Leg longer after THR
Posted , 15 users are following.
Hi everyone,
I had my Left THP last Wednesday so it's been 1 week.
I suspected something was off a day after where first of all doing my first attempt to walk with the walker and I felt something drop inside my thigh area. I express this to the Physio who kind empathies but is more concerned about her exercises.
While doing more exercises on crutches I do notice my Left leg was more pointed/positioned outwards and I wasn’t really able to straighten up my posture, but I just had a major op and thought not too much about it.
But as you do, I mentioned my findings to 'the' Consultant during ward rounds and I felt he casually blew both things off and said you just had big op, all will be well. The Physios were like yeah everyone has a leg size difference etc, just try your exercises like this The ward nurses said 'yeah it will get better with the swelling' etc. And with that I was genuinely happy and thankful I had gone through with the operation and was no longer experiencing the former pains.
I’m at home now and been in front of the mirror a few times and using my crutches and trying to straighten myself up and am 100% sure that my op leg is perhaps 2cm longer that my Right leg [eek] [sad] [mad] . In order to straighten myself out I have to stand with my leg at least 2.5feet wide which makes me push my backside out and lean forward. I mean, what's all that about?!!!!
Walking&Stairs: where do I start? My leg size difference is so much (IMO) that I seem to be lunging my R leg forward and dragging the surplus of L leg behind (Without crutches) I notice I lean forward and take 1 regular step on my R leg and almost like do a 2.5 tap with my L leg to bring them together for the next step. Going UPstairs with my crutches I notice I have to drag the L leg (op leg) up like 2ce, 1 to lift it towards the stair and 2 to drag it onto step.
I do understand 1 week is still early days and the consultant on the day explained to me that he would have to drill a deeper socket due to the amount of damage the OT had caused. And I believed part of my issue is that I feel restricted in my walking due to this. For example, I can feel a part of the hip item in my groin area and I can feel the new hip and it has given me a hip on my Left size where I never really had one before (I was diagnosed with a Legacy of Perthes Disease which was diagnosed in my mid 20’s, I’m now 42 yrs young :o) On op day the consultant however told me that he does not believe it was actually Perthes but a deformity of my hip joint from Birth/Childhood. So again in regards to the feelings of restrictedness, I’m also still dealing with the after effects of the whole THR op.
As with all of us you image the best outcome for your THR op and at this stage IM highly disappointed to think that I may actually be worse off than this being the brand new chapter in my life that I had anticipated this OP to signify for me. And I’m now thinking to purposely TRY to dislocate my hip joint so perhaps giving them a chance to get the length issue right (I know not a clever idea), I’m also praying that working with Physios can help to correct my positioning or else my early analysis tells my pains are on their way back (from yesterday) I started feeling my shoulder pain again after just noticing that that as well as my back former pains were no more.
Does anyone have any good news stories on leg length issues after these op? And if after some time of healing you saw any improvements and solution on how to fix this issues?
TIAdvance
5 likes, 42 replies
Loral Blessed4JC
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Blessed4JC Loral
Posted
mark26805 Blessed4JC
Posted
I think the surgeon aims to get it within 10mm of the correct legth, that is seen as perfect as possible, but within 50mm is still possible, i.e. one leg will be 2" longer or shorter than the other. Obviously when the healing has occurred, it is then possible to measure accurately and fit inserts in one heel or the other to match leg lengths. I know because this happened to my Grandad about 40 years ago, my Uncle only 6 years ago and my Dad even more recently (hereditary hip!!!).
Pain free is the ideal outcome, leg length has to be dealt with later and is a minor issue comparitively. That is why many people who get it done too soon are disappointed afterwards, it is a major operation and should only be done when necessary.
If you do not correct leg length with inserts, you will limp and get back pain or knee problems. We all hope to be the majority that come through this operation perfectly, but minor problems can be worked with. Hope this helps in a minor way. Trust you will be pain free soon.
Loral mark26805
Posted
Blessed4JC mark26805
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Thank you so much for this insight, it given me Hope.
Inserts! Really! Im now going to look up all about these and if is the best immediate result seek to get them/it. I do understand after the op, the issue of lenght will be an after thought and dealt with as such by the consultants. But its a real issue for those of us having theses op's.
I pray your Op goes beautifully well and that you are in the majority camp that have perfect results during and after OP. A hereditary hip cannot be good! Your probably concerned for your own kids too but I pray they are spared the condition.
