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Leg length discrepancy

Posted , 7 users are following.

Jayive
Jayive

Hi Hippies, I read various comments regarding altered leg lengths post THR as mine has changed dramatically.

My question is, were you measured pre op? I wasn't.

When I had to lie on the xray table the operative moved me around to fit into the picture. This xray would not show the actual length of my legs so how can a surgeon say what length I was pre op?

And how can he say I'm only 1 cm difference, my physio, who actually used a tape measure, says I'm 2.5cm difference and, in my case, that makes a huge difference to how I walk and this increases my pain now.I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I picture all you retriever walkers out in the sunshine this morning, have a great time, wish I could join you.

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • moira31
    moira31 Jayive

    Posted

    Get someone to check that your pelvis is not twisted. That was my problem which was there pre op due to the way I was walking.  Had terrible pain over my pelvic bone on the opposite side from the replacement hip which came on about a month after the op and stopped me walking. Now that that is sorted my legs are the same length and the pain is gone.  You are right no one checks your leg length before the op.
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure moira31

      Posted

      Hi Moira,

      how did they finally sort out UR leg length descrepency. Sorry u had that happen sounds very painful . 

      Good to hear UR better.U will be out dancin soon.

      STAY STRONG 

      CHEERS

  • wendy233
    wendy233 Jayive

    Posted

    Hi there. Thought this night help.. I had a total hip replacement a year ago on thurs coming and my leg ( operated one) ended up an inch longer. It really peed me off coz every time I said to physio or dr they just said that can be one of the side effects. I wasn't accepting that so I ended up ditching my nhs physio and went private. It was £45 for 1st meeting and £30 there after but it was so worth it. On my 1st session my legs were made the same length.. What a difference. Didn't do that until about 9 mths post op but have recovered completely now and wish I had done it months ago coz it slows you down and hurts when u walk with a leg longer. It was my pelvis that was out of line maybe from all the pulling and stuff during op.. What a difference so don't let it lie.. Go see about it. I always said I wanted to be 5 ft for my 40 th but it only happened on one side so I'm happy to be baxk to  4ft 11. Hope that has given you some hope xx
  • gary62825
    gary62825 Jayive

    Posted

    Not had my op yet, hopefully will in sept, but unlike you and evrybody else I am hoping my leg is longer. The reason being, it's about 3.5cm shorter than my left due to breaking it in a car crash 48 years ago.

    In what way does it make you walk different, I am thinking I will find it different if mine is ( hopefully ) longer as my hip will be straight instead of angled.

    Hope all goes well

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure gary62825

      Posted

      Have u ask UR surgeon if he can compensate for the length difference and by how much. It is possible depending on how much bone stock u have . I hope it goes well for you.

      very interesting, I would be curious to how UR surgery turned out. 

      Keep me posted and best of luck on UR journey to a better quality of life..that's why we all go thru it. And it's true is does for so many of us..

      many good vibes sent UR way!

      CHEERS

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure Jayive

    Posted

    I remember my dr going over this as I could swear my leg was longer. My PT thought the leg length was off too. My surgeon showed me my pre & post X-rays used as a template for comparison during surgery. Xrays were calibrated using a radio-opaque ruler to assess the degree of magnification which was taken into consideration when making the measurements.tat was 14 yrs ago.

    The anterior approach has a few benefits over the posterior approach when it comes to making sure the leg lengths are equal after surgery.  This is primarily because the patient is flat on their back during surgery, which makes it much easier to control the alignment of the pelvis, and also because a C-arm — an intraoperative X-ray machine — is used in anterior hip surgery so that an objective measurement of leg lengths can be made before the procedure is finished

    It's always a descrepency when leg length is measure by Physio vs X-ray.they  Never turn our equal.. One technique the Physio measures from hip to ankle from the exterior of the leg.

    Google TRH leg length measurements for more info & pics of X-ray vs PT .

    Drs check for muscle tightness and measure for length differences before surgery.

    X-rays r examined for any sign of leg length differences. This baseline taken pre surgery will be used during and after the operation for comparison. Surgeons make assessments for spine curvature called scoliosis or other spine deterioration causes.

    i have both issues .

    The surgeon generally gets the leg length as close as possible to equal the leg length as it was before surgery, keeping in mind patients legs lengths r not the exact same length before any surgery . 

    • Sredni393
      Sredni393 hope4cure

      Posted

      Hope for the record yr report very comprehensive esp comparing anterior to posterior approach. However I dispute surgeon taking any notice of slight scoliosis. Mine categorically ignored my telling him. He looked only.at the horizontal xray and I later asked.for an xray for sacro iliac pain. Radiologist: THR noted.  Signs of OA right.hip. Saw no OA in SI.

