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upper leg pain

Posted , 10 users are following.

debbielou
debbielou

Hi just wondered if anyone can offer me any advice.I had THR on my right hip 17 weeks ago and recovered fairly quickly even going back to my full time job in retail at 12 weeks out.Im standing on my feet for 7 hours straight and feel my leg is geting stronger apart from when i have been sitting for a while and first get up and limp until i get going.The problem i am having is i have developed pain at the top of my front thigh when i lift my leg to put it up or put on my jeans or lift it for any reason at all.It feels like i have pulled a muscle and is really painful though it doesnt hurt when i walk only when i try to lift it.Has anyone any idea what i have done as dont remember straining it .Thankyou Debbie

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • ginger47520
    ginger47520 debbielou

    Posted

    There is a deep muscle called psoas.Actually runs from illium from behind down through the hip down the front down the front of the leg. That's the muscle helps to lift your leg

    I'm seven months post op still can't lift it up to get it in the car which sits up high.and I can't get up on my feet if my bottom is lower than my knees.I need something to pull up on to get to a standing position.

    Now off your hip is cemented in.sometimes the cement squeezes out and cause fibrosis or thinking of that muscle

    Or there could be an impingement bwt the bone and muscle.

    I don't have cement fixing my implant.so I'm having a c scan to determine what's wrong.My surgeon thinks the muscle had tightened.to there is a minor surgical solution.Also X-Ray guided needle steroid had gripped some but not a solution.mine is painful like aching while seated but if I try to lift that leg it hurts and I can't pick it up by itself to get into the car.hope this helpssmile

  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK debbielou

    Posted

    Hi debbielou

    17 weeks isnt that long really...you have to expect some ups and downs

    I had a muscle type pain.....an ache really.....certainly not the pre op arthritis pain I had and I mentioned it. I was asked had I ever seen a THR op...NO

    This was from a thatre nurse.....She said when they are doing the op they aren't very gentle......they tend to throw your leg over your shoulder...out of their way so its no wonder you have muscle paineek  Dont know how much truth thee is in that about the op but you can imagine them pushing and shoving your leg out of the way while they got on with things......Just another suggest for you

    That may not be the answer

    Love

    Eiileen  UK

  • gillEE
    gillEE debbielou

    Posted

    Hi Debbie,   Yes I have similar..I had my op 8 Aug and was doing great until 17th Nov and sudden change couldn't fathom except for lifting a heavy 23kg suitcase that day, flying home and having done very long airport walks!   My physio and GP could not fathom it and no response to anti inflammatory treatment.  I am now going back to see consultant 5th Jan  GP did wonder if it was not at all related to THR But from this forum I have suggestions from others of sciatica but symotoms not quite the same but also possible sacroiliac dysfunction.   I too have difficulty lifting leg - but could do post op OK - and if I walk any distance it is very aching and esp on an incline.  Again did not have this issue post op and could much further than now. Plus pain in point of buttock and down thigh and NO WAY to lie on it.  A problem when I roll over in sleep and the apin wakes me.   So shall see what happens after 5th.  It is also much ore swollen at top of thigh, more so than after op and my physio says that too has an effect on the muscle, nerves and ligaments/tendons etc.  Are you in UK or USA or???  I am in UK and this will be first time I have seen consultant since my op. If there wasa a 3 month post op follow up as others in NHS areas have, this would have been picked up /remedied sooner!
    • debbielou
      debbielou gillEE

      Posted

      I am  in the uk but had a follow up with my consultant at 12 weeks.Didnt pick anything up then as didnt have this pain as i have now, and was doing really well.Im the same as you quite swollen at top of thigh and cant sleep on operated side as too painful.I was lifting my leg fine until 2 weeks ago and cannot pinpoint anything i have done except i am standing all day on my feet now i am back to work.Feeling frustrated now as i am a terrible patient for going to see my gp but if there is no improvement soon i will follow it up.Keep me posted Gillee how you get on on the 5th x
    • gillEE
      gillEE debbielou

