THR Five months post-op THR

[Spongebob]

Hi Layla, thanks for your answer. Yes I am concerned and bummed out to be honest. I am close to 1 year since my surgery. I did go to a PT in July which was 7 months and she said I was still limping because there was still weakness in my operated leg. She started me on another regimen of strengthening exercises.

I don't think it's weakness anymore. I really do think my operated leg is longer - but not by much. When I put an extra shoe pad in my un-operated leg it seems to even out and I walk normal.

When I asked the PT if my leg could be longer she just shrugged. I don't know why, but I felt very discouraged by it.

Right after the surgery the doctor went to tell my husband I was done and he said, "I'm sure they are now the same length". I wonder if he was just covering his own A_ _.

So what do I do now? I googled some exercises for LDL after hip surgery and there are some, and the article claims you can even it out. I would love to hear if anyone still had this issue at the 1 year mark.

Hi im 10 months post op next week and my operated leg is 1cm longer than my other (or so my surgeon says) and to be honest sometimes I feel a little limp but not all the time I just try my best to get it out of my mind and carry on (is this your only concern post op?) but my main concern is I have a dull hip ache which I'm really hoping fades off soon

 

[overthehill]

I had my legs measured and these are the measurements: Left Leg 80.4 cm, Right Leg 79.6 cm.
Does this mean I have a .8 cm LLD or 3-4 mm like the surgeon told me?
He said my LLD was 3-4 mm. Do they divide that difference, or something?

If it's .8 cm he basically lied and I'm struggling with .8cm difference.

Thanks!

 

[myglasshalffull]

When were measurements taken, recently?
You can have a fairly significant difference in beginning & then it lessens as time goes by.
So I wouldn't jump to conclusions on your surgeons measurments.
In any case there are orthotics that you can put in shoes to even yourself out.
Hope it all works out for you.

 

[overthehill]

Those measurements were taken November 30, 2023 which was 1 year after the THR.
I'm wondering why he told me 3-4 mm (in November) when in my medical chart is says: one leg is 79.6 cm and the leg is 80.4 cm. because to me that looks like an .8 centimeter difference not 4?

 

[djklaugh]

@overthehill 1cm = 10mm. 80.4cm - 79.6cm = .8cm = 8mm. And 8mm is a bit over 1/4 inch. I don't know why your surgeon would say one thing if the measurements indicate something different. Alas these kinds of measurements are often difficult to make accurately. IF this is seriously having a negative impact on your gait and how your hip feels then a couple of suggestions. Check the bottoms of the shoes you wear most often. If there is a visible wear pattern that can also have a negative impact on your hip and gait. Consider getting new shoes or getting old ones resoled and reheeled. If shoes are not the issue then ask around for who to see about getting an insert for your shoe to make up that 1/4 inch. Your surgeon's assistant or nurse might know or if you have seen a physical therapist about the hip, they may also know who could be helpful with this.

 

[Charlie33]

Another suggestion: Leg length difference could be a result of your pelvis being slightly out of alignment. Some Chrios 'adjust' for this (have not gone that route)... my PT would have me self mobilize: I'd do one bridge clinching my butt cheeks all the way up, then come back down, lift my right leg (no hip replacement) and push on leg at 90 degreess with my right hand while drivng my left heel (hip replacement leg) into the mat,. 5 second hold, 5 times. Then she would check and like magic the leg length resolve. This can get your leg length closer post mobilization so you can do exercises and retrain muscles.

In my case the arthritis in my other natural hip causes it to rise slightly (according to OS) so your pelvis is going to be a bit out of whack until you can resolve the soft tissue issues on your operated side.

Talk to your PT about this and give it a try if appropriate.

 

[overthehill]

I've done several things to deal with it. I'm just trying to understand if there's something about the way it's reported that I'm confused about. I want to give the surgeon the benefit of the doubt, but I just don't understand it.
Right after the surgery the doctor told my husband in the waiting room he "got it right".

Yes I am having issues - knee pain! Was in Urgent Care with severe knee pain 2 days ago. I've got a stack of shoe inserts that I constantly re-configure to feel comfortable. I never had any knee issues before the surgery. I've done 3 sessions with physical therapist. The latest one is good. He insists if I strengthen my hip the LLD will be less noticeable. I'm just so confused about the discrepancy (and upset)

I started to wonder if there's some kind of formula that you divide the difference (.8 cm) by 2, or something. I mean it's black and white in my chart .8 cm yet he told me to my face 3-4 mm.

 

[benne68]

Was in Urgent Care with severe knee pain 2 days ago.

Is it possible that you've developed advanced arthritis in that knee?

About a year after my THR in 2019, I started to develop pain in my knee on that same leg. I though it was related to the hip replacement, but because of the pandemic, I had to wait a long time for follow-up. Once I had the knee X-rayed in 2021, they found end-stage arthritis and I had a knee replacement.

My case may be unique, but you might want to have that problem knee X-rayed just to be sure it isn't a separate problem.

 

[overthehill]

Is is "pre-arthritis" and I'm doing what I can to keep it from getting worse. Still, I'm wondering about what the doctor reported vs. what he told me. I feel I need this information in order to take the necessary precautions.

