Pain after hip replacement

Dear Helen: I am so sorry for the pain you are experiencing . I've been there as I've had multiple hip surgeries and understand unbearable pain. I think the first thing I would try to get is a walker with wheels in the front with no wheels in the back. Walking on crutches is very difficult. With a walker you can redistribute your weight. Pain to the level you describe is not normal which tells me your pain is not being adequately controlled. Have you called your doctor about how poorly you are feeling? Are you in physical therapy? I'm writing from the states so I'm not sure what differences there may be. Please write back. No one should suffer like that. Maybe you could get better pain pills. I had an episode where my doctor was not addressing my pain and I ended up in the hospital. I hope to hear back from you. In the meantime I'm thinking of you.

Hi Dana, thank you so much for responding. I have had two previous surgeries on this hip, as a result of those I have been on Co-drydamol for two years so well aware my pain threshold not high, they had to double the dose of morphine after the op for five days! I have been discharged witn Codeine, gabapentin, paracetomol and ibuprofen which seems to give me a couple of hours relief, the doc would like me off the Codeine next week but I am not convinced he has read my notes. I am more comfortable on the crutches as I have been on them for the past 7 months, I have an appointment with the consultant on Friday but am thinking there is something very wrong, don't know whether to go to A&E in the meantime. Really cant take much more pain. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen Dana, I really appreciate it. Helenxxxxxxx

Well don't let him blow you off. Is A &E an emergency room? In the states we have pain management docs and that's all they do. If your doc refuses to listen if you have a family doctor go there and ask for help. It's what I ended up doing. I also went to pain management. Especially since you've had multiple surgeries I think it makes it tougher to recover.... Good luck and stay strong... Dana

Thanks so much Dana, will let you know how things go, think I am going to go back to my doctor tomorrow.Hxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh Jun, I do sympathise. I found the found the first week at home a real trial and I hadn't been on strong painkillers before. As you find the painkillers didn't last long enough. I would go back to your GP and demand help. Surely you should qualify for Intermediate Care ?

Sorry that would be Helen!

Feel for you Helen. I'd be tempted to get seen....maybe an xray will show some light. I can imagine they will want you off the codeine,..but there are other options. Hope you get sorted soon.

Hi Helen I felt exactly the same and had to double my tramadol to 200mg. After about 3 weeks I stopped getting muscle spasms which happened whenever my leg was down. Don't know if that is something you may be experiencing. This was on top of nerve pain. I could not understand how someone should have a o much pain. After a bit of research on the net I realised I had nerve damage which my surgeon confirmed. Symptoms include electric shock type shooting pains numb knee iner thigh and inner shin. Prickly sensations and my leg gives way with no warning. I have fallen twice to the floor the last few weeks. Luckily did not damage my new hip. I am seeing nerve specialist for tests to confirm how bad the damage is. Also seeing physio tomorrow and will ask for leg brace. It is making life hell trying to do normal things like cooking having to use crutches all the time. Its not meant to be like this! I am wondering if you have nerve pain as gabepentin is for nerve pain. You are also not on very strong painkillers. You are the best judge of your pain level and you need to ask your doctor for something stronger.I have been on increasing stronger pain killers for years since I fractured my hip socket and pelvis. The only really effective ones were Tramadol which I was prescribed when I had a new dr. They were a revelation no severe pain after years of suffering because drs did not want to give me stronger ones. They don't suit everyone though.I am 10 weeks post op and no where near better in facr I am more disabled then prior to the op. I do hope you get some relief soon. I have learnt to live with pain but it's not easy. A s you have had previously had op you have scar tissue and subsequent ops for the surgeon are not as straight forward. Hope you get sympathy from your doctor.

I'm 44 years old and also had a ceramic hip replacement 18 days ago, I have to admit I'm lucky I'm having minimal pain in leg, just slight discomfort in the scar. I'm fully weightbearing, using one crutch and physio suggesting using nothing whilst in the house. Perhaps you have some bleeding behind the scar or an infection that could be causing the pain. Phone the ward that you were on and speak to the orthopaedic specialist nurse for some advice .

Thank you so much for all your responses, I am very very grateful. I have been to see my GP who has said I am on the higest dose of Codeine (240mg), I unfortunately cannot take Tramadol as it doesn't agree with me. He has referred me back to the hospital consultant who I am seeing on Thursday, I have a gut feeling there is something wrong so hoping to get some answers soon. Xxxx

I was told you can not take tramadol post op as it affects the bone healing. I was on it for two years before my op which I had at the end of January. I know I am lucky but I have not been on any pain killers now for about a week. I have a slight leg length discrepancy but hope it will sort itself out when things heal. I also have a twist in my pelvis after years of walking on a worn hip which physio is dealing with and hope eventually that will sort out slight leg difference.

I am surprised to hear that about tramadol my surgeon knew I was on Tramadol prior to the op and did not mention anything. I would have had to be weaned off as I have taken them for 10 years. When I rang hospital after coming home I asked if I could double my dose As I was in agony. They did not say anything and neither did my doctor when I updated my prescription. Moira glad you are recovering well sounds like all went well. Update for me nerve tests confirmef nerve damage which part of my leg should feel better about 9 monthsas the nerve should grow back but lower leg may take longer. But no guarantee that it will improv. I a m having a leg brace ffitted on Wednesday so I can walk without my leg collapsing hopefully it will be temporary!

Sounds dreadful. My surgeon made me come off tramadol a week before the surgery because of a risk ofhaemorrhaging. I was put on it for three days only as an anti inflammatory then off it to let the bones knit.

Hi Moira did you just cut them out? Three years ago as I was on 200mg slow release twice a day snd wworried about long term damage. I went to doctor to cut down and he halved it to 100mg. I had awful withdrawal for about 3 days until my body adjusted to lower dose. Perhaps you were taken off because of having a different blood group or other health issues. I did have lots of blood tests a week before and thankfully my liver was fine That was my main worry about tramadol. I lost very little blood during the op. I will ask my surgeon about this on Wednesda. My rreplacement is fine which when I fell twice surprisingly stayed in place so my bone musthave healed by then. Good luck in your recovery and we need to work on physio to get our muscle strength back.

I was on 100 mg a day for eighteen months then my GP freaked out and halved the dose last May. I cut out One 25 mg tablet and then stopped them altogether two weeks later. Could hardly walk at all. Can't believe the difference even though the new hip is 1cm longer than the other leg. I just hope it will settle. I am working hard on physio and walking but my wrist is killing me with the walking sticks!