I am 9 months out from my anterior hip replacement. Was slowly getting better until about 4 mo. And then I've had increasing pain to begin walking from a sitting position...initially it took 3 halting uncomfortable steps to
THR Rita829 Still in pain!
- Thread starter Rita829
- Start date
I am 9 months out from my anterior hip replacement. Was slowly getting better until about 4 mo. ago. Since then I've had increasing pain to begin walking from a sitting position (no difficulty walking from a lying down position) . Initially it took 3 halting uncomfortable steps to get going. Now it's even more painful and 20+ cane assisted steps before walking. Once walking I am fine but I experience trochanter bursitis or tendon pain at top of hip to groin. Used to easily lift leg in prone position to get into bed or getting in car used to easily get in...now I have to gingerly lift leg. Have lost significant strength in quads in last 3 months.
Surgeon ordered MRI which showed some shrinking lumbar discs and therefore he concludes my pain. I am not convinced, I feel it is a combo of bursitis and tendonitis caused by surgical trauma...of course would he admit that along with other nerve damage? The bone scan did not indicate any loosening of the femur stem and blood work indicated no infection. Going for a second opinion. This was supposed to be the "easy" anterior THR and has proven to be anything but easy.
Surgeon ordered MRI which showed some shrinking lumbar discs and therefore he concludes my pain. I am not convinced, I feel it is a combo of bursitis and tendonitis caused by surgical trauma...of course would he admit that along with other nerve damage? The bone scan did not indicate any loosening of the femur stem and blood work indicated no infection. Going for a second opinion. This was supposed to be the "easy" anterior THR and has proven to be anything but easy.
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@Rita829 Welcome to BoneSmart! You will notice I started a thread for you. Please keep all your questions and updates about your recovery on this thread so that we have all your information in one place if we need to advise you.
What is your activity level now and what was it like 4 months ago when this pain started. Bursitis and tendonitis post THR are normally caused by too much activity too soon.
I know you are 9 months out but I am going to leave our recovery guidelines for you. Are you icing and elevating. If not - please give it a try. Ice for 45-60 minutes several times per day.
Please let us know how your second opinion appointment goes.
Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
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:
5. Here is a week-by-week guide for Activity progression for THRs
6. Access these pages on the website
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.
What is your activity level now and what was it like 4 months ago when this pain started. Bursitis and tendonitis post THR are normally caused by too much activity too soon.
Unfortunately this is all "marketing hype" around anterior approach. There is no easy recovery. This is major surgery and recovery can take one year or more no matter what approach is used.
I know you are 9 months out but I am going to leave our recovery guidelines for you. Are you icing and elevating. If not - please give it a try. Ice for 45-60 minutes several times per day.
Please let us know how your second opinion appointment goes.
Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
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
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)
3. Do what you want to do BUTa. 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 this BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy5. Here is a week-by-week guide for Activity progression for THRs
6. Access these pages on the website
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.
Eman85
big-cheese
I've been having some pain and weakness with my right hip and I'm just over 9 mos. The muscles in the front of my thigh feel weaker and so do my hamstrings,glutes on that side. I have no clue what it is, but it's miles better than the bone pain I had! I don't have any problems getting started walking. I had the stutter step for a while with my left and it went away with time.
My surgery was Jan. 2nd, 2020, and now more than 9 months later to get answers from my surgeon why I have relapsed from recovery that was acceptable back in April to more pain, inability to walk after sitting w/o a cane and still deteriorating. Recently had a contrast bone scan, MRI of spine,visit to spine doctor (who said nothing in test would account for problem) and now my doctor will be sending me to a nerve specialist soon. Hopefully the second opinion I am working on will get me somewhere. Your comment about a year of pain and limited activities certainly not consistent with what you are saying. Things might not be perfect, but this a terrible outcome. Everybody who observes me says it looks like the implant not working properly...my doctor says it is stable in spite of bone scan comment of photopenic defect in acetabulum.
