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Thigh pain after THR

Posted , 10 users are following.

Seamist123
Seamist123

2 yr ago had a left THR. At the end of 1 year hip seemed to be fine but had an excruciating pain in the upper part of my left leg. After x-ray Doctors said everything fine, no reason for pain. After some time pain did go away but has now returned with a vengeance. I have back issues since THR which may contribute to problem but that has always been the case and nothing has changed in that respect. Am scheduled to see muscular/skelton specialist next week but am skeptical. Anyone experience similar problems?

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • marie10553
    marie10553 Seamist123

    Posted

    Hi Seamist, I'm wondering if your leg lengths are different. My THR resulted in a 1.5 inch leg length difference. My surgery was 4 wks ago and my back is killing me. I just got home from a rehab facility and my outpatient PT starts next Thursday. I'm hoping I can get started on the built up shoe soon.

    • Seamist123
      Seamist123 marie10553

      Posted

      Back problems are a pain (no pun intended!) My PT and doctor have looked at leg length differences but find no problems there----it's gotta be something!!. Hope your shoe accommodation clears up your problem.

  • jimbone
    jimbone Seamist123

    Posted

    Seamist,

    Can I ask: does the pain seem like nerve, muscular or orthopedic pain? How active are you and what exercize regime do you follow?  Have you given massage therapy a try to alleviate muscular/myofacial concerns?  Tight,kotty muscles and bound up myofacia can impact nerves and create difficult pain.  I have not had surgery yet and manage most of my pain/difficulties as best as I can through stretching/ physio exercize/lap swimming/ weight machines.  It is an imperfect protocol and doesn't fix the problem but most often will provide relief from really debilitating pain and keeps me going.  I also get regulr deep tissue massage which is the best relied activity for me.  I have been recieving maasage treatment at a local massage school with a very good program ar very reasonable and affordable costs.  Have found it to be a great resource worth exploring.  Hope to hear back from you and best wishes.

    Jimbone

  • anastasia89577
    anastasia89577 Seamist123

    Posted

    Hi,

    I'm so sorry you are having pain stil. Is your pain worse upon weigtht bearing?  Did you had anterior. Here's my story. I hope it helps. I had a R THR about 1 1/2 years ago anterior approach.  I had no complications, recovery went well. However, my operative leg never felt right.  I went back to my surgeon several times afterwards, He did x rays, sent me to a podiatrist. My operative leg is about 3/4" shorter than my other since the surgery, I was fitted for orthotics with a lift in the right side. Throughout the entire time I had terrible pain in my thigh, which got worse with weight bearing. My surgeon just kept saying everyone heals differently. Sent me for an MRI last August and said it was normal.  Sent me to a neurologist to check for nerve issues, the said it could be small nerve damgage which there is nothing they can do for that. The pain only got worse, nothing helped, I tried physical therapy again as well.  Well I finally went for another opinion, to a surgeon in NYC (Manhattan) and turns out the fermoral stem is loose and it appears that I was miss sized from the beginning! I have posted on this site from the beginning thinking all along it was the leg lenght difference.  I now face a revision surgery to be fitted with the proper size.  I don't know why my original surgeon did not see this, nor does my current surgeon understand.  I urge you to get a second opinion (maybe even third) and ask for a bone scan. I don't mean to alarm you, but I don't think you should be experiencing that much pain so far out.  Good luck to you and keep me posted.

    • Seamist123
      Seamist123 anastasia89577

      Posted

      Seems like you may finally be on the road to a normal life. My question,,,,, after so many visits, etc. To different types of doctors, who and how was it determined to be a misfit size problem?
    • anastasia89577
      anastasia89577 Seamist123

      Posted

      I went to another orthopedic surgeon in the same vicinity for a 2nd opinion, he took one x-ray said it was bursitis, which I could not understand how I could have bursitis on a hip that was replaced less than a year before. I went back to my original surgeon and he sent me to a neurologist/pain managment md. They did a EMG on my leg which only test the main femoral nerve, not the small femoal cutaneous nerve. That dr. said that could be the issue and there is nothing that could be done. I was urged by my primary doctor to get another expert opinion, and she refered me to the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. the surgeon I saw come highly recommened by 3-4 people.  He did 2 standing x-rays and two sitting. He pointed out asap what no other surgeon saw.  The bone did not grow around the proshetic, and it was not properly fitted. A bone scan is scheduled but he said its just to give him a road map for surgery, he saw enough on the x-ray. He described my pain exactly before I even told him.It took over a year and a half, but I finally feel I am not crazy.  Please keep pursuing, Good Luck!
    • rose73925
      rose73925 anastasia89577

      Posted

      Brilliant result!  Shows how persistent you have to be though - incredibly bad luck at the beginning.

      My aunt who is 85 has just had a new hip, and in a matter of a week had two dislocations. The result: an incorrectly sized prosthesis, the surgeon admitted it, and replaced it.  So far ok but it does go to show how experimental this surgery still is in some respects, and how we have to complain afterwards if we have problems.

    • kim16246
      kim16246 anastasia89577

      Posted

      This sounds so much like my situation! My surgery (total rt. HR) was 2 1/2 years ago for avascular necrosis at 52. The pain in my theigh has not gotten better and you described it perfectly.  I’ve been to 3 surgeons, 4 PTs, numerous X-rays, had the shoe lift, and PCP  is just treating the pain to get me through each day as a teacher who must walk all day.  You have given me some hope. I Know this is not the way I should feel after a “successful” surgery. My focus is  on my husband who is being treated for cancer, so it seems difficult to do more surgery for me, but it sounds exactly like what I need to do. First, I must find a dr. like yours to get this right. They all have been making me feel  like I’m crazy.
    • Guest
      Guest anastasia89577

      Posted

      Thank you for sharing your story.  The best advocate for our health is ourselves.  We need to keep on top of our issues and keep pushing until we get answers.
  • steve86482
    steve86482 Seamist123

    Posted

    Mid thigh front? Could be from the Stem. Over doing exercise?
    • Seamist123
      Seamist123 steve86482

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. definitely not overdoing exercise because it hurts to even walk. If it is related to the stem, do you have any ideas about how that can be resolved?.
  • joan91778
    joan91778 Seamist123

    Posted

    it has been almost 9 years and mine is still giving me a problem and the other hip replacement is about 16 years old and never gave me a problem..Sometimes I wonder it they got the measurement for that part too long on the second one? Let me know what you find out, please.

     

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