I really need help and have none. Seven mos. post op and I have been in horrible pain since day 1. Don't know if they even believe me. I can do nothing and I've done exercises every day and physical therapy 3 times a week. My appt. is a month away and I'm getting scared and severly depressed. My butt, groin, knee all get me down. Can't even bend my knee or cross my leg. Any advice would really be appreciated. Thanks so much. I'm so glad to hear the rest of you, mostly, are dong so well. Best wishes.
I was under the impression from my consultant that crossing the legs is forbidden for ever. If you have been trying to do so then that it could be making things worse. Putting a pillow between the knees when asleep on the non operated side prevents the operated leg slipping down behind the other and crossing the mid line.Ask you PT.
Jomary,
Thank you. I asked him several times and he said "eventually." The last time was a month ago and he said it was okay to gradually start crossing. I have no trouble crossing my knee over but I stopped at trying my ankle. I can't put my shoes an d socks on without crossing. Guess I'll have to find another way. One of my exercises involves stretching to cross. I'm stopping. The pain is too much , and this is the first time I haven't been able to tolerate pain in my life. He said he could do a CT scan but hated to because it was too expensive! I'm fully insured so it must look bad for him if he orders expensive tests. Thanks for your response and I will stop. If it doesn't improve, I think I'll get a second opinion. I've
never been given pain meds,either. I think that might help. Thank you again!!
Dana
That sounds terrible. But if you have so much pain you need to be on pain meds. Not only will that make the pain less but it may help to relax your muscles etc which might reduce the source of the pain.
Speak to your GP about the pain. And then tell your surgeon when you see him in 4 weeks
Good luck
Mike
Oh my goodness you need to demand answers now. I can't understand why your P T person isn't helping you get help. Why wouldn't they believe you, unless they think something went wrong
Afternoon Dana....I am so sorry that you're going through this I can relate. I had to have a hip revision after dislocating my first replacement. it was very painful to do certain things for at least five months. I had to be 6 weeks non weight bearing so that hindered my recovery. Muscles so stiff, thigh and buttock hurt. Honestly you need to get seen as soon as possible. Get an X-ray. Can you bear weight on that leg or is there pain? Do they think it dislocated? I mean I went 3 weeks before my follow up appt and found out I dislocated my hip. It just seems too long to be like that! How was your condition prior to surgery. I was almost 2 inches short before surgery dr gave me back my full length but now I'm having cutaneous nerve pain and sensitivity in my thigh. Possible reasons: scar tissue, nerve impingement, inflammatory neuropathy..... It's getting better but it was making walking without my cane hard. I'm doing better but I'm a year out now and it's been a slow process. Still dealing with issues but I'm seeing improvements. Some days tho I have pain and I feel like I'm going backwards and get depressed. Please let us know how you are doing and get help and answers. Best of luck to you. Hugs 🤗. Linda
Thanks Michael,
I live 65 miles from the surgeon. He said he'd write me a prescription but I would have to drive to his office to pick it up. Said they could not call it in to my local pharmacy. The pain from driving is too much. I asked my GP and he sais to take ibuprofen. I've tried that and every over the counter drug there is. They're just not strong enough. I'll ask again in 1 mo. It seems like a long time to hurt. I've lost 20 lbs. and am at 93 lbs. That's kind of scary for a 5'8" hippie who used to be extremely active. Thank you for your reply. I'll certainly follow through with it. X
Ann,
That's what I'm afraid of--did something go wrong? They tore my meniscus during the procedure and found out later that I'd lost half my blood supply and had to have a transfusion. My blood pressure was 45/30 when they helped me stand and I went right back down. This surgeon had a great reputation, but I was never told anything about the surgery. The only thing he said was that I had nothing to worry about. My P.T. did call him but he never returned her call. Kind of bad for a first surgery. Thanks for replying. X
Linda,
I started off great after I got some blood in me. I can bear weight fine. It just feels like there's always a brick in my rear and my knee swells. I'm still wearing the hose to keep the swelling down and my kneecap from sliding. I have always been as fit as can be. I haven't even had a cold in over 25 years. Now this.... I just hope that he'll do something in a month or I may be getting a lawyer. I hate that. Apparently he's not worried. Guess we'll see. Thanks Linda. Good luck with your recovery.
You know I have that same problem. I'm walking without the cane and that butt muscle feels weird like something pushing in there. But it's gotten better. I'm beginning to notice it's not as intense anymore. It just may very be you are still healing and needing to get those muscles stronger. Did you have posterior or anterior surgery? Thanks I'm seeing a neurologist now.
I'm sorry you are having so much pain. I am 3 months out and feel good some days and not so much others. My guess is you are working too hard, over exercising, over doing PT. I would recomend total rest for at least a week and then start very slowly to stretch a little and non wt bearing strengthening for a week and then listen to your body about how you feel and what you can do. after reading all these posts about pain after surgery I believe you (we) push yourselves too hard because you think you should be feeling better and the reason you aren't is because you push yourself. A lot of the therapy after the initial 2 or 3 weeks is counter intuitive. Slow down and rest. Keep moving but not so much. I believe within 2 weeks your pain will lesson. Keep taking pain meds if you have it, get some if you don't. And good luck
Linda,
I had posterior with durabond instead of stitches. I never had any pain, and used a walker around the house for a week. I might have gotten rid of the aids too soon but was told it was ok. Everyone here has helped me so much. I can't thank all of you enough. I still hurt but my depression has greatly lifted. Love to you all. I wish I could meet all of you in person. Thanks again.
You could have a problem like mine. I originally had an easy surgery and was doing well. Just short of my 3 month mark I could barely stand when getting out of bed. I had to wait several minutes before limping to my destination. The pain down the outer edge of my leg and especially outer edge of knee was severe. I was doing physical therapy but it got where I could do barely anything. My therapist said he thought I had IT band inflammation, which is horrid. At it's best it takes 3 weeks of rest and anti-inflammatories which I cannot take because of kidney issues. Many of us have this much longer. I read online that although it is known as a runner's syndrome, it affects 3 out of 20 hip replacement patients. The theory is that with our hip and butt muscles so weak, we try to do things and eventually get this horrible IT band syndrome. Most of the exercises that help it are not for us because they require getting on floor etc. I have had hip and knee replacement, I cannot get on floor. I saw my surgeon yesterday and he gave me a steroid shot in the middle of the outer edge of my leg. After about an hour the severe pain was almost gone. This morning I got out of bed feeling much better. I still need my cane as other knee is in need of replacement too. Just need to get this fixed and hip strengthened first. Doc wants 3 weeks of rest, so physical therapy is out for now. Now that the throbbing pain hurting my leg from top of hip to outer knee has subsided, I can focus in on where pain is exactly coming from. I wish I could mark it to show doc at next appt. in 3 weeks. About 3" above my outer knee and about 1" in, I an feel a knot or lump, when I touch it I jump in pain still. However walking is much easier, I am taking it easy and maybe it will subside within the 3 weeks. Therapist said it could be adheasions and they may need to use ultrasound on it. We will see, right now I am enjoying less pain, just afraid it won't last long, as yesterday was better then today. Of course I did do laundry today, no choice. Relaxing now though. Just passing along a possible problem. It can be so many things. I did read some people that had this for over 2 years. My doctor talked about an oral anti-inflammatory pack that does not affect the kidneys. I suspect if the shot and 3 weeks doesn't help, he will do that next. My surgeon is a friend of the family and will do whatever he can to get me back to normal, it's just a slow process. I also have a slight difference in leg length because my other hip is worn down too. To make the hips even, makes the new leg a tiny bit longer, only about ½ to ¼ of an inch. Doc thinks it will eventually work itself out, but because of this pain he agreed I could go ahead and wear a ¼" lift in my other shoe, as we don't want anything keeping this inflammation going.
Good luck to you. Talk to your therapist and your doctor. I take notes with me to make sure I remember all my questions. I feel assured this is temporary but it sure is hard to take. I was doing great and then wham! I guess if we are not in great shape, we need to take our time so we don"t harm ourselves further. We read it's a 3 month recovery or of others walking miles soon after surgery and we try too hard. I am age 70, slightly overweight from all the lack of activity of the last couple of years ( a fall, then knee replacement, now hip replacement). We need to be good to ourselves, take it easy and talk loudly to those providing treatment so they can figure out the problem. If I have any pain left from the inflammation of the IT band, I am going to insist on the ultrasound treatment too from my therapist. Not ready to give up, just resting awhile.
Best regards,
Peg
Jill,
I think you are exactly right. I started running (not really) but doing things that maybe I shouldn't have when I should have taken baby steps. I appreciate your encouragement and advice. Thanks so much. You are all so wonderful!
Peg,
I could have written the letter you just wrote. The IT band is also causing me trouble. I also had two nasty falls that were absolutely carelessness combined with stupidity. I always thought I wasn't working hard enough. Then one night , really 4:00 in the morning, I heard something in the front on the house and went to check. I didn't have the sense to turn on a light, and stepped on something soft. I thought it was one of my cats and tried to move to quickly. I must say I believe it was the hardest fall I've had. Luckily, I have thick carpets or I don't know how it would have turned out. Anyway, what I stepped on was a mouse--a little soft cat toy! Jeepers. I also wear an insole as my op leg is a little longer, but feels like a lot. I also take notes with me and I believe I will ask about the shots and ultrasound. He mentioned both but did nothing. Right now, I just want something for the pain and I'm not going to get it. So, Ill have to tough it out. At 67yo., I don't want to tough it out or have any pain, either!Ha! Who does at any age? Well, good luck. I'm wishing you the best-- and everyone else , too. Hugs and more hugs!
Dana,
yup sounds like me too! I tripped over an electrical cord onto hard tile floors....ouch! I am going to try to get rid of this issue, but to do that I must rest and get treatment. If this shot doesn't work, definitely on to other solutions. I also ordered Tumeric with ginger as it is a natural anti-inflammatory and KT tape from Amazon, like my therapist uses on my leg.
Hugs,
Peg
Peg,
How funny--NOT! My first fall was over an electrical cord that I stretched across a doorway. And, it was international orange so I wouldn't forget it was there! Oh dear...
hi dana,
I don't know what to tell you ... there so many great responses from fellow hippies -
your surgeon can only tell you something when he sees you in person, no so much over the phone ..
65 miles is a big distance and long drive, however, to be honest, if I would be in horrendous pain for 7 months, I would get my self to my doctor - maybe demand an x-ray or scan, my pain medication sorted out - something than suffering from this pain ...
or go for a second opinion !!! maybe closer to where you live ..
you say that you are fully covered by your insurance ... I don't understand that he tells you that a scan is too expensive ?
Your assumpion that he doesn't want to look bad might be wrong, Dana ....
If there is something not right, better take care of it as soon as possible -
you have suffered enough ..
do you have anybody who can be with you?
Good luck and please let us know how you are getting on, okay ?
big warm hug
renee
Renee,
I've gotten my messages from weeks ago messed up. I am going to some pain management on Tuesday but I don't think I'll let him do any injections in my back. They think it's the sciatic nerve-- I don't. I can't do anything because of my knee, and it's obvious. I'll have a second opinion in November and I hope I can wait it out. Take care and know my thoughts are with you. Dana