THR New Pain 3 Years After THR

[Chocolatine]

Hello!

I had a posterior RTHR on Monday, Nov 13. Today is Wednesday, and it seems like a good time to start my recovery thread.

It's all a bit hazy, but the day of surgery went very well. I thought I would be very nervous, but the nurses and the surgical team were so calm and organized that I was not nervous at all. My husband was also a huge help in that regard.

When it came time for me to get up and take some steps with the walker, I seriously thought there was no way it would happen. But I did it, and I felt so much better upright. Then I conquered some stairs. It's still amazing to me that I was able to do any of it so soon after surgery.

My pain has been up and down. Overall, it's tolerable. Tylenol on schedule during the day, and one Dilaudid before bed. I overdid it yesterday though. I had to go in and get my bandages checked at the health clinic. Between going down the stairs, getting in the car, going into the clinic and then to the very farthest exam room in the building, I was exhausted. And then in pain. Apparently they used to do home visits, but not anymore.

The one thing that's bothering me is the fact that my right leg stays a little bent when I stand up. The left leg is straight, but they feel even to me that way. I have to make a conscious effort to straighten my leg. When I do, it feels like the new joint pushes out and that my hip gets higher. Hope that description makes sense!

Did any of you have a sensation like that at first? I had acetabular dysplasia, so it's very possible that my previous walk/stance/etc were abnormal and that I am adjusting to normal. I do hope it goes away.

So glad to be on the recovery side!

 

[djklaugh]

@Chocolatine Welcome to the recovery side! It is good to hear you are home and doing well. As for the odd feeling in the new hip .... it may be the muscles around your hip getting use to being around a working hip joint. Also the process of surgery to replace a hip joint is quite traumatic for surrounding muscles and tendons. It can take quite a while for those parts to calm down and get healed. Additionally it may be, in part, due to swelling around that area and when the swelling goes away the odd sensation will also go away. For now, ice, elevate, and rest!

Did the hospital give you any exercises to do? If so they should be gentle ones such as flexing your ankles, gently sliding your leg with knee bent, and sliding leg out from a straight position. That plus walking will help resolve the swelling.

Also do go back and review the articles I left you just after your first post over in the pre op section.

 

[Chocolatine]

Did the hospital give you any exercises to do? If so they should be gentle ones such as flexing your ankles, gently sliding your leg with knee bent, and sliding leg out from a straight position. That plus walking will help resolve the swelling.

They did give me exercises to do- pretty much exactly the ones you list. They do seem to help, so I have been doing them regularly. The only one I just cannot seem to do is sliding my heel to the side- it takes an enormous amount of effort to move even a little, and it hurts a great deal. So I am putting that one off for later.

Glad to hear that this odd sensation in my hip is likely to be temporary.

 

[Kritterkiddo]

Hi,
My operated hip feels longer and so the knee is a bit bent like yours. We are supposed to give it time. This is Day 20 for me & I have to admit the difference in leg length isn't as great as at first.
I recall how darn good it felt to walk at first... no hip pain!
All the best to you @Chocolatine !!

 

[myglasshalffull]

Welcome to the healing side, like Kritterkiddo said you may have leg length discrepancy which should correct itself given some time.

 

[Hippie Chick]

Welcome!

 

[Layla]

Hi there Chocolatine!
Welcome to the healing side of the forum! I'll leave our Recovery Guidelines below as a refresher.

It sounds like you're off to a good start and I can certainly relate to your feelings about ambulating and navigating stairs so soon afterward. It is amazing when you consider what your poor leg so recently endured.

As far as the sensation you described, I will leave an article for you to read and see if you feel it pertains.
You're not alone, many feel this sensation post op. In most cases it eases with time. We advise giving it 3-4 months as it can take that amount of time for things to balance. If at that point, you are still concerned we suggest you visit a reputable podiatrist or PT for a measurement.
Here's an article from our Library Leg length differential - LLD.

Wishing you all the best and lots of comfort as you begin healing. I will look forward to following your progress!

HIP RECOVERY GUIDELINES

As you begin healing, please keep in mind that each recovery is unique. While the BoneSmart philosophy successfully works for many, there will be exceptions. Between the recommendations found here, your surgeon's recovery protocol and any physical therapy you may engage in, the key is to find what works best for you.

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary.

2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity progression for THRs​

The recovery articles
Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery. While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.
@Chocolatine

 

[Layla]

A tip, when feeling ready to attempt heel slides, a plastic bag underneath your heel can be helpful, making it easier to move by eliminating friction, while still allowing for control of movement.

