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Serious pain after a total hip replacement

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dean73761
dean73761

 I have read many posts of people dealing with alot of pain after a total hip replacement then I have also seen posts that say they would of done it sooner if they knew the end results.

 I suffered from a torn labrum and had a hip scope performed in 2013, but that surgery was done incorrectly leaving me bone on bone. I was able to manage the pain with over the counter medications but was limited to what I could do. So I sought for a second opinion and learned that they suggested a total hip replacement. At the age of 43 you don't think of being impaired or limited of what you can do until it happens. 

 So I proceeded and had the total hip replacement done in October of 2014 and since then my pain level has become unbearable. I am stuck indoors because bearing weight on that leg causes even more pain. My injury was work related and thankfully after the work comp case was closed I lefted my medical open. 

 I have filed for social security disability because the likelyhood that I will ever be able to work again is very highly unlikely. I am constantly going to see a pain management doctor to control my pain with a high dosage of morphine. 

 Just recently went through another MRI and a full examination of x-rays trying to find what is causing the ongoing pain problem. But I have been told even with a hip replacement they can't get rid of all of the arthristis and quite frankly my suggestion to anyone considering a total hip replacement. Just wait till you can't stand it anymore, because you never know when what I have been through might happen to you. Life sitting at home taking medications to control pain is not a life.

 It was the opinion of one of my doctors that it might be ischial tuberosity pain, but I think they might have a dart board in their office that they are throwing darts at because I have been through numerous of injections, PT, and tests and still no new actual findings.

 Let me know if you have had similar pain after the fact. Thanks

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 dean73761

    Posted

    Dean - Your posting fightens the hell out of me, but some of my experiences may help you, and hopefully we can help each other. First THR to my right hip perfect from the first time I stood up, except getting well pain, walking length of hospital corridor by day 2, to letter box on day I got home, about 20 steps. Second THR to Left hip, first time I stood up after surgery, I identified that I was very long, on new left side, was told I was imagining it, or it was swelling, and would get well. Not even written up in my post care notes, that I had complained. Well here I am 10 months since surgery, and am still having problems, major pain when standing, and numbness through length of left leg, and doing all my own research. Saw physio's they identified a leg length discrepancy, but I wanted to know exactly how much, to make sure if I was going to have a shoe lift, it would be the correct height. I got a LONG LEG X-RAY done, you will have to hunt out who does them, not your usual x-ray clinic, hospital or Dr's never suggested this, it came from my research, I had to beg my local GP to write a referral for me, after it was done, the report came as a shock to me, I had 10mm below my knee, which I have grown with since i was a child, how would I be aware of it I don't know,  and 12mm to my femur length, caused by surgery, part of my issue is should the surgeons have identified my natural leg length discrepancy before they started the surgery, I believe they should have, like taking your car in for a service, and your brakes are worn, do you have to know about it beforehand and mention it to them, or does it fall into duty of care. Also since have developed sciatica, and a bulging disc in my back, no back pain before surgery. Again Dr's have duck shoved me, telling me it will get better, only if I grow 3/4 inch on my right side, hahahaha, not funny, another telling me it didn't matter if I could not wear my dress shoes any longer, at 63??? I don't think so, and the final insult came when I had my last visit to be told that there was no relationship between my hip length discrepancy and sciatica, how dear he and in the presence of the trainee medical student, how the hell is the student going to learn correctly. When I got home I decided to look up hip length discrepancy and leg length inequality, and found there is a direct relationship between LLD and sciatica, next visit to the hospital I have a file of information from hospital and univeristy web sites to give to my Dr, maybe I can teach him something. As you can see I am rather peeved, how do I keep fit, heated indoor swimming pool, do my post hip surgery exercises, and then tread water for 3/4 to 1 1/2 hours three days a week, the extra work I have done has helped my back, as I am not in as much pain from that source, and am told by my GP when he examines me that I am nice and strong in my legs and buttocks and sees no problems there, but I would like to be checked out by a senior physio, awaiting appt there. Have you had a long leg x-ray done?? if not I would suggest from my experience of pain and dis-comfort that you get it done, simple check you can do yourself at home, you will need somebody to check to see if you are lying straight, lie on your back on floor, if not able use a bench seat, pull your heels up towards your bum, keeping your bare feet flat on the bench, this is where the other person comes in, are you straight, from your feet through your hips, and shoulders, if so then can you see a difference in your knee height, they should be even, or even lay a ruler across them are the even, a small difference, up to 10mm is considered acceptable in hip replacement land I'm afraid, as you can read I have more than that plus the natural 10mm.
    • dean73761
      dean73761 lyn1951

      Posted

       My leg length discrepancy is 3/4" (19.05 mm) shorter on the operated leg. The hip surgeon said in the beginning this was due to having extremely tight hamstrings and would eventually equal out, but that has failed to happen even after a lengthy spell of extra physical therapy to loosen my hamstrings and tighten my gluts.

