left hip replacement

[katwood]

Hi everyone, it has been awhile since I have posted, it is time for my left hip to be replaced. I had my right done on june 22nd last year. It is now 9 months post op and the new hip is doing great. NO Pain!! My left one however is in partial collapse and I am having it done April 22nd. My right hip has made my leg 1 " longer than the left, so they are going to fix that too.My question is : Is it normal for the legs to change in height after this operation? I have a limp and am hoping that this gets resolved.I hope to walk normally after the surgery. any one have this problem? thanks Katwood

 

[JenniferG]

Hi katwood, I'm from the knee side, and I'm 9 days post Bi-Lat knees but what others further along with the knees are saying is they are getting half to 1.5 inches back. Wow! Huh? Good excuse for a shopping trip. Best healing on 4-22. jen

 

[Josephine]

katwood, the surgeon will make every effort to restore the length of your leg. All THRs now have a range of prostheses with various neck lengths to help him do that.

This is a comment from one manufacturer's website

Collarless neck helps to facilitate adjustments
Collarless neck helps to allow intraoperative leg length adjustment aided by reference points on both the stem and the rasp.

 

[katwood]

Thank you Josephine, you are always a comfort. Katwood

 

[rskingston]

Hi Josehine
Have not been on for awhile. I'm the one from NZ. Have had my xray of left hip for pain after 8 years post revision hip replacement. All the metal bits look fine. But pain persist and is slowly getting worse. Sitting especially causing sharp increase in pain in groin and outer hip right up high. Very painful over pelvic bone. Surgeon seems to think there is some fluid around the hip. So am having cat scan on wed. Will this show up more on the tissues and muscles etc?He thought maybe the popping and catching is the tendon catching. Your imput at this time would be great.

 

[phoggie]

Sorry for your leg length discrepancy, but glad to know I am not alone in this problem. I had THR on Feb. 11 and this is really depressing me. I have had to have shoes built-up 1 inch and still have a limp. This has caused me so much pain in both of my knees and back. Did you have that problem with yours? I still say the OS didn't get the stem down into the leg bone far enough....he said this is the first time it has happened~~~(believe that?) and he was terribly sorry. I am going for another opinion in a couple of weeks and anxious to see what someone else has to say about it. Let me hear back from you because I am really curious. Good luck on the other one.

 

[JenniferG]

Katwood & phoggie, I apologize for assuming that height change with hip was like with knees. From what I read with the knees it was a good thing, actually regaining some thing we had lost. After reading your hip posts I can see why you have your concerns and how it actually changes you original "structure". I wish you both the best in a search for remedy. Jennifer G

 

[katwood]

thank you Phoggie, i too have my leg one inch longer on my right hip,my left knee does hurt, but my surgeon says that will probably go away after I replace the hip. I was considering the lift shoes but did not get them because i want to see how i do after surgery. I am hoping for a good outcome here. i wish you the best, I do know what it feels like and it is not pleasent to have the difference on leg length. thank you for posting! Katwood

 

[Josephine]

Hi Josehine
Have not been on for awhile. I'm the one from NZ. Have had my xray of left hip for pain after 8 years post revision hip replacement. All the metal bits look fine. But pain persist and is slowly getting worse. Sitting especially causing sharp increase in pain in groin and outer hip right up high. Very painful over pelvic bone. Surgeon seems to think there is some fluid around the hip. So am having cat scan on wed. Will this show up more on the tissues and muscles etc?He thought maybe the popping and catching is the tendon catching. Your imput at this time would be great.

Sorry not to have caught this. Are you really have a CAT scan or an MRI scan? Cat scans aren't used so much nowadays as the MRIs show up so much more. Either way they do show up all the soft tissues and doctors can tell an awful lot more from them. I think he has it right and there could be fluid around.

 

[rskingston]

Hi Josephine. Thought i'd got lost in the system. Yes it is a CAT scan and it was done through our ACC system. This is our no fault coverage thru our taxes that pay for any accident and resulting injury. BUT we can not sue for anything. Called no fault system. Means i did not have to pay for the scan. We in NZ are small so having a MRI would mean a 8 hour travel to nearest facility. Had scan yesterday so will await the results. It is slowly getting worse. Sitting is now very painful. Hot water bottle helps at night.
Thanks
Sarah