Tenotomy of the iliopsoas ( tendon release )

Hi Susan, this is Chrissy. I am 6 weeks out. I think Inhal is the one that has had longest time after sx...and that gives you pretty good idea...for me Im great one day, pushing the leg sets you back ....but you have to or else you're up for another sx :-(...

I still think the figures are higher than 5% of people who have anterior hip replacement get this...more like 20%....If you come up with some way to permanently stretch this tendon let me know!

The thing that directly helps me the most is working on my glutes & really focusing on my walking gait.

1. Lying glute bridges- 2 legged & 1 legged. Making sure when I come down to the ground I get my back into the ground first. This helps get my pelvis in an anterior tilt, as with hip surgery it all gets pretty lazy in there. I hope I can explain how I do this. I lie on my back with my knees bent & my feet flat against a wall and I push my feet as I raise my hips up and squeeze my butt like crazy, on the way down I make sure my butt hits the ground last & my back pushes down first. This gets the core on & gets the hips tilting forward. I do 3 sets of 12. 

When I walk I focus on chest out, shoulders up & braced, it’s not a natural feeling but it means I’m not sloppy.

Lunges! Make sure your front knee doesn’t go over your front foot. Go to whatever depth you can manage. Do these regularly. I can now get my knee to ground in a full lunge holding 2 kg weights in my hand. This really stretches the psoas and I believe is what has got rid of that burning sensation in my groin. I sucked at these for weeks!!!

Wishing you all the very best. I do think we will recover from this BUT incredibly slowly😔 

Thanks Inhal, Im adding Lying glute bridges to my stretches...i am stretching the crap out of tendon yet it doesn't seem to stick.it tightens right back up..I do yoga high lunges and yoga wide leg deep bends...I am wondering if the psoas wasn't lengthened enough...could that be possible? I know KSHippyChick was fine 2 weeks after surgery but she said tendon was removed that the 3 other muscles could support it. might have been easier route..She had the same dr I did so i wonder about the lengthening part?

You are right the recovery is incredibly slow and painful...Regards, Chrissy

Hi Chrissy

So this week I’m trying another approach! 

I’m really focusing on walking. I’ve been doing 6 km every day, at first I was slow, but day 5 today & I can pick up the pace a bit.  Burning sensation in groin gone. Glutes got a good workout & rolled with massage ball had some sore spots in my butt after! Was a flat walk.  In my opinion this is naturally stretching out the psoas, focus on form & it gets the pelvis lined up. That strange weakness stepping to the side has backed off, it’s not 100% gone but does feel stronger. 

Bending my knee up to my hip is still not easy, not painful but it’s as if my knee doesn’t get the message to get up there! Going to make this my focus next week, will research best exercises to get that sucker moving!

Damn this stuff can mess with your head!!

8 months post op! 

Take care chicka😘

Hi Inhal, thats alot...dont get set back...so be careful please...im doing 1/2 mile every am...will up it to 2x day

Started PT and here are my home exercises, which after initial burning and soreness does seem to feel better

1) Hamstring stretch with multi-loop strap  4 times, hold 30 sec, do 2x day

2) IT BAND stretch with strap...same as above...this one did burn

3) Hip adductor stretch...same as above

and i've added your glute bridges....this does take time...I will say this surgery is not for someone who is not willing to do the exerices...because it stands to reason that the psoas will tighten again....How much you want to bet that there is another surgery they do for people who don't do the work and stretch it out??!!

Randi starts with a very good PT on Friday so I want us to find out what exercises he got..

Question: after your anterior THR did you just get no physical therapy, like i did? i ask because i talked to some ladies in my development who had the anterior but went to rehab for one week where they stretched the hell out of muscles and they never had any problems.

Your 8 months post-op, i believe i read that full recovery is at 9 months, so you are almost there!!!

Thank you!!! Here's to all of us, that we kick this psoas in the butt!

Hi Chrissy

Roller coaster ride for sure!!!!

I’m not going to hex myself I hope!!! So 8 months post op for me. Coming up to 9 months.

Incrementally better, not 100% . 

My rehab & physio after surgery was down to me. I got a lot wrong in hindsight. Physiotherapy in Australia is rubbish. I got a strength & conditioning coach & in hindsight that want the best idea. He just wanted to keep loading me up!!!!! So I purchased Dr John Russin’s Foundation Program. OMG! Game changer!!! Game changer. You have to be dedicated but damn I feel great. 

I walk 6 EVERY day. Also a game changer.

I am truly feeling slightly hopeful.

Your stretches are great, thanks for those. 

💪😘

Hi Inhal, you are way way more fit than I am...I wasn't able to do anything for over 1 yr because of psoas and it seems it just goes on and on..

I also read that another tendon problem after hip replacement is ischial tuberosity and impingment so that may account for butt pain...that's why stretching and that ball helped...check it out...at least thats easier to fix.

You are doing excellent to walk that much! Congrats!

I’m not sure about ischial tuberosity, I had a bit of a setback a few weeks ago. I got this hard lump in my left buttock  & side movements were quite painful. Scared me. Leg mobility decreased significantly. I got on the massage ball & roller & quit heavy weights. I came through that. I kind of think it was part of the healing process; as the psoas heals then different loads are distributed to the glutes causing tightness. So much healing & strengthening & rebalancing required after revision plus psoas lengthening. 

My main worry is how hard it is for me to flex that leg it’s as if the message isn’t getting to the leg & it can’t move freely. 

On the plus side the burning sensation in the groin has subsided a fair bit.

Walking has been my saviour. It’s really helped strengthen my legs & glutes.

I had a fair bit of pain after the revision so my rehab was focused more on getting my gait right & walking & less on stretching & mobility work. 

I’m in the stretching & mobility phase only now. I’m super pumped I can lunge!!

All the best. Let me know how you are going. 

Hi Anthony, you just had tendon surgery, at minimum its 3 months healing time...you haven't even had stitiches removed..I don't know why you got staples because its done arthroscopically and its 3 incisions with stitches...I had it done Feb 21?, and i am still in considerable pain...You are way too early to be worrying. Chrissy

Thank you so much for replying.....I am worrying coz i had been told before the op that there was an 80 / 20 chance that it might not work....so in my position i do not no wat to expect for the future....When i had my new op i had staples too back then....I had perthes disease as a child and im carrying around a 2cm limp on my right leg since i was 13.......Time will tell

Yours anthony

Hi Anthony, ask any questions you want...Did your doctor say 80/20 that it would NOT work?? I will tell you my experience and others that have reported back, is that its a very painful recovery..So take your time and go slow...I am 2 months out and so far not very happy..Only one person from here that commented had a good result..I believe it all depends on your individual circumstances...In mine I am finding out that it caused another problem.

So please take it easy...in just one week you would not have ability to lift leg..its a true 3 month healing time. Don't push it and let us all know how you are doing...We are here for you..Chrissy

i am meant to be off the crutch on thursday so i will take my time and see how it plans out....keep you updated and thanks

Yours tony

Hi Patientzer007, question for you now that it's been a while since your surgery. How did your recovery turn out overall? I can't recall, did you have the full cut psoas release, or the fractional (also called step cut or partial release)? You said the recovery is painful, but was it worth it in the end? Can you walk without any pain now? And, forgive me if I've asked before, but if it's all good, could you please share surgeon name?