Become an Insider

THR THR and New to Forum

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: ?Muscle spasm from hip

Hi has anyone experienced a ?slipping sensation of the ball out/over the prosthetic hip joint? I had a very strange and difficult to explain sensation yesterday whereby this sensation actually seemed to cause me to actually jolt! It was like an electric shock from the hip joint down my femur whilst I was negotiating a standing stance from sitting...it was a sickening feeling and since then, the surrounding structure and muscles seem to be having little spasms as if trying to do the same thing again and this is makng me hyper-aware of every little movement I make as it's happening more and more today and even more so when I'm relaxed! Any ideas? :scratch:
 
Nothing to worry about, cheeky! It's just your recently traumatised and weak muscles saying ouch, that's all. I very much doubt it's the actual replacement that's moved.

How are you doing with your exercises, activities in the home and outside, pain meds, etc., etc.?
 
Cheeky I experience something very similar early on in my recovery. I know it is very scary but please don't worry. As Jo says - muscled waking up and complaining. Ice - or heat if it helps. Please let us know how you are doing.
 
Hi,
I just wondered if anyone has been found to have a positive rheumatoid factor? If so what is the results indicative of? My understanding is that it is a guide to find out if you have an active auto-immune problem such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or Sjorgen's disease. I'm a little disappointed to say that I have tested positive (unsure how positive as yet) and my GP is referring me to a rheumatologist and when all along I believed all my hip woes were due to a mechanical problem resulting in osteoarthritis and not rheumatoid arthritis. I currently feel exceptionally tired and have generalised aching to my knees, shoulders and thoracic spine and I've been undergoing physiotherapy and acupuncture to my neck as I'm unable to turn my head to the right and which has been unsuccessful. All these symptoms I have attributed for months to my adjusted gait and altered posture to accommodate my hip pathology and not thinking for a moment that I may also have an immunological problem too! Any ideas or reassuring words that I've got the wrong end of the stick here would be greatly accepted.
Many thanks in advance :hairpulling:
 
All of which are completely explained by osteo-arthritis. It is reckoned that a considerable proportion of the world's population has a positive Westergren blood test and never develop any symptoms of RA. I had such a positive test in my twenties but nothing ever came of it (thank God!).
 
Hi Josephine,
Thanks for your reply. However, just to clarify that the Westergren blood test (ESR) was negative, i.e. within normal limits but the Rhematoid Factor is positive. Apparently the immune system in the body sometimes produces proteins that attack the body's own healthy tissues and it is these destructive proteins which are classed as the rheumatoid factor.
Why mine should be raised at this juncture is worrisome as I merely believed my hip issues to be mechanical leading to osteoarthritis. I fear an immunological problem may have been the cause all along and that my bones may continue to deteriorate. Does anyone have experience of thiis?
 
cheekychops1412 said:
Thanks for your reply. However, just to clarify that the Westergren blood test (ESR) was negative, i.e. within normal limits but the Rhematoid Factor is positive. Apparently the immune system in the body sometimes produces proteins that attack the body's own healthy tissues and it is these destructive proteins which are classed as the rheumatoid factor.
Click to expand...
Yes, I knew that! :th_heehee:
cheekychops1412 said:
Why mine should be raised at this juncture is worrisome as I merely believed my hip issues to be mechanical leading to osteoarthritis. I fear an immunological problem may have been the cause all along and that my bones may continue to deteriorate.
Click to expand...
Read my previous post - it still applies.
cheekychops1412 said:
Does anyone have experience of this?
Click to expand...
You mean 'does anyone else' have experience of it? (just kidding!) :th_heehee: :wink1:

Honestly, please trust me, honey - it's most unlikely you have anything to worry about.
 
Hi Josephine,
I'm sorry if my thread seemed to cast a doubt regarding your knowledge...this was certainly unintentional...I was asking a general enquiry and sincerely appreciate your prompt response and you're probably correct in that it's nothing to worry about. I was merely trying to reiterate my findings again as I felt that in retrospect my earlier thread was clumsy and maybe a little unclear regarding what I was trying to ask the forum. With regards to asking if anyone else has experience of this was me merely casting the vote out the others in the forum to see what their experiences were and did a positive rheumatoid factor have any bearing on their joint damage etc.
Thanks again :thumb:
 
Oh it's okay, really - I am very hard to offend! :snork: :wink1:
 
Cheeky,
I am kind of in the same boat......my rheumatologist has been hemming and hawing " it might be RA, might be OA..." She says there are markers for RA but won't diagnose it. I discussed it with my GP last month and he is leaning towards RA. He suggested a few different rheumatologists and I have an appt. for end of February. If possible, maybe you could do the same. Just seems like we need a definitive diagnosis! Good luck and keep us updated.
Dee
 
These inflammatory markers are very interesting.. Need to study them more.. I had a friend who had a triple bypass and the cardiac surgeon told him that inflammation is key to so many conditions..
 
Range of movement/function of new hip

Dear All,

I would just like to ask whether I am the only one who is disappointed by the range of movement and function provided by their new hip prosthesis?
Despite a lot of physiotherapy input to address muscle wastage and a shoe raiser in my left shoe to address my leg length discrepancy, my range of movement to the right operated side remains poor. In particular I'm still unable to externally rotate my hip due to what feels a complete resistance and I still can't crouch due to pain caused by the stem down my thigh. On the positive side the unbearable pain from my old joint has gone and that's a huge bonus.

