i have had a lot of back pain and seen the occupational health she said my left leg (operated leg) is longer than my right and I need to put a insole in my right shoe. Then I see my surgeon and he said my leg is not longer. I have a hemadoma and a lot of swelling in my left leg and it's my pelvis that is tilted and said it will right itself and under no sercomstance am I to use the insole. Seen physio today and she said it's not my pelvis it is my leg and I am to use the insole for just a couple of weeks. Now come on what the hell do I do. For goodness sake communicate and give me the right advice so I can get back on my feet. X help people please.
Hi Heather
Perhaps your surgeon and yr physio need to have a meeting to discuss the best plan of action for you, otherwise how on earth are you supposed to know what to do.
I have a a slight variation in leg length which causes my back to hurt, my surgeon says I don't need a heel raise. Due to see a physio next week so will be interesting to see what I'm told.
Good luck with the outcome.
Julie-Ann
Hi Heather. I would listen to your doc. He will knowy your leg length. Physio told me the same thing and doc showed me on his computer that there was no leg length discrepancy.
I have also had back pain and groin pain. Then theb back pain eased off and I got the groin pain ! Now the groin pain has eased off and the back pain is back !
I think it's all part of the roller coaster journey and it just takes longer than we all expected. Been walking like an old old woman today. Waiting to see what tomorrow brings. Xxx
Alot of it is due to the muscles being tight and therefore we feel like our legs are different lengths, I still get back pain 15 months on or the proverbial pain in the bum, I can feel the muscles are tight across the pelvis and massage them and go to the Osteopath. I would suggest to the physio, that she contacts the surgeon as you are in the middle of this being told different things by two proffessionals and its not down to you to sort it out. Good luck
I've been getting pain but it's now been identified as coming from my lower back, apparently my glutes are very weak which means my back is taken the pressure. Basically I've to do loads of buttock exercises to strengthen them.
I had a sports massage tonight which was amazing, she got right into the deep tissue which wasnt painful but I did feel . I'm going back in a fortnight for more 😊
Ooo Heather welcome to my world!
Physio said one leg longer , am in pain ten weeks in . Surgeon says wait till March when she told him . Physio said ring his secretary ! Rang secretary and said not waiting till march so seeing him next week . Physio says I need insole as her and a oestopath u know said sort it NOW or you will get loads problems with back and other joints . So I am trying to sort it next week
... Never expected this , worse limp, worse pain ..
Ps I know mine is longer as if I stand tall and firm in bad leg other one is nearly off the floor !
HI heather,
continue with therapy. Also the therapist can help with your back. Unless you need X-ray or have serious back problems.
when the ball joint is replaced so is the Carthage that was worn out. That's at least 1/4 difference with adding back the carthlege that we have actually been walking with one leg shorter before the THR.
We aoo feel a bit leg length difference. The ball joint is seated deeply with the connection with the femur component to allow stability and non dislocation. This is more important than leg length.
Surgeons make take a map or schematic with X-ray to match leg length
This is matched up before the incision. See THR online virtual presentation on You Tube. Sometimes some can adjust as our bodies adjust to the implant, others wear inserts in shoes or need special,shoes. Not often is leg length a issue after 8 months to a years. The muscles in the back and body all can adjust some meed extra therapy. I also wore spying shoes which helped take the pressure per sq inch off all the joints adjusting to having THR.
I know that within time and exercising your muscles will adjust to having the carthlege replaced that was missing since we are now walking with it replaced . No more bone on bone. A nice little poly cushion 1/4" for every step in the ball joint and femur.
Give it time. This is major surgery and it's all about the quality of life.
soon you'll be puttin on ur dancing shoes.🤔👠👠
Hazel do you wear any lifts in your shoes. Also before THR we were walking bone on bone. The ball poly cushion 1/4" replaces the carthlege that was missing. Me sevond THR felt thhevway you describe. It all seemed to level out after about a year. My surgeon stress that a X-ray schematic is made to be sure the new THR is as close as possible to leg length. However in some cases it's more stable to have the ball joint aligned properly and seated in order to prevent dislocation.
Please see another surgeon for another opinion or ask for therapy to help you. Sometimes lifts in shoes help. It all depends on age , cause and bone condition. Along with a number of factors in this very complicated surgery.
