Short Leg

Hello,

I have had many Left shoes lifted 1/2" (I had Right THR in 2014). I have sent them away to American Heelers in Ohio (google it, not sure I can post alink). They are a bit pricey at aroud $60+ for 1 shoe, but better then the alternative. I recently found my local shop that makes custom orthothics will do the same thing for $40.

But as many people say, the length may even out without you doing anything, for many its is just a mattter of time until your body works out the kinks, UNLESS, there truely is a LLD (Leg length discrepency). I waited 4 months until I was sure it wasn't going to fix itself. I did the same as you, I stood on spacers till I found the perfect pelvic symmetry. You may want a doctor, chiropractor or PT to confirm.

Sandy (Welcome to the new you!)

Hi Mijoed

Once you find out what the exact difference in height is, you can get a boot maker to add this to the bottom of your shoe. 7mm is not a lot and wont be noticed on your shoe.  This saves insert annoyance when they move around. My surgeon actually told me the difference in height but your posiatrist should also have been able to tell you.

All the best.

So very common as they measure across hips so they sit right, but often your other hip has some deterioration making your new hip correct but your other hip shorter. Mine did the same thing. However some of the difference can just be muscles that were compensating with the bad hip. My surgeon recommended I not wear lifts for at least 4 months to see if muscles stretch back etc. After that he says if I need them to go ahead. You can have shoes fixed, you can buy custom orthotics too, but I simply bought some of the brown rubber 1/4 inch lifts at the famous online retailer. They work great. I measured needing 1.2'" but it felt like too much so using 1.4" instead. I think they come in packs of 3 or 4, very reasonable. If possible such as with athletic shoes put them under the pull up part. Stays in place better if you can, but I have also worn them with others. I bought a clear plastic one to wear with sandals. I just used double sided tape under it and it works fine. Good luck, don't rush it but if it's bothering your back (it was mine)try using one a little less then you need to leave room for your leg muscles to stretch etc good luck.

peg. 

Most important that you are measured correctly, you have to establish if it is a short leg, or just the muscles, apparently can feel as though you have a short leg post surgery.  My physiotherapist measured me on a proper bench table, and advised me to get a long leg x-ray, thats an x-ray from the floor to above your waist, and then they have a computer program that measures each bone, I was found to have 10mm below my knee, had grown with that natural, but unaware, and then 12mm added post surgery, but I only have to wear a 10mm lift under my other heel, as no need to correct for the natural discrepancy.

As others have said, it some of your problems can just be tight muscles. My mother has had four of these operations and said after her first she was short on her operated leg.  She was given this explanation and in time it did sort itself out.  It was only by the time of her fourth that she ended up with a true leg length discrepency.

I have always had a 1/2" leg length discrepency.  My right thigh bone is longer than my left.  Having had a right THR I now have a 2 cm diifference and feel lopsided.  I have been given heel raisers in the past and was puzzled by why you are concerned about being sold two.  They fit either shoe and you will find it useful to have more than one so you are not always searching for the single one you possess when you can't remember which shoe it is in.  At least this is always my problem.

As for me, I was sent to an 'appliance' department at our local hospital to be told that they want to take my shoes, split the sole and add 2 cms.  As even my consultant, along with various physios in the past have said, i cannot have the whole discrepancy corrected because I have had the difference (or now some of it) all my life.  My chirporactor says that my back which has scoliosis is holding up very well at the moment.  I just want someone to have a sensible conversation  with about this as I am giving my shorter leg problems.  I think I may have 1/2 the difference corrected in time but I still hope that some of the increased difference may disappear.

 

Have you had your post op check with the surgeon yet? They will always endeavor to get leg lenths the same, and as others have said it can be to do with the muscles, they are still healing. It is important with that difference that if you need to have support long term that you get it made to measure. Your surgeon can refer you to surgical applicances. 

Dear Mike

Some months before my twenty yr old THR failed my ankle pointed out that the leg was shorter than the other side by about 1cm and I was not even aware of this.

When I had the revision earlier this year it felt a bit longer than the other leg but now I do not notice any difference when walking or standing so I would just give it time. I'm now three months post op.

Cheers Richard

The NHS podiatrist here in the UK provided mine but I also believe you can buy them on Amazon

You might find that its a perceived leg difference so please go and get your leg correctly measured first as putting raisers in your shoes and not requiring them can completely alter your gait, if however you genuinely have a length disrepency then carpet is an excellent short term lifter, it gets thinner with use but works well to begin with.

I have over an inch difference and I see an orthotics consultant, very good but I will have to back this month to make sure I'm wearing correct size.

Good luck

Hi you only 6 weeks after hip replecement  give it the time,  Get your leg mesure by specialist but you should wait  could sort your LLD by self. I was not alowed put insole into my my shoes after physo and hydro therapy  that was about 9 to 10 weeks. Im 10 monts after hip sergery and my operated hip is 1.5 cm longer

im wear insole in my shoes to to keep balance and not to have sore back. Im on waiting list to have opsite hip dane excaly if some one cancel im on. You can order insole on Amazon or if you are in UK you can bay them there. I odere9them trough fish pond but they cama from UK and cost about 20 dollars and came as a pair.  Just wait for litle bit longer honesly could setle same lengs with time. Good luck and take care Madla💗