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Sacroiliac joint pain

Posted , 8 users are following.

Kate53CornUK
Kate53CornUK

As my pain has been diminishing from my LTHR on Feb 12th I have noticed over the last week that I have pain above my left hip, at the back, which is centred about 3/4 inches from my spine.

This afternoon I had an appointment at the doctor and he suspects sacroiliac joint pain - well, thanks.

I thought I had overdone it but the pain was quite persistent. Apparently when you have a hip replacement it can be caused by the pelvis being rocked around and also it can be aggravated when you limp, which I had done for ages before my op.

I have been advised to rest (duh), up my pain relief and walk slowly and see if it settles down. 

I wondered if anyone else has experienced this and how long did it go on for? The doc was a bit vague and seemed more concerned with how well I have recovered.

I have been usng cold packs again and taking ibuprofen to combat any inflamation - glad of any other tips.

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • catrin46108
    catrin46108 Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    Hi Kate. I had something similar at 12 weeks. I had been to Wales to visit my mum and it was a 7 hour car journey each time plus different bed etc. When I came home This struck. The GP gave me Naproxen which sorted me out thankfully it lasted about ten days altogether but it came back briefly a week later because I overdid it. I do still get back pain occasionally even now almost 13 months on. A bit of an occupational hazard for a hippie??
    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK catrin46108

      Posted

      Thanks, Catrin. I am not that worried about it, it's just annoying. i didn't get this with my first hip last year and was a bit surprised at the pain at the back of my hip when my new hip has actually settled down. 

      Glad to know it didn't last too long - I shall be behaving myself for a while until it's gone.

  • CelsB
    CelsB Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    I have had a sacroiliac sprain.  Many years ago though.  I went to the GP with back pain and he got me lying flat on the couch.  He did various things which didn't hurt and then he looped his hands underneath my waist and lifted ...oh, the pain!  It was probably caused by lifting people.  This was in the days before hoists became compulsory.

    It may not be the same when the pain is caused through a surgical procedure, but I think it faded away over a couple of weeks with painkillers.  Resting with a cushion under the lumbar area of my spine helped too.  I don't know if that would be comfortable after a hip replacement though.  It seems odd that if it was caused during the operation that you have only just begun to suffer, unless the pain was masked by operation pain.

    Sorry I can't be more helpful.  I hope it doesn't last long.

    Cels xxx

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK CelsB

      Posted

      The doc said he 'suspected' it to be sacroiliac joint pain. I came home and did some research and you can get it after THR especially if you have been limping or lopsided for a long time.

      Over the last week I have been doing a little more but not too much but the pain came on gradually.

      Supporting the hips does seem to be the thing and I have small cushion wedged behind me now. I can remember my granny having a support girdle for some lower back problem and when you hugged her it was like hugging a tree trunk so if the cushion don't work......!!!

       

  • lors23
    lors23 Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    So sorry kate you were doing so well too hope ot goes away quick.and listen to the doctor when he says rest. Sooner it goes the sooner you will be back on track. Sending my love and best wishes xx
    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK lors23

      Posted

      Thanks, Laura, I am resting (again) - I am not sure I like trading one pain for another so I will be a good girl.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    Hi Kate, 

    I looked it up and also Bursitis from another thread and now I thinkl I might have both cry - no kidding here - I am so sore and and thighs, hips are tender - feels like if its bruised - Walking like Frankenstein's bride again and not funny anymore ...

    Appointment with surgeon is next week - Not sure what to do in the meantime though - Don't panic and carry on ??? 

    big warm hug

    renee

    P.S. it is more in my old new hip than new hip - 

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK renee01952

      Posted

      I think it can happen at any time, Renee, but when I looked it up, limping is a big contributor and I have done a lot of that! It also seems to appear, for hip patients, anywhere after about 5/6 weeks after surgery and also any other time for anyone else 

      For me, the pain is right at the back of my hip, at the top of my bum but in the small of my back.

      Yes, it feels like I have been kicked by a small horse. It feels bruised and hot and irritated. The pain is worse in the morning and again in the evening.

      I went to the GP because it doesn't feel the same as 'healing hip pain' but the pain does sometimes radiate down my leg like a sciatica pain, and like the pain of OA that I had before.

      I am using naproxen (stronger ibuprofen) and upped my co-codamol again. I have a cushion wedged in my lumbar region when I sit and am using an ice pack.

      I have to go back in two weeks if it hasn't cleared up.

      I was slightly annoyed because my actual hip pain is diminishing and this has taken over. I am back to walking very slowly, with deliberate steps and no limping!!!

      I hope you find an answer, Renee, you've had this for a while, haven't you? Didn't your GP do any physical tests? Mine got me to lay on the couch with my bad hip on the edge. I then had to drop my leg down to a stool. I drew up my good leg to support me and then he asked me to raise my leg off the stool. The pain twanged.

      It also hurt when he pressed around the area and I squeaked a few times.

      It is only 'suspected' SI joint pain at the moment. If it carries on he said that he will refer me to have an injection which will show it up like cortisone injections for hip pain.

      It made me a bit miserable actually. I thought I was done with pain for a while!

       

    • renee01952
      renee01952 Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Thanks Kate - I limped for a long time too - The pain is in the old new hip/leg (Hmm ... did I mention this before??rolleyes) and I thougt I migh have sciatica, eventhough i never had that ...

      My GP didn't bother with Physical Exam - I asked her for one and she said:

      "why ? The surgeon discharged you and you can do everything again" 

      and  when I called she just told me to take celebrex again - Oh, and she was the 3rd MD I saw in this Medical Group - 

      I stopped Physical Therapy because I felt it aggrevated the hip - and here again, work focus was done on new Left hip  and not on my right hip - 

      Yig,   I am grumpy today - thanks for listening - 

       

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