Imhave one hip 18 years old needs a new poly cup which wears like cartheledge when walking. The hips are the heaviest load bearing joint in the body. My other hip only 5 years old has failed going in for revision next month. Leg length was a issue for months with the new one but since then the length has adjusted.
i hope yours can too! I have red many times about haw standing tall the other leg is off the floor. Could be that the hips has dropped and not standing straight. A therapist can help you learn not to roll the hip down since we hippie have limped and walked with bone on bone doe months. We just need how to learn to walk again. .
See virtual surgery on you tine to see how leg length is manages before and during surgery.
Wer massage can get all the knots and pain right out. The best way for getting the gluteus moving is squeeze and hold about 39 repetitions. When time has pass when you can bo many ther exercises as well as water to stregthen gluteus.
i have had both hips done and each time my caboose or blues had totally disappeared. After time and ecpxerxise and movement the gluteus have made a come back.
talk with your surgeon and discus what the Physio has said.
Nhs do not communicate. They look on the computer when you are there and not before so when you first walk in they do not have a clue what is wrong with you. So you sit why'll they read your file then say right what can I do for you. Then you exsplain and tell them what you have been told on your last appointment. This is such a shame. X
thank you for your reply. It's nice to know I'm not the only one that has this problem. Not saying it it's nice for you but nice because I now know it's not just me. X
I have had both hips replaced and my right hip was more complicated and needed a metal plate in my right hip but my left hip has been more painful and harder to recover from. After my right hip op I was back to work full time in ten weeks but this time it's ten weeks and I'm still not back to work. The surgeon said it's because in the winter it takes longer to heal. X
Right. That's what mine is like and when I walk my op leg does not straighten completely so the front of my leg is not strengthening. Trying to do exercises to right that. Thank you for putting my mind at rest.
I would like to take this opportunity to say a very merry Christmas to all my hippies and a very healthy recovery to one and all x X X
Heather I am sorry to hear you too had both hips replaced. It's definately not for sissies. I understand how difficult it must be to have a plate added. Where was the plate. Hip or femur.??
I had a bone graft in the The ball joint First THR. I was hit by a truck on ice thru my car down a ditch sideways and the seat belt broke. injury to my hip happened. That's was my first THR.
Why does winter take loner to heal. Did the doctor say? Cold not enought walking outside?
yikes that's a bit concerning since I go in in Jan. They are removing the femur device from the femur and replacing the ball joint. A revision in winter at least I'll be on the beaches by summer! 😊👙
hi heather,
so sorry to hear this ....
I am not sure what to tell you .. I also had 2 THR surgeries 6 months apart and a wee bit disappointed about how long it takes me to recover ...
who do you trust more? your surgeon or your OT/PT?
my surgeon made sure I understood that my legs were similar in length but would feel as if they were not due to the major manipulation required -
The reason for waiting is that the majority of leg-length discrepancy after hip replacement is not always a true difference in skeletal lengths. Rather, the discrepancy is from pelvic tilt, tight muscles, new hardware, and sometimes spinal arthritis that can lead to back aches and spasms..
With muscles stretching, exercises, and time, such discrepancy will likely resolve in a few months.
did your surgeon explain to you why he does not recommend the insole at this time?
big warm hug and keep us posted okay?
renee
Hi Renee
I can be patient and wait for the legs to adjust to apparent leg length discrepancy .. Hoping that is what surgeon will say, that it will all even out once bedded in . What u can't take is the pain.. Woke 5 am leg gnawing ache so took 800 mg Ibupropen and that only took a bit of the edge off . Needed more on waking , plus 4 times daily about 2 ibuprofen and 2 co codamol.. And that doesn't exactly totally take it away . Would say pre surgery in pain about 75% of the time, now about 85% . At three months in was hoping for better than this . As I type am laying in bed, not done much and already dull gnawing ache .
Yes Auntie
My physio said one thing but surgeon not concerned wanted to wait but because of the pain and her
Advice I pushed for earlier appt. next week. She can see me walking lop sided and said sit in a chair . When I do with back firm against back of chair one knee juts out longer than the other . Hoping it will resolve .. Been in pain since day one from October 8 Th and getting fed up now ..