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Locked up muscles

Posted , 3 users are following.

ray0825
ray0825

 I had total hip replacement surgery two years ago. Since the surgery I have found it challenging to bend over even for brief periods, for example taking the leash off my small dogs.  If I’m bend over for more than 15-20 seconds I get sharp pains in my front thigh of the side I had the hip replaced. I was recently told it was locked up hip flexors and psi’s muscle. Massage therapy has helped a bit but not majorly. Has anyone else experienced this issue and if so did you find something that was a big help?  I am having another total hip replacement in 2-1/2 weeks but would like to understand what’s going on in the other thigh in hopes I can avoid it happening again what am I missing?  Thanks. 

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie ray0825

    Posted

    Hi Ray, have you had a deep tissue massage by a sports therapist, they really understand your body. I also had regular osteopath sessions as my muscles tended to tighten up even before my replacement. She stretched me out! Worth paying the money out for the sessions. I also massage the area and another thing I try is to put a tennis ball on the affected area ( you lie on it). not the most comfortable thing in the world but breaks down the tissue. Also use the static bike at the gym with the seat raised higher so it stretches my leg out and the muscles. I can bend really well. I am 26 months almost post op. 
    • ray0825
      ray0825 auntiebeanie

      Posted

      World the sports therapist take a different approach than a massage therapist and a good chiropractor? I hadn’t thought of that. 
    • auntiebeanie
      auntiebeanie ray0825

      Posted

      I think its worth a try. Sports tberapist understood my body better than normal massage. They are more used to dealing with muscle injuries and rehab in more depth. My Osteopath is brilliant but shr recomrnded i went for the deep tissue sports therapist massage. I also felt in safehands
  • miriamal49
    miriamal49 ray0825

    Posted

    Maybe nothing. I have the same thing on my left hip, I can’t bend to cut my toenails. I have a hard time doing it. I had 3 screws put in the socket to hold the artificial one since my socket was shallow. They had a hard time manipulating the leg to take it out that in the process they tore my Psoas muscle plus it was so stiff they cut my groin muscle for flexibility. Having that I still went and did my right hip and didn’t experience the problems I had prior. I didn’t need walker nor cane. I didn’t go to physical therapy either. So the same body and hip pains but different outcomes. Just be positive and don’t delay surgery you’ll be fine. Then you can concentrate on the one that bothers you.  Praying for a good outcome!!
    • ray0825
      ray0825 miriamal49

      Posted

      The more I think about your last note the more curious I become. Very interesting. Did the surgeon acknowledge the torn psoas or did you discover it another way?  I’m just wondering how to go about determining if that’s part of my issue.  And how did you go about dealing with the torn psoas muscle?  Physical therapy?  Can it be repaired or is it something you would have to live with?  
    • miriamal49
      miriamal49 ray0825

      Posted

      My pain and weakness never went away with physical therapy or pain pills.  I kept going to surgeon but they kept telling me hardware was fine. My family Dr put me on another pill. It was ok until I started with side effects. I had really bad sweating. Uncomfortable least to say. Dr sent me to Mayo Clinic for a revision but Dr was so adamantly arrogant and to my acknowledgment he thought I was looking for some fault. I told him I just needed to know where my pain came from and how I could get relief. He gave me another pill and told me it would take time. I was not happy. But in an MRI they discovered a tear in my Psoas muscle. They put a guided steroid injection that helped a lot. But as always it didn’t last long. So here I am just doing exercise in bike and treadmill and trying not to do strenuous exercise not to stress the muscle. My family Dr want to send me to another Dr for another revision but I’m thinking about it.  I’ve learned in this process that everyone has a different point of you and every recovery is different. Your body heals at a different pace and you need to pay attention to your body. Only you know what you feel and how far you can go but your Dr can let you know what’s wrong. Hope you can find the culprit of your pain. Let me know how it goes.
    • claudia95892
      claudia95892 miriamal49

      Posted

      Hi miriamal49, I had to have my left hip revised after 21 years of use. It was a long recovery since surgery was 5 hours and my leg looked like it had been butchered. I was purple from the waist down to the knee and it was 3times it's regular size. I was on hydromorphone for almost 3 months, then on anti inlammatories. It has been 11 months and no pain, works great. The muscles we're mangled and I have been doing pool therapy, gym and listening to my body. So best of luck and you might need a revision. I went to the top teaching hospital that does revisions. I am able to sleep, walk, enjoy life and I am great ful for that. My next challenge is to do the Ms mud race next year. Take care of yourself.

  • claudia95892
    claudia95892 ray0825

    Posted

    Hi Ray. Stretch and strengthen muscles before you go for your surgery. If you have access to a heated therapy pool with classes to improve movement and stretches. It will get slowly get better. The muscles get very tight and weak and they need to relax. I walked like abpenguin and very stiff. I am now learning to walk more relaxed and it makes a huge difference. Best of luck.
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