THR Hip replacement after hip arthrosocpy

[Ryesgma]

Good evening , I just came across your thread and it sounds a lot like the experience I had with my hip scope I had mine done to fix a torn labrum and fix my impegment . I had it done 7/18 and the recovery was dreadful it didn't work and the pain got worse , went to a new os in November same year and was told I needed thr ( I had just turned 48) I got my new hip on 4/2/19 it's been almost 6 months and I'm having pain 24/7 my original os can't figure it out (guess I'm a medical anomaly) I have a second opinion appointment on 9/26 hoping to get an answer . As everyone else has stated on here you are still very early in your recovery and hopefully your issues will resolve very soon I would hate to think of another person having to go through all I've been through , will be praying for healing for you.

 

[Rdwolfe94]

@Ryesgma Thanks. I was able to start stretching a little bit at the 6 weeks mark yesterday. Seemed to help. I am hoping as time continues I will improve more and more. I will you the best and will pray for you too.

 

[DEL2019Sep-7]

Unfortunately we see many members go from having a scope to THR. It's a very tough recovery and doesn't aways work. If your surgeon pushes back on your request to have THR start highlighting the impact to your quality of life.

My daughter (53), a very active athlete, has done and Ironman, is now faced with a scope next week. I've read, and I'm sure she has as well, how many failed scopes there are. Her friend, however, had a good outcome. We are crossing our fingers that hers will be successful. But I have to say, I do have my concerns. We've had our share of emotionally devastating experiences the past few years, and I don't want to see this as another life challenge. Hard physical exercise has been her life-saving distraction from the loss of her son several years ago.

@Rdwolfe94 on August 27th, I had an Anterior RHR with a ceramic ball. I was told that it was the best and had tremendous longevity. All my best.

 

[Rdwolfe94]

I had my replacement (anterior-rt side) exactly 6 weeks today. Today was one of my better days. I still have a ton of stiffness and pain (more stiffness) in my hip flexor. I can tie my shoes and put on my socks with out assistance so I am making progress. How are you. My math says you are about 3 weeks.

With respect to the scope, because your Daughter is an elite athlete, she will have a better chance I hope. I only know two people personally over the age of 45 who had a successful scope. She was an elite marathon runner. If she has any, even the slightest amount of arthritis, I would proceed with caution.

 

[DEL2019Sep-7]

@Rdwolfe94 thanks for your thoughtful response. I'm hoping that because of my daughter's super conditioning, she will come out of this with flying colors. I don't think she has any arthritis, only a torn labrum (which is what happened to me last year). At my age, they just automatically go in and do the HR because eventually arthritis sets in fairly soon. Again, I had many things that were going on in my hip (including arthritis). It seems my daughter and I both got a raw draw in the genetics department, coming into the world with a retroverted hip and leg length disprepancy which eventually catches up. Particularly because we are both avid athletes. Well, her more than me at this point in my life, but I am fairly active. Thanks again! I appreciate YOU!!

I'm doing well at three weeks, almost a month. Can't believe it's been that long...time has really flown by! Like you, I can't wait to tie my shoes without struggle. Geez! Who would've thunk that something so simple... Before surgery, it was difficult, but post surgery, much worse...

 

[Rdwolfe94]

Ok. I need some advice here. When I saw my Surgeon on Tuesday (the 6 week mark). I still have pain in any hip flexion more at the top of the thigh and on the side. I have been stretching both areas. My Surgeon gave me no restrictions but the bike and elliptical are a no because they hurt after. I am just walking. His Nurse Practitioner suspect tendonitis. I was worried about illopsosas tendonitis but the xray did not show that. The xray is still showing everything as successful. The Dr. did not mention tendonitis when I saw him. Is this still pain and stiffness that I need more time to heal.

Also, other than icing, stretching, walking and taking Ibuprofen is their anything else I can do. I have been rubbing a massage stick along the stiff area also.

 

[Rdwolfe94]

The walking seems to help. I can walk a mile a day without pain. I am wondering if that is too much or if I can increase a 1/2 mile.

 

[Jaycey]

Six weeks out is still very early days.

His Nurse Practitioner suspect tendonitis.

If indeed you have tendonitis it is probably due to too much activity too soon post op. If you stop all exercise including walking and ice and elevate for a few days does your pain ease?

 

[Rdwolfe94]

@Jaycey No. It actually feels better when I walk and am moving around. It was actually worse when I was not walking and moving around. I know I am only a little over 6 weeks out but I have had absolutely no improvement in the pain. I am worse then before surgery. I went through this with the scope. My Surgeon will not do anything until I am 12 weeks to 6 months. I am frustrated and don't believe that at 12 weeks I am going to wake up and the pain is going to be magically gone. I am beyond frustrated. It is hard for me not to believe something went wrong with still having all this pain. At what point with still having pain should I become more concerned then I am now. Thanks.

