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leg length discrepancy of more than an inch after R thr

Posted , 8 users are following.

anastasia89577
anastasia89577

Hi, I am new to this group and thought I might get some feed back.  I am 56 and had a r total hip replacement 10/2015,  I was being treated consevatively for 6 yrs (steroid injections) for a congenital slipped capital epiphasis that I apparently had all my life. I changed surgeons 2 months before my surgery date because I wanted to have the anterior approach. the surgery went fine, my recovery was not unusual other than a lot of muscle and nerve pain in my thigh that never let up.  My surgeon told me it was normal and can take up to a year to fully recover from thr.  I also had a very noticiable limp (which I did not have before) and he did not think I had a huge length difference.   Turns out my operative leg is 1" shorter than the other!  The surgeon sent me to a podiatrist who measured and put me in custom orthotics which still do not help, because I may need a special shoe.  I am so upset and don't know what to do. Has anyone had this issue?

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • bonnie37273
    bonnie37273 anastasia89577

    Posted

    Hi I also had a Right hip replacement Oct 17th 2015 My surgeon had to remove 4 pins in my hip bc I had hip dysplasia as a kid .The first surgery went great ...May 6th of this yr I had my left hip done he also had to remove 5 pins .. I now have a leg length of 1 inch which made my back hurt so bad. When I went back for my 6 week check up he did another xray and found that I have a tilted pelvis . He gave me some exercises to do to try and fix my pelvis .I have shoe insert to help me .I still walk with a limp but I think the exercises are helping me bc back pain isn't that bad any more...I hope you can find the answers ur looking for...And good luck to you

    • anastasia89577
      anastasia89577 bonnie37273

      Posted

      thanks.  I had a second opinion with another orthopedic surgeon(same area) and he said it looked more like 3/4 inch (again no measurements were taken)  He also said by looking at the x-rays, I had a tilted pelvis also, but I had it befor the hip replacement which made my right leg seem longer? (funny the other orthorpedists never mentioned this),  He said there is a revision surgery that could be done to add length but he would reccomend it. He totally disregarded everything the podiatrist said, and told me I had trochanteric bursitis and should get cortisone shots..... What? how did I get bursitis? I'm guessing because I my leg is shorter! 

  • thinsport
    thinsport anastasia89577

    Posted

    I have never posted on this group either.  However I have had a total hip replacement in both hips about a year ago. I had the anterior approach on my right leg first then two weeks later on the left leg. Everything went great with the right leg I was up and about quickly. My left leg was a little bit harder for me and I felt my legs were somewhat uneven but a few months after the surgery they felt more even turns out that they were even. What happened to you is so unfortunate and it makes me sad and angry. Did the doctor say there's nothing he can do to help you? Do you think that you'll ever have the other hip done? If so would they be able to fix the discrepancy? Did the doctor give you any explanation of why this happened and what went wrong? I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with this type of situation. My heart goes out to you and I wish you luck. Please keep us updated on how you're doing and if there's any change.

    • anastasia89577
      anastasia89577 thinsport

      Posted

      the first ortho said nothing.  I went to get a 2nd opinion after the podiatrist and he blamed it on the fact that I probably had a tilted pelvis before the surgery (no other orthopedist mentioned that) and that my right leg was probably longer before, thus "appearing" shorter now!  He said it could be fixed through revision but he didn't advise it. He said my pain is from trochanteric bursitis (didn't have that before either) and I shoud get cortisone injections..  I on Long Island in New york, and I am now think of going into the city for another opinion.

