Ok-Whattya think?

[prinny68]

Hello all, I'm back for a bit. Been very busy, so I haven't been able to update as I would like, but a new problem has arisen... any suggestions would be great....

So had LTHR on 2/17 and RTHR on 4/14 of this year. I was literally pain free, in the gym 3-5 times a week on the recumbent, lifting 10lbs with both sides, for my hip exercises and doing really well.

And now, after approx 6 weeks pain free(out of the total 14 weeks postop after my last surgery), I am beginning to get pain again. Pain when going up the stairs, pain when standing for periods of time, pain after walking, pain after sitting. I am no longer able to make it through a set of exercises with weights at the gym and I'm wondering if there is perhaps something going on inside my new joints. The pain is in the front of the joint area, down my thigh and in my butt cheeks. Anyone have any ideas? This is SO frustrating, and I'm having to resort to the pain meds again, which I was not on at all before this.... could I have some sort of infection now, or perhaps a loosening issue???

I see my OS this week for a normal checkup, but thought I'd try to rest easy by checking here

 

[Jamie]

Prinny, it's good to hear from you. But I'm sorry you're experiencing some pain. Have you tried slacking off the workouts for a few days and taking anti-inflammants to see if it gets better? I'm betting it would. And I also think your surgeon will tell you that the new joints are fine, just take it a little easier for a while.

 

[Texas]

Hey Prinney. Im a knee so I wouldnt know, but I sure hope it goes away, sounds like you were doing terrific......Maybe yea just take it easy a lil.......Good Luck to you !!!!!!

 

[Judles]

Hi Prinny! Try easing up on the workouts like everyone's suggesting! And a little Advil wouldn't hurt! Let your OS be your guide at this point! Let us know how you're doing!!

 

[Josephine]

Yep! You have 'over-doing it' itis and your muscles and ligaments are complaining! It's not at all uncommon.

Let me see if I can track them for you ...

This is the front of your thigh. You can see the sartorius muscle coming down from the pelvis near the hip joint, all down the front of the thigh and into the top of the tibia. During exercises like walking, leg workouts and climbing stairs, this is the principle muscle responsible for working both the hip joint and the knee joint. That's why it hurts going up and down stairs!

Then you have the muscles at the back of the pelvis, in your 'butt cheeks' or buttocks. The piriformis is but one muscles, there are several mow, but this illustration just gives you an idea of how everything works. So when you're doing all those exercises, they start complaining too! And in complaining they get inflamed and sore. This inflammation radiates onto the sciatic nerve, the yellow line, and causes a radiated pain down through the your buttocks and maybe even into the back of the thigh.

So what you need to do is slack off the exercises a bit. You do stuff every day? Try every other day instead. Make the sessions shorter, do less reps and lift less weight. Spend some time in the hot tub if the gym has one or get your PT or a chiropractor to do some deep massage and acupressure.

And try taking some NSAIDs and tylenol for a week or so.

Best news is, provided you're sensible and do all of the above, it will settle and go away eventually.

 

[Karen54]

Kym (with the "y")!:p Welcome back! I'd been wondering what happened to you for quite awhile! I was thinking that the last time we heard from you was around Peta's wine party!:hehe: Hope the pain gets better soon so you can start exercising again! Keep us posted!

 

[YoungM]

Prinny, I was wondering where you went! Nice to hear from you, but sorry you are having pain. I too, have experienced the same -I'm taking it a bit easier to see if the pain lessens, which it has.

 

[aussie]

Hi Prinny,

Yes after my knee op I was a bit superheroish in recovery, and then experienced all the pain you are referring to, so I immediately thought my hip replacement had loosened, I was so sure I even asked for x rays, which of course came back 100% fine. Doctor said to slow up on the exercise I was doing, and it took a little while but the pain did lessen and go away, so try what the others suggested and go a little more gently on yourself, trust me you still get there in the end and without the pain.

 

[kangaroo]

Hi Prinny,
I am 12 weeks post op and nowhere near doing as much as you are. My dr said it takes 12 months o recover from this surgery so I'm taking my time....but still doing everything I have to do.....I do feel i need to up it a little but im nowhere near weights, or gyms .....maybe swimming would be good for you....non weight bearing.....
Rachel

 

[JudyS]

Prinny
I was going along great with my new hip, then one day going down the stairs I had the worst pain ever. Yep, doing too much hit me hard. RElax, slow down . it will get better
judy

 

[Texas]

Hey Prinny I was just wondering if it had gotten any better....I sure hope so......Hang in there and take it easy....

