Still in pain 18+ weeks after hip replacement

Oh dear....I had the Anterior approach here in the U.S. in Oct 2010...and thinking back over the years, I've had so much "change" in my body since this replacement...

I ended up with spinal stenosis (tailbone) issue, had acupuncture for some yrs and still do, went to a PT who worked on the tailbone issue....it's been a long nightmare for me.

I'm approaching the 4 yr post op mark and deal with major nerve damage which sometimes happens with Anterior....i was the "lucky" one who got this.

We have specialized PT therapist and I found one who works on the spinal stuff... I could not sit for 5 minutes for a while without burning and so much discomfort.....acupuncture has helped that area too.

I can not sit much much longer but it's not perfect....many people with aging end up with spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)....but it came on for me with the surgery. You may do good with seeking a PT who does this type work.....

But it is early for you, but again the complications you mention. There are special exercises on Spine Universe site for this tailbone issue. I do them daily...

If only, we came out of these in great shape....good wishes.j

If you have not got an appointment with the consultant in the near future then see your GP ASAP as constant weight loss should be looked into. Also let your GP know about the pain along with the pain at the base of the spine.

I have had several joint replacements inc; both knees, pins in ALL tow joints and main ankle joint has been reconstructed, but not for the hip. So I am not aware of problems occurring, but not knowing in relation to the hip as I said see your GP if you have nothing in the near future with your consultant.

Hi sue, sorry to hear, i had my THR a month before yours and so far i am doing ok, still have left over numbness on the high but i think it will improve with time.  About your tail bone situation, since you are working, perhaps you could work standing, on my last job (i contract) they had desks that you could adjust up and down for those who preferred working standing up...a lot of people were using this feature.

Another therapy I used here in the U.S. is hot and cold laser therapy...many chiropractors use one or the other....I've had both from 2 different chiros....doing this for the spine issue.

I've not lost weight, gained as I have a good appetite and cannot walk much at all anymore...only where I need too and not more... Do you take narcotic pain meds? They can dull one's appetite and I know a family member got pretty messed up on the narcotic pain meds and she lost a LOT of weight....they can cause a cascade of issues.

Sue, Is the tail bone pain related to losing weight? I developed a similar problem when I lost weight. It feels like you're sitting on a large key or something. I had to stop sitting on soft chairs,sofas etc. I had to sit forward with a straight back on hard chairs. Many times people have said to me that I have good posture, not realising that slouching wasn't an option for me. At home I had to either lie down or sit on a hard chair, which is miserable.I found that chairs with a gap at the back where I could shuffle my tailbone back into were best. I got clever at positioning myself onto the gap between cushions on a sofa with a cushion at my back to tilt me forward. I also bought a Stokke stool. They are those strange but beautiful stools where you sit on your knees with a straight back. There are probably other makes. Work should be able to help with the cost of one. I was at university and the disability department paid for one and I bought another for home. But if the knees are dodgy than they might be a problem.You would also be taking weight on the thighs, which again might be a problem. Disability device shops often have helpful equipment, like cushions with a hole cut out at the back and the staff are helpful. Well, my local one is. In the end I bought a Stokke zero gravity chair which is a multi position recliner with a gap at the back. They are ridiculously expensive but it's been worth the money as it's the only chair I can sit in at home. If you put weight back on you will have more cushioning around the bone. Hope this helps. Ask if you want to know anything else.

Yes it's definitely related to not much padding around the bone and sitting down whilst recovering. Ask them at work about an ergonomic stool to sit on. They have to support employees with a physical problem and why would anyone want to see you being uncomfortable! You can work better if not distracted by pain.

Hi Sue, sorry to hear you are suffering so. If a different chair is too difficult to obtain, then what about one of those special donut whole pillows so your tailbone does not have to touch the chair? Living with severe to excruciating pain from my second total hip replacement 10 months ago, I understand that simple solutions may not always work. My tailbone was not affected and I sure wish the best. We do not truly heal for a year, and I agree that making sure you are communicating all of this to your doc is important.

Dawn

Hi sue,, did you get the all clear when you went for your follow up,, with the surgeon  seem odd to have all that pain , you might need a X-ray to see what's going on there?... Good luck ... 

I bought a donut pillow during the first year post op, I had so much going on with complications from surgery....I took the donut pillow everywhere I went where I had to sit, I'm sitting on it now at my computer, it's on top of a couple other high pillows....

But since I have done so much work with my issue, I don't carry it out anymore...when I go to my bridge groups, I carry a flatter pillow...when I go to a restaurant now, I don't take any pillow....so things have improved there but I've done so much spinal work and do the exercises a couple times a day for keeping the spinal canal open.

So glad I'm retired and ended up with replacement at 72, many years after total retirement..... so everything is not negative for me, but enough....