightfully due me until I fight with the Social Security Administration to get my disability, right?!!!  I'm steaming mad!!!  I've been literally SCREWED.  Oh and the lawsuit has taken 4 YEARS to settle.  I'm supposed to have a check before 12/13/17.  I signed the settlement agreement 2-3 months ago.  What takes so long to issue a check?  They just hold on and wait and hold on and wait, while earning money in the bank.  My attorney will walk away with almost as much money as I get and he's not even injured.  This is such a shame.  My advice, you better go to a neurologist STAT!!!  You don't want to take the chance that the nerve will die.  When it dies, it's done FOREVER.  

Hello Bethan04260...I'm excited to hear that you're able to walk after your femoral nerve was damaged.  How was it damaged?  During a knee replacement surgery or something else?  Mine was damaged (I think) during my 2nd hip replacement on the right side.  The 2nd time the surgery was done, I got worse with the leg feeling numb and now it's been 3 years and over the last year has progressed to the point where I have no control of the leg.  I do not exercise and yes, I know I should.  I used to ride by bike every Sunday for 20 miles but now don't do anything but sit at my desk and then on my couch when the work day is done.  Life has become very difficult because I can't walk.  Also because it's my right leg, I have some trouble driving.  I need hand controls on the car installed I guess.  I typically don't choose to drive because I don't want to put my life or anyone else's in danger.  I wish you luck with your injury, sounds like you're doing GREAT.  Keep it up!  But keep off that chocolate.  Replace the chocolate with something else, then you'll still feel like you're getting a treat.  Maybe peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers?  Something that's better for you.  Celery with cream cheese or pimento cheese?  I'm just thinking out loud...lol.  I know...my favorite thing is cottage cheese with strawberries sliced into it...YUM, YUM!   

Hi Mandy I'm 4 years post op. I have got to the point of no more improvement now. My muscle recovered to stop my leg collapsing and I can now go up and downstairs like normal though it is with pain. This took 3 years to get to that point so I am fortunate that my nerve to the muscle regenerated. Sadly the saphenous nerve has had no recovery. My inner thigh down to my ankle is oversensitive and it hurts down my leg the more steps I take so I use crutches when outside. However I walk as little as possible s I don't get pleasure from walking just pain. You probably need physiotherapy to improve your muscle thats how mine improved. As for driving I drive an automatic car with left foot accelerator. It has been adapted so I only use my left leg when driving my healthy one! You can get twin flips so if someone without difficulty driving can flip the accelerator back to normal side. I've had my cars adapted for 25 years since I originally damaged my right leg in car accident. My femoral nerve was damaged with hip replacement 4 years ago adding more pain to my already painful hip and pelvis!

I hope this gives you an idea to drive again, without my car I would not go out. Keep well.

Debbie, thank you so much for your reply!  I have not been diagnosed yet as having a femoral nerve injury but I'm working on it.  I KNOW that it was damaged during my hip replacement because I could walk fine before the surgery.  It's funny how doctors are protective of each other and they don't want to diagnose an issue of malpractice!  I certainly think mine fits into that category!  I am happy to hear that you were able to modify your vehicle where you can still drive.  I'm hoping to be able to do so myself as well.  As it is since my leg has gotten so bad, I don't go anywhere too much because my poor hubby has to help me walk.  Without him to lean on, I couldn't get around without having to use a walker or a wheelchair.  I'm so proud I don't want to have to do that.  I've been through hell my entire life (injured as a 2 year old child) and ever since everything that I've been through, I want to be normal, not handicapped!  I've always been strong and no one has ever known that I had any health issues until now.  Now it's messing with my mind and my mental well being, you know?  I try to keep positive but it's hard when your whole life as you knew it has changed.  I'm working on myself daily. I work from home, thankfully so I can easily work but going out has become a chore.  My hubby is a musician and performs at venues all over locally but now I can't really even go to the events anymore because I can't really drive myself there.  I don't want to go with him because he goes an hour early to set up, has to stay an hour later to tear down and  performs normally for 4 hours.  That would be 6 hours of me sitting there.  Ha!  It would be perfect if I were able to walk and drive again, I could just show up for an hour or so and leave, supporting my husband and having a little fun myself too.  But, we'll see as time goes on what happens here.  I'm hearing all of your stories on this page and am learning at least that I'm not alone.  Has any one here been successful with a malpractice case against the doctor who damaged the nerve I wonder???  I wish you the best debbie04463 and thank you for your response!! 

Hi Mandy I diagnosed myself! After hip replacement I couldn't move my lower leg beneath the knee and it felt numb. When surgeon came to check post op I told him. He said it sometimes happens as the leg is stretched and manipulated during surgery but it would be temporary. My leg gave way when physio took me to walk on crutches as they went to sit me down. When I went home it was agony and I was getting electric shock type pains. My leg was strange. I googled my symptoms and when I went for 6 week check up I told the surgeon he checked my lower leg that just hang with no movement. He agreed and said it should recover within a year. He arranged physio and a nerve specialist who confirmed the damage. My surgeon apologised and said it is rare. I didnt sue as we sign a disclaimer of the possibility of nerve damage. I assume you are in USA I'm in UK . There was a degree of neglect which I only found ou post op. He refused to look at my xrays and scans when I first saw him as was the request of my original surgeon i have plates and screws in my pelvis. I had kept these for 20 years! I should have had a scan as I had the original damage repair. It was not a standard hip replacement so needed more care.

