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Leg Length diff 5/8" - 2nd opinion

Posted , 7 users are following.

sknapper33
sknapper33

I finally had my 2nd opinion 13 months after THR. The 2nd opinion doc said that indeed my new hip has increased my leg length by 5/8". Noone said that before, not the original surgeon nor the radiology report from the full standing xray. BUt, he said that women in their 50's who are fit are the highest risk group for having LLD. That is becasue we are more flexible and the way I understand it, the muscles must be 'looser', so to get that good tight fit, the length often has to be increased. Is this common knowledge - its news to me.  

Thanks

Sandy

2 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • diane80279
    diane80279 sknapper33

    Posted

    mine is also 5/8" longer than before.  Hurts my back to walk now because I now limp all the time.
    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 diane80279

      Posted

      Diane - If it is early days, you may still have swelling, in and around the joint, I do agree with that possibility, seems a bit weird that bone can swell but apparently it can, or so I have been assured.

      I shoe lift will help you, its worth a try at the least, as previous reasonablly cheap ones can be accessed through a chemist shop or even a running, sporting goods shop, experiment and see if a lift does help.

      Mine is a half sole shaped, quite high at the heel, and tapering down toward my toes. surprising just how comfortable it is, and it has stood up to all I can throw at it, all for $23.00 Australian.

      Without a shoe lift I would not be walking as well as I do, and I still have problems.

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 sknapper33

    Posted

    Sandy - this good tight fit seems to be double speak for we made a mistake, and if we cripple you its your problem not ours.

    I have become very cynical since waking up with 3/4 inch LLD.

    I indentified the LLD the first time I stood up after my surgery, not sure just how much it was, but I knew I had a problem, and the hospital kept telling me my THR was perfect.

    Nobody checked to see if I had a discrepancy, was tipping my pelvis, and or bending my knee, or lifting my heel on the other foot so I felt even.

    Also told it was swelling and would settle.

    I started researching on the net found some web sites that described LLD and the stance patients take, mine was the same as described.

    Contacted hospital again to be re-assured all was well.

    Finally begged my normal GP for long-leg-xray, even he argued with me about leg length, and said what if I didn't have it, and I remember quiet clearly saying, if that was the case I would have to learn to live with it.

    X-ray came back as a shock I have a natural 10mm or .3937 of an inch diffrence below my knee, and the surgeon added 12mm or .4742 of an inch or therabouts. Hospital handouts say 10mm is accceptable leg length difference for patients, well I have double that but seem to be running into a brick wall of total indifference.

    One Dr junior assistant of surgeon, told me it wouldn;t matter if I could no longer wear nice shoes, I had made a comment about my problem and shoes.

    Another Dr, junior of surgeon, told me the sciatica, numb leg, intermittant incontenance, that there was no relationship between the two, HAH, I can find hundred of articles on the internet about LLD post surgery and exactly the problems I have, and these are not forum postings they are peer to peer Dr's opinions, and university websites. I have a private Dr's appointment for the first week in January, we will see what he has to say.

    I also a physio's appt back at the hospital, with I hope the same person I saw previous, I am ready to rip heads off, and have waited months for this appt, One of idiots that told me I would adjust.

    I am a 64 yr old lady with pre-existing RA seronegative, or the like.

    I have lots of spurs in my spine and joints, you would have thought I would have been treated with a little more care and consideration, let alone identifing the 10mm leg length discrepany I already have naturally.

    They are quick enough to point it out after the surgery, Ohhhh look at that, you can see the discrepancy, at my outpaitents attps when i am complaining about something wrong, soooo why had nobody mentioned it too me before my surgery, and why isn't it on my file, or I don't believe it is.

    Sandy I am soo sorry you have been left with a LLD.

    Hints to help, get a shoes build up for the opposite foot, some are available at the chemist, cheap. You can go to a podistrist and get a properly fitting shoe lift, but they are extremley expensive, and I really don't know if they help much more than working it out for yourself.

    I have run into other people who have paid for expensive lifts in the last few weeks, and even I could see they were not right, he had lifts in both shoes.

    I sat him down, we took off his shoes, and removed the one from his long leg, and left the other, and put his shoes back on, and he was even across his hips visually. 

    Walk around I said, his reaction, are you a physio, because you know what you are talking about,  I feel so much better, his wife was in tears, as they talked to me.

    The only experience I have is my own I replied, and what I have learned from the internet.

    Best regards sandy, I too hope dr's can come up with an answer for both of us.

