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Two hip replacements.

Posted , 9 users are following.

bernice24036
bernice24036

I have had two hip replacements six months apart, by two different doctors.  The first hip was my right, 1 year ago, the second was my left hip 6 months ago.  I have developed a limp which I guess is T-gait.  As I step forward with my left leg, it turns slightly outward (makes a little circle) and lands on the inside of my heel.  My shoe is turning inward and I'm walking on the side of my shoe.  Was told by PT I have T-gait.  However, the surgeon who performed the last hip replacement on the left side is saying the problem is cause by the right hip.  He said this because I am able to stand on the left leg without holding on.  When I try to stand on my right leg the left knee turns to the right leg and I'm off balance.  I have no hip pain, but have started to feel pain in my left knee.  I'm guessing from the way I walk.  I still use a cane for short distances, walker for longer walks and can move fairly quickly.  I'm interested in opinions, as to which hip is the culprit.  I plan on going to a third surgeon for an opinion.  Hopefully, there is still  time to improve my T-gait.

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • dlrfoto
    dlrfoto bernice24036

    Posted

    Hi Bernice- I'm sorry you are having problems. I can't venture a guess which leg is the culprit. I was wondering though why you went to a different surgeon for the second surgery. I had a TRHR last June and will probably have a TLHR this June. I am wondering whether to switch surgeons since I still have some pain in my right hip and am by no means healed. Its been a long ordeal. The 1st one was an anterior and I am wondering if I should have a posterior this time. Did you have the same approach on both? Do you know if the same type of hip prosthetic was used on both sides?

    Thanks and sorry if I detracted from your topic.

    Donna

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen dlrfoto

      Posted

      The more I read about the anterior approach the less I like what I hear. I was reading a surgeon's blog yesterday and he used to do the anterior approach but stopped doing it because he felt constricted in how he worked and that for example if he wanted to use a normal length stem this was not possible.

      There is a an interesting point that the anterior approach was largely patient driven due to the marketing done by hospitals and clinics wanting to attract customers. Many of whom were seduced by a shorter incision, and perhaps the possibility of a faster recover (I doubt if many could have beaten the recovery I enjoyed with the posterior approach) and less restrictions for the first few weeks following surgery.

      There continue to be a number of concerns regarding nerve damage which hardly ever are reported by people having the posterior approach.

      I should make it clear that I'm not a doctor but I have had a THR twenty-one years ago and a revision last year and a TAR five years ago and a revision of that TAR. As a result I have done a lot of research and I read the experiences of others here and elsewhere.

      Cheers Richard

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK RichardKen

      Posted

      Richard,

      Likewise, I have noticed more problems seem to be reported with anterior THR's.

      Give me the slightly longer restrictions and incision any time!

      Cheers

      Graham

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy RichardKen

      Posted

      Hi Richard, I agree with you. My surgeon says on his website “Mr Singer follows the enhanced recovery program to optimise a speedy and safe recovery. He favours a posterior approach to the hip to preserve the muscles and maximise recovery.” Which is interesting. I must admit I had an amazing recovery and when I got home I carried on as usual apart from using a belt to help get my leg into bed, for a few days. I must admit I was against the anterior approach because of the possibility of nerve damage which often can be quite a problem for quite a while. I had a lot of cysts and spurs so I wanted my surgeon to have as much room as possible to work on my hip. My surgeon did 160 hip replacements and 33 hip revisions last year, not to mention some knee replacements! 
    • bernice24036
      bernice24036 dlrfoto

      Posted

      Hi Donna,

      ?I went to a different surgeon because my doctor dropped out of my Medicare advantage insurance plan.  I went for my 6 month checkup and was told I would have to have the other hip replaced.  The doc said,  "and don't wait to long".  When I went out to the desk, the staff informed me he would not accept my insurance.  I was upset to say the least.  As a result, I have 2 different prosthetics.  The first was by Smith & Nephew the second was by J & J.  My first doctor told me I had the anterior approach, but the second doctor said it was not anterior, it was lateral, and his approach was anterior.  That is why I am going to a third doctor for an opinion.  I have to add my second surgery (left hip) was a breeze.  No Pain.  I was so sure I would be back to walking normally.  As time goes by, I'm getting more and more depressed.  I can't carry anything with two hands.  Need one to hold on to something all the time.

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen ptolemy

      Posted

      Dear Ptolemy and Graham, thanks for your support. Cheers Richard
  • carolyn32642
    carolyn32642 bernice24036

    Posted

    I hope you have luck with another specialist. He will not have an axe to grind as neither hip was operated on by him so hope he can correct the problem. It is so disappointing when you have gone through all the pain. I hope you have good results.
  • AnnieK
    AnnieK bernice24036

    Posted

    Bernice, let me make sure I understand. You are able to balance on your left leg alone, without holding on to anything for awhile, correct? And when you try to balance alone on your right leg you are unable to do it? Does your right leg then collapse when you lift up your left leg?

    I ask because after my THR on my right hip, I was never able to balance on the surgical leg for even a part of a second, and when I tried, that leg would collapse. About 6 months post-THR I went for a second opinion, because my original surgeon could not figure out why. It was discovered that my gluteus medius and minimus tendons in the surgical leg were torn and that is why I was unable to hold my hip steady when on one leg. You need to be able to do that to walk without a limp because when you walk, there are times during each step that the leg is balancing alone. I had the Trendelenberg Gait as well. A bad limp and pain. Mine never healed on their own and I ended up having surgical repair to the tendons 15 months after my THR.

    I would definitely say that if you have a leg that you cannot balance on alone, then that is the leg that is not functioning correctly, for whatever reason. And your reason may be very different from what my problem was.

    Good luck finding the right professional to get to the bottom of this for you!

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