New member, but have seen a few weeks ago your comments on dlpappas´postings from 2 years ago. Your case interested me because of the 2 cm LLD and how you were doing OK with it. I did not realize that this was following your second THR on the R leg; that the surgeon was unable to restore LL following first surgery. My case is curious, as I went in for a (R) THR with a 15 mm LLD, the bad R leg being the longer (this likely being the reason the R joint was failing earlier than the left). As in your case, I did not really have pain. I had excruciating, crippling pain only just once (but certainly this was a sign of things to come). However, I was experiencing problems walking more than a half mile or so. I would start off fine (with maybe a 1 cm insert in L shoe) but after six or seven blocks of brisk walking, my right leg would seem to suddenly get longer and my right buttock would start to seize up, and I would be limping. Stopping for 30 seconds allowed me to continue trouble free another three blocks, but then the same problems would recur I mention, that like you, I also had a range of movement problem with the R leg, and this looks like it was due to two bone spurs on the inside near the hip joint. The OS removed these and now I have same (good) range of motion as left leg.
Well, the OS had promised me he would eliminate my 15 mm LLD, but now after 8 months post op it is clear he did not. It would seem he simply forgot to take off the extra length, but I have yet to have a really good talk with him (I am aware that sometimes a surgeon must forgo LL equality for joint stability etc.) I will confront him next week or so with my recovery problems (I had the surgery here in Mexico where I live but have been in the US for several months). Crazy, as I lived almost all my life with moderate congenital scoliosis and LLD without any real problems until the last five years (and when I began to use shoe inserts) but now post op problem walking is as bad or worse than pre op, even when with inserts up to a cm or so. Eight months now since surgery and I still need a cane if I am going to walk more than 50 paces! Well I just finished 2 mos of PT and my R hip muscles are much stronger; but, well, I am still nervous about regaining full mobility. And it has galled me to have to worry about heel lifts and inserts as I had to pre surgery. I live in Puerto Vallarta, and I want to go barefoot and in sandals. I have a great "shoe surgeon" here in PV, but he cannot help with all these new sandals that have contoured soles. So I am still looking for the right sandals just as I was before surgery!
Well, anyway, your story gives me hope. I find it very encouraging that you can do the amount of walking you are doing. And I am impressed too with your physical exercise regimen. With the hip problem I began to walk less, and then too I got even slacker with other exercises like push ups. Well, here is another aspect, and a reason I should not be so depressed. Even if I could not walk, I have the ocean right next to me and I am PADI certified diver so I really do not have much of an excuse to be a ticked off resentful sad sack.
Thanks again for sharing your experience here. Best of luck.
United States
