What might this pain be symptomatic of?

Hi KarmaMama,

I hope its not a infection after a year. From what my understanding from my experience from my surgeon about the pain you describbe many things are left for evaluation. Usually antibiotics are given during surgery. If infection, can they do a blood test or asperate any fluid from the hip to evaluate for infection?

It's could be probable that pain originates from allergy from metals are hypoallergenic, Very rare. Google metals used for hip replacement components. Lots of info there.

Have you had Leg length difference ? Sometimes that can cause crippling pain,injury to the I band, or even a fall can cause the implant in femor to loosen.

in my case I had crack in the greatortotancher the top of the femor bone. It didn't show up on any of the MRI's, or nuclear MRI, X-rays, over a 5 year period. Also over time caused the implant in the femor to loosen. Left me in severe pain and loss of mobility.

This was my case, not at all saying this is what can be the same for you.  There are a number of explanations for the pain you suffer. Plz if you try to google the reasons for pain after THR. it might ring a bell 🔔 by reading some of the symptoms . Ask the doctor if any thing can be a diagnosis from the explanations you have been researching.

Sometimes we have to be our own health advocates. Also look up the manufacture and model of ur hip replacement from the O.R .report. Ask for a copy from ur surgeon, it will also have all the numbers that ID the implant components. 

 

 

Hi, this type of pain sounds very similar to my pain. Try investigating sacroiliac joint pain. If you Google it you will get all the information you need. Good luck with becoming pain free.

Is your illiotibial band tight? that is what caused me pain. I am now 27 months post op, and the other day had pain the thigh and groin  especially where the stem is. I said to my osteopath is this tight muscle, she asked me what I had been doing as it was really tight. Have you tried deep tissue massage? its painful but well worth it. I did have an infection post op. They could not find a cause for the infection and I think it was my body reacting to a foreign part being put in. I agree with hope4cure, find out what your prosthesis is. I know mine is by a French company and also the make. Surgeon told me that at my follow up. Mine was ceramic and titanium. Our muscles  take up to two years to heal. Good luck with finding a solution. 

I am so sorry to hear that,, specially it being about a year out,, that sounds like my symptoms before I got my left hip replacement 2 years ago,, they were trying to tell me it was bersitis till they done a MRI and found out it was my hip being bone on bone making the pain,, hopefully they will explore and get to the bottom of your pain,, prayers to you,, I know that kind of pain can ruin your every day activitys and I am a active person as well it was devistating,,

I am currently waiting 3 weeks out having just had surgery THR on Right hip,,  it got infected with staph infection and after 3 surgeries I’m waiting with a spacer in place to get my fourth and hopefully final surgery.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. My legs are the same length, or that is what they told me. I have had deep tissue massage, and yes, it is excruciating, but not sure if it helped or not. That's the reason I sought out the new physios on my own- the docs say I don't need more PT, but I know many muscles in the area are either too tight (psoas, IT band) or too weak (glutes).

Unfortunately, the two PTs do not agree - one says my low back is probably involved, the other did a bit of dry needling in my hip and thinks that will help. Both agree I need more stretching and strenghtening. I will have to pick one - after Jan 1, my Medicare benefit for therapy will reset and I can have more physio without having to pay out of pocket. So I will choose after my consult with the pain doc and get an order.

I still think I need to pursue both the hip aspiration to check for infection and the allergy testing. I know the brand of my implant, but not the details. I guess I need to get a copy of my op report.

The surgeon I sought out for a second opinion does plan to continue a series of x-rays to check for loosening, but so far that does not appear to be a problem.

I feel like I am all on my own here, the ortho surgeons won't follow up once they see the mechanics are okay. I had to ask for a referral to the PM doc. I have to choose a new physio on my own. And will also have to insist on getting allergy and infection testing.

Wasn't sure if the very pervasiveness of my pain was more likely to be indicative of one thing or another. But it sounds like I need to keep pusuing all angles.

You ou know u had nfection. Fever paiin

What is your pain level,from 1-10? Mine was a 9 . I was using a cane and my GP gave me a handicap pkg permit. Yet hip surgeons where not open to helping . 

Contact the the hospitals HR depth where you had the surgery and file a complaint. Let's get the ball rolling. 

Short version: I had similar issues, saw a sports medicine surgeon. I had an injection in my psoas bursa which relieved the pain. That identified the location as psoas as the source of pain. He did exploratory surgery and found a large bone fragment that was shredding my psoas. Had repairs to the psoas and IT band. I'm two years past the hip replacement and 16 for the repair. I'm still struggling but have regular improvement. I went from 60 mile bike rides, the pedal kind, to only 15 but I have hope that there might be improvement. I have spinal stenosis and the first surgeon wanted to pass it off as that. I knew better. Don't give up.

*16 months since the repair