    • bonnie37273
      bonnie37273 anastasia89577

      Posted

      I am in Albany NewYork .My doctor that did my surgery is great .he told me the good and bad things that could happen ..My first Dr. Refused to do my surgery he said I was to young at 49 yrs old he wanted me to wait till i was 55 .he didnt care that i was in pain or couldnt walk ...If I had waited i would of been bedridden. Thats when I found Dr Katz he gave me my life back ..its always good to get a second or third opinion . What Some doctors fail to realize is they work for us .we can hire or fire them . ..Good Luck in ur search of finding a great doctor

  • noplaybarbie
    noplaybarbie anastasia89577

    Posted

    Hi anastasia:

    Wow that is a lot of difference. I haven't had that experience. Just had rthr and my surgeon kept it a little longer than the left leg intentionally because he knew I still had to get the left done. Which I am doing in 17 more days, and he will even them out then, but even with that my difference is probably only 1/4 of an inch. Hope you get it sorted out....Barb

  • 2paws
    2paws anastasia89577

    Posted

    Hi I had a THR due to accedent when i got home the pain  when i started to weight bear the short leg ,limp it  was only then noticable, I was concerned at this point and worried all the experts stories  etc, I have a plate in my pelvis due to frature.  A friend told me about some people who got prayed with.The results were brilliant . I went and now i   have no limp or pain walking both legs are the same lenght, I am very pleased Thank God.The days before  surgery I was told first op Then 6 mts later next op,I was sent to difrent hospital and they were abel to do all at the same time.That was a Blessing.Hope this is of some help. God Bless 
  • renee01952
    renee01952 anastasia89577

    Posted

    hi anastasia, 

    warm welcome to this forum of hippies -

    I am afraid that it is not unusual to have leg length difference to begin with - one inch is a big difference though ... I lost 2 cm due to OA in right hip and being in denial about it for years - After 1st surgery it felt different and according to surgeon legs were almost equal in length - 6 months later I neede L THR and again, he told me that leg lenghts were equal - It was the first thing

    I had tilted pelvic prior surgery , so yeah .. didn't help ...

    do you have physical therapy?   

    I am not sure what to tell you ..

    big warm hug

    renee

     

    • anastasia89577
      anastasia89577 renee01952

      Posted

      Hi Renee,

      Yes I agree it is not uncommon to have a leg length discrepancy after THR.  Usually the operative side is a little longer afterwards due to OA prior to surgery.  In my case the leg is 1 inch shorter. It has caused a lot of pain -  muscle contractions, spasms and nerve pain. It is starting to affect my back now.  I did do physical therapy after surgery, and then was back at the gym by february, trying to get back into my routine, cardio, weight training etc. I used to walk between 5-10 miles a day before the surgery, and dealt with the joint pain afterwards.  I did that until the pain got too bad and the ortho said it was time to replace. I found myself in more pain the more I did after the surgery.  I hate to sound like a "whiney" complainer, I just wanted to get my life back and enjoy doing the things i like to do.  I was even running for a bit before surgery.  thanks for your reply.  I do think I need to see an orthopedic that is not from around here.  I

    • janet86017
      janet86017 anastasia89577

      Posted

      Hi,

      My heart goes out to you.I had THR in July and my greatest upset was a leg length discrepancy of half inch.I feel angry for you and understand the feeling of going for surgery to get your active life back ,then doing less after!Seeing another surgeon sounds like a good idea.Good luck.Keep seeking answers

      Janet

    • renee01952
      renee01952 janet86017

      Posted

      Hi janet, 

      Hopefully they will even out, sweetheart --- our legs are never exaclty the same length to begin with - 

      you are still recovering and healing from major surgery where your leg was cut,  joint forcefully dislocated, and hardware hammered in in femur and hip joint --- it was explained to me that due to inflicted trauma the site will be swollen, retain fluid and feels weird - 

      how are you getting on otherwise?

      big warm hug

      renee

  • 2paws
    2paws anastasia89577

    Posted

    Hi  Many big Hugs . I had THR in dec 2015 due to acc ,I have been reading a lot of the diffrent complaints ,I dont think winning crying or pulling your hair out (maby) far from the truth. PAIN is pain what to do is the big Question????? and the results you want.Iwas crying a lot depersion was never far away I gues We all can have issiues in tissiues,the thing is what can help,big men do cry. My favourit shop now is the healt shop there are loads of real good stuf in them and a good owner is always a big plus.My friend Had A short Leg after THR and he went for prayer for the man is very gifted in with back and leg problems. both legs are the same since he visited him.Thank God no pain at all.

    O by the way this guy is in Dublin,Ireland,dont think i can put his name here or ph no.I will  ask him soon what to do.

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