Hi @EllieBelly
Post op Blues (tired of recovery, just tired from Energy Drain, is this "symptom" going to pass or is it permanent?) hit me hard around the one month out mark, and unfortunately this, too, is common with new hippies.
The most common cause of leg length discrepancy irrespective of THR is pelvic tilt due to tightening of the muscles (pelvic obliquity)
Many women have an anterior pelvic tilt and it is certainly common after pregnancy as the pelvis compensates from carrying that heavy baby in the front!
Or for that matter is compensating for bad hip.
I had both hips replaced at the same time and was measured by surgeon in supine position (all even he declared) , but after 3 months I worked with a PT who noticed that while sitting up on table with legs out in front of me, one appeared longer.
My issue was tight hip flexors due to an anterior pelvic tilt wherein slow and steady exercises to address this were prescribed with success.
There are a percentage of THR patients who have an unacceptable permanent LLD, unfortunately, like InkedMarie, that, if substantial, may have to address it with shoe lifts.
The most common reason leg lengths are unequal after hip surgery, is the need for stability within the replaced joint. As part of hip replacement, the soft tissues surrounding the joint must be stretched to the appropriate tightness to ensure that the joint stays in place. That can result in a slightly longer leg length. It is usually a matter of a few millimeters, and many people don’t notice it.
Stability is obviously critical to successful hip replacement. It serves no purpose to have equal leg lengths if every time you sit down after surgery the joint dislocates because the soft tissues are too lax to hold it in place. In short, stability trumps exact equal leg length because a chronically unstable hip requires another surgery to correct the problem.
My thought is that those tight muscles serve a purpose during recovery, protecting your hip, and after the first 3 months I began to address my tight hip flexors and pelvic tilt.
I hope you get reassurance at your appointment, but it really is too early to worry about the things that will likely resolve with time and healing.
Post op Blues (tired of recovery, just tired from Energy Drain, is this "symptom" going to pass or is it permanent?) hit me hard around the one month out mark, and unfortunately this, too, is common with new hippies.
This information Layla gave you is important and is what you need to keep foremost in your mind, as you are still in early days and still healing muscles and tendons are tight.As far as Leg Length Differential goes, you're not alone, many feel this sensation post op. In most cases it eases with time. We advise giving it 3-4 months as it can take that amount of time for things to balance. If at that point, you are still concerned we suggest you visit a reputable podiatrist or PT for a measurement.
The most common cause of leg length discrepancy irrespective of THR is pelvic tilt due to tightening of the muscles (pelvic obliquity)
Many women have an anterior pelvic tilt and it is certainly common after pregnancy as the pelvis compensates from carrying that heavy baby in the front!
Or for that matter is compensating for bad hip.
I had both hips replaced at the same time and was measured by surgeon in supine position (all even he declared) , but after 3 months I worked with a PT who noticed that while sitting up on table with legs out in front of me, one appeared longer.
My issue was tight hip flexors due to an anterior pelvic tilt wherein slow and steady exercises to address this were prescribed with success.
There are a percentage of THR patients who have an unacceptable permanent LLD, unfortunately, like InkedMarie, that, if substantial, may have to address it with shoe lifts.
The most common reason leg lengths are unequal after hip surgery, is the need for stability within the replaced joint. As part of hip replacement, the soft tissues surrounding the joint must be stretched to the appropriate tightness to ensure that the joint stays in place. That can result in a slightly longer leg length. It is usually a matter of a few millimeters, and many people don’t notice it.
Stability is obviously critical to successful hip replacement. It serves no purpose to have equal leg lengths if every time you sit down after surgery the joint dislocates because the soft tissues are too lax to hold it in place. In short, stability trumps exact equal leg length because a chronically unstable hip requires another surgery to correct the problem.
My thought is that those tight muscles serve a purpose during recovery, protecting your hip, and after the first 3 months I began to address my tight hip flexors and pelvic tilt.
I hope you get reassurance at your appointment, but it really is too early to worry about the things that will likely resolve with time and healing.