Post THR op issues

Posted , 7 users are following.

Hi, i had a THR in Oct 20, (mid lockdown,great fun). Im nearly 7mths out and thankfully im healing well, not much issues with the hip to be honest. However, i have a big problem with the calf muscle on my operated leg (left). I started walking reasonably normally after around 12wks but very quickly developed muscle problems in my calf. I had around 3wks physio treatment which cleared it up for about a fortnight but then it came back, only much worse ! Loads more physio treatment hasnt helped at all. My physio has referred me to a Consultant who arranged an MRI scan last wk but wont get results for another few days. So, im wondering if any other THR veterans have experienced anything similar? In my opinion there has to be a link ! I played semi pro football for many years and had a couple of calf pulls which only took a couple of weeks to heal. After almost 2 years of increasingly agonising pain in my hip I was sooo looking forward to long pain free family walks with our dog but this is just dragging it out seemingly forever ! If anyone has had similar problems, or has heard of anything like this please let know ! Thanks in advance !

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Edited

    congratulations on your new hip. your only 8 months out. in every case healing takes almost a year or more for total recovery .

    the calve can be sore after surgery due to the stress from surgery and simply learning to move differently while exercise and walking again with a new walking gate . new shoes for the new gate and good arch supports very important. wearing rocker soles makes a BIG difference on muscles and takes the pressure and stress off joints while healing. start slowly until you can feel confident.

    your new hip has aligned your body differently now and with the new alignment of your hip prior to surgery a arthritis walk can stress out soft tissue . it could be spasms, maybe muscle relaxer meds can help. the relation between leg, knee, calve after hip surgery can effect the way we heal and pre surgery injury effects the soft tissue as well as the post surgical stress effect.

    The altered composition of muscles in response to inactivity and alignment prior to surgery due to arthritic or injured hip can take longer to heal. walking differently prior to surgery with painful hip can effect the soft tissue which can take up to two years to heal completely after joint replacement with better realignment accomplished by new the components . ask about a support wrap for your calve.

    i have had 3 hip replacement surgeries . each one was a different recovery. one hip was done over 23 years ago and still doing great. give it time . Martin it will all fall into place before you know it , you'll eventually not have a thought about the recovery process.

    • Edited

      Thank you for your great response Barbara, everything you say makes complete sense and I very much appreciate you taking the time to do it ! I'm getting quite exasperated with it all tbh ! I will definitely look at getting hold of some rocker soles. I have a follow-up consultation with my surgeon next week so will discuss the possible use of muscle relaxants with him. Hopefully there is some light further down the tunnel. Look after yourself and stay safe !

    • Edited

      Martin... good to know you have a follow up appt. the doc will hopefully prescribe muscle relaxer meds

      if you have a hot tub available that can help relax the muscle as well as a good deep muscle massage . be sure to drink a lot of water it helps muscles stay hydrated. also a patch for muscle treatments can help some are available OTC.

      good luck to you and total healing is only within a short time and lots of patience away . soon you will be walking with absolutely no sense of pain or memory of hip surgery. now that's my bold promise....

  • Edited

    This is exactly the same as me.

    Left hip 9 months ago and doing well until a few weeks ago, with similar issues to you with left calf and foot. Pulling, twinges cramps and pain.

    Right hip was 3 months ago, and it is fine.

    I also think I have tight hamstrings for both legs, so I have been given physio for this. I think I will book myself a professional massage too.

    So annoying and disappointing when hip 1 was doing so well, and my mileage and fitness was building well. 3 miles per day walking minimum and 1 mile swim etc.

    • Edited

      Thanks for replying ! Its very frustrating, I was looking forward to building up my fitness etc like yourself. I'm at Consultant on wed so hopefully he can shed some light in it. I'll keep u posted.

    • Edited

      Thanks Martin, please do. At the moment I have been given hamstring stretches to do for a couple of weeks. Not sure if that will work. I will resume swimming from Friday and see if that helps to stretch everything out in a non weight bearing way.

      Yep its frustrating all right, i used to play county squash and swimming...oh and football. My surgeon said I would be able to go back to these in time after all soft tissues have been strengthened. He is a top UK surgeon, but sometimes the back up physios are poor and very vague I find.

      Also, I find it odd and annoying that post op and a few physios we are left to our own devices to research any issues.

  • Posted

    I am 12 weeks post op posterior THR. Was doing really well at 7 weeks, but now have really sharp pain from hip down through knee to ankle when I move badly, like my foot is an inch turned out or in. It also happens when I get into bed even if I keep my legs together. Also, if lying with my knees bent up and opening knees, the one on the op side feels like I'm lying on a tennis ball and I get that sharp pain down the outside.

    anyone had this?

    • Posted

      I am 11 weeks post op and have the same ' tennis ball' feeling on my operated side. Looking forward to hearing about anyone else who experienced this and if it has been resolved.

    • Posted

      Most of us had this, some call it like golf balls in the hip area which you feel when sitting in particular.

      It does go away in time generally.

  • Posted

    I suppose I can understand the ball in pocket feeling, but what about the pain down the outside to the knee and ankle. Anyone else have that?

    • Posted

      Hi

      I have just joined this forum i had THR 1 week ago and i cant get the pain under control right mow i have thigh knee and most of all shin pain i also have the golf ball feeling im wishing i hadnt done this the pain now is much more severe than anything i had pre op plus my operatefd leg now appears to be markedly longer than my other leg please tell me that this will all settle down im thoroughly miserable

  • Edited

    I;ve just been back to the Ortho Department who did an xray. The implant is totally OK, but they are not happy with the probably sciatic nerve pain down the outside of my leg if I move my foot outwards or inwards. I am just starting to wonder if I hurt my back when I fell and broke my hip.

    I am 15 weeks PO. Can't do some of the exercises because of the sciatic pain.

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