Partial (high-grade) gluteus medius tear
Posted , 53 users are following.
Wrote in weeks ago, but maybe I was on the wrong discussion group - but would love to hear from anyone who had an accident and partially tore the GM tendon. It certainly interferes with a lot, and they don't like doing surgery there, but was a jogger for 25 years, yet now it hurts to walk. Thus, I'm headed to another kind of physical therapy, with deep massage and yoga, but it's hard to have much hope, after doing the same for over a year.
Thanks for any responses, -Annie
1 like, 113 replies
barbara82266 annie2418
Posted
hi Annie-
I just had gluteal medius and minimus repair two weeks ago. The crutches are no fun but the pain is not bad at this point. Havent started PT because this was a very retracted tear. Hopefully it will be successful without retears. Good luck!!
lesley65727 barbara82266
Posted
Hi Barbara, just started following this thread, and just wondering how you're recovery is going following your glute surgery?
I'm also recovering from glute medius surgery 8 weeks ago.
It all started when I had to have a total hip replacement 18 months ago aged 55. This was done at a private hospital in Scotland (not NHS)
Within a few days of surgery I noticed a large indentation in my hip scar ( like a shark had taken a huge bite). Despite doing well with my physiotherapy at the time, I continued to have severe pain in my buttocks. My pt thought I may have had piraformis syndrone at the time. My orthopedic surgeon advised me things would settle down, and said because I felt my hip scar was so unsightly, he would ask the plastic surgeon to see me.The plastic surgeon took one look and advised me that not only was my scar tethered, but it was actually adhered to the muscle. Next followed months & months of hospital appointments, and after an ultrasound, was told that there was dense scarring , and I was also diagnosed with bursitis. I was in constant pain, especially during the night. My hip surgeon reluctantly agreed to operate to release the scar tissue, and my surgery was scheduled for 4th Jan 2020. A few days prior to surgery, my hip surgeon called me to say he'd been chatting with the plastic surgeon, and he'd suggested trying out ultrasound shockwave therapy to try to break up the scar tissue. I went along with their suggestion, and had 3 rounds of shock wage therapy, with zero results. Around this time, I mentioned to my surgeon that I was struggling to weight bear properly on my operated leg. I was in so much pain by this time, and struggled to walk properly. It was particularly bad when walking slowly, as I'd struggle to keep my pelvis level, and had such a bad gait, I'd have to continually push down on my left leg to enable me to walk. My orthopedic surgeon then asked me to see one of his senior colleagues for another opinion, then covid hit and lockdown came. All private operations was cancelled at the hospital, as it was taken over for the National Health Service (NHS).
When restrictions were lifted I contacted my orthopedic surgeon, and basically told him I couldn't go on like this. I showed him how, if I transferred my weight from leg to leg, it was obvious that I dipped down on the right. I was in so much pain by now, including back pain, and could barely walk. I He agreed there was a problem, and agreed to carry out an exploratory op on the19th Jan 2021, alongside the plastic surgeon.
My surgery went ahead, and took 2 hours.
The plastic surgeon found dense scar cord like tissue adhered to the facia lata. This had been pulling on the glute musles, and eventually tore the glute med which explains the buttock pain. The plastic surgeon worked hard to separate the scar tissue, and carried out debridement under the facia lata. He told me that he redistributed the fat/ tissues in layers to fill the void. He was going to carry out a z-plasty on the facia, but decided against this in case it caused further scarring. The orthopedic surgeon then did his part. He noticed right away that I had a significant tear to the glute medius muscle, which he had to patch using a dermal graft. He also had to reattach the tendons by firing anchors into the bone. He tidied up some scarring in the muscles & finally removed the bursa. The plastic surgeon finally tidied up the original scar/ dent by redistributing the fat & tissues.
The day following surgery, my surgeon said he was really pleased how it went, and I was discharged home with 1 stick for support. I noticed an immediate difference when standing, but was advised to go easy.
Light physio followed, mostly strengthening my trunk, and my physiotherspist had strict instructions - no muscle loading or resistance excercises for 8 weeks.
I felt I was doing pretty well, still deep hip pain, but you'd expect that to some degree. This week things have gone downhill. The scar looks more dented, and I have buttock pain and sharp shooting pains. I've been constantly icing , and so hoping there is no further rupture or damage. Time will tell.
barbara82266 annie2418
Posted
Hi Annie-Is your post recent? If so, how can i help?
lesley65727 annie2418
Posted
Hi Annie,
Not sure if this discussion is recent or not, just started following this thread.
I'm also recovering from glute medius surgery 8 weeks ago.
