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Will have 2 surgeons for my exploratory/gluteal tendon repair surgery!

Posted , 12 users are following.

AnnieK
AnnieK

Doing the happy dance (while limping)!

I had my right THR in July 2015, and have had trendelenberg gait/limp and pain ever since. My original surgeon was unable to diagnose the problem, even though I had figured it out via a comment on this forum (thanks, linda96952!) and internet research, and suggested it to him as a possibility - torn gluteus medius/minimus muscles/tendons. So I went to a different practice that has a surgeon experienced in gluteal tendon surgery. Sure enough, he confirmed my self-diagnosis via MRI, and said I need surgery for repair. He sent me to a revision specialist also in the practice to determine if I had any other issues, such as infection or prosthesis loosening, before we went ahead. I saw that second surgeon and, as far as he can tell from test results and my symptoms, there is probably no infection or loosening. However, he wants to be sure that when they open my hip up again, that they will be very thorough in checking for problems and fixing the ones that exist.

So, both of these (very tall and handsome) surgeons will be presiding over my surgery. I am so grateful and overwhelmed with relief. Really, I feel like a Prom Queen! (Never went to prom, so this will have to do.) They will "pop" the ball out of the socket and look all around for tissue damage and infection, they will check the prostheses for loosening, they will remove all the metal if there is loosening/infection and give me new hardware (not likely), they will probably give me a different ball to help make up for a slight leg length difference, and they will repair any tissue that is damaged, including the gluteal tendons.

It probably won't be for a couple of months yet, as they have to coordinate their schedules, and there is a fair amount of pre-op preparation to be done. But I am on my way!

8 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • Lorna020247
    Lorna020247 AnnieK

    Posted

    Hope all will end up satisfactory in the end, what a journey you will have had.  Good luck

    Regards Lorna

  • Lallydye1
    Lallydye1 AnnieK

    Posted

    Hi Annie I am so pleased that you are at last managing to get something done about this.  I find it incredible though that if it wasn't for your doggedness with this you would not have been investigasted further.  This is really depressing.  I hate it when you have to make a fuss and a nuisance of yourself to get things done.  Where are you based? Did your GP support you getting a second opinion?  Big up this site for getting you the information you needed. I am so pleased for you.  Will you have to go through all the same restrictions etc with this op?
    • AnnieK
      AnnieK Lallydye1

      Posted

      I am in the US, and I have great insurance that is taken by everyone in my area. If I want to see a different doctor, I just do it, no problem. Until the see what's going on when they open me up, I won't know exactly what I will be in for. I do know that restrictions after tendon repair surgery are more difficult than for THR, since you must be non-weight bearing on the surgical leg for at least 6 weeks (to prevent tearing of the tendon repairs) and you must wear a brace to limit movement for a number of weeks. How much pain and exhaustion that I will have, I just don't know.

      Many people with my problem never get diagnosed and treated. I am glad I found my way, but feel sorry for them.

  • annie.conway
    annie.conway AnnieK

    Posted

    I'm so glad for you!!!! Light at the end of the tunnel at last!!!
    • AnnieK
      AnnieK annie.conway

      Posted

      Thank you, Annie! It might be a long tunnel, but I CAN see the light.
  • AnnieCole
    AnnieCole AnnieK

    Posted

    Best of luck to you! I had mine repaired AND had a revision approx. 9 months ago. Was on 6 weeks 0 weight bearing and then partial weight bearing for another 6 weeks.

    Curious to know if they find any other muscles that need repair while they are in there. I don't have foot drop, think it is another set of muscles (vastus intermedius? hip flexors?).

    Let us know how you are doing!

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK AnnieCole

      Posted

      Awwe, Annie, I will take heart from you! So your repair was successful, I gather? I know it isn't always successful and can fairly easily tear again, hence the extra restrictions.

      I don't have foot drop, but I do have a bad limp and cannot balance at all on the affected leg. I also have pain. I guess when they are doing the surgery and have the incision made, they will check out as much soft tissue as they can see for problems, in addition to repairing the gluteal tendons.

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK annie.conway

      Posted

      I don't fear the limp (even though I've had one for 8 months now) because now I know that there is always a reason for a limp, and most of the time they are fixable! ❤️❤️❤️ To you!
    • AnnieCole
      AnnieCole AnnieK

      Posted

      Actually I think mine have come loose again. I didn't have a brace to wear, maybe that will do the trick?

      Would love to know who your original surgeon was and, more importantly, who is going to fix it? Had my initial BHR in Michigan and my revision in Cleveland.

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK AnnieCole

      Posted

      I think that the brace's purpose is to keep you in line so that the tears don't happen. It doesn't do any good afterwards.

      I am in a western suburb of Chicago. If you'd still like to know the name of the surgeon who does the gluteal tendon repairs, I'd be happy to private message you with a link to his website.

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK AnnieK

    Posted

    Annie,

    Well done for self-diagnosing .... 

    Patients 1 : Consultants 0

    Glad you are moving in the right dirction at last.

    Best wishes

    Graham - 🚀💃

  • rose0000
    rose0000 AnnieK

    Posted

    Annie K I can hear the relief! I can feel the relief in your message. I am so glad you are being taken care of now, having watched your posts from the beginnning, I know this is a breakthrough you have longed for, and I am so happy it is getting fixed properly now.

    Please keep us all updated with your progress - big hugs x

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK rose0000

      Posted

      Yes, Rose, that's exactly it, I feel like I am being taken care of, instead of having to be my own doctor. Loving being a patient again! Thanks for your kind words.
  • linda38528
    linda38528 AnnieK

    Posted

    How could one be anything but glad for this news?!

    I wish it hadn't needed so much work on your part, but bravo to you and at least you are on the right road with two handsome surgeons along for the ride (oops - could be interpreted as rude)?!

    Good luck with it all and please keep us in the loop. I suspect, it has relevance to a umber of us beyond wishing you well.

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK linda38528

      Posted

      Linda, your reply makes me smile! Love the "rude" connotations. Their hands on my thighs...with surgical gloves on, blood, scalpels...oops, spoiled the fantasy! I am gathering all the good luck I'm being wished here and saving it up for op day. 🍀🍀🍀
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