I'm almost six months post-op now and I'm presuming that things won't improve beyond here? Does anyone know what the normal degrees of hip movement should be following a THR? Could my lack of range of movement be due to it being compromised by my painful left hip for which I'm currently awaitng an MRI Arthrogram?

My range of movement is important to me for my work and hence my concern that this is the best things will get.

Many thanks :rolleyespink:
 
Re: Range of movement/function of new hip

cheeky, you are not going to like my answer but believe it or not you have a long way to go. It took me over 12 months before I could externally rotate my hip. Crossing my legs was also impossible until fairly recently.

We limp around for years and our gait and the way we carry ourselves is totally wrong. Please don't get discouraged that these things are not corrected overnight. Keep trying.

You might want to spend some time reading in the Library. Or find the threads by our exercise guru @alexthecat: She too had THR and is now living life to the fullest and helping others to get more mobile.

BTW - the "stem down your thigh" is not something you would feel. The prosthesis is very deep in your body. You may have muscle atrophy that needs specific work.
 
That's all very true, cheeky chops! You are a mere 6 months out and total recovery can take a year and sometimes more. And it most certainly can be compromised by your other hip in a deteriorating condition as well. More patience is called for, I'm afraid.

Have you returned to work yet? If so, how are you coping?
 
Hi Josephine,

Yes I'm just finished my four week phased return and this is my first week back on nights and I'm already struggling. Had a risk assessment done when I returned but recommendations not really being adhered to...God bless the NHS!

Glad to hear there's time and room for improvement for my hip issues...I have to say I'm a very impatient patient lol! :th_heehee:
 
Like you, I had several surgeries on the same hip over a relatively short timeframe. All that soft tissue trauma can definitely have an impact on ROM in the months after THR. However, I overcame that and you can too. The key is consistent, but not aggressive, stretching.


There is a myth of a "window of opportunity", after which no gains in flexibility are possible. That is completely untrue. Your ROM may improve for months or years to come.

My favorite stretch to develop external rotation was to sit in my recliner with my knees bent and feet on the footrest. Then let the knees drop out to the sides. Don't press on your legs with your hands. Just let gravity do the work.

I have an idea that dysplasia patients have some unique concerns during recovery, so I will tag a couple of CDH folks to visit your thread. Also, I just came in from four hours of cycling in the hot sun and my brain is a little fried. If I said anything that didn't make sense, just say so and I'll try to clarify.

@C Mac:
@Jyoti:
 
It doesn't seem that Jyoti's tag went through, so I'll try again.
@Jyoti:
 
Hi Cheeky,

At 6 months I could not squat/crouch either, now six months later I can do it again!!! :yahoo:

It is not a movement that I "practiced" but one that I would just try every few months to see if I could do it yet. If it is something that you could do prior to surgery then hopefully you will be able to return to it at some point.

I was told by my PT that range of motion can continue to improve for 3 to 5 years after surgery and I am counting on that. My range of motion has increased, or really I should say it has returned to what it was prior to surgery, in the last 3 or 4 months. My one year anniversary of surgery is the end of this month.

My expectations on post-op ROM were really high because all I could think of was that perfectly round fake ball and socket joint -- however, all my "soft tissues" were accustomed to the old misshaped ball and socket and they continued to move in the way they always had... I stretch every evening and have been for months now. One stretch that was part of my phase 2 exercises at 8 weeks was this one:



And I also practice just sitting upright like that too (I do not have any restrictions on crossing my legs as I have an anterior approach surgery). I don't lean forward like she is and my rotation is a bit tighter than hers too -- but that is o.k.

[Bonesmart.org] THR and New to Forum


I hope that you'll see some subtle improvements in your ROM over the next 6 months too!! I'm curious about your shoe lift, how did you get to that point? When I was six months out (and at various other points post op) I experimented with a lift as I'd worn one prior to surgery. It definitely had a negative impact on my ROM when it came to my stride in walking. My OS had suggested going an entire year before making any decisions about shoe modifications in order to let all my muscles adapt (i.e. stretch) to the changes that come from the new hip hardware. We are all different -- I was just curious...

Take care,
Cardie
 
Hi Cheeky Chops,
Sorry for the late reply. I believe your recovery is dependent on your history and what has happened previously . And as others have said it does take time. For me being 14 months down the line, I still cannot do a lot of things, but then again I was unable to do them pre-op due to having congental dysplasia and various surgeries when a child.

This clearly hindered my ROM then, so now my muscles are extremely tight and I doubt I will be able to do many of the things that I had hoped.

My ROM did improve slightly and there have been benefits, mainly the pain has gone and my posture has improved greatly hence helping my back which suffered a lot previously.

However, my Consultant also said that it could take 2 to 3 years to really feel the benefits of my THR. I am still using a crutch and have alot of knee pain and some foot pain.

I also have a LLD and am still not using a raise but I will have to get one shortly. They tend to say to wait for a year before you get one so maybe some of your pain may come from that.:what:

So despite having my moments :th_heehee: I do believe that I will be able to walk unaided. If I didn't have hope, what else is there.

I'm sure with time and doing the exercises and also I believe pool work things will improve.
Take care
Jyoti
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Staff online

Members online

Total: 1,931 (members: 6, guests: 1,925)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom