Femoral nerve damage after THR
Posted , 71 users are following.
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
CourtneyLaw debbie04463
Posted
I am a patient in the US and had a great THR earlier this year . Unfortunately it was so great that my physical therapist encouraged me to walk outdoors the first week I was home, using only a cane. I fell on day 7, dislocated my hip and fractured my pelvis. Back to the hospital to get fixed and spent \a week before coming home with 20 screws in my pelvis and a couple of plates. My drop foot was not evident for about 2 weeks after the surgery. I had a large hematoma when I fell and continued to have MRI and CT tests that showed the presence of a hematoma. My surgeon drained 50cc and referred me to a neurologist about 6 weeks later. The neurologist suggested that a compressed nerve was causing my foot drop and suggested that it was most likely from a hematoma. The surgeon did not agree and sent me to another physical therapist with no precautions. Welp PT #2 managed to literally dislocate my hip during a session when s/he pulled my "bad leg" off of exercise equipment. Somehow I managed to get my hip back in place and never dreamed it was actually dislocated because although I experienced pain, it was not as bad as I thought a dislocated hip would feel. I compared it to my fall earlier, which was much worse. For about 10 days I had this ongoing dislocation every day,sometimes more than once. Primarily it occurred after I'd been seated for a while. I went to a 2nd "prominent" surgeon who examined me, took xrays and pronounced me good to go. He thought it was just scar tissue breaking up. I returned to to surgeon #1 for a routine scheduled recheck and my hip dislocated in his office during a check of the ROM. Now THIS one hurt! He and his assistant did a closed reduction, no meds to help, took an xray and pronounced me good to go.The next night, actually 1 am, I got out of bed and yep, my hip came out. I called and got an "on call" doc.By the time he actually returned my calll I had wiggled about and got the darn hip back in. Obviously it was not as dramatic as the incident in the surgeon's office but this scared me because I knew it could happen again. My husband called surgeon #1 office. They reserved a suite for me at the hospital and back I go for surgery 3. This is 2 months after surgery 1. This time he put clamps and said this should hold. He also found that 4cm of my sciatic nerve was completely encased and entrapped in scar tissue. Doc said this should help the healing but ? 6 weeks later I admit I am nervous as heck. I think I have a little more movement in my toes but I have to wear a brace to walk and I still use either a walker or cane. I have had very little to no pain since surgery 3 but this past few days experienced pain in the buttock where the incision is located and my thigh is sore and tight. Surgeon 1 said it is probably...Wait for it; Scar tissue. I am returning to the neurologist this next week to see if there's any change in the condition of my nerves and I have an appt to consult with a neurologist at Mayo Clinic next month. Long story and if you've read this far I am grateful because no one, absolutely no one understands how I feel. The weeks before surgery 1 I logged 2, 4 mile walks and a bike ride because I figured I'd be off for a month-6 weeks and here I am. I take 1600 mg Gabapentin and it pretty much controls the zingers. I am trying to reduce it tho because it makes me teary. I take an anti-inflammatory med, low dose aspirin, and that's about it. I have scoured the internet trying to find info about all of this and literally never heard of foot drop or drop foot (whatever you call it) until I got it. No one, and I mean absolutely no one, ever warned me that it could possibly occur because if I'd had a chance to see just how many suffer nerve damage after a THR I probably would have just toughed out the original hip pain until it was debilitating. Anyhow I appreciate reading all your stories and hope you are healing. Some days I am very optimistic and others I just sigh and think this is for the rest of my life.