Oh gosh, that has to be very worprisoner and annoying for you!
I agree, you shouldn’t be back sliding, unless you possibly started with some strenuous activities that maybe your body wasn’t ready for?
Is that a possibility?
If the films show a solid implant, maybe it’s bursitis or tendinitis?
We have had several members go through that and it was painful for them.
One of my colleagues is still struggling with bursitis. @Elf1 .
I tagged her so maybe she will offer her story of how that progressed for her.
I will say that spinal issues can refer pain into th3 hips and legs and it’s good it’s getting evaluated, too.
For myself, I had a lot of the stutter steps when getting up out of a chair, along with hip flexor pain at times.
I felt a big difference at 14 months post op.
I’m sorry you’re disappointed and worried, it’s not what you were hoping for.
I agree, you shouldn’t be back sliding, unless you possibly started with some strenuous activities that maybe your body wasn’t ready for?
Is that a possibility?
If the films show a solid implant, maybe it’s bursitis or tendinitis?
We have had several members go through that and it was painful for them.
One of my colleagues is still struggling with bursitis. @Elf1 .
I tagged her so maybe she will offer her story of how that progressed for her.
I will say that spinal issues can refer pain into th3 hips and legs and it’s good it’s getting evaluated, too.
For myself, I had a lot of the stutter steps when getting up out of a chair, along with hip flexor pain at times.
I felt a big difference at 14 months post op.
I’m sorry you’re disappointed and worried, it’s not what you were hoping for.
Hello EMan85
How long did you have stutter step, was it ever improved and then worse.
Crickethip: no strenuous activities to blame. I did mention tendonitis and bursitis to doctor but he ignores comment from me. Interestingly, I have read on line physician stating bursitis is often caused by the THR...who would admit their responsibiity? Moreover, because my husband never met anybody with a bad outcome from anterior THR, he has no idea how frustrating this is to me and blames me. Nice!
How long did you have stutter step, was it ever improved and then worse.
Crickethip: no strenuous activities to blame. I did mention tendonitis and bursitis to doctor but he ignores comment from me. Interestingly, I have read on line physician stating bursitis is often caused by the THR...who would admit their responsibiity? Moreover, because my husband never met anybody with a bad outcome from anterior THR, he has no idea how frustrating this is to me and blames me. Nice!
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@Rita829 sorry to hear you're having pain issues this far out. I am glad you're getting a second opinion but if it's another OS they are usually reluctant to do much before a year after surgery.
I've been dealing with trochanteric bursitis and/or tendonitis for what seems like forever. I've had my primary doc give me an injection for the bursitis, minimal help. I've recently had him give me injections in my SI joints as those have caused problems for ages, it did help a good bit but starting to wear off. I wish I had a great magic cure to share with you but sadly I'm just sitting my way through this as I go. Doing some stretches and exercises here and there. If you have access to a pool you might want to try water walking or water aerobics, that is something that always made me feel so much better. Unfortunately we cancelled our gym membership when they closed down for COVID. Wishing you the best with your second opinion.
I've been dealing with trochanteric bursitis and/or tendonitis for what seems like forever. I've had my primary doc give me an injection for the bursitis, minimal help. I've recently had him give me injections in my SI joints as those have caused problems for ages, it did help a good bit but starting to wear off. I wish I had a great magic cure to share with you but sadly I'm just sitting my way through this as I go. Doing some stretches and exercises here and there. If you have access to a pool you might want to try water walking or water aerobics, that is something that always made me feel so much better. Unfortunately we cancelled our gym membership when they closed down for COVID. Wishing you the best with your second opinion.
Eman85
big-cheese
Ain't no easy about this as those of us that had it done will attest to. But remembering the previous pains makes it much better. I have a terrible memory especially as far as time is concerned but with my left I stuttered for a couple of months until it slowly subsided. My THR's are both posterior and both were different recoveries. My right never stuttered, but it has had different weakness in my hamstrings and glutes. Everyone is different and I never did any strength exercises but I did stretches as I was able. My left has been giving me some stiffness and pain, not really sure what I did to cause it. I've been stretching and walking and it's slowly going away. I've been slacking off on my walking, concentrating on getting a lot of work done before winter. This is probably what has caused my pains, and I need to get back to my daily walks.
Hi Everybody
Been doing a lot of reading and You Tubing about our favorite subject and have concluded that short of more surgery, if required, getting better is totally up to you. Fortunately there are a number of resources and it requires you to diagnose your problem(s) and to try rehab therapy (with a PT or on your own). It's unfortunate there are so many other patients that claim it was all a breeze,
It makes you believe you did something wrong or the doctor (but lets not rule the possibility he did). I know of one acquaitance where the patient's husband said how easy it was for his wife...after talking to her, it wasn't easy and she did considerable icing, rest and exercises.
Biggest mistake you can make is for you to wait for your doctor to solve your problem. If you are concerned about loose components and possible infection, get the testing and second opinion done.
Been doing a lot of reading and You Tubing about our favorite subject and have concluded that short of more surgery, if required, getting better is totally up to you. Fortunately there are a number of resources and it requires you to diagnose your problem(s) and to try rehab therapy (with a PT or on your own). It's unfortunate there are so many other patients that claim it was all a breeze,
It makes you believe you did something wrong or the doctor (but lets not rule the possibility he did). I know of one acquaitance where the patient's husband said how easy it was for his wife...after talking to her, it wasn't easy and she did considerable icing, rest and exercises.
Biggest mistake you can make is for you to wait for your doctor to solve your problem. If you are concerned about loose components and possible infection, get the testing and second opinion done.
I think that's part of the advertising.
Certainly, we don't see many people here on BoneSmart who claim it was all a breeze. There is no easy recovery from a hip replacement, no matter what approach is used. It's a long, hard slog.
You did nothing wrong - and I'm sorry your husband is unsympathetic. We're here for you and we'll try to help you through this.
Hippielife
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Rita. So sorry to hear your surgery has had a difficult recovery. It’s frustrating when no answers for the pain your suffering. In time I hope that some reasonable explanation can help get you back on the road to complete recovery . Your not alone I had a difficult time with my second thr. I got you. It’s not easy i know it can be discouraging but don’t give up stay strong and stay healthy. Keep moving forward .
@Rita829 I think one thing that is kind of throwing some of us off is the virus and limited movement outside our homes. I know I have put on 20 pounds since I last saw my OS in January. Totally my fault for eating when bored. But it doesn't help my joints to have extra weight on them and way less exercise.
Another thing we need to remember is our bodies already had some deterioration prior to surgery so we're also recovering from that. And, if you're like me, I have arthritis running all through my body, I've had spinal fusion to fix a couple of discs that were pinching nerves, etc. Unfortunately a lot of my aches/pains are symptoms of other things wrong with me and they all mimic each other so it makes it hard to know what is what.
Some of us have had backs, bad Sacroiliac joints, sciatica, etc. And sometimes our surgeries wake up things that were sleeping or it alleviates the hip pain but makes the other pain more noticeable. You are right though, you must advocate for yourself, especially if you think something isn't quite right. I had to go round and round that it wasn't my back but my hip until the doctors finally agreed.
Another thing we need to remember is our bodies already had some deterioration prior to surgery so we're also recovering from that. And, if you're like me, I have arthritis running all through my body, I've had spinal fusion to fix a couple of discs that were pinching nerves, etc. Unfortunately a lot of my aches/pains are symptoms of other things wrong with me and they all mimic each other so it makes it hard to know what is what.
Some of us have had backs, bad Sacroiliac joints, sciatica, etc. And sometimes our surgeries wake up things that were sleeping or it alleviates the hip pain but makes the other pain more noticeable. You are right though, you must advocate for yourself, especially if you think something isn't quite right. I had to go round and round that it wasn't my back but my hip until the doctors finally agreed.
