THR Two painful THRs over a year after the surgeries + dislocation.

[MichalPL]

Good morning!

I've been using this forum for two years now, but this is the first time when I have enough courage to write a post.
First of all I'd like to apologize for any language mistake that I will most probably commit, because of not being an English native speaker. I'll do my best to speak my mind clearly.

My story is quite long, and I'm afraid to be out of options right now, but I'm humbly hoping for any insight from your experience.
I've been living with hip pain (first left, than also right) for 12 years.
In the meantime I've tried so many things, but finally some surgeons were able to put their hands on me.

Since 2015 I've had 4 arthroscopies (2x left hip, 2x right) and 4 other surgeries.
In 2018 my doctor performed BTHR surgery, and then in a few months BTHR revision (to cut out some osteophytes).

After these surgeries I was still in pain, so I went through another surgery - this time with THR corail pinnacle ceramic onceramic put -this time THR.
Since 2019 I've been living with a pain of a brand new source, this time the pain was in the buttocks.
Tissues that were changed by my surgeon seem to be not functioning correctly. They're stiff and they block my range of motion as well as correct movement pattern. Right knee is rotated inward and my feet outward.

I've been doing everything as you always advice on bonesmart: so resting, elevating, icing and so on.
I went through a lot of physiotherapy, I exercised so much, I've tried different PTs, I've even given a try to pilates as well - which to some point gave the best results.

In June 2020 my symptoms got worse, so from then I'm not able to exercise- almost at all.
Since October my left groin started to hurt seriously and since then I was barely able to walk without support.
My doctor asked me to do all of the necessary tests: X-ray, CT scan and MRI, but he says that they are clear.

In 2020 I went for an opinion from two other doctors, but they couldn't help me.
When I thought that it just can't possible be any worse, I dislocated my right hip two weeks ago!
Finally I decided to write here, because I couldn't find any similar case neither on Polish THR site nor here.

Right now fortunately I have a job, that I love, but with pain and insomnia, movement issues I'm not able to be at least functional there, so I'm on a sick leave.

This year I'm turning 33, so it's quite depressing.... on the other hand it was more depressing when I was 25!
I hope that you will be able to somehow relate to my story.

Best wishes and thank you for reading!

 

[Celle]

Hello @MichalPL - and

I'm sorry you have had so many problems with your hips.

Please will you tell us the full dates of all your hip surgeries and which hip it is each time (if you can remember them), so we can make a signature for you? Knowing the exact dates will give us a summary of what your hips have been through and help us to advise you appropriately.
Thank you.

You are quite young to have had all those hip surgeries. Were you born with something that made you more likely to have hip problems - such as a shallow hip socket?

I have had knee replacements and I don't know enough about hips to advise you, but I'm going to ask my colleague, @Jaycey , if she will help you. She has had both her hips replaced.

 

[Jaycey]

In 2020 I went for an opinion from two other doctors, but they couldn't help me.

Did these doctors say why they could not help you? My suggestion would be to find a surgeon who specialises in revision surgery. This surgeon should not be connected in any way to the surgeon who did your original operations.

Right knee is rotated inward and my feet outward.

This doesn't sound right to me either. If the implant was not placed correctly that could be why you are experiencing dislocation.

Can you get a recommendation from your family doctor? Or is there a source in Poland where you can research surgeons?

 

[MichalPL]

Thank you for answering me!

1. They said that it looks fine on X-ray and CT, so it's difficult to find anything wrong.

2. About this right hip rotating - I thought so! It has probably had an impact and led to dislocation - the hip was after 2 arthroscopies and 3 open surgeries in less than three years.

3. I'll definitaley look for a doctor who specializes in THR revisions. Thank you for your insight!
I think it's a great idea!

Here's how it is in Poland. We have public health care system - which works in urgent cases (like disclocation) quite well, but it's really slow and poorly organized otherwise. One needs to wait up to 2-3 months for a consult, 3-6 months for an MRI and from 6months to 4 years for a not-urgent surgery.
We also have private medical care which is not so cheap comparing to avarege salary, where you can have whatever you like done to you and it's done when you want it. The problem is that the private companies make contracts only for a particular service, and they are not too good nor eager to deal with long term consequences of their work. They do their best to service you with the surgery and then you are on your own.
I'm using both systems as most of the people here.
Here we find doctors, by recommendations from our friends or we use a website with something that should work as doctor rating. On this website you can read comments made by other patients. Unfortunately it's edited quite strictly in order to promote doctors, not to rate them.
This way I found a doctor who was trying to sell me hyaluronic acid during the visit, but had described himself as a House MD type of doctor.
Last year the other doctor was recommended, by my surgeon and this doctor's idea was to check my spine, which is really fine, especially since 2015 when I learned how to strenghten my core muscles and use McKenzie method. I also had spine MRI done in less than a year, so I didn't follow the doctor's advice.