Thanks once again for sharing and I will let you know how I get on.
Blessed4JC Loral
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DawnDedee Loral
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AnnieK Blessed4JC
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I googled "leg length discrepancy after total hip replacement" and got 61,000 results. One of those results on the first page was a link to threads on this website, Patient . info. There are 990 references there pointing to many threads that discuss this issue, and that might be helpful for you.
Blessed4JC AnnieK
Posted
Thank you. Yes addressing this issues with the hospital, consultant that carried it out is in process and as of today my priority. How sad, as I really didnt expect this to be my outcome.
I did do a google search and found some older threads on this topic and it's really quite sad. I have also heard researches suggest women seem to suffer witt this negative outcome more than men.
AnnieK Blessed4JC
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Blessed4JC AnnieK
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Thanks so much for best wishes and this additional info of your experience, I missed it earlier.
Im LOL as I boycotted the exit stairs in my home as too steep and scary in my condition. On my first 2 days i overdone it and was up and down my home standing, both legs in major pain, but now i am adjusting and trying to rest more. So yes i agree with your last line wholeheartedly.
AnnieK Blessed4JC
Posted
renee01952 Blessed4JC
Posted
Warm welcome to this forum of hippies where personal stories an experiences are shared -
You already mentioned a couple of times that you know that it is still early days for you, and yes, it is - your whole body has been out of whack for a long time and over time adjusted to bad posture, walking etc -
Now it just went through a major surgery and forced in to a position it is not comfortable with yet -
I thought that there wqs a lot of difference between my legs too, mentioned it to PT and surgeon and got the same response as you ... nobody's legs are perfectly the same length anyway - got 2nd THR and goodness, I thought I was totally lobsided - first thing my surgeon dis after surgery was put my legs together and tell me that there is a minimal length difference - it will feel weird because everything is re-alligning itself - the brain has to be retrained so to speak -
no inserts until one year post-op -
you will know more at your 6-weeks appointment -
I swear I can feel the hardware sometimes too - I had 2 THR surgeries-
... I am told that this is normal - apparently everything is "normal" for some time
but if you have pain and fever , or are very worried, please make an appointment with your doctor
in the meantime, be very gentle with yourself
big warm hug
renee
Blessed4JC renee01952
Posted
Aww thank you so very much for the welcome and much needed hug :o) Thank you.
I really appreciate your reality check advice and did not know insteps would only be adressed that late down the line :o( Im praying hard that all things line up in a short space of time. I suppose I dont really get the magnitude of the op I ve been through and how my poor body needs to do it's own resettling, stage by stage (humbled).
You have had 2 THR, wow! You did make me chuckle when you said you felt lobsided after the 2nd. Awwww. I have heard you and I will try to take it easy and 'really' honour the healing process.
Thank you once agan for your reality check post :o)
Pansycat52 Blessed4JC
Posted
I am 8 months post op, but straight after surgery, I felt as if i had a metal rod in my operated thigh and felt as if my operated leg was longer than the other.
When I saw my surgeon after 5 weeks, he said that he had had to lengthen my operated leg as there was a difference due to the cartilage wearing away. He also said that the pelvis has to realign itself after years of incorrect walking and that all would be well and to be patient. Pleased to say that is the case and I am walking perfectly now. and have been for some time.
It is very early days for you, but do speak to your consultant's secretary if you are truly concerned as your surgeon would not want you to feel unhappy when both you and he have gone through this major op together
I hope you feel better as the days and weeks go by
Kind regards Linda
LDW Pansycat52
Posted
very relieved to read your post.
i am 2 weeks post op, and like you had Mike Cronin perform the superpath surgery.
he assured me the day after the surgery that my leg lengths are exactly the same, but my pelvis is tilted due to pre op degeneration.
ive been fretting that it won't resolve itself (even though he assured me it would), so am much relieved to read your post.
btw did you suffer from any back pain as your pelvic tilt was resolving itself?
Thanks v much.
lindsey
Blessed4JC Pansycat52
Posted
sorry for the late reply.
Wow really! Your post fills me with more HOPE
(I keep reading your testimony) I will be patient and work wih the Physio's as well and pray I have an similar testimony in the end.
Thanks so very much for responding with this great testimony.
LDW Pansycat52
Posted
Dis you have to do any special physio exercises to help level off the pelvis?
big thanks for response.
lindsey x
renee01952 Pansycat52
Posted
good to see you again. ?
how are you doing otherwise?
