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Thigh pain after hip replacement

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Soxy
Soxy

I'm wanting some feedback on high thigh pain after a hip replacement.  I am 68 years old (female) and am 10 weeks post op cement hip replacement due to severe arthritis.  I have been going on very well and thought all my troubles were over, but have now developed pain which seems to be centred just underneath the buttock and goes down the leg slightly.  I have been doing the exercises that are given to you and the pain started when I had done a batch of them.  Speaking to the physio she indicated I may have strained my hamstring.  Am due to see her in ten days time, but I have read that this type of pain is not uncommon.  Has anybody else experienced this?  Am on painkillers again and very disappointed with this set back.  Am I expecting too much too soon? Hope to get your feedback.

21 likes, 418 replies

418 Replies

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  • juanita_37656
    juanita_37656 Soxy

    Posted

    I had RTHR January 9th of 2018. Went well had my two post-op appointment already. Doctor said everything is going well. But I have been having thigh pain also. I thought I would be pain free by now. The doctor gave me 3 months off from work. I hope that by the time I go back in April it would be better. It feels like a Charlie horse or a cramp. I hope it goes away. I do walk independently with no use of a walker or cane. So that feels good. I only have had the 2 weeks of PT right after the surgery at home. Have not gone to outpatient PT. Feel like I don't need it. Been doing my home exercises. Walked the other day for 30 minutes. Felt fine but the next day la as in lots of pain. What should I do and when and I'm going to be pain free. Sometimes I feel like the surgery was a waste of time if I'm having pain still. Feel discouraged.

    • minnie54511
      minnie54511 juanita_37656

      Posted

      Patience is a virtue, and you need to be virtuous.  You will probably have some kind of pain for about a year, or even more.  I had my RTHR on January 30, 2017 and about a month ago I was proud to say I was finally pain-free.  However, last week, I started having pain in my butt down to my knee, so who knows what that is.  My LTHR went great on July 10, 2017, and I used a walker the day of the surgery and the next, then after that one day with a cane then nothing.  I was amazed.  Then... I squatted down and went to get up and felt something give.  So I'm still battling that pain.  My surgeon said scar tissue takes quite a while to heal.  A friend had a RTHR and said after 15 mos. she still has some pain.  So I'm being patient, but am exercising like a fiend. 

    • NDpathdoc
      NDpathdoc juanita_37656

      Posted

      Hi Juanita, this thread is all about this weird thigh pain after hip replacement.  Your pain sounds similar to how mine felt, kind of a deep muscle cramp or spasm quality in the mid anterior thigh.  It started a couple months after surgery and lasted about 4-6 months.  It would only come on while walking, and force me to slow down at least.  Sometimes I had to stop and try to stretch it out.  Aggravating, but it should go away on its own.  Keep us posted, and don’t be discouraged.  Keep up your hip and gluteus exercises.  It will take a year to get to plateau.
  • fran2355
    fran2355 Soxy

    Posted

    Might seem like a totally random question but does anyone with a THR notice increased discomfort in really cold weather? 😩

    • fran2355
      fran2355 juanita_37656

      Posted

      It is very cold in uk at the moment and my hip/ pelvis is playing up no end at the moment...feel as if I've gone back weeks in my recovery.

    • fran2355
      fran2355 juanita_37656

      Posted

      Thank you

      Won't be for long as we are moving to Spain to live end of April. Warm , sunny climate which I'm sure will help a lot.

    • minnie54511
      minnie54511 fran2355

      Posted

      Scar tissue is probably the culprit.  Keep stretching and exercising so that the scar tissue doesn't tighten up and keep building up. 

    • fran2355
      fran2355 minnie54511

      Posted

      Thank you for that ...

      I keep mobile and walk every day as I find that sitting only aggravates it. Can't understand why my lower back/ coccyx are is so painful since surgery.

    • minnie54511
      minnie54511 fran2355

      Posted

      As in physical therapy, stretching and strengthening is the key to getting through all of this.  No pain, no gain. 
    • john70020
      john70020 fran2355

      Posted

      I see that the temp in London is around freezing. Similar to here in the State of Washington, West Coast. At 8 weeks out of surgery, I too am going backwards a little.
    • fran2355
      fran2355 john70020

      Posted

      Hi John

      Thank you for your comment ... It's reassuring that you think it could be the cold affecting the hip... I'm 14 weeks post op and was doing brilliantly til this cold snap!!!

  • susie60966
    susie60966 Soxy

    Posted

    I googled the question that you asked and found you. I got lost in the discussion with many talking about different types of aches that I wanted to just ask you directly. I’m 12 years post op and have had your ache too for about a week. What did you find out was the cause or the cure? 
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