THR 3mos THR for Hip dysplasia, discouraging pain, anyone else?

[katflwr]

Checking in here at 3 months post op and returned to work last week. I continue to have pain, buttock and occasional groin pain. Pain to the outside of my hip and occasional knee pain. The hip still feels...sore. It feels like it's just irritated in there is the best way to describe. Well, I've gotten through two 12hr shifts and have woken with severe pain the next day after having been on my feet. If I rest, the pain eases. At times when I am resting I will feel a "throbbing" pain in the hip. Any semblance of "normal walking", and I feel pain. I have been told that I most likely have bursitis, IT band issues and some degree of sciatic impingement from the piriformis muscle. I'm on Mobic now, and it does help. But the continuing pain is discouraging. I'm back to physical therapy (only physiotherapy work, no muscle building) and am now trying chiropractic hoping it will help with the uneven pelvic symmetry. I was told by my doc that they "had to change the way I walk" on account of the hip dysplasia. They had to push the new hip "forward", and that is causing collateral damage. I wonder if anyone else with hip dysplasia has experienced this? Now I feel like I am left with "unequal" pelvis and that this may not get better unless I have the other hip done? I'm really trying to maintain a positive attitude, but at this point I really only feel like I've traded one pain for another.

 

[Josephine]

am now trying chiropractic hoping it will help with the uneven pelvic symmetry

He (or she) should also help with the muscle spasm which is what all those issue you mention is. Most of our pain is caused by muscle spasm for one reason or another.

We have these articles about your issues which might help
Piriformis syndrome - a pain in the butt!
ITB (ilio-tibial band) issues and treatments
Trochanteric bursitis with THR

Much of the cause for all these issues arises from exercise! So I'm going to ask you what kind of PT exercises and exercises at home are you doing? How much and how often? (and detailed details would be appreciated, please! **Reps, sets and sessions** and all that)

** If you're not familiar with this, it goes like so:
1 lift of your leg = 1 rep (repetition)
5 reps and then a brief rest = 1 set
5 sets and finishing = 1 session.

 

[katflwr]

@Josephine , thank you so much for your reply! I suddenly wonder, if the stairs in our home have contributed to all of these issues. We have two flights of stairs in our home. I was able to avoid them for the first month, but needless to say I am now routinely going up and down stairs. Just a thought that popped in my mind.

I am not doing any excercises. My ortho specifically advised against as well. My PT is only (light)massage and stretching, posture correction etc. I have been unable to do the piriformis stretch as it was causing me to have groin pain when I did. I am going to try some of the alternatives listed on the article. Great articles!

 

[Josephine]

Good point - yes stairs certainly would have contributed to the problem.
To reduce this, you need to take them slowly, one at a time.