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Still v bad lower back muscle pain 6 mos post-op

Posted , 10 users are following.

jan06056
jan06056

Hi Hippies

sitting and walking for too long sets off really bad lower back and butt muscle pain; feels like I'm scrunched up/tightly wound up,  and only relieved slightly by my 'digging' in to the muscle with my fingers. Scar and pre op pain 99% gone.

I'm over 6 months post op, and back on naproxen, very fed up.

1 like, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • juliet_81364
    juliet_81364 jan06056

    Posted

    Hey Jan, I feel your 'pain'.... I'm 8 months post op and had to go back on Naproxen last week. I had a bursitis post op and had an injection in my hip last week. Are you taking the Naproxen for anti inflammatory benefits?  Did your GP re prescribe it you?

    I too have lower back pain and sciatica on operated side, but I had a slipped disc as well last year.  I don't know the answer to your pain but wanted to sympathise and say get it checked out if you not happy and in pain.

    Also where do you 'dig in'?  I do that too to try and relieve pain. (In my lower back or bum).

    Juliet

  • ian97093
    ian97093 jan06056

    Posted

    Hi Jan could be that your stick is a setting too short, and your back is scrunched over a bit walking, I hate Naproxin I was on 500mg, and 1G in hospital, they made me sweat but boy did they kill the pain...I prefere Tramadol, but change back to Naproxin if I get constipated, Naproxin have the opposite effect. 

    Try just lengthening you stick a notch and see how it goes.... Ian.

  • jhb513
    jhb513 jan06056

    Posted

    I can understand you being discouraged. HAve you spoken to the surgeon or phsio about this?
  • Jodi-France
    Jodi-France jan06056

    Posted

    Gosh I am sorry to hear that. I have a couple things for you.

    #1 try Volterene Pain cream, it has a slightly different name in the UK, and get the 2%. I also suffered from Butt pain both before and after my THR. The Voletene Pain cream really does work, but it takes about 30 minutes to work. That is frustrating because you rub it in and you want instant releife and it doens't give you instant releif, but be patient after 30 minuts it will work. I used it also on my ankles, knees and feet for minor pain after my THR.

    #2 my other hip started to really give me some pain. I found my sofa cushions were to hard. And not only that they rested on the wooden slats of the pull out bed. I took off the couch cushions and replaced them with a foam single bed mattress. It has made ALL the difference in the world on that non operated hip. Like I think I can go years now before I would need it replaced. It was all the couch cushions not providing me a soft enough butt rest, and I spend a lot of time on that couch as that is where I use my computer at.

    Digging into or massaging your butt cheek actually what is happening is that it intitially hurts when you start pushing on it. That pain causes the body to send a healing response to the pain so it is not a bad idea for you to do that.

    Butt pain is the worst and it was butt pain that drove me to get a THR, so I know what you are talking about. But I don't have any now after 15 months, up until a year I would continue to get on and off again slight butt pain on that operated side. Volterene Cream always completely removed th the pain. The tubes are small you will probably want to get two tubes at the same time, plus it is not expensive only 5 euros a tube in France. I use it liberally whenever I have any type of muscle or tendon pain, ankles. knees, shins,  these are always minor pains that results from me exerting myself in some way I haven't in a while. It does work great on the butt pain though.

  • renee01952
    renee01952 jan06056

    Posted

    Dear Jan,

    So frustrating right?  Apparently quite normal though - My surgein told me right away that it can take 12-18 months to full recovery .. I thought that was a long time because I had heard all these miracle stories ...

    How is your walk,  your gait ? Mine is still so off - unbalanced and limping - doesn't help that other hip's cartilage is bone-on-bone now - I have gone back to using my trolley/walker for longer distances - talking about being fed-up!!!! but hey, I have less pain in the butt and back ....

    waiting for my 2nd THR ....

    Take care and be gentloe with yourself --- 

    warm hug

    renee

  • kathee58019
    kathee58019 jan06056

    Posted

    Hi Jan,

    Just wanted to share this. I am 11 mo. post op. My first three months after my op were great, then I tried to get back to doing the things I love. Which required bending and squating etc. It put me back on crutches I had so much pain in my leg. Not while I was bending, but later it would start hurting. Finally after severe depression, I found a Physical Therapist, a real one with a masters degree and a special interest in post op hip replacement. After my intitial eval she told me the mucsles in my leg were so weak from favoring the leg for two years, they could no longer do what I was asking them to do.

