THR 19 months later and still struggling

Ktululady

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I had my right THR beginning of May and the muscles are still very weak. I have exercised and walked, and it is improving, but very slowly. I have to walk with a cane if going any distance. I can only just hold myself upright when standing on that leg alone, it just won't hold my weight. I'm 55, so not that old and average weight. My muscles weren't particularly weak before surgery, as I was still able to stand on it okay. My physio said it might be nerve damage.

My sister just told me about her friend who had both hers done in June and she's walking normally.

Anyone else had this problem?
 
Welcome to the group, scroll through some of the posts here and you will see we all pretty much have different rates of recovery and no two are alike.
We are happy for your sister's friend, however this recovery can take almost a full year and you cannot compare your recovery to anyone else's.
I wish you well.
 
Hi @Ktululady

I'm sorry to read that you are struggling. For some of us, recovery takes longer than for others. Please don't compare yourself with others -- or let anyone else do that to you. We all recover at our own rate.

You'll notice in the chart below that it can take 6 months or longer to regain general tone and vitality after surgery.

1666131745450.png


You say you are improving, so perhaps it's just a matter of time.

Wishing you well :flwrysmile:
 
I was just hoping to hear from someone with the same experience, who could reassure me that it will get better eventually, or prepare me for it not getting completely back to normal.

I wasn't too worried until I saw my physio last time, and he seemed concerned and thought I should be doing better.

Jayne
 
@Ktululady, did your physio have any suggestions as to where to go from here? It’s all very well them pointing out possible problems but they need to give you the road to a solution. Ask, keep asking, then ask again, where should you go from here?

It sounds to me that you are doing well and time may be the answer, but someone needs to talk with you about meeting your expectations.
 
I understand your frustration and concern. I had a slower recovery than I thought i would. I just didn't know there was so much natural differences in people's recovery times. Also, PT people are not all equal, like any other profession. They are results oriented and may not take into consideration that this recovery just takes the time it takes. It's interesting to me that you weren't worried about it until he said something. I was still taking my cane with me for long walks when I was a few months out. I continued to have a limp (longer than I imagined since my husband pointed it out when I thought I was fine.LOL) I continued to walk and concentrate on my gait: with heel, toe walking. We can pick up some bad habits pre surgery that we can revert to post as our soft tissues are still healing and naturally a bit weak. I also like to remember the advice that you are healing and recovering from surgery, not training for a marathon.

You could a!ways check back with your surgeon if you are particularly concerned or give it just a bit more time. That's what I did. In time the strength comes and I had no PT. The improvements can be small but if you're noticing that they are there, then you're making progress. I also encourage you to check out our One Step program. You might benefit from their input as they concentrate on how our specific joint experiences can affect our gait and how that can affect our recovery. We're here for you especially when you're a bit further out on the recovery spectrum and you start feeling something is wrong with you. Keep the faith and keep us posted. Blessings.
 
Definitely don't get down a rabbit hole of going too aggressive on the PT.

There is a very wide range of normal.

I think it takes about 6 months for new bone to start growing around the implant.
 
Hi @Ktululady

Sorry to hear you are unhappy with your progress. I hope it will help to you know that I am in exactly the same position.
I recovered well at first but now find I have very little strength in my leg muscles particularly adductors and glutes. I am now almost 5 months post op and I think I am making slow progress again ...but very slow.
I contacted my OS and was told to reduce PT as this might be preventing tissue from healing. He now wants to see me at the end of next month but feels things should improve if I go back to basics - walking and low level PT exercises.
I understand how upsetting it is and it is hard to see how quickly others here seem to be moving on!

Happy to compare progress anytime , take care of yourself and don't lose heart

:)
 
I posted here 5 months after my right hip replacement because my right side was not strengthening after the op in May 2022. It's now 19 months and it's hardly improved since then.

I can only walk for one minute without my stick as the muscles get weaker with each step. I did the exercises as instructed, and I walk and climb stairs everyday. Eventually my PT advised me to go back to my surgeon, which I did last May. He sent me for x-rays, and an MRI and said everything looked good apart from a little bit of heterotopic ossification in one muscle. He just said this might be as good as it gets.

He didn't think it was a nerve problem as I don't have any pain or obvious numbness, but that's what I think it is, because surely the muscles would be working by now.

I don't know what to do or if there's anything else I can do. Any suggestions?
 
everything looked good apart from a little bit of heterotopic ossification in one muscle.
Sounds like you need to find a surgeon who specialises in HO. It can be very tough to identify and treat. Here is an article from our Library Heterotopic ossification.

You will notice that I merged your newest post with your original recovery thread. For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:
  • That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
  • If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
  • Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.
Please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here. If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we will get it changed for you.

If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.

Many members bookmark their thread in their computer browser, so they can find it when they log on.
 
How much and how early did you exercise? The trauma from the surgery to the muscles takes a long time to heal and exercising damaged muscles isn't allowing them to heal. If you rest and ice for a day or 2 does it feel better?
 
How much and how early did you exercise? The trauma from the surgery to the muscles takes a long time to heal and exercising damaged muscles isn't allowing them to heal. If you rest and ice for a day or 2 does it feel better?
It was very gentle exercising, I didn't over do it. It never feels any different, if I exercise or not, it just won't hold me upright for more than a few seconds.
 