      That was it, whereas chiropractic noted vetebrae and.SI misalignment and tweaked it on several appointments which helped.  It wad the result of one longer leg for so many months.  Now its gone home so to speak, the SI.and lower back pain alleviated.thank god as there's enough pain under the scar to.occupy me .  The implant is too big and stands out "proud" ... it was posterior needless to say.  Im resigned to "this is as good as it gets".

      Thanks all yr info

      Sarah

  • Sredni393
    Sredni393 Jayive

    Posted

    They measure you at hip level,  horizontally.  It has to be guess work as no one knows how the prosthesis will "go home" and how deeply the cap and head slot in.

    I was told I wd be 16mm shorter! My operated leg was inches longer for 6 months but now it has gone home and feels as if it is continuing to sit deeper and deeper while my height has gone from 5'7" to 5'5.1/2. So I would say wait and see.

    While mine was longer I had lower back pain, goingto chiro twice a week and yoga helped a lot. You can see how it wd go deeper with impact and use ... bone bring a living organism. It is an imprecise surgery. Surgeons look at the mechanical but if you get an xray. (Tell em youve got sacro iliac pain) you can get an osteo or chiro to look at the biological and see holistically whatnis going on especially with the vertebrae which the surgeons dont even take into consideration. 

    You havr to give it a year to see outcomes realistically but wear heel raises til then.  Go by your gut instinct and not by a surgeon with a ruler and softwear. I get the gel stick on.ones from ebay china. 3 quid for 3 prs inc postage. Wonderful.

    Gd luck

    • Jayive
      Jayive Sredni393

      Posted

      Hi, Thanks for your comments however I am now 16 months post op so that means I've given it more than a year to see if it settled and its only got worse as time went by. Also I've tried heel raisers, fitted by the hospital, that only made things worse as it increased my pain when I tried to stand.

      Yes, I think I am going by my gut instinct when I say my THR leg is now too long, extremely painful and I don't know how to solve it.

      I went swimming but couldn't cope with the after pain, I do exercises every day and that's very painful too but I try to do them.

      please give me the ebay details of the stick-on raisers and I'll try them.

      In the meantime I wait to see what the new surgeon has to say when I see him. 

    • Sredni393
      Sredni393 Jayive

      Posted

      Then it is a tragedy and very serious. How can it be so hopelessly out. 

      Is the surgeon linked in any way to the same hospital. It must be impartial as they will close ranks. Terrible as to have to travel to another jurisdiction.is bad enough. Do get hold of all any xrays and print them off. The cd is now free from hospital xray dept. Then you are forearmed as they can tell you anything.  No surgeon will admit a mistake.

      There may be other things going on or things changing.  It is a large part unknown. But you have done with the waiting and need an explanation and relief and deserve to be very well looked after especially if any negligence involved.  Did you find out how many procedures yr surgeon had done and his success rate...

      Gel raisers sold by ethersell88 on ebay.

      Best of luck.  Pain is misery and painkillers addictive.  Hope you have moral support around...

  • gypsarella
    gypsarella Jayive

    Posted

    Hello.  I also have no memory of being measured before any of my hip surgeries, but I know that it's part of the protocol, so assume it was done once I was under general anesthetic so they could manipulate me like Gumby and get a measurement with me totally relaxed and not clenching muscles because of pain.  I would trust a surgeon more than physical therapist for measurements.  On the other hand, the surgeon measures the whole structure that is not being used while the other measures while you're standing or lying, clenching or any slight discrepancy due to your spine. So I guess any small way your body copes to ambulate without pain, like leaning or relying more on one side, affects how you use your length, even if perfect while you are unconscious.  Make sense?
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure gypsarella

      Posted

      Hi gypsarella,

      thats a good point. THANKX for sharing.i assume UR leg length has no issues.. Happy to know UR doing well.

      cheersbiggrin

    • Jayive
      Jayive gypsarella

      Posted

      Hi,

      I was laid, on my side, on the operating table and fixed with some sort of a cage to stop me moving before being sedated so I know I was not measured. The surgeon has only measured my xray on his computer whereas the physio has measured me, lying down, with a tape measure, from hip bone to knee bone and then on down to ankle bone. The surgeon has never had these measurements, he says 1cm the physio says 2.5 amd, to me it feels even more as, on the occasions when I try to walk I waddle from side to side (like a duck) and cannot balance without 2 crutches.

    • gypsarella
      gypsarella Jayive

      Posted

      I am just speechless.  The difference in our country's health care is frightening and I do not want to get into political discussions. The amount of people on these forums who complain of leg length discrepency is outrageous.  I think I'd best unregister from here as I am not qualified to speak to a health system I'm not involved in. I'm frightened for the universal health care they are trying to implement here and hope employers continue to offer private health insurance.
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