I hope you get an improvement and get your car adapted as soon as you can. This will make you more independent and helps your mental well being. I will sit in a wheelchair if someone wants me to come with them for a walk. Not independant but better than being left out. As I can't change anything I have learnt to accept it though I have down days.

Good luck for your future.

I am going through femoral neuropathy in my both legs from July ,2016.

At first I was not able to stand up with my knees. There are numbness, stinging, and electrical shocks , swelling , pinching  and movement loss in the legs.

I could not stand up about 2 weeks after that I started to stand up and from then my improvement going on .Now I can walk without any support ,started to climb up and down stair . I am going through medicine and physiotherapy .I start doing cycling every day .

My movement increasing day by day but only problem I am stuck with my legs are very weak. My quadriceps are wasted by femoral neuropathy specially the inner thigh VMO. My legs are became thin at that portion .

Want to know is anyone here who is recovered  100% from Femoral Neuropathy and get back normal life ? Is Femoral Neuropathy is curable?

How long does it take to rebuild muscle strength ???

I am getting very frustrated  …How long does it takes to recovered ? I already spead 1 and half years with it .

Will I able to lead in normal life  ??

Hi sorry to hear that. I would ask your GP to refer you for nerve tests. It sounds like nerve damage. Might be saphenous nerve which I think gives us sense of touch. If it is I was told feeling can come back up to about 2 years. If not it's permanent. Unfortunately for me mine is hypersensitive to touch and painful at times along with numbness. I am about 4 years post op no improvement. Hopefully your numbness will go gradually as nerves take time to repair if they are going to.

Thanks Debbie.  I have had the nerve tests done and they indicate substantial nerve damage both to the femoral and sciatic nerve.  As a result, my right leg is numb in certain areas, I have foot drop and trip very easily so I have to be cautious when walking plus the leg doesn't pick up well to take a step.  There is pain to the touch - hypersensitive on the back of my heel which is very odd.  It's so painful at times that I cannot even let my heel touch the bed and have to turn on my side to eliminate the discomfort.  This just started.  I'm 3 years post-op and have been trying to settle my lawsuit but between the attorneys dragging their feet (this has been a 4 year process) and the manufacturer dragging their feet, I'm at their mercy before I can proceed with any other suit to sue for medical negligence.  I found out just this past year that my surgeon was an alcoholic so bad that he killed his liver.  He had a liver replacement last year and subsequently passed away.  While I feel bad for his family, I have to wonder if he might have been drunk when he did my surgery and somehow damaged my nerves.  He has a practice that remains so I'm hoping that I can get something out of the practice if I can find an attorney to represent me.  This has been such a mess, my life has been so severely impacted that I just cannot believe it.  I just want to be normal again but I fear that my life as I knew it is over and that I will be confined to a wheelchair in the not too distant future.  I am trying to stay positive but at the pace that I'm declining with my ability to walk, I am in fear of this.  Thanks for your comments along the way.  It's nice to know that I'm not alone at least.  I hate to think that others are going through the same hell that I am but it's still nice to know I at least can ask advice here in this forum.  Thank you!  

Try four years, Mark. Had THR in 2013. They crushed my femoral nerve. Had to have 5 pints of blood. Negligent post surgical care at reputable hospital. Quad is

mostly gone, plus knee.  Had to learn to walk, Drive, navigate stairs. I am handicapped. Now use two canes. We filed a law suit. Just had first deposition three years later. My quality of life and my husband’s has been seriously compromised. I’m a U.S. patient. Yes physicians, surgeons make mistakes. They also carry insurance for when they do. Hospitals too.