      Posted

      Hi Debbie, Just wondering if this shld be a New Topic... NHS Fiasco!!  So y'day was 5th and date of appt.  I had booked online.. I had thought IF I had to wait for a long time I would pay to see the consultant.  But from 11th Dec to 5th Jan.. not so bad.. so waited.  The appt ws actually at a private hospital as it seems NHS farms out work to them..nice earner!   So I arrive for appt only t be informed there was none. Umm I checked before coming and it was still there....  Well we do not have you on our list!   Did you rcv a letter?  No.... and that is why I checked again on line and it was still there.  Oh... please take a seat... 10 mins later a women comes out and announces she is the rep at the hospital for NHS appts.  and no I was not on list as my letter from my GP had gone to clinical reerral team and had been "rejected"...  How can they make that judgement without seeing me... Oh a letter would have gone to your GP and you shld have rcvd a letter cancelling yr appt.    No I did not AND if yu look at the Booking system I still have an appt for 1 pm TODAY!  Oh we cannot do anything here, except for hip /knee replacment and arthroscopy.  Well IF I had paid to see consultant privately I woudl have seen him here!  Yes but you are NHS.. she was just not listening!  You have to go back to your GP..SO... I have wasted all this time ince 17yj Nov when I first reported the problem and 11 Dec since letter to consultant and to make an appt!!!  How long now to wait.. Oh this can nly be done in NHS hspital and they wil probably refer you to physio!  I ALREADY PAY for private weekly physio  wh had said this is not good go back to consultant!!  Might as well talk to brick wall.  BP thru roof I drove down to my GP.  Tp receptioninst.. Do you mid if I Rant and Rave.... No goa head... So told her the saga.. That is not good wait and I wll call our Admn down to see you...  Related story again and she went into their system. (a) YES you still had an appt for 1 pm (b) there is no ref on the site saying your problem was referred which IF it was cancelled there shld be a reason why.. (c) in latter case a letter shld have been sent to us and we do not have one!   Wait whilel I do some phoning...    She went off and had a rant.... came back with apologies for what had happened and said she was waitign to talk with consultant personally and woudl ring me at home... This she did and consultant said I was being considered as a revision.  OK BUT none of the symptoms seem to be to do with hip.... GP letter said that... anyway I now have to wait for another appt!!   I am NOT gettign any younger.. 2 yrs have passed since I first presented.  I do Endurance horseriding..have not riddden since March 2014..my horse has been turned out since June, growign very fat and unfit...as am I on both counts!!!  Season starts in March....  I will lose another one at this rate!  I am just SO ANGRY!  So sorry for this tome of complaints BUT it is just unacceptable and unforgivable. 
  • patricis
    patricis debbielou

    Posted

    Hi Debbie,

    Did you see a physical therapist during your recovery...maybe you could speak to her and also speak to your doctor....sounds like from the advice given it could be one of many things, so better to get an answer sooner than later so you can keep on top of it.

  • susan3101
    susan3101 debbielou

    Posted

    Hi-I had this pain prior to my op and asked my surgeon if the op would improve this and was told yes. However i am still bothered with it sometimes so hasnt worked for me much except to improve the hip area.First noticed mine after op when trying to do exercise lifting leg when in bed-hope it improves for you
  • aileen19685
    aileen19685 debbielou

    Posted

    I've had the exact symptoms you're describing for years. I had it in both legs for quite some time but the pain in my right leg went away a while ago. I can't remember when but it's been a long time.

    I have just lives with the pain, mostly ignoring it until recently it has become much worse.

    I can't find anything online that describes my symptoms or pinpoints the pain until your post. Have you had it checked out?

    The thought of Dr appts and xrays or mri's makes me cringe. I was thinking of starting with my chiropractor first. If you have any info I'd appreciate it and I will do the same when I find out what this is.

  • steve86482
    steve86482 debbielou

    Posted

    Stem. It will get better and go away with time Don't over do it. Also the limp is startup pain and will also go away

  • cl955
    cl955 debbielou

    Posted

    I have the same problem after THR.  Some days it is worse than others - if my back is tight and sore (which happens from time to time after lifting weights) then the pain in my thigh is more acute. It is really sore when I lift my foot up inside, as though to put on a sock for example. I have had both hips replaced, but the left (first one to be operated on in 2011) is the worse for this.

    My glutes really lost so much strength during the decline of my hips, and post op it was very hard to get them to engage when lifting weights or even walking / standing.  My quads returned to a reasonable size quite quickly post op, but not my glutes - I could tell because my trousers were loose in the rear and fitted well on my thighs.

    Since really working at deadlifts and squats (and several injuries from too much weight / bad form!!), I think my glutes are beginning to work again.  This seems to help the overall condition, my posture and I feel stronger in my core as a result.  Will persevere with this and try to keep restoring glute strength and this could help the psoas (hip flexors) with less pelvic tilting.  Sitting all day does not help the psoas condition / pelvis.

    I know that I haven't answered any questions with the above, and I haven't overcome my problem yet, but I think, perhaps, it is the pelvis tilt that contributes towards psoas pain as a result of significant glute deterioration arising from hip degeneration and then replacement / rehab.  Let's see!

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