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Leg length

Posted , 6 users are following.

lesa4968
lesa4968

I had hip replacement surgery 7 weeks ago. Had my 6 week check up this past Tuesday. My operative leg is 5cm longer than my other. The Dr. gave me heel lifts for my shoes. I hope this leg descrepancy is not a permanent thing. Anyone else had this problem and how long did it last?

0 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

  • madla39168
    madla39168 lesa4968

    Posted

    Dear Lesa,

    Im nearly 11weeks after hip replecement and my operated leg is longer than other . I have heel lifts for my shoes also. Hopefully

    will setle down with time. My next hip have to be done hopefully next year in March. You are just 7 weeks must give the time. Just do excesice, go for walk ,excesice in water that help as well.

    Have nice Christmas

    Hug Madla

    • lesa4968
      lesa4968 madla39168

      Posted

      Madla,

      Thank you for your reply. Hopefully our legs will even out. Have a nice Christmas

    • madla39168
      madla39168 lesa4968

      Posted

      PS talk to your surgeon as well about leg length and see what he says about it. Look after your self .

      Hug Madla💗

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK lesa4968

    Posted

    5 cm, or almost 2 inches? That's a huge discrepancy. Your lifts would have to be so high to get your legs even that I don't see how they would fit into your shoes. I know that often small leg length differences do resolve in time after THR, but I'm not sure that one as big as yours would ever resolve on its own. I would check with the surgeon and see what he says about it.

  • renee01952
    renee01952 lesa4968

    Posted

    Hi Lesa, 

    I agree with Annie here - 5 cm is a rather big difference ... How high is your heel lift?

    What did your surgeon tell you?  When is your next appointment ?

    How are you doing otherwise?  do you have physical therapy ? I am not sure what else to tell you ... 

    Happy holidays and

    big warm hug

    renee

    • lesa4968
      lesa4968 renee01952

      Posted

      He did a xray on my pelvic on my last visit. That was when he told the length difference. I have been through phyical threapy did that for 5 weeks. I am going to schedule another appointment with him to see what might possibly could be done. Thank you for your reply
  • hazel14263
    hazel14263 lesa4968

    Posted

    Oh yes... Seeing surgeon weds as I rang secretary .. One leg longer and lots of pain at 10 weeks ... Walking round house with one shoe on good leg and none on bad to balance out . They wanted to wait till March .. Don't be be fobbed off as the strain goes to other joints. I will ask if it's permenant next week, far worse off than before surgery . I am in uk X

    • lesa4968
      lesa4968 hazel14263

      Posted

      It is not fun at all. If I do not have my heel lefts in then when i stand my back hurts.
  • Irrachka
    Irrachka lesa4968

    Posted

    Hello Lesa,

    I am 12 week post off and my leg length are almost equal, I had a big leg descrepancy after operation. Is it the scan show that you have 5cm 

    difference or the pelvic is still not equal?

    If the scan show it then you have to use heel lift. But if not do not use heel lifts, because you will stay with leg descrepancy.

    Best ,

    Ira

    • lesa4968
      lesa4968 Irrachka

      Posted

      the dr. did a full xray on me and and he said there was almost 5cm difference.

       

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK lesa4968

      Posted

      That is by far the biggest LLD I have ever heard of post-surgery by more than double. I am still wondering if it is truly 5 centimeters? LLD's are usually in millimeters. I'm sure that there is no way that a 5 cm difference will ever even out. 

       

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK AnnieK

      Posted

      5cm = about 2 inches - which would be totally unacceptable (It's probably possible to pursue a claim against a surgeon for doing it that bad).  5mm is much more likely, you would still feel it however (we are sensitive creatures), and would need 'shoe lifters'.  Mine felt about like that at first , but there was swelling in the pelvic area, which subsided after a few weeks.  I tried shoe lifters, but was advised by the physios to remove them as I would begin to rely on them.

      Graham

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      I had a 2mm leg length difference after my THR that persisted. I don't even notice it anymore. But 5 centimeters, as you say, Rocketman, would be outrageous.

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK lesa4968

    Posted

    I did, but not 5cm - I probably had about 5mm, but when the swelling in the pelvis where the new joint is secured, subsided, it was all in line again.  

    Graham

    • madla39168
      madla39168 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Graham you are right 5 cm is lots. My is 13 to 15 mm. When i sow surgeon after 2 weeks he is mesure my leg and he sad it is disripenci but advice me not to put anything to my shoes may be after physio therapy. Next appointment avter 6 week

      different surgon who took exray and told me my right hip

      have to be done as well. When i mentioned to him my leg is longer he sad its not. Its because im not stending correctly but not mesure my leg at all .when i sow exray the line wasn't

      stright between to hips. I had nearly 5 weeks hydro therapy

      and my hip is ok. Than i was advised by physio to put lift into

      My shoe. Home im walking without lift but if i go for walk i put lift into my shoes if im not my back and onother hip hurt very badly. When i mention before im back to work 26 January and

      I will be on feet 6 hours a day. Nursing home.. im nearly 13

      Weeks after op. I just hope after onother hip will be done

      the hopefully legs will same. Im fit i used to play soccer and

      tennis , im skinny on 167 cm toll. I still hope the leg even out perhaps before op which suposed to be in March or April.

      Its my hope but reality could be different. I was upset with secoo d sergoun i know how i walk and i know i have limp.

      It was no point agree with him.

      Today was good weather for a walk not 41 debree . We have

      heat way for few days. Dont take me wrong im happy with my

      Hip no pain only heeling pain.

      Have lovely day.

      Madla

    • hazel14263
      hazel14263 madla39168

      Posted

      Mine is just 1/2 Cm he says but I find it better with a shoe lift . My mother had both knees done and is in her 80 'a and didn't want to sit in the heat as she swore she could feel them melting !!!!

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK madla39168

      Posted

      Madla, It's not easy to convince a surgeon (especially one who thinks he's the best thing on earth), when we know that there's something wrong with us.  Trouble is, it is so common to have a discrepancy that is caused by swelling where they attach the acetabular components to the pelvis.

      I wish you all the best with healing and with your surgeons

      Graham

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