nerve damage after hip replacement -excrutiating

Hi Norma I'm exactly the same.  48 hours after op woke with horrendous electric shock pain in my good leg.  Bern prescribed gabapentin which doesn't seem to be helping so will have to go back to GP .  Only getting few hours sleep at a time as pain recedes when I'm up or sitting down.  Consultant says nerve damage which can take up to six months.  

So glad I didn't come across this forum before my op . Hearing about so many problems would have made me re think . My aches seem so small compared to yours .take care

So sorry to read your posting Norma....I really know how you must be feeling right now....I went through all the same emotions that your going through right now...I must admit when I was left with foot drop I thought my world had come to an end...but it didn't and I'm still hoping that it will improve even more with time...I also couldn't move my toes and had little or no feeling at all in my foot and the side of my calf...but it has improved...it has taken a year and I can now walk without my splint if I concentrate on how I place my foot down...Ive been told that the nerves regenerate at a 1mm a day so it can take up to two years to right itself...I still have a few balance issues and I also have to admit there are days when I feel very frustrated with myself..but I'm staying positive...please if you need to talk please contact me...try and stay positive and keep on with your exercises...they do help...I know it's difficult...sending you a big cyber hug...x

So sorry to hear about your nerve damage. I knew when I woke up after my op something was not right. I have femoral nerve damage. My op was 15 months ago.

I empathise with you my symptoms are similar but dont have foot drop. Originally My lower leg would not lift and I had to lift it up onto bed into car etc with my hands. That lasted 4 months. I am hypersensitive on top of left side of leg down to left ankle. Numbness has slightly improved but have many other sensations in the area. I have electric shock type of pains which are not as frequent as they used to be. Burning and tingling also affected areas feel tight. Sometimes feels like water is rushing through very strange feeling. I have had extra physio to strengthen the muscles which are affected. Some improvemental my leg doesn't feel like it will give way so often. I still can't go up or down stairs normally the strength to lift me up or down has not returned. As I type this I am feeling g pain. I refused any gabapentin as I did not want to cope with being drugged up. I am on slow release 200mg Tramadol twice a day. It does not get rid of pain but I suppose it helps. I have come to terms with this added disability but I have had pain for 23 years from car accident damage to pelvis. Not easy but have learnt to live with it. Going to nerve specialist really only confirms degree of nerve damage. Apart from physio there is not much can be done to improve . I hope you will be seeing an improvement. I was told that I would likely be back to normal within a year. This has not happened and think less likely as time goes on . You will learn to cope but I hope your pain reduces as time goes on. It does take a 1mm a month for nerves to grow back. If you are taking tramadol seveal times a day. Ask your Dr if you can transfer to slow relesse which work for a longer period and only need one in the morning and one in the evening. Sorry I can't be more positive.

Thank you all so much for your kindness and helpful replies. It's good to know I'm not the only one (well - not good for you!) It's in the middle of the night when you are in agony and everyone else is asleep that times are hardest and this forum is a godsend. GP has doubled gabapentin today so we'll see how that goes. I don't think it was anyone's fault -just one of those things.

Thanks again Norma

HI Norma, So sorry to hear about your pain, The pain will get better !! I had Revision hip replacement oct 2013 , Im at 14 months getting better . I have scaitic nerve damage from surgery , and when i woke up my foot didnt feel right I told my surgeon he said i need time to heal , Biut I knew something wasnt right. So I went to physical therapy, and went back to work At 4 hours a day and by the end of my shift I could hardly walk to my car.

So i went back to my surgeon and he referred me too Neurologist and he confirmed that i have nerve damage from surgical site very painful . Im now still on disability cant do my duties at work and physical therapy 3x week which i believe really helps . All i can say is I feel Im getting better with help from pain management doctor and neurologist physical therapy really feel physical therapy has helped me the most . I do feel your pain one day at time is really all we can do this site does help alot too .  Please let us know how you are Im in us

Hang in there

Jackie 

I have the same problem with a promise t will get better.  It's been 8 months no change.  If feels like no one cares and just wants you to go away.  Be strong there are others out here suffering with you.

Hi. It's been 16 months now and am off crutches but still with a very weird gait and bad limp which I didn't have before the op. I weaned myself off tramadol and gabapentin because it was affecting my eye muscles. Still like others numb below the knee but with pain, cramps and weird sensations. I can wiggle one of my toes but it constantly feels like a have a really bad sprained ankle. I am now officially disabled with a blue badge (I'm only 53 )