Groin pain after hip replacement

Posted , 10 users are following.

Four weeks in from my hip replacement I wake up after a couple of hours sleep with pain in groin with tingling sensation going down inside of leg it only seems to happen during the night if I get up and walk around it easies it but as soon as I get back into bed it starts again anybody else get this it is stopping me getting sleep. I take a couple of pain killers I have tried ice and heat any suggestions?

0 likes, 16 replies

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  • Posted

    Sounds like a nerve to me....maybe try some stretches for sciatic nerve..but def.speak to PT
  • Posted

    Hi I am following as I have had the same but stared later at about 12 weeks after surgery. I have had bone scan and blood work to rule out infection. Surgeon thinks its muscles and ligaments soft tissue and to see massage and physio therapy and keep going to chiropractor to keep all in alignment.   

    Would love to hear others idea's or experiences as I am now 6 months in and still can't sleep through the night because of pain 

    Sue

  • Posted

    Hi Dawson, do you sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs? This might be helpful if you don’t already do it. Also be sure you follow the precautions so you don’t stress your hip. Hope these ideas help. Very best of recovery to you!
  • Posted

    what was the approach used?
    • Posted

      Hi Charlie it was posteria and I lay on non operated side with a pillow between legs or on back with pillow under knees.
    • Posted

      thanks for the info.  i kind of do an informal survey of problems after surgery based on approach. very non scientific, more to get a feel for post op issues by issue type linked to approach type.
    • Posted

      I think you have to be fairly careful with approach type as the op has changed a lot. In my case with posterior I had no restrictions for example. It seems muscles are not always cut although the scar is bigger. I am not sure this is always true depending who does the op. My surgeon stopped anterior approach due to what he felt were problems after and now does posterior only. It does seem that in some cases with anterior the surgeon needs to cut muscles which we are told does not happen. 
    • Posted

      >My surgeon stopped anterior approach due to what he felt were problems after and now does posterior only

      What problems did he have with anterior approach?  Thanks

    • Posted

      I think anterior is susceptible to nerve problems and also muscles had to be moved aside which causes problems and he feels posterior approach preserves the muscles.  I suppose the incision is smaller with anterior which means it is more difficult to move about. I think he is in his mid fifties and does 160 primary hips a year plus 33 revision hips. 
  • Posted

    Hi Dawson, I have the same issue.  Through much research and talking to my physical therapist we have concluded that it is the hip flexor muscle.  It is stretch and moved aside during surgery and it gets very angry lol.  If you search hip flexor stretches you will see what I mean and find a lot of very helpful information.  The good news is it doesn’t last forever, the bad news it takes about a year to recover.  I recently started sleeping in my bed again and it flared up, the pillow between your legs at your knees while sleeping on your side is a big help.  Mostly just be patient as your body tries to adjust to your new hip and all the trauma it was put through.  Better days are coming.
    • Posted

      Thank you Jean very helpful I need to be more patient and give my body time to repair.
    • Posted

      Thank you Jean very helpful I need to be more patient and give my body time to repair.
  • Posted

    I agree with Jean. It’s only 4 weeks and you’ve had a lot of ‘damage’ done to muscles around  they are just healing. I am 11 weeks in now after both hips done at same time and I was worried about my right side groin - no issues on left at all - but when walking ( no other time) it’s uncomfortable and I automatically start to limp (by habit with it hurting so much pre op) it’s really improved in the last week with some extra physio and pool exercises but that’s too early for you at the mo. Keep up religiously with your exercises and am sure will click into place in good time. I’m only 51 so I was expecting it to be 100% by now but it’s not yet so just take your time. X
    • Posted

      Hi dawn 5348 I cannot imagine how you copied with both hips but like you i was expecting to be 100% better quickly but reading all the replies and various articles it's not going to happen just a waiting game now for body to hopefully heal at its own pace thank you for replying

    • Posted

      You are very welcome. Worst part for me ( and still can’t ) is lie on any side so takes me a while to get to sleep. Hopefully not much longer though x 

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