    • Savy_J
      Savy_J lyn1951

      Posted

      Lyn, I find your post very interesting!!!!! I am from Canada and flew to Arizona and paid for a left hip replacement on Nov 18 minimal invasive. I couldn't wait for 6 more months here as I wil also neeed my other one and am hoping to hold off a year. Everything went well the surgeon said. As

      soon as I was on the walker 3 days later at our rental home I KNEW I had a new longer leg and it was VERY noticable to me. After a week the physio brought me gel inserts for my shorter leg and I could finally walk a bit better.....My surgeon said I have 5-7 ml. He said because it was a ceramic head that he couldnt do much about it!?! Something about the fit......here is my point. back home now 5 weeks post op I have pain. I feel Ii have more pain than I should and I feel its because of the body now being out of wack!!! I do the exercises they gave and am going to my first physio appt here to see is I am on par for recovery. Question...he didnt do a full length xray. Is that how they figure the length out? I see my gp today and will ask for one? I think its longer than what they say. 

      I am  so sorry to hear what you are going through. How they didn't know your existing length difference is terrible. Mine seems small compared to yours. Take care and good luck.. 

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 Savy_J

      Posted

      Savy - Long leg x-ray, limited number of clinics do it, but is does give them the exact length of your bones, and then they compare both legs, you need to stand up straight with your legs and knees flexed back and straight, no bent knees, when they do this x-ray, thats how I found out about my 10mm below my knee.

      Other way they did it in the surgeons office was they put slabs of plywood under my short foot until I looked even across my hips, in comparision with the floor, and also until i felt i was even, worked out to be the same measurement, so its very accurate, physio would know about this method.

      I never knew about leg length differnce, but I realise now thats why i always used to wear my left toe of my shoes out.

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 sknapper33

    Posted

    What really annoys me is imagine if you took your car in the garage or service station for a full service. On your way out of the driveway you had an accident because brakes were not adjusted and brake pads were worn out, you would have a claim on the mechanic for not doing his job, as per his expertise.

    I see no difference, the surgeons who are operating on you are also experts just as the mechanics are in their field.

    If they don't indentify that you have a pre-existing issue that overall is going to make a difference to your safety and outcome, are they not equally in breach of a duty of care.

  • mark26805
    mark26805 sknapper33

    Posted

    I have not had surgery yet, but have walked with a limp for at least 4 years, just had no pain and my surgeon has told me that they can cure the pain...but not the limp and the new hip may cause my leg to be 2" shorter or longer after the operation.

    They are cutting the bone in half and forcing a long metal spike into the marrow of the bone. they have to estimate how far it will go in, but they must hammer it in until it is tight. Hence you are likely to have a leg shorter or longerr afterwards. Surely everyone reads about the operation before having it. You can even see it on you tube if you are barve enough (I'm not!!!).

    • maggie93798
      maggie93798 mark26805

      Posted

      Yes I was told about the possibility and like everyone else probably does, I  thought I will not be one of the unlucky ones. Before surgery I had an X-ray to take the measurements so that the correct size prosthesis could be selected. The first thing the surgeon said to me was that my leg lengths were the same.  Oh the relief, it was one of my big worries so I have nothing but sympathy for those who are left with a length discrepancy. I think that in some people it gets considerably less in the first few months
    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 mark26805

      Posted

      Mark - My hospital handout booklet that they give you pre-surgery, says they will get my leg length within 1cm or 10mm.

      What really gets up my nose is that the senior registrar did my first hip replacement, and I considered myself lucky I was getting the Consultant/Professor himself for my 2nd hip, hahahaha, not so funny really in my case, and very unhappy patient.

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 maggie93798

      Posted

      maggie - had hip x-ray but never full length x-ray before surgery. 

      I am told it is unusual to have 10mm extra on left leg below knee compared to other side. 1-5mm is more usual and is well known.

      We all have all sorts of variations, as a specilaist once told me, we never really realised how much difference's between people until we got Cat scanners and MRI's.

  • mark26805
    mark26805 sknapper33

    Posted

    Obviously the Surgeon would love to get the leg lengths perfect, but the problem appears to be, they choose a suitably sized hip to fit your frame, but then have to hammer it in and no-one can predict exactly how far it will go in and be stable. It is better to get a good fit, so they hammer until it is in properly.

    If the leg was too long, would you prefer them to cut it back out and try and put another one in! It's not a case of putting it in and checking for size.... Or leaving it loose in the bone because you don't want to hammer any further!!!!

    It is not an exact science but a major operation and you sign the disclaimer before it all begins.

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 mark26805

      Posted

      Mark - I not only have leg length difference.

      I have develped sciatica, which i never had previously, taking endone for pain, left leg numb, and or feeling as though it is sitting in bucket of icey cold water.

      Also have developed incontenance, so having to wear heavy padding for urine, what next bowel incontenance as well.

      Stubbed my left toe three times in the last 2 weeks, as i am trying to move about more broke big toenail off completly, didn't feel it until husband pointed out you are leaving a trail of blood behind you what have you done.

      Yesterday caught it again, and have bruised big toe badly, all black and blue for Xmas.

      I am 64 years old and enjoy being a active lady, and am not walking more than 25 yards before I have to stop due to pain levels.

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