THR One yr post THR with ongoing pain - MRI report included

[Jamie]

Surgeons are very good at the surgical process to replace a faulty joint, but often fall short when there is ongoing pain following the procedure. I went through a somewhat similar situation with my hip replacement. It has taken over 2 years to get a proper diagnosis and get to the point where things are improving. So, please don’t give up hope! It just means you have to keep searching for the right person to help you.

The good news is that your implant seems to be fine. That’s huge because it means you likely don’t need a surgical solution. Soft tissue issues are treated through gentle manipulation, pressure point therapy, and targeted exercises. But….not just any therapist is experienced, trained, or equipped to diagnose and treat whatever might be going on.

I suggest you try a different approach by getting a consultation with a pain management specialist and start a search for a therapist who has dealt with muscle and joint imbalances following hip replacement surgery. You’ll need to ask a person you’re seeing that exact question and make sure they are going to be able to diagnose what is going on. It is possible that a pain management doctor or nurse practitioner can recommend someone on the therapy side who has this expertise. It’s possible that your gait needs work too, if that’s not been done.

In my case, I had ongoing hip joint pain that moved around to some degree. Unknown to me, I had completely altered my body mechanics over the years resulting in a twisting of my SI joint in the spine (the pain management NP discovered this) and a gluteus medius muscle that was not engaging at all (the therapist found this). My gait was horrible, but I didn’t realize it at all. It took 9 months with my therapist to get things back in place. Now it’s my job to work to regain strength.

Please let us know how things go. We’ll help as much as possible to get you to the right person to help. It is important to address this now. The longer you let it go, the more difficult and time consuming it will be to get things back where they should be.

 

[RPDX24]

Thank you for the response, yes. My Pelvic floor PT person is trying to get my glutes firing as well. I’ll look into your suggestions.

 

[RPDX24]

May I ask if has pain/discomfort elsewhere?

 

[Roxi]

Thank you for the response, yes. My Pelvic floor PT person is trying to get my glutes firing as well. I’ll look into your suggestions.

Not sure if your PT has covered this already, but one trick to make sure the right muscles are firing is to tap them repeatedly. I am working on my left glute medius right now and for the first minute or two of every exercise I tap my glut medius. It helps to tell your brain 'this muscle, we are working on this one, no don't cheat and use the other one that is easier, it is this one'. After repeated reminders like that it gets easier to do. You have to fast tap though. Like once or twice a second to really focus your brain.

 

[RPDX24]

I like that. My glute started hurting soon into walking and just stopped and did that mid-walk. What kind of PT person did you have?

 

[mendogal]

I also use the fingertip pressure or tapping technique; I was taught it by a certified myofascial trigger point therapist.

 

[msart]

Have u tried a massage? I had one this past week & it was a game changer in groin pain for me. As she explained it, my muscles were so tensed up from being in “trauma” mode that it was causing me pain. I honestly can not believe the difference the massage made in just 2 days time. Of course, get the ok from your surgeon. Also, she did not massage my surgery site per my surgeons advice. Really surprised me how much relief I got in my neck, shoulder, groin & legs. Hope this helps!!!

 

[Roxi]

I like that. My glute started hurting soon into walking and just stopped and did that mid-walk. What kind of PT person did you have?

My PT is a Dr. of PT and a certified orthopedic manual therapist. She is great!