So....I did post before about ongoing pain...and thank you all that replied..I realsied tat actually screaming in agony for most of the day wasn't normal..so I went back to my consultant (Mr Bell , Worcs) and asked him why I had such pain...he didn't know...uhhmm...so I said could it be that my femoral nerve has been damaged...I got the bums rush and as I was shoved outta the door he said "well I've never heard of anything like that"...OK, I'm a cynic but I started to do some more research and asked my GP if I could have an MRI to make sure my femoral nerve had not been trapped in my spine...bless him, he agreed and it was confirmed that no entrapment of the nerve was present...meanwhile I had been foisted off with an appointment to see an Anaethetist and pain clinic specialist...I asked him point blank...what has caused damage to my femoral nerve?...he shuffled a bit but finally agreed that my nerve was damaged but he didn't know how...as I see it there can only be three ways 1. The nerve block used at the time of hip replacement was wrongly administered...the inj was into the femoral nerve causing catastrophic damage 2. While they wang your leg into weird positions during the op it is possible to sever the femoral nerve and 3, The nerve has become entrapped during surgery.. The upshot of this is, no cure and a life changing situation that has left me witha left leg about as useful as a wooden one ...will I complain?...yes, once I get my head around being permenantly in pain and crippled for life and the really irritating thing is....it has taken me 6 months to get to his stage and if I hadn't researched it I'm sure I would still be being passed from pain clinic to GP....
Oh WaggyTail, how awful! And besides the excruciating pain, you had to fight and scratch your way to an answer. I too have spent 16 months screaming involuntarily because of pain from my last THR. Having a revision done in about 15 days.
Nerve pain is the worst! My heart goes out to you.
Dawn, USA
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my dad has nerve pain in his back and has used gabapentin, which has helped him.
good luck.
Hi Wagga tail,
Not pleasant !
the condition is called meralgia paraesthetica and is caused by damage to the lateral cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve.
It is a rare complication following a total hip replacement about one patient in 50000.
it is excruciatingly painful but can be treated by a specialist in this area:
1. Transfer of obdurator nerve to the femoral nerve
2. Permanent per cutaneous femoral nerve stimulator.
you need to request a copy of all of you patients notes
keep a daily diary starting with everything that happened since you woke up from surgery
see a lawyer on a no win no fee who deals specifically with medical errors
do not harass the surgeon tempting as this may be ! Go through your new lawyer
good luck and well done on being so persistent.
trust me I am sure the surgeon new exactly what it was, and as we all improve through our mistakes let's hope he reviews and revises his operative procedures
I know how you feel. It has been 18 months of trying to get answers. I only got...it looks good to me. There are things that never got better after surgery. I could not lift my leg or walk stairs and of course pain. I have had, Untrasound, Bone Scan, MRI, and went to the Spine Center for shots. No answer except.. looks fine to me. Finally when I was at the end of my rope he sent me to another Dr. and it only took him only 10-15 min. and he said that he thinks I have femoral nerve damage. I go for EMG test at the end of the month. Maybe I will get answers now.
Best of luck to you hope they will find some relief for you.
How did you get so good at this? Are you in the medical field? I have postings to Wagga tail telling about my 18 month struggle. I will take your info you gave to Wagga tail also.
Hi Elaine,
yes I am medical, sadly the medical profession closes ranks. Mistakes should be used as a learning curve and used to improve technique. Because of crazy lawsuits and unscrupulous lawyers the medical profession is terrified of mistakes and so the era of fear makes for cover ups and not improvements.
if you become a victim you have to fight to get the compensation you need to assist with the situation, Wagga tail is probably a victim of an error that could have been avoided .
good luck to you as well
I am also close to the medical practice. I am in the USA and I work for a hospital in the Home Care area for people that are home from the hospital and need nursing, PT, ST and OT. My surgery was in the same hospital system and I have to battle the "little boys club" in hopes to get things done. Thankx for the info.
I am a PA but currently living in australia
you are in a very difficult situation.
Keep a diary and join the union !
Sheila
I must confess that is the finest answer I have read on this forum - .
Can we hippies all formally appoint you as resident Consultant ?
I am very willing to help when I can.
I am a primary care /infectious diseases physycian's assistant but can give advice only. I am currently not working but having joints replaced
Hi, That could have been my story. I am exactly the same, in agony all the time and now in a wheel chair, sacked from work cos of sick record. I have now been referred to my 6th consultant and waiting for appointment. I have consulted a medical negligence lawyer who says I have a good case but wait to see what this next chap has to say. My life has been ruined after THR. Hope you get an answer soon. Take care.
My heart goes out to you Linda. You can use some better luck.
Dawn, USA
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There is a good medicine for neurological pain.gagapention.it works better than narcotics.I have femoral pain.it's getting better over eight months.
Thank you DD ...hope the revision goes well xx
Thanks Bartman, I have tried Gabapentine along with a handful of other nerve pain tageting drugs with no effect...but hey...there are a bucketful to go
Many thanks seila19, excellent advice ...I have an appointment to assess the amount of nerve damage in two weeks....then at least we shall know how much damage has been done xx
I think what worries me most is that while we are hidden away the scores look fantastic for the operation and the surgeon!
Hope you find your answers soon xx
So sorry Linda......surely with such a life changing event there should be more help?