Hi Sissy, 

I am a US patient too.  Where do you live?  I'm in FL which has one of the worst set of laws for patients who need to sue.  We have a 3 year limit on filing negligence suits.  The doctors protect each other and it now appears the attorneys protect them as well as the medical device manufacturers, etc.  I just settled a suit for a titanium hip implant after 4 years of waiting.  I was told that my fee would be 33 1/3% of the total settlement, then I have to pay all court costs and other associated costs of taking the suit to court.  I am under an MDL (Multi District Litigation) suit where we are also required to pay 4% on top of that to contribute to the attorneys fund.  The attorneys fund is there for the attorneys to pull money out of cases that take years to settle.  Now I have a problem with that because everyone is required to pay associated costs and it comes out of their settlement before they get a check.  To me, that's double dipping.  The attorneys should ask for a retainer if they cannot wait to be paid for their expenses.  I argued about it and my attorney agreed to pay it himself.  They also tried to up my percentage from 33 1/3% to 40% and I was floored.  In my agreement there were 2 sentences, 33 1/3% if the case was settled out of court, 40% if the case was taken to court.  I never went to court but it was filed in the court system to protect my interest in getting a settlement.  I argued that too and they agreed, reluctantly to reduce their percentage.  I cannot believe how we are screwed by everyone, over and over at every step of the way.  We are the ones who are having to live with a very debilitating, life changing condition - not them!  I also had my femoral and sciatic nerves damaged and am waiting for this to be settled before suing my doctor for medical negligence.  I found out after my surgery that he was an alcoholic.  About 6 mos after my surgery, he had to have a liver transplant because of his alcoholism.  I cannot believe that he wasn't drinking when he did the surgery and that is why my nerves were damaged.  I'm so disappointed and disenchanted with the entire thing.  These medical device manufacturers do not care about the well being of the patient, only their pocketbooks. I was given a pitiful settlement, just pitiful.   I now cannot walk without a walker.  A cane only makes me off balance.  Two canes would probably do the trick but I would just rather use a walker.  I am only 55 years old, just married for 3 years and now my entire life after this 2nd hip implant is screwed.  I was so looking forward to traveling after my retirement and now it will be extremely difficult for me to do so. I deserve millions of dollars for my pain and suffering and both mine and my husband's quality of life. I'm in so much pain daily that I have no good days.  My husband has to deal with this daily and I feel so bad but there is nothing I can do.  I wish I had never had the implant done in the first place.  I could walk before it, yes there was pain but I could walk!!!!  I wish you good luck and success but I fear you will not get better than you are now.  Just as I fear that I will get worse as the years go on.  God help us all!!!  

I’m so sorry to hear this. I do believe the law is never truly on the side of the patient. There is still this unwritten law of MD as deity. The medical industry is a profit troll lurking under the bridge we cross they say will make us all better.My hip replacement was a butchery. My femoral nerve has been deemed crushed by two other expert opinions which accounts for permanent paralysis. It hasn’t changed in 4 1/2 years. I had to have 5 pints of blood. They discharged me from hospital as a brochure patient even though I could barely take a step with two aids and a walker. I was weak, sent to a nursing rehab facility to learn to walk again. Came home and fell into the house, my husband standing helplessly by. I have fallen so many times I’ve stopped counting. Decided to sue one year out. They inch along. Was deposed and it was a grueling comedy. My husband will be next and finally my surgeon, and I assume hospital moguls since the firm is taking advantage of bifurcation which is legal in my state. 

I love logic. Logic tells me my surgeon, et all made life damaging mistakes. I am the victim.They are insured for their mistakes. But how can deities make mistakes??

Im now 74. Life has been a mess for me and my husband these past four years. I still suffer from anemia, pain, weakness. I’m an artist. That gives me some strength.

best to you, Mandy. You are too young to go through what you have.

Sissy, thank you for your response.  I am so sorry you had to go through all of that.  It's such a shame that they just turn their heads and walk away, isn't it?  The only option we have is to do our research and SUE THEM!  I'm tired Sissy, really tired.  If Jack Kavorkian was still alive and taking patients, I would be on his list.  I don't want to fight anymore.  You get to a point where you know that you're not going to be better.  At this point I feel like such a burden on my poor husband.  Thank GOD for him though because without him, I wouldn't be able to even get out of the house.  At least with him, I can hold his arm and walk slowly along but that isn't what I want out of life for him either.  I HATE being a burden on those that I love.  I don't want to put them through this and selfishly I don't want to go through it either.  Where are you Sissy?  I would love to know how you went about suing the doctor but more importantly, how did you find your attorney?  I want to sue the doctor's practice who damaged my nerve but as I said in an earlier post, the surgeon died last year.  I'm hoping that all is not lost because of that.  God PLEASE help me with this battle.  Just one more I'm hoping.  I wish we could all get together as a group and meet each other and offer support and love.  That's all any of us want, right?  We did nothing except have a want and a need to get better.  I feel they took advantage of us, took our insurance money and walked away when there was a problem.  We're just the throw a ways.  Sad, sad case that this happens to people who just want to get better and have a quality of life. My husband is an artist too, but with his guitar.  Sometimes I'm jealous that he has something to put his focus into.  I don't have that, only my work right now is where I put my focus.  I'm not able to do much else.  But I'm tired of that too and just ready to retire.  It's difficult to focus some days because I'm in so much pain and haven't slept well.  Oh well, it is what it is right?  I wish you luck with your case and I wish you peace and joy during this holiday season.  I hope we all can get better one day or at least learn to live with what we have.  

I am going through femoral neuropathy in my both legs from July ,2016.

At first I was not able to stand up with my knees. There are numbness, stinging, and electrical shocks , swelling , pinching  and movement loss in the legs.

I could not stand up about 2 weeks after that I started to stand up and from then my improvement going on .Now I can walk without any support ,started to climb up and down stair . I am going through medicine and physiotherapy .I start doing cycling every day .

My movement increasing day by day but only problem I am stuck with my legs are very weak. My quadriceps are wasted by femoral neuropathy specially the inner thigh VMO. My legs are became thin at that portion .

Want to know is anyone here who is recovered  100% from Femoral Neuropathy and get back normal life ? Is Femoral Neuropathy is curable?

How long does it take to rebuild muscle strength ???

I am getting very frustrated  …How long does it takes to recovered ? I already spead 1 and half years with it .

Will I able to lead in normal life  ??