Rehab Question- Pressure in Groin area

[hipsearching]

I have a question for those who are well along through their recovery. I had my right hip replaced on January 16, 2 weeks and 5 days ago. My recovery has been going well. I am getting stronger every day. I can walk, with small steps, unassisted. The exercises, such as a leg lift (when I am on my back) and the side leg lift, are getting easier although there is still some pain. Here's my main question: I feet a pressure in the groin area when I am standing up straight. The best way I can describe it it that it feels like I have tight jeans on and a baseball in the right front pocket. It doesn't hurt exactly, but there is a great pressure there. My physical therapist said it could be from the stretching out of all the tissue in there. For the past two years I had favored that side and walked a little bent over. This only started after I started PT. It may have diminished a little. My worry is that it has something to do with the actual new joint not fitting together properly. Has anybody out there experienced this? ( I will be asking my doc about it but I value your answers also).

 

[Lolly]

Hello,

I hope your pain is not there 100% of the time. I feel this groin discomfort every now and then, specially if I have done some strenuous activities (including physio and too much movements during bed and stand up exercises, or trying to move around doing home tasks). Your physio should not allow you to overdo your exercises, and you don't have to follow to the letter if it gives you pain. At one time I had both the groin and the hip discomfort, and know what? it was because I was given a much tighter (the green colored) elastic band for the leg lift exercises, so, we had to step backwards and I was given a much lighter elastic band (the red colored band), which I now use and feel comfortable without the groin and hip discomforts. The groin pain was what I had exactly before I had my THR. I am 3 months away from my Right THR. Whenever I am in pain I use ice pack or a heat pack for some relief. It won't hurt to ask your specialist in your next review.

 

[hipsearching]

Lolly ---Thanks for your reply. It's now several weeks later. The pressure/pain in my groin area has diminished. I think the muscles, which were so constricted in my last two years before the operation, have stretched out and gotten stronger. The leg raise still hurts me the most, especially in the groin area. My PT, like you, wants me to continue to do this strengthening and stretching, but without overdoing it. At this point, I have a slight limp; my PT saying to me to use the cane until I have no limp at all. I am not "there" yet but am on the way.

 

[Lolly]

Hi, your pain will be lesser and lesser as you gain strength on your new hip. Continue with your exercises and use hydrotherapy if you are not yet on it. My ortho surgeon recommends more hydro than physio, and definitely it is helping me gain confidence in my movements. Any stretching will give you some soreness in the groin and leg but you will gain your movements soon. Now I am able to float on the water, which I was so scared to do after my surgery. Ihave moved away from anti-inflammatory drugs after I was discharged from hospital, instead, I use hot or cold pack for the pain, and lying down every now and then.
Try making small steps without a cane "at home only". On my 3rd month I was able to walk without support around the house, but whenever I go out, I still take my cane with me. It gives people an idea to understand you, especially when going slow crossing the road. Leg stretches will cause you pain for a couple of days, at the most; however, these are important to take off your limp - this happens if you are not on painkillers. Any unusual pain lasting more than a day and a half, you should not hesitate consulting your treating doctor. I always discuss any observations with my physio to give me the peace of mind that everything is okey. Keep writing and share your observations to calm your fears down.
Lolly from Australia

 

[mepammy]

I think the groin pain, following the surgery, was the worse of the pains I had! There was bruising all across my inner/upper thigh, and the surgeon assigned to the duty of dislocating the hip (I refer to him as the "muscle guy") had to do some twisting and turning...which caused the bruising and pain here.

Ice packs were a great help! The stiffness and some pain still occurs at times but by now is less than before the THR, and since that which occurred when my hip was dislocated for the surgery.

One of my physical therapists told me that I am standing much straighter than before! It does feel as though the muscles in the groin area are relaxing.

I hope all of you are doing well!

Pam