Blessings
CL
mandy0819 CourtneyLaw
Posted
Courtney, where are you? Honey I feel for you and am going through the exact same types of issues. I live in Daytona Beach and am sick and tired of doctors protecting doctors. They do not want to help us. They are kindred brothers who protect each other. Just think about it, if one doctor says another one is negligent, then when they go to their conferences and meet each other in person, they have gone against one of their own. I will NEVER BE THE SAME PERSON I WAS BEFORE THR. I would NEVER do it again knowing all I know now. My hip was originally implanted 10 years ago and had to be removed because it was a metal on metal implant. The 2nd surgery went fine, I thought wow I am actually going to be able to walk again. My 2nd doctor (different from the first) told me that he was going to write up a scathing case on the poor job the original surgeon did, he said it was "a mess" and that I would live happily forever with my lawsuit against the implant manufacturer. I settled but that's another whole story. I got very little for what I am having to go through and I don't have the money yet even though the suit has been settled. They are holding the money for what? I have no clue. Anyway my 2nd surgeon I found out was an alcoholic and had to have a liver implant done after my surgery (months later) and now I'm wondering if he wasn't drunk when he did my surgery. I can't walk after the 2nd surgery and that didn't show up really for several months. All of a sudden I started tripping because my foot was dragging. I didn't realize it and then just started researching THR's and found the foot drop or sciatic nerve was an issue with THR's. NO ONE told me, I had to FIND IT ON MY OWN. I am so sick of all of this. I'm really ready to just give up. This is not the quality of life that I want. I'm in constant pain, taking Gabapentin at night because it makes me so groggy during the day. But get this, I can't sleep at night even taking that because I'm in pain constantly. The nerve in my leg either jumps or just hurts very painfully at night. My hip even hurts probably because of all of the scar tissue. I cannot walk without assistance and really need a wheelchair. I've refused to use a cane and I refuse to be in a wheelchair. I've been through hell my entire life and now this? Really? I'm just tired of it all. Tired of the doctors protecting themselves, tired of the lawyers, tired of the medical office staff who don't want to help you and tired of my quality of life. I've given up on ever finding peace and a person who actually cares. We are on this blog to find each other and find solace and possible ways to prevent additional damage. Unfortunately none of us have any power. I want to sue the medical practice physicians who put us in this place. I want someone who actually cares about our rights and quality of life. Is there any lawyer out there who would care enough to go up against these doctors who damage us? They all turn away too, even though they stand to make 40% on our cases. Yes, not 33 1/3% like we think but 40%. They make almost as much money off of our cases as we receive. Unbelieveable. I've got many, many stories that will make your hair stand on end. I've been a lifetime patient, since the age of 2 when a drunk driver started this ball rolling. I've never not been in a hospital year after year. I've seen the entire industry change from taking care of the patient to taking care of their pocketbooks. I'm tired, can you tell? If you need any advice, do your research and tell the doctors what they need to do for you. They won't tell you themselves. You must care for yourself. Sue the doctor who damaged you. Research the laws for how long you have after surgery. But also remember that the clock starts once you realize you've been damaged, not necessarily from the date of surgery. I never used to be a person to want to sue anyone but I'm angry over all of this and I want to sue anyone who damages me now!!! I'm really a very kind person but I've been abused and I'm tired of it! I'm not going to stand for it anymore. Try to keep your head up and fight. I've been fighting for 53 years...I'm only 55 but I feel like I'm 85 after everything I've been through. I'm definitely a fighter but I'm worn. Do what you can to help yourself, do not rely on the doctors!!!! I'm here if you need a shoulder. Happy to share my personal phone or email if you'd like a "sister" on this issue. I'm so sorry you've been so damaged by these professionals. It's a real shame!
CourtneyLaw mandy0819
Posted
I am on the west coast. Some days I feel optimistic and hope for a better recovery over time but other times I think ugh, what a mess. I am using a cane and wear AFO with my tennis shoes but that rather limits clothing and activity options. I had never heard of foot drop before I got it !!My husband thinks my fall set that in motion but I often wonder why my ankle rolled and whether I had some degree of nerve damage after the first Surgery 1 week earlier. I am hoping Mayo will be able to give me a better idea of nerve healing, if at all. This is a far cry from the life I was leading right up until August. I share your pain in this !!!
mayre_jo96843 debbie04463
Posted
Hi Debbie, I'm still on a walker. Had right THR in Sept, had leg numbness that same day. Have had physical therapy which helped a lot. I continue exercises learned there and walk a lot. Have an immobilizer to wear when walking with a brace ordered. Will have more PT after the first of the year. The muscle above the knee is showing movement. Yea! I've had a nerve conduction test, muscle test and MRI. No reason found. I suspect this will take at least a year to heal. By hook or by crook, it will heal. I'm 77 and have no time to waste. I do have a great medical team and the worlds best husband. The name of this game is Patience and lots of it.
Nice to know I'm not alone. Wishing you the best!
julie35449 debbie04463
Posted
Hi, I had a THR July/17 and woke up with tingling and numbness. The tingling went away but I still have numbness that runs down the back of my thigh, calf, ankle and foot. Every step I take is painful. I feel the pain deep in the hip joint and sometimes on the top of my thigh. I did have groin pain for a long time but that seems to be gone. I had a nerve conduction test and it confirms the sciatica nerve is damaged. The first CT scans show a hematoma the second CT scan shows partial resolution of the hematoma however I have not seen a change to the numbness.The surgeon is trying to tell me it's because I had degeneration in my back before the surgery which I do not believe as I did not have any back issues. At my 7 week check up (September/2017) the surgeon cleared me to go to work and drive, which was impossible (he was talking to me like the surgery was successful). I talked to my family doctor and she agreed there was no way I could go back to work with the pain and that I was very unstable walking. I did return to my part time office job in December but I can not return to my other part time job which involves a lot of walking. I have been to Physio, Acupunture and Chiropractor hoping something will help the pain and the limp but so far no luck. I was very active before the surgery going on hikes and keeping fit by going to the gym six times a week. This has been a real life changer for me and I would not have had this THR if I knew this would be the outcome. I would have waited until I was on my hands and knees. Currently I limp (in pain) around the office and home without the cane but when I go for walks with my dog I take my cane for support. I still hobble to the gym, ride the bike and do some abduction exercises but I see no changes as of yet. The chiropractor I am seeing says the nerve should start slowly healing after 6 months (I'm crossing my fingers that he is right). I am seeing the surgeon tomorrow and hope he can make some suggestions that will help my recovery but after reading all these comments I am not feeling very positive.
Just wondering if anyone tried massage or any other treatment?
CourtneyLaw debbie04463
Posted
I am going to Mayo to see if the nerve damage is from my thr, pelvic fracture or low back issues. I've been told that much of my recovery is wait and see. A nurse told me that I could be looking at a 2 year recovery when I was hospitalized. Wow! Hoping Mayo has more detail for me next week 🤞
julie35449 CourtneyLaw
Posted
What kind of tests will they do to determine where the nerve damage is coming from? I am hoping the surgeon will say and doing something to get better sooner rather than later.
mike18076 debbie04463
Posted
Debbie just read about your problem from 4 years ago so sorry to hear this.
I'm experiencing the same thing from 6 years ago. I believe mine is caused from scar tissue
pressing on the femoral nerve. Just wanted to see if you found anything out ?
Doctors don't tell you anything.
debbie04463 mike18076
Posted
Hi Sorry to hear this it's hard to live with. My surgeon told me it's where he had to pull the hip from socket and it sometimes stretches the femoral nerve. I would have had scar tissue already from previous surgery. I think he was negligent in not taking proper care as my original injury was rare and few surgeons do hip replacements with pre existing surgery. Several incidents during consultations prior and information I read after the replacement lead me to realise this. I have had sessions of physio over the years since, ok for muscle strength but hasn't helped with the pain from the nerve. Tried gabapentin but made me feel strange. I realise there is no treatment and I would never go through another op on my hip again! So unfortunately it's something I have to live with. Dont really get much sympathy from doctors. I haven't seen surgeon since a year after the op. Personally I think he was arrogant about his abilities. He had done over a thousand replacements and was a professor. I showed him xrays and scans I had kept for 20 years. My original surgeon who was great insisted I keep them to show whoever was going to replace my hip in the future. He said they were very important so the surgeon would see how he had repaired me. When I showed them he dismissed them didn't even look. Said he had xrays of how my hip was now. In hind sight I wish I had insisted but we put our faith in them as the expert. I do hope you are coping it is tough. Take care.
mike18076 debbie04463
Posted
Yes definitely hard to live with I couldn't agree with you more. Why I feel possibly that
scar tissue is my problem is that right where the surgeon made 1 of his 2 incisions on the top of
my thigh I have a very large tight band of scar tiissue on the inside. When I lift my leg leg I have
this tight bungy cord type rope feeling from the area of the scar tissue running all the way down my leg
on the inside of my thigh thru my knee to my foot with knee area being the WORST. Do you
experience any of that type feeling ?
Did you have the MIS-2 type THR surgery ? Doctors defintely have their way of protecting
one another . Take Care - MIke.
r7777 debbie04463
Posted
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 ??
r7777 debbie04463
Posted
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 ??