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Still having soft tissue pain and discomfort after 10 weeks.

Posted , 8 users are following.

cobra888
cobra888

I had a THR on 2/4 (about 9.5 weeks ago).  The joint feels good but I am still having a lot of discomfort with the soft tissue that was cut during surgery.  I get bee sting type pains and a lot of knots and golf ball type feelings.  I can't sit very long without shifting around and can't come close to sleeping on that side.  I have no problem walking.  The surgery was the posterior approach with a 4.5 inch incision.  I had the other hip resurfaced in 2008 with the same incision approach and did not have anywhere near this much problem with the soft tissue.  The surgeries were performed by two different surgeons.  Could one surgeon's technique be so different (as in cauterizations, muscle cutting, etc.) to cause the tissue trauma to be much worse that another's.  Or is the fact that I am now 59 instead of 51 a big factor.  Whatever insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

Bruce S

1 like, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK cobra888

    Posted

    Bruce, you have my sympathies. Good thing that the joint feels ok. It is my opinion that it is not normal to have that much soft tissue discomfort at this point in recovery. UNLESS you are doing lots of exercise, that is! What is your activity level? Does your surgeon have any information for you about this? It may resolve in time, or it may not. Most people are much more comfortable than you are at 10 weeks post-op.

    I had bad enough soft tissue damage with my THR last July that I am having surgery again next month to fix it. In my case, we know that there are gluteal tendon tears that are causing my severe limp, and there may be more problems, since I also have pain in other areas. Two new surgeons are going to be doing the surgery, exploring my hip/thigh to try to figure out what else may be wrong in addition to doing the tendon repair. I needed to go to a different practice from my original surgeon to get a diagnosis and treatment, since he just kept saying there was "weakness" in there and I should exercise and take steroids. Wouldn't believe I had torn tendons.

     

    • cobra888
      cobra888 AnnieK

      Posted

      Hi AnnieK

      thanks for your empathy.  I do lots of exercise including squats, lunges and weights, so that may explain some of my problem.  But I did all this with my other THR and had none of these issues.

      Sorry to hear that you will need more surgery for the soft tissue damage.  I hope all turns out well for you.

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK cobra888

      Posted

      Oh, yes, that could explain it! My new surgeons don't allow any squats or lunges or straight leg lifts for 3 months. And that would be only if everything is going well, not if you are having this extra, excessive pain, then the restriction would be for longer.

      If I were you, I would stop all of that exercising, including weights, for awhile to see if your pain stops. Then I'd give it awhile after that for healing to take place. Lots of damage was done to the bones that were cut and the soft tissues that were cut and/or stretched during the op, and they need to heal from the cellular level on up. This takes time.

       

    • cobra888
      cobra888 AnnieK

      Posted

      Yeah, I might try that as much as I hate to!  I have been doing those exercises forever!

      Thanks Annie1

  • steve86482
    steve86482 cobra888

    Posted

    Age makes a difference? Posterior approach and a 4" scar? Same here but with a 14" scar. Did you do enough therapy and walking
    • cobra888
      cobra888 steve86482

      Posted

      Lots of therapy and walking, maybe too much.  And what I meant was that I think many things get tougher with age.
  • annone70291
    annone70291 cobra888

    Posted

    That does sound like a lot of strenuous exercise to me! Perhaps ease up a bit and walk more to compensate? I was doing Tai Chi again at about 8 weeks but I was very careful and moderated my practice. I was also lucky in that my muscles were not cut but merely stretched. They were stiff afterwards but I had virtually no pain. I hope you get some answers from your surgeon.
  • Skidget
    Skidget cobra888

    Posted

    Bruce, I had a lateral/posterior surgery, as well, with about the same sized incision. I get the bee stings sensation (on the cheeks) and I've had CRAZY muscle spasms and the like since waking up from surgery - a pile of rocks, a book, an iron rod down my thigh, a paperback novel, and now finally...the golfball. The good news is they are all dissipating in time (I'm six weeks post op). I also have received a massage and a Bowen tretament, and will be getting more Bowen treatments for the healing of the fascia, and scar tissue release massage therapy for the scar. I now don't under-estimate the role of our skin in our overall well-being. Just one person's take...
  • shirley28014
    shirley28014 cobra888

    Posted

    Hi

    I do so sympathise with you , i am now 16 weeks post op , and am in excrutiating pain when sitting or lying , like shards of glass or a pile of golf balls,,

    i have phoned my consultants secretary and i have an appointment with my consultant next tuesday . I also still have very painful feet and legs  it is all making me feel really depressed.

    I hope that your predicament continues  to improve

    Very kind regards Shirley

     

  • marge69954
    marge69954 cobra888

    Posted

    HI Cobra. I had both hips done by the same surgeon and had two totally difference experiences with each surgery. I was told it's like having kids, same parents but siblings are NEVER the same. My entries were anterior and I was basically the same age but I would think 8 years could make it a bit tougher on recovery. Good luck.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 cobra888

    Posted

    Hi Bruce, 

    Warm welcome to this friendly hippies forum ...

    I had 2 THR surgeries within 6 months and honestly felt that 2nd one was more painful to recover from than 1 st one - Same surgeon, same approach, etc. 

    When I mentioned this to my surgeon he said: maybe you forgot already ...

    So I am saying the same to you ... And your first was resurfacing and this time a total hip replacement - 

    it sounds as if you agree to previous comments, that you might be doing too much - At this stage everything around the incision and hardware is still so fragile and still recovering -

    Let us know how you are getting on, okay 

    Nice to have you here

    big warm hug

    renee

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