 

[Chocolatine]

@Kritterkiddo Glad to hear that the sensation is getting better with time. Already I am realizing that I am much less patient than I thought I was...

 

[Chocolatine]

@Layla
Thanks for sharing the article about the leg length differential. I will definitely read it.

 

[CricketHip]

Hello and welcome to the recovery side of things! You did it!
I agree that the surgery day goes quickly and is a bit of a blur of preparation with caring/attentive nurses. That continues to be one of my happiest memories for both hips.
What you are feeling is so normal, please don't fret about it. Your hips muscles and ligaments need to recover, relax, then settle into their new positions, then hopefully one day you will realize that feeling is gone.
Now be a good Ice Queen and make the icing your main activity.
Congratulations..

 

[Chocolatine]

Yesterday it became a lot harder for me to get in and out of bed, which was discouraging. It's very difficult to get the operated leg into or out of the bed while avoiding any external rotation. I am keeping myself hydrated, and each trip to the bathroom has become an exercise in pain and frustration. I go at least twice at night, and trying to do it while tired is even worse.

I have a leg lifter, but it's still hard to maneuver. Is this the phenomenon you all call "log leg"?

We tried putting a garbage bag under it today, and it helped. I'll take any and all tips you have!

 

[CricketHip]

Yep! That's log leg, honestly I didn't attempt to lift my leg on my own for the first two days and nights. It was just too hard for me. Poor husband was my lifte.r Then on day three I was able to manage it much better.
Time is your friend.

 

[Kritterkiddo]

@Chocolatine The first time my husband helped lift my leg into bed he was fired bcuz he kind of flipped it in. It was the best he could do and all I could do was laugh and shake my head. No damage was done, it was just surprising.

@Layla That suggestion to use a plastic bag on the foot for easier sliding is great and I am going to apply it, even though I am farther along.

Regarding the leg lifter I found I had to have my support hand in place and it was the opposite hand depending on whether I was getting in, or out of bed. One hand behind me and one hand to steadily use the leg lifter.

BTW I have Jelly Log Leg. But it is getting better!

 

[Layla]

Is this the phenomenon you all call "log leg"?

I did a little research on this topic awhile back and learned the following -
Log Leg - Why Does My Leg Feel So Heavy?

The first stage of healing is the inflammatory phase. During this time it is very common to notice swelling. After lower extremity surgery, or trauma involving bleeding and inflammation, there will be fluid in the leg causing the sensation of heaviness. Gravity pulls the fluid downward and since the patient is less mobile the fluid is not pumping back through the heart as quickly. The swelling gradually eases, but can persist for up to 3-6 months in some cases. Regular movement will assist in the reduction of swelling, as will elevation and ice. Your surgeon may prescribe compression stockings for a short period of time.

Following joint replacement, you may benefit from the use of a Leg Lifter. The Leg Lifter is a mobility aid that can assist in getting in and out of cars, wheelchairs, beds, recliners and much more. The Leg Lifter is an inexpensive option that helps provide safe movement in the early days, to weeks, of recovery.

We tried putting a garbage bag under it today, and it helped. I'll take any and all tips you have

That same garbage bag underneath your bum (professional name ) will help you slide closer to the edge of the bed while attempting to get out, or to slide in toward the middle of the bed when getting into bed.

A great day to you!

 

[Layla]

BTW I have Jelly Log Leg

That's a new one!

 

[Chocolatine]

@Kritterkiddo Jelly Log Leg is the perfect description! That made my day.

 

[dnordo220]

@Chocolatine off to a good recovery. Rest, ice and keep yo with your meds I made sure I stood up every hour. My head felt longer until Tuesday. I’m just at the 1 month mark.

 

[springs12]

I had acetabular dysplasia, so it's very possible that my previous walk/stance/etc were abnormal and that I am adjusting to normal. I do hope it goes away.

Hi there! I just had my right replaced in June and my left two days ago. I also had dysplasia. My left now feels higher, but my right did initially as well. After my right, my leg lengths were great. I remember telling my doc "I don't know if it is actually longer, or if for the first time ever, I am actually feeling what a stable hip feels like." Just throwing that thought out to you. After the right was done and I recovered, that feeling went away, and then I could feel my left dip down every time I walked! Not anymore. Hopefully, my leg lengths are the same, but this is something that time will tell.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Yes, leg length discrepancy generally corrects itself with first few months. All my best!