Hip dislocation after total hip replacement

I am sorry to say that since I had my total hip replacement in 2007, I have dislocated it 11 times and the doctors looking at the xrays cannot see anything wrong with the hip and do not recommend any further advice to stop this happening,so I am terrified to move, apart from not wearing socks or stockings.and trying not to bend; when putting shoes on so I know this does not sound very re-assuring for you but this is my experience and I am stuck with it.

 

I had a total hip replacement on 11/24/15 and my recovery went along very well until 3 weeks ago when it dislocated. The dislocation was my fault. I was sitting at the table wrapping Christmas gifts and I twisted and flexed past 90 degrees to pick up a gift from the floor and out popped my hip. The pain was terrible . We went to the ER and they put it back in. Within days I was once again doing great. Yesterday I took the dogs for a walk and felt good. I was trying to increase my strength and endurance . Later that night I was cutting my toe nails and did not think and over flexed my hip and it popped out. Went to the ER and they put it back in. I am home back using my walker, but my level of pain is not too bad. I will see my doctor tomorrow .

Hi Emma,

I'm so sorry tto hear this, i know how you feel.

I had a similar experience as well. I also dislocated my hip just 6 days after surgery and had to undergo anesthetic to have it put back by my surgeon.

Its been almost 17 months now since but sadly i still don't walk normal.

I have this constang tension in the front and when i walk i cannot extend my leg back too far so i tend to swing my entire hip backwards to accomodate it.

Im so disappointed with it all. I've tried everything, exercising, physio and swimming. Nothing is helping ands sadly my surgeon is not helpful and never available to speak.

He still restricts me from many activities.

Now im seriously doubting him and whether he was the best choice.

 

Hi Emma,

My husband had a similar situation. We are trying to get it corrected. Did you have to have surgery again?

I too dislocated my right hip replacement six months after my surgery. I completed physical therapy shorts after surgery, my pain was gone and I figured the surgery was a success. After all, I had my left hip replaced as well about a year or less prior to the right hip.

Anyway I was simply sitting in one of those beach chair type chairs on my porch the night before 4th of July. It was late night and I was getting ready to call my daughter. I dropped my cigarette on the porch floor, simply leaned down to pick it up and then, omg almost worse than childbirth pain. The pop sound was nauseating as well as the excruciating pain. Thank god I had the phone in my hand! I live Ali e so I couldn't call out for help.

I called an ambulance and I was embarrassed they came down my street sirens and all but so what. They gently put me on the stretcher and omg once again. I was given oxygen and fentynal in the ambulance and I was still in agony.

Ok so they of course drugged me up to poo it back in, etc The next day, late at night again, Fourth of July, bam. Did it again! I felt stupid but the wrong doctors didn't tell me it might happen again. I guess I assumed it was I'm bc they put it back in place.

Ok so if that's not bad enough, 4 months later it happen a third time.

I was already informed by my surgeon if it happened a third time he'd need to a revision.

Then I was asked permission by his nurse if it was ok to put my name on the database in case there was a recall on the hardware!

I asked if any other patients had the same thing happened and she said no but who knows.

So my surgeon asked me a few questions and I was getting nervous and concerned, scared because he is an orthopedic oncologist.

I I was scheduled to have the revision sometime last November, near thanksgiving had the medical clearance blah blah blah, then he wasn't in town and the next thing I know he cancelled it.

He was going to biopsy the synovial fluid on my hip. That's the part that scared me plus questions if I get fevers chills da da da.

So apotheosis just isn't concerned. I was out on a very uncomfortable hard custom made brace so I would remember the hip precautions that shouldn't even be a concern after the replacement, therapy and six months after.

I also gave sciatica on the left side. The brace was so heavy walking was difficult not to mention I looked like a freak.

So nope, I don't wear it and I told his PA I'm not goi g to live like this and wear it the rest of my life and somebody better figure out what's going wrong. Btw my surgeon blamed me! He said what did you do?!

I asked him the same!

Sirrothis is soooo king but I can't believe we both had this happened two days in a row!!

I had a total hip replacement 10years ago which I have dislocated eleven times. Each time it was reduced under general anesthetiser. Nearly each dislocation was caused by me putting on shoes or socks. The surgeon said no need to operate, as the hip is perfectly good, I just have to b more careful about bending.

i have just had my other hip replacement after waiting one year in great pain which rendered me housebound as it was so painful to walk or drive. I am glad to say this that has been v.successful and I am now six weeks since op.and am walking free of pain.

so the surgeons seem to operate differently. I am in England and am very grateful for the NHS.

I HOPE U GET GOOD ADVICE, MAYBE U COULD ASK FOR A SECOND OPINION?  Good luck

Happened to me and for last fourteen years hip revision(s) (three times in one year plus!) have stayed in place but ive had several times it felt instagle and clicking plus cant walk far. My case was a bad reduction of acutabulum from crazy Orthopedic local doctor (now lost usa credentials) causing multiple problems including a permenant gait😫 So now its still going but I will plan on having it revised in a few months if the doctor (top guy in 2011/12 - from HSS in NYC) will say its okay to do.

Piont is hang in there . Its a major surgery -in future get second and third opinions plus best doc that only does revisions that you can afford!!!