 

[benne68]

@overthehill. Perhaps he was thinking about someone else's report? We all know how overloaded doctors are these days. If it was me, I would rely on the written report.

How is your other hip? Do you expect to need a replacement? I know it's not the answer you are looking for, but many people report that when they have surgery on the other side, the leg length difference is resolved.

 

[BBCH]

Had a left side total hip replacement in June of 2022 with an easy and successful recovery. The only issue that arose from time to time was an apparent slight leg length differential which I finally addressed with a small lift in what I perceived to be the affected leg (the right). Increasing pain in my other hip (which is already looking at an upcoming replacement) sent me to a new PT team (we've moved from the city of my original surgery).

Turns out that my right leg is actually longer than the left - the difference I'm feeling is because my pelvis is tilted and the right hip is actually physically higher than the left, meaning that the leg feels shorter, even though it isn't! Also meaning that my walk had likely developed some pretty bad habits over the years. We've thrown out the lift and spent some time on hip releasing exercises. Pain is almost entirely gone and flexibility vastly improved.

So, lesson learned - it might be something entirely different than what your symptoms appear to be saying!

 

[benne68]

Good to hear from you again, @BBCH. Are you back for the other hip? Let us know!

I think your post to overthehill is very informative and it would be great if you would update your own recovery thread to share your progress with everyone. It's here, in case you don't have it bookmarked:

THR - Left THR June 24

Thrilled to have discoverered this site. Seems to be offering lots of solid practical advice as well as needed encouragement! Stopped taking any opioid meds as of yesterday morning and doing just fine on Tylenol. Trying to walk a little bit more each day and remember that weightbearing on the...

bonesmart.org

 

[overthehill]

My left knee is kind of arthritic now and I don't know what to do. My surgeon told me there wasn't much LLD. He said "3-4 mm, most people don't even notice"

I walked with the LLD even though it didn't feel right and I injured my knee. Finally, I used my instincts and started adding padding, but in a way it was too late...I damaged my knee.

 

[overthehill]

Wow! When I woke up this morning and threw my legs off the side of the bed something popped in my knee! It didn't hurt and right after it did I felt so much better. The intense pain I've been feeling for a few months was gone!
I think I was wearing the incorrect amount of shoe lifts and it threw my knee off. Two days previous my husband looked at my 3 shoe pads in 1 shoe and none in the other and said, "I think you have too much lift in your left shoe". So for 2 days I changed it and only wore 2 in one and 1 or none in the other and he was right. Or, doing physical therapy for LLD made such a difference I wasn't needing the 3 pads anymore. I also was on a lot of anti-inflammatory for 3 days and the swelling went way down. I'm so happy now. I think I'm on the mend.

 

[benne68]

Glad to read that you feel you are on the mend, @overthehill.

It's so interesting that the "pop" made your knee feel better rather than worse, but I'm happy you are feeling optimistic!

 

[overthehill]

I've been struggling a lot with an 8mm LLD. Has anybody dealt with that amount and what did you do? I've been creating my own lift with a hodgepodge of inserts. Will the professional one be better?

 

[benne68]

@overthehill Please notice that I've merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread because we ask that members maintain just one recovery thread for continuity, This way all your information is in one place, making it easy to find and serving as a diary of your recovery. Having all your information is all in one place, also enables our staff and other members to advise you better. And you won't miss or lose relevant posts and advice.

So, please post any updates, questions or concerns here. You may want to bookmark your thread to make it easier to find.

If you’d like a new title, let us know what you want, and we’ll change it for you.

For more on how to navigate the forum, you can read through this article:
How can I find my threads and posts?

 

[benne68]

I've been creating my own lift with a hodgepodge of inserts. Will the professional one be better?

Yes, being properly measured so you have the correct one should make a big difference for you.

 

[overthehill]

I'm a little in shock, but I'm trying to stay positive. I hope I can get some good insight and support from this forum, because I need it.

I got a professional shoe insert made and got them 2 days ago. The guy who made them for me is wonderful! He's an amputee and very knowledgeable. He worked with me and ended up making me an insert that is 1/2" in thickness. He said, "it doesn't necessarily mean your operated leg ended up 1/2" longer". He said there are many things that can play into this. He also said "the spine can tolerate 1/2" difference".

So it's in my left shoe and my LLD is actually noticeable. It does feel good, but I'm wondering if those statements are correct?

Has anyone dealt with a 1/2" LLD? Any comments would be so appreciated.

 

[djklaugh]

@overthehill Since it has been so long since your hip replacement, I suspect the 1/2" LLD is a fact not a possibility. And he might have meant that it was not just the surgery and hip replacement that led to this difference - it could have existed in part or completely before the surgery. As for the "spine can tolerate 1/2" difference" .... well maybe the spine can but the rest of your body has been having trouble with the difference. Since the new lift feels good then relax and enjoy it! Oh and do regularly check the bottoms of your shoes to see it there is a lopsided wear pattern. When soles and heels get worn down they keep you walking in that pattern .... and that can get uncomfortable.