       When I have a good day I attempt to share this time with the wife and go shopping with her. The walking is something that I must do to keep my muscles from deteriorating, but is followed by several days of excruciating pain and remaining confined to my couch laying down usually with a TENS unit turned on to help with the pain the medication doesn't take away.

       Some of the diagnosis that they said I might have are spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, sciatica, lumbar radiculopathy, scolios, facet joint disorder, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and ischial tuberosity pain. I have undergone about every test known to man kind except for nerve conduction velocities (NCV). Most of the diagnosis have been found negative except for the obvious which clearly showed up in a mri, bone scan, cat scan, or x-ray.

       I still use a cane to get around because this takes alot of weight off of my operated hip joint. The pain feels like something stabbing from my sit down bones straight up through my pelvic region, around the groin area then across the front and back of the hip to the outer side of the hip then up to my L4/ L5 area and down the back of my thigh. Occassionally I get numbing in my right foot in the arch of my foot and the last 3 toes.

       They offered to give me a trial of neurostimulation in which they install a lead along your spinal cord and it operates like a TENS unit, but after the initial trial of 5-7 days they permanently install the battery pack under the skin. Quite frankly this sounds like a terrible idea. Who in their right mind wants another metal device placed under their skin that works on batteries? With the luck I have they would install this device then once the wound is healed the batteries would go dead and they would have to reopen your wound to change the batteries. 

       For the past two years since finding out that the first doctor screwed up my hip joint. I research everything and look for blogs like this one for people who have had similar problems hoping to find something if nothing else it does help to keep my head up and keep hoping something will be found in the future. But it also allows me to warn others of what can happen. I appreciate all input and even questions, because quite frankly when I attempted to file a medical malpractice against the first doctor based on the report of the second and third opinions of these other two doctors I learned real quick that not one doctor can be trusted. They changed their opinions and wording when contacted about their opinions from excessive removal of bone to a sloppy job. So remember if your doctor screws up on a surgery most other doctors will not turn on another doctor for his error. Its frightening that the doctors that we put our trust into to do the right thing don't and won't help you even after they suggest filing a medical malpractice against that doctor.

       I have a relative which is a advanced practical register nurse and she has been my savour through my hardship and helping me stay informed or will suggest items to question the doctors about. Nowadays you almost need a personal nurse to be by your side when you talk with these types of doctors like you need a attorney if your ever arrested for a crime. Its sickening

  • deborah26839
    deborah26839 dean73761

    Posted

    Hi Dean, I don't know what it is they suspect but when I looked it up it talks about a fracture that if large enough could push on the sciatic nerve, I know that is very painful but might be able to be prepared by surgery. Have you read up on this, has your doctor suggested what you might be able to do. It suggested its a problem that kids have caused by strong thigh muscles I didn't find anything about adults, have you gotten a second opinion? I am not a doctor and have no medical knowledge but I think I would go elsewhere if you are not getting the help you deserve, good luck.
    • dean73761
      dean73761 deborah26839

      Posted

      Last year when I got a second opinion before undertaking the total hip replacement it was discovered that I had a fractured ischial tuberosity and a fracturerd vertebrae which was found on a bone scan. The doctors said it would heal naturally, but from my research on the subject. It said they usually do surgery to plate these bones back together, because the constant pulling on these bones by your hamstrings.

       Unfortunately I am unable to just go to another doctor. Its a long process since I left my medical open on my work comp case. My current doctor has to recommend another doctor then my attorney must file the paperwork to go back to court to get approval for another doctor then the work comp carrier gets to choose which doctor I am allowed to see. The last few doctors they sent me to said there was nothing wrong and dropped it just like that.

       If your lucky enough to have a x-ray or mri that shows a fracture or something then you get the same type of doctor that caused the initial damage to my hip in the first place. So its a 50/50 shot that they might get it right. But I am hopeful that the two doctors that I can freely go to will find the cause and eventually fix the problem.

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 dean73761

    Posted

    Dean - I have exactly the opposite to you as you can read in my previous post. I think in your case I would get that LONG LEG X-ray done, ring around clinics until you track it down. That will give you the exact length of your discrepancy, and also as in my case tell you if you have any natural discrepancy, then go and see a podiatrist and get a shoe lift made for your short leg, I have done that, and doubt I would even be walking at all if I didn't have the lift, my lift is only for the difference the surgeon created, and not the natural difference. The stresses the short leg are putting on your pelvis and spine are I would think the cause of your problems, my short leg I believe has caused my sciatica, there are articles on the internet about it, although Dr's have denied it to my face. leg length discrepancy and leg length inequality following total hip, are a couple of papers. One of the best I have found comes from whiterose, or leeds ortheopedic unit.
    • dean73761
      dean73761 lyn1951

      Posted

      My crazy hip surgeon who performed the THA was a associate professor at a teaching hospital in st.Louis, MO.