It all started when I had to have a total hip replacement 18 months ago aged 55. This was done at a private hospital in Scotland (not NHS)
Within a few days of surgery I noticed a large indentation in my hip scar ( like a shark had taken a huge bite). Despite doing well with my physiotherapy at the time, I continued to have severe pain in my buttocks. My pt thought I may have had piraformis syndrone at the time. My orthopedic surgeon advised me things would settle down, and said because I felt my hip scar was so unsightly, he would ask a plastic surgeon to see me. The plastic surgeon took one look and advised me that not only was my scar tethered, but it was actually adhered to the muscle. Next followed months & months of hospital appointments, and after an ultrasound, was told that there was dense scarring , and I was also diagnosed with bursitis. I was in constant pain, especially during the night. My hip surgeon reluctantly agreed to operate to release the scar tissue, and my surgery was scheduled for 4th Jan 2020. A few days prior to surgery, my hip surgeon called me to say he'd been chatting with the plastic surgeon, and he'd suggested trying out ultrasound shockwave therapy to try to break up the scar tissue. I went along with their suggestion, and had 3 rounds of shock wage therapy, with zero results. Around this time, I mentioned to my surgeon that I was struggling to weight bear properly on my operated leg. I was in so much pain by this time, and struggled to walk properly. It was particularly bad when walking slowly, as I'd struggle to keep my pelvis level, and had such a bad gait, I'd have to continually push down on my left leg to enable me to walk. My orthopedic surgeon then asked me to see one of his senior colleagues for another opinion, then covid hit and lockdown came. All private operations were cancelled at the hospital, as it was taken over for the National Health Service (NHS).
When restrictions were finally lifted I contacted my orthopaedic surgeon, and basically told him I couldn't go on like this. I showed him how, if I transferred my weight from leg to leg, it was obvious that I dipped down on the right, and the strain was being felt on the inside of my knee. I was in so much pain by now, including back pain, and could barely walk. He agreed there was a problem, and agreed to carry out an exploratory op on the19th Jan 2021, alongside the plastic surgeon.
My surgery went ahead, and took 2 hours.
The plastic surgeon found dense scar cord like tissue adhered to the facia lata. This had been pulling on the glute musles, and eventually tore the glute med which explains the buttock pain. The plastic surgeon worked hard to separate the scar tissue, and carried out debridement under the facia lata. He told me that he redistributed the fat/ tissues in layers to fill the void. He was going to carry out a z-plasty on the facia, but decided against this in case it caused further scarring. The orthopaedic surgeon then did his part. He noticed right away that I had a significant tear to the glute medius muscle, which he had to patch using a dermal graft. He also had to reattach the tendons by firing anchors into the bone. He tidied up some scarring in the muscles & finally removed the bursa. The plastic surgeon finally tidied up the original scar/ dent by redistributing the fat & tissues.
The day following surgery, my surgeon said he was really pleased how it went, and I was discharged home with 1 stick for support. I noticed an immediate difference when standing, but was advised to go easy.
Light physio followed, mostly strengthening my trunk, and my physiotherspist had strict instructions - no muscle loading or resistance excercises for 8 weeks.
I felt I was doing pretty well, still deep hip pain, but you'd expect that to some degree. This week things have gone downhill. The scar looks more dented, and I have buttock pain and sharp shooting pains. I've been constantly icing , and so hoping there is no further rupture or damage. Time will tell.
christina6313 annie2418
Posted
I had surgery 12/1/2020 for a completely torn and retracted Gluteus Medius Tendon. 3 month recovery time. 6 weeks 20% weight bearing (that was hard). The time has been boring. But now I can walk straight without a limp and sleep and walk without pain in my right hip. The surgery is so worth it.
michele1957 annie2418
Posted
Annie
2016 i had a hip replacement but prior to hip surgery i suffered years with tronchanteric bursitis had steroid injections caused gluteus tear
it took me a long time to source a surgeon who opened me up privately Mr Johan Witt he specialises in tendon hip repairs
had surgery 2018 he had to repair 4 tendons took me 2. years to learn to walk
christmas 2021 the physio placed me on a leg press and that gluteus minimus tendon repair came away from his anchor
these tendon repairs must be done by a highly skilled surgeon but second repairs cannot be done successfully
michele1957 annie2418
Posted
to anyone out there who has had serious pain and their surgeon simply ignores or refuses to listen : go to see Mr Johan Witt London .
he pioneered tendon repairs and is a leading hip surgeon
i wish i never had my hip surgery on the nhs as i was left with nerve damage followed by detached gluteus maximus minimus tendons ripoed off hip bone
2012-2015 steroid injections to bursa caused gluteus minimus tear
2016 -2022 5 years of surgery 1: 2016 hip surgery resulting loss of sensation left foot
2017 neurosurgery failed
2018 4 muscle tendon repairs
2022 detached gluteus minimus that is currently being looked into by Prof Justin Cobb
these tendons that fail are a nightmare to repair second time and i am very concerned what to do as a graft new tendon from human tissue would need to be made and no guarantee it will remain in tact