We have come a long way, haven't we.
Big warm hug
Renee ❤
Pansycat52 LDW
Posted
Good to hear from you. Yes, I have had aches in all sorts of places!
Strangely enough, I have had alot of muscle aches in the unoperated hip, which is fairly well preserved. I have had a lot of intensive physio at Coventry Hospital which has really helped. Apparently the psoas muscle gets very tight in hip patients and that has to be released with exercise. (Lying on a rolling pin!)There is also a band of muscle running from the hip down to the knee which gets tight and that causes knee soreness.
I had my artritis coming for probably at least 10 yrs without knowing it, so many years of tightening up of muscles, misalignment of pelvis and hip joint. It's no wonder we get aches and pains still, but nothing like the awful joint pain of arthritis.I walk so much taller since my op as well. Must admit I don't do exercises very often now as I feel so good.
Mr Cronin is marvellous - have every faith in him, he really is an expert in his field and if ever you have any issues, you can always contact him via his sectetary
Hope you continue to progress well
Best wishes linda
Pansycat52 renee01952
Posted
Yes we have come a long way. I think back to my post op days and do you know, it was a very happy time, looking forward to being well again. All the lovely late night conversations with folks on this forum and all the support everyone gave each other. It spurs and carries you on!
Hope your hips are doing well and that you are feeling brighter
Kindest wishes linda xxx
Pansycat52 LDW
Posted
The exercises I had to do were lots and lots of butt clenching exercises in different positions, lying with rolling pin on psoas muscle, clam shell exercises, stretching inner thigh muscles whilst sitting astride a chair. Also, massaging inner and top of thigh muscles - I do this in the bath as is is easier in the warm water
I am sure if you are going to Coventry for your physio, they would do the same with you. I actually asked for more exercises as i felt I needed them and I went in weekly for several weeks instead of fortnightly.
When I went for my final time a few weeks ago, she said that my walking pattern was so different from the first time I went, so these exercises obviously do the trick. I started my physio at around 7 weeks and continued for another 6 months
Best of luck
Linda xxx
LDW Pansycat52
Posted
thats lots of really helpful information. And very very reassuring. I've been worrying about it quite a lot since I woke up from op (2 weeks ago), so reading blessed's post was quite timely. And when I saw the post from you I was quite delighted as we had the same procedure and the same surgeon, and the same explanation. I can't remember if Mike said he had to increase one leg length, (I was high on morphine when he came to see me), but I will certainly ask him when I have check up at week 6.
ingeresting that you talk about the tight psoas, as that's exactly what I am experiencing, so again reassuring.
im having physio at the Nuffield (had my op there through choose and book), and hope that they are as good and thorough as your Physio.
glad that your recovery has gone well. You sound very upbeat.
thanks again for replying. It has helped me a lot.
lindsey x
DawnDedee LDW
Posted
Dawn, USA
LDW Pansycat52
Posted
can u remember when you came off crutches?
im 15 days post op and physio told me yesterday to stop with crutches, walk with nothing around the house and use 1 cane outside.
really don't feel ready for this .
just wondered what advice you were given with a superpath hip.
hope I'm not bombarding you 😊.
lindsey
Pansycat52 LDW
Posted
Ask away - I don't mind!
I looked back in my diary, which to be fair I only kept for a few weeks after my op. At 10 days I was taking my first few steps with no crutches in the house, but certainly was not walking properly with no crutches. You will know when you feel ready to do so and i would go with how your body feels.I was still with one crutch outside at 6/7 weeks. We have a long drive to our house and i used to practice walking down the drive with both crutches and then hold the crutches off the ground and continue to walk on my own for a few steps. All of a sudden you will feel comfortable doing so. None of my physio's told me to do anything at any particular stage, just advised me to build up the butt muscles which are the 'walking' muscles.
You will be able to hold on to things in the house if you need to, so walking round the house with no crutches is the first step. You need to listen to your physio, but you know your body, so listen to your body too. Everyone is different in this respect. Don't stress if things don't go quite to 'plan'!
Kind regards Linda
LDW Pansycat52
Posted
just checking in re the psoas issues and attendant back pain you experienced.
did you find it very painful in the early weeks? I'm 6 and half weeks and when I do anything a bit "extra" ie an afternoon in the house without stick last Thursday has me still on the sofa icing and taking anti inflammatories, back to both crutches and it's now Monday! (4 days later).
Just wondering ......
lindsey