THR Thigh pain 19 months after THR

Robert B

new member
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Oct 23, 2019
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Hello All,
I guess I am joining the club of hip pain … I had both hip done last year, May for the left and June for the right, no problem with my left, the right was a problem from the start. The epidural injection kind of missed the mark so I wake up just screaming, they gave me something to get past that and do everything the Doctor said to do and all is fine. A few months back my thigh is killing me , to the point when walking I have to stop and rest. Doc said everything looks fine but the pain is crazy and it's only when I walk ? The side of the hip burns when I sit but it's the thigh pain, kind of like a shock that stops me dead in my tracks, I have almost fallen a few times. I plan to go back and see him again soon but didn't know if there is something I should ask that I haven't at this point ? Thank You
 
@Robert B
Welcome to BoneSmart, glad you joined us!

It is probably time for you to obtain a second opinion, for your THR, from a surgeon specializing in Revisions, they have the education and background to determine what is happening with troubled hips. Look for a surgeon specializing in complex joint reconstruction or revisions. They should have no relationship with your present OS, not even golf buddies.

You can use our Surgeon Locator at the top of the page, for an OS specializing in revisions you will have to check the web sites or call the offices.

Please post your surgery date, a moderator will add it to your signature for you. Having the exact date will help us properly advise you. Thanks!

Here are the Hip Recovery Guidelines, the articles are short and will not take long to read.

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 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

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

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.
 
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Hi, Robert B .... welcome to BoneSmart. I'm so sorry you're having so much unexplained pain. I know it's frustrating not to get answers from your surgeon.

You say the pain started a couple of months ago. How were things with your recovery prior to that point? And can you recall any incident (a fall, some over-exertion, a change in your routine) around that time?

If you would, please give me the coordinates on this chart to show where your pain is located.

1571871225226.png
 
So sorry you are having so much pain in that thigh. It sounds awful!

Did your doctor think you might have nerve damage, or have some type of soft tissue problem that an injection, or PT might help? What did they think was causing the pain if "everything looked OK"?

I agree with those who think a 2nd opinion would be a great idea. It seems that this isn't a typical reaction this far out of surgery and definitely worth some more information. I hope things improve soon!
 
Pumpkin ~ Thank You for the welcome, the first one (left) was great, no issues at all but this last one (Right) is driving me nuts. I understand about Doctor's being friends, my mother was a nursing Director and I saw how they acted with each other and how some thought they were perfect so I wouldn't use anyone that even knew of him. I had my right THR done on June 20th 2018, aside from the block not working things seemed fine, knee swelled up like a ball, which I thought was strange, since they didn't work on the knee . Called the Doctor and he said that happens sometimes, it went down after a day. I really don't think this Doctor is going t be the one to resolve this issue, communication within his office does not seem to make from PA to him as I have to repeat what I have told them, to him. Thanks
 
Jamie ~ Thank you for the welcome. Things were fine prior to that , a few pains but nothing like this. I have had no falls or anything like that, just started one day, some days are not as bad as other but when it does really kick in , it's to the couch.
V R1F ~ Burning feeling
Y R2F ~ Sharp shooting pain while walking

Thank You
 
Debru4 ~ Thank you very much for the kind thoughts. A Doctor told me one time that, Doctor's never want to admit that something they did, didn't work. I know with some Doctor's , you have to push them when they give you the "Everything looks fine to me" answer. I am going to see him one more time and if I get the same "it looks ok" then I will be asking for my records on the way out the door.
Thank You
 
@Robert B I'm going to tag @Jamie so she sees your reply. To tag someone you use the at sign @ and their name @Elf1 and you can usually see them pop up to click on.
 
Thank you for the information. The burning feeling you are having at V R1F may be trochanteric bursitis. Here's an article for you from our BoneSmart Library to explain it in more detail.

Trochanteric Bursitis with THR

I suggest you try icing the area and taking something like Aleve on a schedule for at least a few days when that pain flares up. You are doing the right thing by resting as well. It is possible that some targeted physical therapy might also help, so discuss that with your surgeon when you see him.

Do the two areas always hurt together or at times is it just one of them that hurts? I ask this because I'm thinking the two pains may not be related. The pain in the front of your leg midway down (Y R2F) is something that definitely needs to be checked out. Your hip and leg should get x-rayed.

If your current surgeon blows you off or if he takes the x-rays and then tells you all is fine, then I think you are right to get copies of your file including this latest imaging and take it to a different surgeon or even a couple of surgeons. You'll want a revision specialist, not because you necessarily need a revision, but because these are the experts in figuring out problem cases. If you need help finding a revision specialist, you can start with our BoneSmart Joint Surgeon Locator (link at the top of the page). I can help you as well, if you let me know you need my assistance. Please tag me if you do need that help so I see your request more quickly.

The bottom line is that you need to get to the bottom of this pain. Stay focused and assertive and you'll get the answers you need.
 
@Jamie
Burning is while I am sitting, the sharp pain is while walking. I have no problem getting my records, if the Doctor tries the "That is normal" thing
 
@Robert B I see you have had some tremendous advice already. I am chiming in just to say that I've found that in most cases, I've had to really stress my discomfort levels to the doctors.
As in insisting that something is wrong and that the pain is very debilitating.

You may already be doing that and if so, that perfect! I've noticed, when my husband has something going on that he tends to just state his facts and the Dr doesn't pick up on how upset my husband actually is.
I wish you the best going forward.. take care and will be most interested in seeing your updates.
 
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@CricketHip I finally got an appointment on the 19th with the same Doctor that did the surgery and thank God , my wife is coming with me to keep me inline as words come out of my mouth before I have time to think "should I really have said that" so I don't think he will miss where I am coming from, that is one thing I got from my mother and maybe a little bit too much. I just will never understand, how they can look at something and say it looks fine, when there is something causing the pain ? The first one on the left, is doing fine but this right one will stop me in my tracks.
If he starts with that or that's normal stuff, then I will find another Doctor, I went through 5 before the found the issue with may back all because they relied on an MRI that had a weak magnet so I know you have to push these Doctor's. I will update after my appointment as I may need help finding a new Doctor

Thanks Robert
 
Oh, I am so pleased that you have an appointment and that your wife will be there as your advocate. I wish you the very best outcome and will be very interested in what transpires with your appointment.
I'm so sorry you are struggling so with the right hip.
 
Update ~ I go to my appointment and he watches my walking with a limp and I explain what is going on, he takes an x-ray of both hips and says that look good per the x-rays, he says that my knee seems to have fluid on it and I tell him, which I said I am sure you don't remember, that the night of coming home from the surgery, that knee swelled up like a grapefruit so I maybe it's from that ? So he x-rayed it and shot lidocaine and had me walk , no difference so now I have to have blood work for an infection and a bone scan. He said he would redo the Hip but it looked good. I told him that even the good looking girls get dumped , that's when I got the evil I from my wife lol so I guess , I have a few more hoops to jump through but wanted to give an update.
Thank you all for your help and support !!
 
I never worried about what I said to a DR. I usually get that out of the way immediately, if a Dr. can't take the truth he doesn't need me as a patient. Talking to my OS yesterday I said how I interviewed many DR.s and walked out on many. He said he didn't blame me and he'd do the same.
 
I had to be a little reserved since my wife was there and she asked me to be and I said I would, I am a very different person when she is not. I see they are not coming to mu house at 5 and I am not going to theirs but in this case I did promise her I would be good.... this time
 

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