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How long have you had pain after your THP surgery?

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nancypirate
nancypirate

I'm almost 3 months out since my total hip replacement surgery, and I still have pain in my hip area, upper leg and even down to my knee. It's not bad enough that I want to go back on the strong narcotics, but it is always there (whenever I rise from being seated and whenever I walk).  This still causes me to limp somewhat and I tend to 'freeze up' if I sit for too long. I will talk to the surgeon when I see him in a couple of weeks, but how unusual is this? I feel that I may have hit a plateau in terms of the pain decreasing each week. It's not unbearable pain, but it does restrict my ability to do a lot of walking, which I'd love to do...anyone else have pain this far out? I do hear that for some, it may take 6 months to a year. Do you agree with this?

0 likes, 17 replies

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  • beachbum1957
    beachbum1957 nancypirate

    Posted

    This is normal. It's a,matter of time and depend on the individual.

    The pain will decrease to a point you no longer need meds. When walking try to walk in a pace as walking three times a week will increase the distance and time. Using weights will increase your muscle strength as well. I started with 10 lbs three times a week and feel great. I'm 6 months post op. I am a carpenter and resumed to full duty last month. My Best.

    • nancypirate
      nancypirate beachbum1957

      Posted

      Thank you so much, beachbum.  Glad to hear you have resumed full duty work.  Dumb question: were the weights put around your ankle as you walked, such as I could do with a wrist weight i already have? 
    • beachbum1957
      beachbum1957 nancypirate

      Posted

      Thanks.

      I would get a pair of ankle weights.

      Use ankle weights instead is at best.

  • kathee58019
    kathee58019 nancypirate

    Posted

    Nancy,

     I am 5 mo post op and still have the same pain you are talking about, but not all the time, and it's mostly on my lower front thigh. I did have a set back a few weeks ago so I attribute some of it to that and my lap top. I have noticed though, when I exercise, especially going for a good walk outside the pain gets better. The weather has been bad where I live so I haven't been able to get out. But I have found the more I exercise and use my new hip, the better it feels. I do lift light weights, do modified pushups and still do the exercises they give for post op. And walking helps tremendously. I rarely take pain meds and if I do, it's just ibuprophen or Tylenol. Sometimes the first few steps hurt, but the pain goes away. I go back for my six mo check on March 6th so pretty sure they will find everything is ok.  My doctor did say it could to take 6-12 months also. I do have days where I forget I ever had surgery it feels so good, so hang in there.

    • nancypirate
      nancypirate kathee58019

      Posted

      Thank you, Kathee.  The weather is also awful where I live (the lovely Northeast in the U.S.) and I can't wait to get outside to build up some walking again in the fresh air!
  • shirley67411
    shirley67411 nancypirate

    Posted

    I am 22 months post op now but after 5 months I went on holiday with my daughter and did paragliding. Haha yes I'm mad and it hurt quite a bit but only because I didn't sit right on take off but well worth the pain for the experience. My hip is great now bedt thing I ever did.
    • beachbum1957
      beachbum1957 shirley67411

      Posted

      Wow quite an experience.

      I'm trying to ride my bicycle for some reason I'm afraid because of my new hip.

      when summer gets here I need to start bike riding will help lose some,weight.

      But paragliding heard lots of good stories am intrigued.

    • shirley67411
      shirley67411 beachbum1957

      Posted

      Yes I would do it again if I could but unfortunately I have spinal stenosis which is really bad and I will be having surgery in a few months as soon as I've recovered from my knee replacement next week. Don't think I'll be paragliding again but I just had to do it to prove to myself I could. I've also got an exercise bike which I think is brilliant for joint replacements everyone should get one
  • pales
    pales nancypirate

    Posted

    it can take up to a year for you to feel normal again. Im on week 14 and still get the odd nip now and again. Look for exercises online to help strenghten your hip and the surrounding area or contact a local pyhsio. I only take the pain relief when I need too. Everyone is different though.I stand up and walk with a limp aswell, which goes away.....its as if you dont want to put any weight on the treated hip. I can see alot of changes in myself over the last few weeks. I walk 2-4 miles a day and it is getting better all the time smile They say patience is a virtue......and if your walking causes you pain, ease off a little as thats your body telling you its not ready yet.
    • nancypirate
      nancypirate pales

      Posted

      Pales: it is wonderful that you are walking 2-4 miles a day!  That will be my goal, for sure.  In the meantime, I'll work to increase my exercises and get on my stationary exercise bike more often than the once every 3-4 days I've been doing.
  • maggyh
    maggyh nancypirate

    Posted

    Really helped to read this post and the replies.  I'm just over three weeks post-op and am clearly expecting too much!  I've got quite a lot of pain in my back at the moment, same side as the THR (right) which I think is down to walking with one crutch.  Also pain/discomfort which feels like it's coming from my femur and is presumably where the spike is hammered in (ouch!).  I sort of knew that post-op recovery would take a while, but didn't really appreciate what it would involve.  This forum is a huge help, so thanks to all.
  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee nancypirate

    Posted

    Hi Nancypirate,

    I too experienced the pain you describe, going from sitting to standing. And each time I stand up, I have to wait a minute or more before I can use my leg to walk. I scream involuntarily from the pain.

    At first my surgeon said he thought I had pulled my hamstring and nothing to do about it. Then he thought it was my illiopsoas tendon, so he ordered a steroid injection into the tendon in my groin. Not fun.

    From that injection, I gained a bit more mobility as far as being able to lift my leg up while laying flat, but the sitting to standing excruciating pain was still there. It began to hurt all the way around the top of my thigh and buttocks, and the pain began to go down to my knee the top left side. My illiopsoas tendon began to scream at me in pain, worse than before the injection and I had to cease all exercise.

    Went for a second opinion and discovered that my prosthesis had come loose and was out of position away from the bone and was leaning at an angle My original surgeon kept taking xrays of that hip, but always said that the device was perfect. Then his practice kicked me out after missing two payments and I was abandoned, left crippled for life.

    A year and a half later, tomorrow, I go in for my revision with my new surgeon.

    I share this not to frighten you, but instead give you something to ask about when you see your surgeon.

    Wish you the best! And let us know of your progress so we can support you and cheer you on!

    💛 Dawn, USA

    • nancypirate
      nancypirate DawnDedee

      Posted

      Thanks, DawnDedee.  I'm sorry to read about your negative experiences and can only hope that your situation improves greatly with this new surgeon.  So good you went for a second opinion.  I will keep this all in mind as time progresses and I have conversations with my surgeon, if need be. Thanks again.
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