In a nutshell the terrible inner thigh & groin pain I've been getting since last February has resulted in a decision being made that it's from my hip after my spinal MRI came back ok. So I'm now on the THR list.
However these are my concerns:
1. I had a hip Xray last February which didn't look too bad at all. I'm the only one who knows what my inner thigh/groin pain is like and it's always really bad to the point of wanting to cry. I recently had a hip cortisone injection which worked for 2 days. Wonderful. No pain. Now it's back full strength During the injection the very same awful pain I'd had since February was recreated and I had to shout out for them to stop. I went back last week to see the surgeon and he was so blase about the pictures taken during the injection, telling me they didn't look any worse than the Xray results last February and asked how I would like to proceed. Meaning carry on with painkillers or be put on the list. I could have cried. He told me Xray results don't present the true picture. He said there are people with bone on bone who experience very little pain and people whose Xrays show very little joint damage have agonising pain. I cant accept how blase he was. Not at all sympathetic to my pain level.. I even have to use a rollator to get across my small lounge! How on earth can a surgeon ask how I want to proceed when I walk in to see him limping, wearing 2 morphine patches, taking 400mg iboprufen, paracetamol & amitriptyline. He wasn't at all rude, just blase.
2. I have absolutely no thigh muscle strength. I'm 75, slim, eat healthily but a physical mess when it comes to thigh muscle that disappeared years ago. This worries me a lot as people are always saying if you don't build up your muscle strength before your THR, your recovery will take forever after it. I can't get up off the floor, I can't get in or out of a car, and my inner thigh/groin pain is spreading to my knee. So the whole leg pains a lot. Would any of you suggest a chiropractor - if that's the right word? How does one build up thigh strength if doing exercises makes the pain far worse?
Sorry for the 2 long-winded posts but when I say I'm in a lot of pain all the time I really am..
I feel your pain. Maybe go to a physiotherapist? I'm getting my hip done tomorrow but I have been doing physio exercises since last December. It has made a big difference to my pain levels and my muscles. Aquafit also helps but it depends on how much pain you are in. Hope you feel better soon.
Sounds really horrible. If your back is not true a good chiropractor will be able to help but please do not go to a McTomoney one. They use a more limited skill set.
As regards to your hip surgeon I suggest you find an alternative one!
Hi Sarah I was in the same predicament 2yrs ago I thought all my pain was coming from my back to cut a long story short it was the hip I had the injection no joy with that they always said the right hip.looked better than the left but I didn't have pain in the left any way they did the right hip.on last August the pain was fine instantly a bit of muscle pain but nothing like I had put up with now 12 months later the hip.is great I had the left hip replacement on the 26 june this year was home with in 2days so now recovering well bit tender but nothing compared to the hip.pain if you get no.joy ask to see another surgeon hugs and food.luck x
Hi, I know the pain you are feeling I felt it for 2 years before I had my LTHR, and now my right hip is wearing out...on a scale of 1-10 my right hip is a 4, he asked if I wanted the hip replaced now or would I like a shot...II didn't get the shot I know they don't last, I had them in my back, I know the pain will be unbearable very soon I will wait a bit longer, maybe next spring. He is right about the pain level it varies.
It is an elective surgery and the choice is yours, if you want the surgery I'm sure he'll do it, good luck and take care.
Hi Jean, how bad was your pain before your hip replacements? I can't understand why my xray seemed ok but my pain level is awful. I've had 6 children so I know pain!!
Well, it was Level 10+++++, I thought my problem was in my back...I waited way too long to see a hip specialist, I was bone on bone when I met him and within 3 months I had surgery...I could hardly walk at all, I was using a heating pad all the time and step climbing was almost impossible...I took Tramadol and Ibuprophen for years for pain. I had terrible groin pain, my leg would give out and my knee pain was unbearable. Actually after surgery my knee was what was swollen and bruized, everyone thought I had a knee replacement.....
I was way past due for a replacement. This time I'm not waiting that long....
I would say 10 the pain went instantly I had the replacement I did had muscle discomfort but nothing like I was putting up with hope you get sorted soon hugs x
Ohh so you too had colossal pain then, I'm sorry you went through all that. Did you do any exercises/physio appointments? I've no muscle strength in my thighs at all and my groin hurts like hell when i turn/weightbear/walk. I'm so pleased you are now pain free. I've forgotten what it's like to be like that!
I didn't have any physio but I couldn't have done it any way it was too pain full I did try the butt crunches to strengthen the butt that's part of the excersise regime after you will soon get on the road to recovery when your op gets done muscles will be week after but you can build them all back up on wards and up wards chin up google excersises after hip op and might give you some idea of what to do nhs site is the one I used
Butt crunches? There's NO WAY i can lower my legs like that, the pain in thighs is just too much. I think I will go and ask physio's advice. Thanks for info.
oh dear ... well, as you can see, we all sympathize with you - we know this pain and unfortunately, it won't get less - also, we agree that after the hip replacement surgery this all consuming hellish pain is gone -
Orthopedic surgeons are not well known for their people skills - matter of fact, no smile or expression on their face - they are DOERS, you see - they want and can fix your problem -
Mine had the personality of a plank - did not even acknowledge my presence and just said that I was " a good candidate for hip replacement surgery " - He also left the decision up to me ...
but oh boy, he was an excellent surgeon with wonderful bed side manners - even got a smile - I happily had him perfom my 2nd hip replacement surgery !!!
at follow up visits he went back to being a plank again ...
this my story - I might not have liked him but I trusted him -
at this point, try not to worry too much about muscle strenght -
this is very overwhelming, Sarah - so take your time -
have someone with you when you see him the next time and if you have questions, write them down and ask him, or .... always an option, maybe another OS ?
Please come here any time okay ... I don't mind long-winded posts so no need to apologize-
YOur groin muscles are the ones that sort of bear the weight of your leg when u raise from seating etc . Worse when you get in and out of car and get up ? Better when you start walking ? It's because your groin muscles are now SO weak they do not support your leg muscles . You need a sports physiotherapist . Lots of exercises like squeezing a ball between your legs and pulling a rubber band attached to a chair outwards . Trust me I had hip replaced last October , surgeon not concerned as metal work looked good so 2 nd round of physio plus private sports massage sorted it . Takes ages ... 9 months in still some groin pain but not as bad . Swimming is good too . My GP said you need to build up weak groin muscle to support weak thigh muscles .. it works . Good luck x
Yes I'm sure my OS fits that description Renee I guess he's so used to saying the same thing to so many people that he comes across blase when he most likely doesn't mean to