Good night!

 

[MichalPL]

Hi Jaycey!

Thank you for your answer.

1. June 2015 - left hip arthroscopy - diagnosed as FAI CAM
2. February 2016 - second left hip arhtroscopy - I'm not sure how it is called in English, it was about cutting out bony tissues formed around the scars.
3. March 2017 - right hip arthroscopy - diagnosed as FAI CAM
4. October 2017 - second right hip arthroscopy - FAI CAM revision
5. June 2018 - left hip BHR - diagnosed on basis of lack of cartlige behind the hip.
6. January 2019 - left hip BHR revision - cutting out ostheophite from behind the hip.
7. June 2019 - left hip THR surgery - the diagnosis was issuses with illiopsoas muscles caused, by incorrect hip head angle.
8. October 2019 - right hip THR surgery.
I'm not to good with remembering dates, but it should be fine.

I wasn't having any serious problems as a child. I had temporary pain issues when I was a teenager.
THE PAIN started out of the blue one morning when I was nineteen or twenty and since then my life was never the same.
Only one doctor said that in his opinion my hip socked was shallow. I asked two other doctors, but didn't see it this way.
The Birmingham hip doctor said that in my left hip I had " epiphyseolysis capitis femoris, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, SCFE ", but it had never came up on any scan nor any other doctor had mentioned it.
Apart from that I still don't know why it started. I also don't know why it still doesn't work as it should.

Best regards!

 

[Hippielife]

I hope you will be able to resolve this soon and get back to a better life. Sending healing blessings your way.

 

[Celle]

Thank you for all those dates, @MichalPL . I've done your signature the best I can.

While you know the meaning of the abbreviations you've used, I'm going to define some, for the benefit of people without your experience.

FAI = Femoro-Acetabular Impingement
FAI CAM = An excess of bone along the upper surface of the femoral head, known as a cam deformity (abbreviation for camshaft, which the shape of the femoral head and neck resembles)
BHR = Birmingham Hip Resurfacing.

 

[Celle]

Since 2019 I've been living with a pain of a brand new source, this time the pain was in the buttocks.
Tissues that were changed by my surgeon seem to be not functioning correctly. They're stiff and they block my range of motion as well as correct movement pattern. Right knee is rotated inward and my feet outward.

This is a bit of a long shot and probably has nothing to do with it, but I was wondering if it could have something to do with the pain in your buttocks:
Piriformis syndrome - a pain in the butt!

 

[MichalPL]

Thank you for your answers!

Piriformis syndrome would be a good call I think. Last year I got to know about it.
I usted to stretch and strengthen it for a few months at least.
These exercises helped to some point, but never resolved the problem.
It feels like there's something stiff behind the hip which tends to block its way back.
When it clicks or snaps, I get instantly better.
Now I'm not allowed to exercise at all, so can't do much about it.

On Friday I had a consult with my surgeon. His last idea is that my hips seem to be unstable, so he's considering changing cups and sockets of my thrs for dual-mobility.
Next week I'm going to see two other doctors and will try to get a second opion.
I'm not convinced. I'm almost sure that I will end up with revision surgery soon, and I'm ok with this, but I keep asking myself what if there's still another problem.
I don't know if it's because of being after so many surgeries or due to having THR's, but since I have THR's, I'm really weak and have lot less energy.

 

[Mojo333]

I'm sorry you are possible having a revision and with all the hip procedures over the last six years and the recoveries involved...I can only imagine you are weary of it all...physically and mentally.
Second opinions will hopefully solidify a consensus on the issue of whether there is a problem that needs rectifying with different prosthesis.
Please let us know how your consults go.
Hoping today is a good day.

 

[Layla]

Hello and a HappyThursday to you.
You’ve experienced multiple major surgeries which are physically draining and take time to recover from. You’ve had more than your share over the last six years. My heart goes out to you. We‘ve also read how painful a dislocation can be. I wish you the best as you meet with other surgeons for their opinions and hope you find the one who will bring you the outcome of perfect healing. We’re rooting for you. Please stay in touch.
@MichalPL