 

[Jaycey]

It can take up to one year or more to completely recover from THR depending on how long you limped around pre-op. I agree with your OS - 6 weeks is too early to judge the result. Patience and a bit of time is needed. Have you tried icing the area?

 

[Rdwolfe94]

@Jaycey I have iced 45-60 minutes 5 times a day everyday since surgery. I was not limping at all before surgery just still had pain from the failed scope as my labrum was still torn because they did not fix it during the scope because they could not access my joint. A 2nd scope was recommended that would have reconstructed my labrum but at my age and the issues with the first scope, they said I would only get 2-3 years out of it and because I was still having pain, a replacement is what I opted for. Unfortunately, I have the same pain in my hip but not with new thigh pain and stifness I had before surgery. I have no choice but to wait. I will try taking a couple days off from walking and see if it helps. If after 12 weeks, I still have no improvement should I get a 2nd opinion. Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I am just devastated that I cannot get this hip right.

 

[Jaycey]

If after 12 weeks, I still have no improvement should I get a 2nd opinion.

I am afraid most surgeons will not see you until you are at least one year out from surgery. In any case at 12 weeks out it's far too early to judge this a failed THR.

I am just devastated that I cannot get this hip right.

Please don't assume it's not right. This hip is just taking its own sweet time settling. Take a few days off and see if things ease. Focus on icing and resting that op leg. Boring I know - but at this stage your hip is in charge.

 

[Mojo333]

Hi @Rdwolfe94
I'm sorry you are frustrated but I hope you take the possibility of tendonitis being the culprit into serious consideration vs failed THR.
The implant is secure according to your OS, so this seems very likely to me and tendonitis can take months to resolve especially if you try to push through it.

The walking seems to help. I can walk a mile a day without pain. I am wondering if that is too much or if I can increase a 1/2 mile.

It never hurts until we stop!
I found this to be true in my case, and it is very frustrating and hard to curb.
Never bothered me until I stopped. And then after some hours of sleep/rest ....extreme stiffness and aching.
Delayed repercussions of overactivity.

I know you are ready for all to be well...but it unfortunately just takes the time it takes.
Hope today is a better day.

 

[Mojo333]

I certainly dont know if you have tendonitis but here is some information from our library.
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/tendinitis-an-explanation.51325/

 

[Rdwolfe94]

I have pain and stiffness 24/7. Is this normal over 6 weeks out. The pain and stiffness are worse than before surgery.

 

[Jaycey]

I have pain and stiffness 24/7. Is this normal over 6 weeks out.

Yes, this recovery can take up to 12 months or longer. As we said earlier - take some time off from activity and rest, ice and elevate. Don't get yourself into a pain cycle by trying to push through this recovery. In the end pushing only results in what you are seeing - constant pain and stiffness.

 

[Rdwolfe94]

@Jaycey forgot to ask this early on. It may have been covered in all the articles I read but cannot remember. My Home Health PT said not to ice more than 20 minutes at a time. What is the rationale behind 45-60 minutes which is what I have been doing.

 

[Layla]

Hi @Rdwolfe94
Josephine the forum nurse with 50+ yrs experience in Orthopedics maintains that icing for 20 minutes is only appropriate when healing from an injury. Following joint replacement ice is a critical part of the pain management program and should be used not only on the joint, but any surrounding areas of discomfort, for as often and as long as you like. Some care providers do put a maximum time on icing, while others suggest you can ice as often as you see fit. Jaycey may have more to add...
Have a good one!

 

[Jaycey]

What is the rationale behind 45-60 minutes which is what I have been doing.

You accomplish nothing in just 20 minutes. As Layla says, 20 minutes is what is recommended for an injury. Icing post op is to address soft tissue trauma and internal swelling. Stick to the 40-60 minutes and you have a natural pain killer.

 

[Rdwolfe94]

@Jaycey I have come to the realization that I have not been realistic about the speed of my recovery. I am clearly a slow healer and need to be patient. I am 2 days shy of 7 weeks and my pain is worse than before surgery. I am approaching this like it is going to be a year recovery for me as I am obviously a slow healer or something else is wrong not related to the hip. So here are my questions for the next year.

1.) Can I continue to ice 45-60 minutes everyday up to 1 year?
2.) Although I can put my socks on with out assistance, it is not with out stiffness and pain when I bend my foot inward? Should I continue to use my sock assister?
3.) By using the assister and not bending my hip, will it cause it to heal stiff without flexibility in the future.
4.) If my pain has not resolved after a year, what do I do?
5.) On a different note, although my pain is worse than before surgery. My Dr. informed me that my x-ray looked textbook and their were not issues when I saw him for my 6 week check up last year.

Thanks, everyone has been so nice and helpful on here.