      But I did have a complete leg xray done and the total difference was 3/4" or 19.5 mm. I made a lift for the one pair of shoes that I wear when I do get out and about, but this past year I can count the number of times I have actually been outside my house on my fingers and toes. Limited by excruciating pain I limit what activities makes my symptoms worst and lately only go outside to go to my monthly doctor appointments. I have become a couch potato that surfs the internet for others that have dealt with similar issues so perhaps I might suggest it to my doctor.

      But I think tomorrow I may contact the hip surgeon and bump up my appointment and demand that something is done to find a solution. Taking morphine non stop isn't a ideal way to live ones life.

  • renee01952
    renee01952 dean73761

    Posted

    Hi Dean 

    I am so sorry to read your post and in how much pain you are ...

    Sending you healing 

    big warm hug

    renee

  • CanadianGirl
    CanadianGirl dean73761

    Posted

    Hi Dean,

    I know exactly how you feel!! And I do not say those words often... In 2004 at the age of 26 I had cancer surgery and have had complications ever since. I've had chronic pain for almost 12 years now. My pain level at the lowest is about a 7 or 8 and goes up to a 10. My original surgeon told me that I must financial problems, marital problems, I do not like my job or I must just be spiritually unwell, then continued to tell me that there is nothing wrong and he will refer me to whoever I want but I do not need to see him again because I don't have cancer anymore. Usually, with any other cancer patient, they have followup for 5 years. Me, a few months! I have since seen 100's of Dr's who once they hear that somebody has done surgery on me, can't do anything for me. Over the years I have had many Dr's, nurses and other medical professionals tell me that I should take legal action against the original sugeon. That is fine, but will they be on my side when the time comes? I think not. Just like lawyers, Dr's all stick together. Anyways.... I have been seeing a pain specialist for 10 or 11 years and he had suggested a spinal cord stimulator for me 8 or 9 years ago. I saw 1 of the 2 Dr's in my Canadian province of almost 18 million people that do that procedure. I really wasn't sure or doing it. Anytime I mention to any other Dr's about the SCS, they either say don't do it, or pretend they know nothing about them. So, my pain Dr knows that I'm still considering it! Lol! I have recently seen 1 person on here that has one, although I forget who, but they seem happy with it. Well, incase you haven't read any of my posts, I'll tell you a bit about me and my hips. I was diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis (where the blood supply gets cut off to the bone) of the femoral heads. Had my right leg done Feb of this year and was great. Left hip, which is where my nerve damage already is, done the end of September this year. So 2 new hips at 38. Surgeon warned me that my left THR could make my pain worse, and even more so because he had to lengthen that leg too. Well, he was more then correct with his prediction... I'm going to have a sympathetic nerve block done on Tuesday. So here we go again.

    • dean73761
      dean73761 CanadianGirl

      Posted

      I am curious on what type of medication has been most effective for keeping your pain level down to a 7/8. The worst thing that I am encountering are a lot of side effects. In the beginning, before my hip scope I was able to control my pain with over the counter meds. After the first surgery my pain level doubled. I had to start in taking tramadol then I progress to norco 10's. As soon as I had my hip replacement the doctor attempted to give me something weaker than I was taking before and I was dealing with excruciating pain once the spinal wore off. My home health nurse finally convinced him that something stronger was needed but the most I received was a script for the same strength that I was taking before the surgery. As time passed he kept reducing my medication strength to something weaker without listening to a word I had said. I believe I was 3-4 months post op when he just dropped the ball and said that other patients are usually of the meds by now and pain free and refused to write any further prescriptions.

      My attorney suggested visiting my personal doctor and he was the one that prescribed ms contin sulfate er for the first time. Based on the amount and strengths of my medication he prescribed a dosage of 30 mg every 8 hours. And for the first time in a year these allowed me to sleep longer than 3 hours at any given time which was wonderful. My pain dropped from a 9/10 to sometimes a 5/6. I felt as if I could get back to a somewhat normal life.

      For the past 8 months all was well. My pain levels stayed within a manageable level that I was able to limit what weight bearing I could tolerate and still try things that I enjoyed doing. Several months ago I started feeling like the medication wasn't quite making the same difference. And part of our agreement with the insurance company they agreed to keep my medical open but I had to start seeing a pain management doctor that we both agreed too. I asked my personal doctor who he would recommend and that's the doctor they finally agreed with.

