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Worry one week post hip replacement surgery

Posted , 8 users are following.

sue82264
sue82264

It's been 6 days and I have sharp pain in my groin area when trying to lift operated leg and when walking. Am worried that this is not usual and may not get better.

2 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • steve86482
    steve86482 sue82264

    Posted

    No need to worry. That is just part of the process. You had major surgery. I also thought I might never be able to lift my leg. It will start to get better over the next few weeks. Just take your pain meds and hopefully you have started at home therapy by now. I am post 5 months posterior approach and forget I even had it done. Relax
    • sue82264
      sue82264 steve86482

      Posted

      Thank you so much Steve! I opted for the anterior approach and thought I'd be pain fee by now. And the sharp pains are scary!
  • bini31328
    bini31328 sue82264

    Posted

    Dont be scared ! Lots of weird pains in the first few weeks as everything settles down . It will all settle. I,ve had three hip surgeries and the pains are weird , wonderful and unique  each time . Just make sure you are taking your full dose of painkillers - dont skimp ! Xxxxx
    • sue82264
      sue82264 bini31328

      Posted

      Thank you for your encouragement! After reading about all of the folks who went back to work after one week and took no painkillers… Made me fear that something is wrong.
    • bini31328
      bini31328 sue82264

      Posted

      Nothing wrong , first few weeks are horrendous - i,m now 7 weeks and restrictions lifted - went swimming for first time today in 18 months and did 30 lengths - am feeling like a new woman / the old me . Went back to work  at 6 weeks but still taking painkillers first thing in morning - it takes differing times for everyone and there,s no set rule - dont personalky know anyone who was on no painkillers and back at work in a week , and for some it takes months - like I said there's no rules - we are all different - this forum is fantastic if you are worried about anything , people have all been through it and are so supportive xxxx
    • sue82264
      sue82264 bini31328

      Posted

      Bini, did you have anterior or posterior approach?
    • bini31328
      bini31328 sue82264

      Posted

      Posterior - they went through the old scar from my previous resurfacing from 8 years ago which failed last year causing need for revision /THR - must admit they have tidied it up and looks a lot better / less puckered etc than it did - 
    • sue82264
      sue82264 bini31328

      Posted

      That's great that it is doing better than before!  Thanks again for your words of encouragement.
  • annie.conway
    annie.conway sue82264

    Posted

    Mention it to your PT as well as your doctor. I had a similar sharp, almost grinding feeling pain from the very first time I walked. Just that area was also very painful if I put weight on it. 6 weeks on it has not resolved, but my surgeon insists he'll only look at it at my 8-week appointment. Were it not for this, I could have progressed to sticks or some other form of lighter support. I had both hips done at the same time, and the other hip is wonderful for my stage of healing. As to not being able to lift your leg, that is quite normal and will ease within weeks.
  • Jodi-France
    Jodi-France sue82264

    Posted

    Are you getting physical therapy?

    Ask your physical therapist if it is your psoas muscle/tendon.

    I had tendonities of the Psoas muscle and was told by my therapist to not do anything that aggravates it. In other words if it hurts to lift your leg doing straight leg lifts (keeping your leg straight, especially the knee) raise your ankle off the bed using your hip muscles.

    Tendonitis is little rips in the tendon so exercize/stretching only makes it worse, makes the rips deeper. IF it is your psoas tendons/muscle you want to rest it and not do anything that makes that hurt, let the little rips heal. Mine healing took about 3 1/2 weeks and then I was fine. If you do not lay off that tendon (continue to try and do straight leg lifts for example) you will cause scar tissue to build up on it and then that really is bad, the scar tissue never goes away and you have this sore area for life or until a surgeon goes in there and fixes it.

    I had groin pain sitting even, the only position I had where it didn't hurt was laying down, so that is what I did, I just moved between the bed and laying down on the sofa. A skilled physical therapist can take his fingers and go right to your psoas muscle, push down and ask, "Is this it?" You can google 'Psoas Tendonitis after total hip replacement'.

    Everybody is saying, no worries we all have pain afterwards which is true, however you indicate a SHARP pain in the groin while doing straight leg lifts and that is the indicator of psoas damage. They have to twist your leg in positions it has never done during the surgery so this is why the psoas muscle gets stretched out (little rips in it).

    My physical therapist did not let me do any exeercizes that hurt. I did do exercizes but only ones that didn't hurt that groin area, didn't cause pain doing them. In fact I hardly exercized at all, jsut laid around and let that psoas heal, then I was fine. Around week 4 I went from using a walker, to two crutches to one crutch to no crutches, did all that progress in around 3 to 4 days, it went very rapidly once I was healed up.

    • renee01952
      renee01952 Jodi-France

      Posted

      well hello Jodi-France

      Haven't seen you here for a while .. How are you doing ?

      I remember your response as I was dealing with the same problem as Sue and then found this forum !!!

      big warm hug

      renee

    • annie.conway
      annie.conway Jodi-France

      Posted

      That's a very important piece of advice "if it hurts, don't do it". That having been said, I don't shy away from discomfort. I bit of discomfort is to be expected.
    • sue82264
      sue82264 Jodi-France

      Posted

      Wow.  Thank you so much for your detailed reply!  My PT is coming this afternoon and I'll show her your email.  
  • luvinlex
    luvinlex sue82264

    Posted

    I'm at 5 months - I get sharp pains still... soreness on side of leg...can't wash my left foot in bathtub - you will have to get used to living in pain for as long as your body heals
    • luvinlex
      luvinlex annie.conway

      Posted

      Not worse than before surgery. I'm just whining about the things that still limit me. I was able to wash my foot before, can't bend leg up enough to get to foot. Hip pain is so much better! 
    • annie.conway
      annie.conway luvinlex

      Posted

      I don't bath. Have always preferred to shower. But for foot washing I have an old plastic chair in my shower
    • luvinlex
      luvinlex annie.conway

      Posted

      I've still got my bath seat. Really nice with a back. Had a shower handle installed on long hose. Then, bending is all I'd need to do to reach foot. Bravo... If I can find the chair under all the clean clothes I haven't been in the mood to put away. I always make excuses like that "I'm just not in the mood" "I'll do it tomorrow" "It's sunny today and it will rain tomorrow" Any excuse to avoid a chore. I've been lazy too long. Watching every step...walking slow...and I know I need to get out more and walk with the dog... she'd love that. Have never tested how far I can go. 
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