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I've had a THR 6 months ago plus the surgeon lengthened my leg .

Posted , 6 users are following.

karen60537
karen60537

I've recovering from a total hip replacement 6 months ago. The surgeon also lengthened my leg by 2 inches .( following a compound fracture years ago I had shortness in my femur) I'm suffering severe hip pain which travels down by leg and there is a numb feeling in my foot. The pain is excruciating around my hip and down top of femur. Causing severe pain to walk on. Has anyone else experienced this ?

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure karen60537

    Posted

    How long has the THR surgery been 

     the pain can be managed by pain meds and the numbness and incision pain seems unfortunately be part of the healing process. I iced the incision and foot. Used massage walking and heat rubs for pain in knee and foot. Refrain from application of creams on incision until totally healed it may be a riskmfor infection.

    see the patient forum under THR for all the information needed .

    thr has its ups and downs like a roller coaster ride. Time to heal as the bone grows and secures the implants. It takes 8-10 months. 

    Take care askmfor PT TOMkeep muscles in shape and do bed exercises as well as walking little as you build up endurance. Take it slow we are not in a race bomes, muscle all need time to heal.,see the surgery on utube to better understand the healing and alsimiputubebhas great PT exercises anseringbthe pain addresssingbhowbto heal and many good instructional exercises helping THR along as you begin to get thru the rough spots. Read is good too!

     

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure karen60537

    Posted

    Rest is good not spelling error read. Sorry! 

    Get better soon. 👍

  • RichardKen
    RichardKen karen60537

    Posted

    Dear Karen

    Sorry to hear that you are suffering from pain. The only thoughts I have it that you should contact your surgeon as this does not sound right.

    Good luck Richard

  • linda81469
    linda81469 karen60537

    Posted

    Hi Karen! I too was given a little over 1&1/2 inches after my revision. Dislocated my first hip replacement. I'm still limping and suffering a lot with nerve pain. Remember those muscles, tendons and nerves are being stretched. It's possible that your sciatic nerve was stretched too far. My dr said he was going to be careful in not over stretching my as can cause drop foot and pain. But the nerve running across the top of thigh is my issue now. It's so sensitive that everything that touches it is terrible!! I'm on gabapentin and dr has prescribed voltearen gel to help as well. Will see if that works. Currently life as I know it has not been so cheerful. Most days I'm suffering with this nerve pain. And the butt muscle that was pulled off and cut hurts too. I'm a little over 7 months in now. I hope you feel better soon as I know this is not a good thing. I was hoping to feel better than before. No more bone on bone pain but this other stuff is to me just as bad. Wishing you all the best. Linda

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure karen60537

    Posted

    Our cartheledge is missing that's why hip bal joint is bone on bone. The new metal cup and polyurethane cup cushion replaces that carthlege . Naturally the hip can be longer. Does you othe hip seem to have OA. adjustments with shoe lifts can help. 

    Talk to your surgeon. They usually make a template on xray to verify length to approximate the length to be as close as possible. Sometime the surgeon has to make the joint stable in the ball socket in or folder not to dislocate easily. Then hip length can be longer for that reason.

    sometimes it's more complicated than that. Ask youe surgeon to xray the hip and ask for the template the surgeon made and evaluate the leg length difference.

    its a good way to know for sure. And evaluating the next step. That's was my problem with second hip. We finally got it straightened out. Even once the swelling went down I was walking better. My hope is that it can be worked out with your surgeon.

    many healing wishes sent your way! 

  • karen60537
    karen60537

    Posted

    Thank you for all your replies. I've had a terrible experience and if I was asked would I go through this again I would say definitely not!. I'm only 42 years old. I can't now go out and play with my 8 year old. Or walk any distance. I'm constantly asked everyday "have you a sore leg" I was very active prior to surgery going approx 8 gym classes a week. I hurt my hip in wk which resulted in the full hip replacement. I started pilates to try and get my posture corrected. I've attended 4 classes and in worse pain now. I can't wait to bed time to get resting. I work full time. Currently demoted to a desk job. I'm seeing my surgeon tomorrow hopefully I'll get answers . But he did tell me that I didn't have a standard run of the mill hip replacement that it could take a year to heal.

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure karen60537

      Posted

      Hi and yes it does take a year to totally get thru THR. It's major surgery. I had my first one in myn40's. And recovery was a miserable pain in the caboose. After time it's over and we still have mobility. It's better than the alternatives. 

      I had had three done each one had their own issues. But al least I still have my mobility. It may not be like it used to be just learned different type of ways to continue with what I have acheived and not what I haven!t.

      my glass is half full 👍

    • linda81469
      linda81469 karen60537

      Posted

      Karen my dr told me same thing, so let's see how we feel when our 1rst year comes. My will be August 11. And I was hoping to be playing with my grandkids and enjoying life and be off this cane. Linda

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen karen60537

      Posted

      Dear Karen

      I feel your pain and disappoint. What do you think your long term outlook would been if you had not had the surgery?

      Hope that your surgeon has something positive to say when you see him.

      Best wishes Richard

  • renee01952
    renee01952 karen60537

    Posted

    hi karen, 

    warm welcome to this hippies forum -

    I am so sorry to hear about the oain you;re still in - Have you seen your surgeon about this in the last 6 months? 

    Even though it can take 12-18 months to heal, I don't think that much pain  and numb foot are part of the healing process ... 

    Are your legs same length now?  2 inches is substantial difference - your body might also be getting adjusted to it and that might cause discomfort for sure ...

    please let us know the outcome of your doctor's visit okay ...

    big warm hug

    renee

  • RichardKen
    RichardKen karen60537

    Posted

    Dear Karen

    Just re-reading your original posting. It strikes me that your whole body has been operating in a very unbalanced way for a long time and correcting your leg length has thrown it in the other direction.

    I would strongly suggest that you make an appointment to see a chiropractor who will I beet find that your back is out of true.

    Good luck

    Richard

  • madla39168
    madla39168 karen60537

    Posted

    Sorry to hear about your pain. I will make an appointment to see surgeon ,this not sound good.

    Good luck

    Hug Madla

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