1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

physio confirmed 1.5" LLD

Posted , 5 users are following.

helen248
helen248

Saw physio today (3 weeks po) and whilst he is very happy with my recovery so far, he confirmed the leg length discrepancy is much more than can be addressed with a heel lift so i have to have all my left shoes altered. i can apparently get 2 pairs done on the NHS but first i have to find suitable shoes. this isnt as easy as it should be due to the arthritis, fused big toes and swelling in my feet. I have to wear flats, prefer trainers but am reluctant to spend loads of a pair of trainers that are then going to be burchered. 

i have a tension band to exercise the adductors and have a new method of using crutches that is intended to strengthen my muscles instead of favouring them. Feels very strange and i can only manage a short distance before it gets painful but i will build it up slowly. 

all in all a positive visit but im a bit meh about the shoe thing. 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • edarlingb
    edarlingb helen248

    Posted

    I have recently had my leg lengthened by 4cms during op. Could feel the positive difference immediately. Know how important it is.

    I've heard that here in the UK there is a sports shop which customise trainers bought from them for a v reasonable fee. They take footprint impressions, too. Sorry: can't remember company name but should be able to google it.

  • Hipster
    Hipster helen248

    Posted

    Did you have a LLD pre-op Helen? I have a 4cm LLD and my surgeon has assured me that he can correct this through my LTHR next week.

    • helen248
      helen248 Hipster

      Posted

      i suspect my right (operated) leg was slightly shorter before my hip was replaced due to the collapse of the joint but is now a fair bit longer. he had to make it longer to get the muscle taut enough to hold the joint together. i expected a cm or so but an inch and a half is too much to adapt to
    • helen248
      helen248 edarlingb

      Posted

      probably yes, but not for at least 12 months i hope. I have a 6 year old home educated daughter so my husband and eldest daughter have had to take a fair bit of time off to help me. its not a permanent thing but even 12 months is going to play hell with my pelvis and back
    • edarlingb
      edarlingb helen248

      Posted

      And have you discussed equalising during your next op with your surgeon?
    • Hipster
      Hipster helen248

      Posted

      I've found regular osteopathy and acupuncture helps manage back and pelvic pain due to LLD but it's been an expensive 12 months for me.
    • helen248
      helen248 edarlingb

      Posted

      it was mentioned post-op but i will be discussing it at the 6 week appointment. its certainly not something i can live with indefinitely. its playing hell with my back
    • edarlingb
      edarlingb helen248

      Posted

      Sounds to me as if you need to have a really detailed conversation at that point. And don't leave until you have a treatment plan that is as acceptable as possible for you, including physio and pain management.

      Take a list of questions with you, if you're one of us whose memory seems to abandon us in those situations.

      Take someone with you if possible.

    • helen248
      helen248 edarlingb

      Posted

      yes i will do thanks. ill start writing things down as they occur to me. 
  • Sredni393
    Sredni393 helen248

    Posted

    If it's any consolation, mine was about that but took a year to get resolved. Now I wear one small gel heel raise about 3mm but seeng chiro regularly. (19mnth p/o)You may find it "goes home" in the coming months. Must be swelling internally and knitting, tension etc,... So don't despair yet.   I find a good chiro far better than physio, but not in early weeks obviously... 
    • helen248
      helen248 Sredni393

      Posted

      its physically and inch and a half longer unfortunately. the surgeon told me he had to set it like that because any less would have resulted in constant dislocation. My hip was crumbling and the muscles were too wasted to make my legs equal. 
    • Sredni393
      Sredni393 helen248

      Posted

      Odear what a sentence.  Do you need the other side operated.... If so, you may get nearer to equal eventually?
  • olive45318
    olive45318 helen248

    Posted

    My friend had her shoes built up very successfully and unless you focused on her feet, you would never know.  She gets 1 pair on NHS every year, 5 years after surgery, I have made a point of asking her about her shoes.  Her collection is slowly building up.  She has just had a holiday in Israel, which involved a lot of walking.  She does not need surgery on the other leg and found it irritating that it was the only suggestion offered.  She is a nurse and realised at once that her legs were an inch and a half different in length.  She started the ball rolling herself, by getting one pair of  shoes done privately

    Very sorry you have to face this, on top of an operation and what sounds like a very busy life.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.