      I figured that maybe with this new doctor that we could find a medication that would work like this once did, but this wasn't the case. They attempted to prescribed something weaker till I told him to contact my other doctor in which I had tried a few months earlier because of constipation problems I was having.

      So eventually they lefted me on the same medication but when I filled the new script I got a surprise. This refill didn't do what the last medication was doing for me. Just made me drowsy and it would knock me out. The only difference was the manufacturer of the new pills.

      So the past three months I have been trying to find the same manufacturer of the pills that I use to take. My latest version of ms contin tends to put me into a deep sleep for a entire day. I immediately called the doctors office to make a appointment to discuss this crazy medication which is this Wednesday. Just need to find something that controls the pain without all of the stinking side effects.

      Will let you know how it goes. But before my battery dies on my phone and to answer your original message. I did read up on several people life experiences and hoping they were still active members. Some people may have undergone a procedure I haven't and I love suggesting to the doctor that we try this and that.

      Anyway must go, phone making its final sounds before it dies.

      Bye

    • CanadianGirl
      CanadianGirl dean73761

      Posted

      Hey Dean,

      The 7-8 pain that I mentioned is when I'm lucky and just doing nothing but laying, or should I say semi-laying there. I've been sleeping in a recliner for almost 12 years now since that seems to be the best position for me. Even just laying there being at an 8, for no reason at all, it will go up to a 9, 10. I have tried everything available in Canada. Methadone, IV hydromorph (at crazy crazy high doses) patches, I've tried it all and nothing really works. That is why the spinal cord stimulator was suggested. Last resort, so they say. Over the years I've tried every type of injection, nerve block with no success... I don't ever sleep for more then a half hour at a time. Except for before my spinal from my LTHR wore off. I'm sure that you have, but have you tried gabapentin or lyraca? Neither worked but the gabapentin would take away some of the pins and needles. I have GI problems from my surgery as well. I have nerve damage to my bowels, slow gastric emptying, spasms in my esophagus, I am nauseous all the time and vomit on a regular basis, so it is extremely hard to even take oral meds. Anyways, I'm on all these crazy meds and I find that they don't even really do anything. If you are on something for a while, your body gets used to it and needs a higher dose for it to help. So, sorry. Not much help here. I'm always willing to try new thing and listen to other people's experiences to see if anything they have had or gone through would help. It's hard when there isn't something physical for people to see, they just don't understand, even medical professionals. Anyways... Talk soon.

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 dean73761

    Posted

    Dean - I know I am butting in here, but the Dr's had me on NORSPAN patches, back of hip, (has to be non-hairy area) when my right hip had broken down completely, 3 months before my first surgery, wonderful, after years of not being able to walk,due to pain,  I had a few weeks of relief, patch were taken off on operating table. No drowsy effects for me, just no pain. Currently on Endone, on bad days, as you are only too aware, and as my son says, Mum you are stoned as a newt, as I giggle at him, and go back to just sleeping in my easy chair. No life that.  Back to what has helped, swimming, (nonweight bearing exercise) I have a heated indoor pool near me, bliss, get in there with with a noodle (water log) under my arms, and just float for a while, then start treading water gently, like riding a bike, row with my arms or dog paddle, I do 3/4 to 1-1/2 hours now, have built up over last 9 months, does seem to help with pain from back, numbness in leg and foot, and has strenthened muscles in back I'm sure as pain less than it used to be, I was on endone 4 times a day, now only for going to bed, and if I have had a very busy day, going to Dr's, and having to walk some distance, and not every day.
  • dean73761
    dean73761

    Posted

    Just received some good news recently had a MRI done and they indicated one of the screws is in a spot that could be rubbing against my sciatic nerve causing the excruciating pain that I have been dealing with. Made a appointment to see my surgeon first thing Monday morning, so we are making the long 13 hour drive over the next two days. Hopefully we can get a surgery planned to correct this ongoing problem causing the excruciating pain!

  • dean73761
    dean73761

    Posted

    Just received some good news recently had a MRI done and they indicated one of the screws is in a spot that could be rubbing against my sciatic nerve causing the excruciating pain that I have been dealing with. Made a appointment to see my surgeon first thing Monday morning, so we are making the long 13 hour drive over the next two days. Hopefully we can get a surgery planned to correct this ongoing problem causing the excruciating pain!

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK dean73761

      Posted

      Knowing the effect of sciatic pain, I bet you cannot wait to have this done.  So glad they have identified this possible cause of your pain.

      Best wishes for a speedy resolution.

      Graham

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