God Bless all who suffer and all who honestly help us

Roboman

Hello! Many of the posts are years old, but I thought I would add my experiences in the event they may help another.

I had an Total Hip Replacement-what they are called in California,  11 April 2016.  On 25 April 2017 I bent down to get the cat bowl and the most peculiar sensation occurred--but, no pain!  It felt like a broom handle was shoved out of my operated on leg-with a pop back.  Frozen, I waited for the dreaded pain I was sure would come.  After a minute of so, no pain, I tentatively proceeded--to make a long story short, that day I felt the same sensation a dozen times while I proceeded to clean my house.  I kept track because I would call my surgeon the next day. You don't want to hear the words "Bad Luck" from your surgeon-but that was his reply.  He took an x-ray, it was perfect--so he encouraged me to try to take it easy on the bending, and see if any of the tendons/ligaments had been stretched and could repair themselves.  He said I was in a very small group that had this result, and if the healing process didn't work, the only remedy he could offer was to go back in and put a limiter/a lip like stopper on the cup.  Fast forward to July 2017.  I thought I had been so good until I bent way down to get a shoe, twisting my knees like I know I shouldn't -and mild wham-o. Pop, no pain.  I offer this for the limiter idea and to thank all the posts who shared their incredibly painful stories--but which helped me in my resolve to NOT have the limiter done until/if I ever truly dislocate the hip--I mean, it sounds like one has to go under general for the dislocation, so this would be the time for the limiter.  I can feel for everyone in the pain category-the months leading up to the surgery--well, we have all been there, and the last thing I will say is I was fortunate to have the referral to a man who does anterior hips, and also knee replacement by the dozens every week--it was only after I had the work done that I learned about anterior/posterior.  But, at the end of the day, for me, the absence of pain offsets the fear of making wrong moves and dislocations the hip.  My best wishes and hopes to all who continue to suffer even after surgeries!!

I have had three dislocation after hip replacement over 13 years ago and before counting first - the hip replace was because of a poorly reduced pelvic fracture

Long story short my pain is from etopic bone formation im told and then a lip limiter causes on occasion a feeling like rug is pulled out for a second.

I pray all feel better

It no simple surgery so dont rush it if you have that luxury

Hi Hughes, l feel like this dislocation stuff is no normal game l have never felt pain like that in my life , and l am no stranger to pain lm sorry to say , fusion L 3 -4 1996 hardware revision the same done in 1998 rods dislodged, Pain has been high up there , as it continues, next 2010 l had a left knee replacement 6 months later a revision, Jan 9th this year had a THR , left side , l decided to do rehab st home bad move , feb 13 2017 5 weeks later l sat on couch with not much caution hips were lower knees , and l heard a a sound just like a shifting of gears , l knew l was gone l slide off of couch , and happen to have had phone near me , l was alone it took 2 hours to find a key and open my door , another two hours for the final 3 pushes to get it in . I saw my surgeon 1 week later and he acted like l hurt him , and basically turned his back on me . I am having really bad pain in the Thigh, and groin , ,   and foot , hip hurts deeply , foot is throbbing, my back is killing me , l have a very bad back , the fusion years ago damaged other areas of the spine. I went for a second opinion at hospital for special surgery, the l was told every is in tact , your pain is from soft tissue damage, nerves, tendons, muscle is torn. All due to the dislocation. Am l mad at my self , Thank you all for your sharing , this is about finding some peace of mind after an un human experience. My heart goes out to you . We will find a way. 

That's awful! I've had my second thr 3 years ago. Whilst mine isn't slipping out I do have bursitis in it. I can hardly walk and blame the different hip that was used in my first one which has not been a problem at all. I asked the surgeon to replace it and he said it would probably kill you if I did that. Very curious remark..I wonder why he said that !

I don’t know but please always get another opinion and google it as we.. (three words if possible) Also I found many top doctors and special hospitals have a clinic of sorts and many doc in extreme cases will see you. Ask your doctor for a consultation with u=the orthopedic board he belongs to. They can meet on your case. Again this was in New York for me after three revisions in short span of time. Pain thats extreme may also be considered. But one thing Im sure of is another opinion can be had for a discounted rate if not covered . Have them bill you when possible.Many Doctors are kind and know the oath they took some do not seem to care! AND WORSE Please feel better all of us ugh

Robo~

Well, I go under the knife in 7 days. Yes I know, shouldn't read this stuff about dislocation, but despite the fears, I NEED this surgery to go back and work. From the sounds of some of these, it was "Operator Error" but obviously some are due to bad hips already. I have advanced osteoarthritis, being I am 57. Looking on the web 4% of surgeries 1st time result in dislocation. 15% after the revisions.....Which means, that the hip was damaged and is easier to dislocate...

My Surgeon will be doing the Direct Posterior approach (If I recall correctly) He's been doing it for 3 years with good results....But I admit, I'm just concerned. I know the likelihood of the hip dislocation is small... but of course, with this page it sounds like a rampant disease! :P

Well, I won't be stopping it....I don't want to keep having to take Vicodin every 2-3 days and feeling that wonderful bone on bone tweak every so often.

Best wishes to all, will return in a month.