 

[prinny68]

Well, saw the surgeon yesterday and he has taken me COMPLETELY off of all exercises, PT and even walking! I am now on non-weight bearing and absolute use of crutches for 3 weeks. He is concerned that because I didn't have a lot of bone stock in the first place(from the dysplasia) he didn't want to drill deeper and implant the socket deeper at the time of the initial surgery, leaving me with less of my own bone, so he wants to make ABSOLUTELY sure that I'm not loosening or have an infection starting. He said that if i'm still having problems in 3 weeks, we may not have a choice but to go in and atleast make sure that everything is ok, no infection, no loosening, etc.... so now I sit(literally) and wait. Grrrr....

But thanks for all of the kind words of support!

 

[Jamie]

Prinny, how frustrating for you! But you have a wise surgeon who is taking the cautious approach. I like that!!! I'll be praying that staying off your hip will do the trick. In the meantime, try to find things to do to keep your mind busy. Pamper yourself whenever possible. You DO deserve it, you know! (((HUGS))) to you.

 

[prinny68]

Oh yeah and one more thing.... just since last night being OFF completely... I think my butt hurts WORSE then it did before yesterday!!! Why would THAT be??? What the heck???

And the pain feels DEEP like on the INSIDE of my butt cheek and groin.... is this still possible that this is just muscular/tendon?? I am REALLY not enjoying this!!!

 

[Jamie]

Poor Prinny....this is so NOT FAIR!!! Hang in there....it will get better. Take something for the pain, okay? You need not be less mobile AND hurt!!!

 

[aussie]

I wish I could offer something better than a "Hang in there" but Jamie is right, as unfair as it is it will get better and it sounds like you have an attentive and concerned OS which is great.

Every good wish coming your way Prinny,

 

[ronhall51]

im not on the other side yet but from my perspective.At least you know you can get better as opposed to before the replacement when you know it can only get worse!!!

 

[Texas]

Hi Prinny I remember you when you were on here. I was coming in and you were moving on I also read alot of your posts. ....I surely hope everything turns out OK. All you can do is just think positive. My prayers are with you. I really hope it is, something just with your muscles and that's all. Dont sit in pain till this is figured out. Take some medicine and relax. Does heat help your botton at all ? I dont know just trying to help...

 

[prinny68]

Hey everyone! Well I'm going to be 100% honest here.... after having my left one replaced in February and then my right in April, I'm telling you my right has ALWAYS been a problems for me. It almost seemed like it healed "funny". I don't really know how to explain it. I have pain in the right that I don't in the left and everything has just seemed to take longer. I've been telling my family for weeks that something just seems "off" with that one, and my therapist said the same thing. If I'm still having a lot of pain, maybe I need to go back and talk to the dr. I mean I'm talking still limping, still pain in the groin and butt, something is "funny" with this one. I'm going to take the 3 weeks no-weight bearing as a break from my routine, but if its not better, I'm actually ok with him going in and finding out what the heck is wrong. It doesn't FEEL muscular.... it feels deeper. I can't really explain it... it feels like I bruised my butt bone in the middle of my butt cheek.... but since you don't have a butt bone in the middle, that is your joint space, I can only assume it's an issue near the prosthesis... I dunno.... I have NEVER had this problem with my left, just my right. My left one healed BEAUTIFULLY!!! There is a definite difference in the two!

Thank you for all the kind words and support, as always! :wub: I will keep you all posted as to any changes.... I'll be honest, I'm a little concerned. One would THINK that after a HUGE replacement surgery, life would be better right!?! so hopefully the three weeks does the trick and I can be PAIN FREE!!!

I have a question though for anyone that might know.... would the recovery for an exploratory surgery after a THR to try to locate the cause of pain be as extensive as the THR itself?? Just curious.....:sct:

 

[Josephine]

Recovery is about the same, Prinny. But the spot you describe in your butt is about where the sciatic nerve lies. Be interesting to hear what the surgeon has to say.