    They started doing deep soft tissue massage, which hurt like crazy but they got the knots out and it stopped hurting. I did the specific strengthening excersizes ever day and five weeks later, I felt like a new person. I no longer have pain. First time in two years, pre and post op. I will continue to excersize until I get my muscles back but things are finally looking up for me. The excersizes they gave me are not the ones they send you home with. They are actually to build those muscles back. Mine had gotten so weak, my op leg was smaller.

    Good luck with your recovery!

    • renee01952
      renee01952 kathee58019

      Posted

      Hi Kathee -

      I am going through something similar right now ... you mentioned depression and I am afraid that I find myself very depressed at times .. How did you handle that ? 

      It osunds that your PT is the real deal, so to speak ... I don;t want to say anything bad about mine, but sometimes I feel she is way too young and just wants me to move on - do more and more exercizes which, at this time, is very challenging because unoperated hip is now bone-on-bone ...I wish she would do some deep tissue massage to lenghten the leg muscles - after doing the exercizes they feel as if they are contracted and painful when stretching ...

      Thanks for sharing ... 

      warm hug

      renee

    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 renee01952

      Posted

      Renee,

       It took me a while to figure out where to turn to get help. I was really depressed because I expected that once I had surgery I would have my life back. I was very lucky to find this PT, they had their bio's on their web site and I thought I would give it a try. I was skepitcal at first because I actually thought something was wrong with my hip replacement. What really helped the depression was finding hope and someone that knew what was wrong. This PT was very knowledgeable, but cautious from day one. At the time, I was also using a protein powder that contained creatine, I got it at Walmart and it gave me energy and helped with my depression. It's called Body Fortress. Diet is very important when trying to heal, mentally and physically. Eating healthy reduces inflammation and pain.

       I was having trouble with my non op hip as well because I had put so much pressure on it. It never bothered me before I had surgery on the opposite side. I had forgotten how to walk correctly I was compensating so much. I had  pulled a mucsle on my "good" side that would start in my lower back and wrap around my hip and cause a cramping pain. After I learned to stretch it, and as I get stronger, that side rarely bothers me anymore. I am really trying to protect it so I don't have to have another surgery. 

       I would definitely look for another PT. I was leary of this one at first, mostly because of the sorry ones they gave me when I first had the surgery, I found this one myself and after the first session I started feeling better, mentally and physically. They were always mindful not to cause any further damage to my other joints. The exersizes are gentle but effective.  Ice and heat are also very good for pain relief. Their motto is..if it hurts, don't do it!

        The differences between professionals can be night and day. I've learned not to waste my time and money on someone that is not helping me and your treatment should be specific to "your" needs.

      I wish you all the luck in the world, Renee.

      Kathee

    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 renee01952

      Posted

      Renee, I also forgot to mention, this PT also worked on my posture and core mucsles to help strengthen my entire body.

      Kathee

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb kathee58019

      Posted

      Yes, K.  I'm thinking about finding a private one, too.  I saw two individual ones at the hospital, who were good, but can only see me once a month.  Then they put me into a general post-hip group and the guy there simply isn't interested in answering any questions or explaining anything.  Gives out a sheet of exercises, then goes away while we go round the course.  Rubbish.
    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 edarlingb

      Posted

      E, I agree, that is rubbish. I went twice a week for 5 1/2 weeks and did my exercises and stretches everyday. Everytime I went, after massaging the muscles if needed,  they taught me new exercises and I was continuously moving forward. They wanted me to continue but honestly I just could not afford it any longer. I still do everything I can on my own and I can feel myself getting stronger. I haven't been on crutches since I began my therapy with them. I will definitely go back to them if I need to and they told me to call if I have any question!

      Best of luck to you!

    • renee01952
      renee01952 kathee58019

      Posted

      Hi kathee -- thank you so much ... sounds wonderful to me and like it should be -  have asked her many times to watch me walk - am I doing it  right - I am so unbalanced and walk like a robot, or drunken pirate - getting worse now that other hip is so painful and getting weaker ...

      Thank you again -

      warm hug

      renee

    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 renee01952

      Posted

      Renee,

        Drunken pirate? That's too funny, but I know where you're coming from!  Since my surgery I felt like I was sitting on a rock on the op side. I was thinking all kinds of weird things, but the PT told me my pelvis was tilted and it is actually my butt bone. She said it's possible it could fix itself once I my muscles are strengthened and pull my back into proper form.

        Your PT should be giving you her undivided attention to make sure your form is correct. After all, that's what she's getting paid for. I hope you find someone you can trust to help you.

      Take care and you are welcome anytime. A big hug back to you!

      Kathee

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