@Ktululady I'm so sorry you are still struggling. I agree with @Jaycey you need to investigate this further and finding a specialist is a good place to start. I have learned in my medical travels that you need to be persistent in finding answers and not just accepting that "this is as good as it gets." Every doctor cannot know everything about everything. He gives you the best advice from his knowledge base but that very well may not cover all the possible solutions. We all want the best recovery possible. Some of us need to put in more work and time to achieve that. It's a bummer for sure but it usually is so worth it. Hang in there and follow your instincts. Find someone who will listen and try to help. All the best going forward and please keep us updated. <<Hugs>>
 
@Ktululady I'm so sorry you are still struggling. I agree with @Jaycey you need to investigate this further and finding a specialist is a good place to start. I have learned in my medical travels that you need to be persistent in finding answers and not just accepting that "this is as good as it gets." Every doctor cannot know everything about everything. He gives you the best advice from his knowledge base but that very well may not cover all the possible solutions. We all want the best recovery possible. Some of us need to put in more work and time to achieve that. It's a bummer for sure but it usually is so worth it. Hang in there and follow your instincts. Find someone who will listen and try to help. All the best going forward and please keep us updated. <<Hugs>>
I have just made an appointment to see my doctor to discuss it with her, I'll see what she recommends.
 
Please come back and let us know how it goes with the doctor appt. I hope you can get answers you need and deserve!
 
@Ktululady Sorry You are still struggling. It sounds to me that there is an issue. You are on the younger side as am I for a hip replacement. You should pop over to my thread and see if you can relate. Perhaps we have the same issue. Compare your symptoms/issue with mine and let me know. I was diagnosed with brokers grade three HO. My Surgeon down played my issues at 5 weeks at 3 months and then realized he could not keep doing that. I struggle to put shoes on, socks on. Sitting is horrible and pain is around a 4-7 most days. I still walk with a limp and I am over 10 months post op. I am In the process of finding someone who deals with removing the extra bone growth. Did he show you your Xray and how much HO you have developed? Mine down played all my symptoms as well. His last Famous words. JUST GIVE IT MORE TIME.
 
I think joint replacements have become so common, in & out of hospital usually on same day, then majority get on road to recovery and recover just fine...BUT, for those of us who take longer and have issues it seems there's a lack of empathy or acknowledgment on surgeons part. Guess they feel they did their job now go home and get better but not everyone does and some have more to do to get to that full recovery.
I'm sorry that some of you have been "dismissed."
I changed OS this past May cause I felt I was being heard and I'm glad I did. Nothing was wrong with my hip, new OS did mention one thing that was different from my surgery than others he had performed (never told this by first surgeon). Of course my surgery took place 1700 miles from home on vacation so it is what it is.
I am now a huge advocate for myself in this confusing healthcare system. I've been so pleased with Brigham out of Boston since I started there.
Advocate for yourself can get the answers you so rightly deserve.
 
For those of you experiencing weakness, let me share my story. I went for a resurfacing revision to have the cup replaced. I was in horrible pain after surgery (this wasn't my first rodeo), the leg never regained strength, couldn't do stairs, felt unsteady when doing things like shaving my legs. Turns out the surgeon RUPTURED my gluteus medius and did not disclose it. Upon revision of the revision, the new surgeon found holes drilled in my femur and remnants of sticthes from an attempted repair that was never disclosed to me or put in the surgery notes. If you have weakeness ask for an MRI to check to make sure tendons weren't damaged during surgery, And yes I did end up dislocating, sitting in my car, there was no tendon holding the hip to the femur.
 
For those of you experiencing weakness, let me share my story. I went for a resurfacing revision to have the cup replaced. I was in horrible pain after surgery (this wasn't my first rodeo), the leg never regained strength, couldn't do stairs, felt unsteady when doing things like shaving my legs. Turns out the surgeon RUPTURED my gluteus medius and did not disclose it. Upon revision of the revision, the new surgeon found holes drilled in my femur and remnants of sticthes from an attempted repair that was never disclosed to me or put in the surgery notes. If you have weakeness ask for an MRI to check to make sure tendons weren't damaged during surgery, And yes I did end up dislocating, sitting in my car, there was no tendon holding the hip to the femur.

Was the last revision helpful?
 
For those of you experiencing weakness, let me share my story. I went for a resurfacing revision to have the cup replaced. I was in horrible pain after surgery (this wasn't my first rodeo), the leg never regained strength, couldn't do stairs, felt unsteady when doing things like shaving my legs. Turns out the surgeon RUPTURED my gluteus medius and did not disclose it. Upon revision of the revision, the new surgeon found holes drilled in my femur and remnants of sticthes from an attempted repair that was never disclosed to me or put in the surgery notes. If you have weakeness ask for an MRI to check to make sure tendons weren't damaged during surgery, And yes I did end up dislocating, sitting in my car, there was no tendon holding the hip to the femur.

Was the last revision helpful?
NO I had to have another surgery to repair the tendon and was converted to a THR with constrained liner.
 

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