Now nearly 6 weeks post op after left THR and experiencing pretty severe back pain slightly left of my middle back. A very mild version of it started early on and I assumed (and still do) that it was down to having to constantly lie on my back. It bothers me night and day now and I'm really disappointed to be back on pain meds for this, having come off them for the actual hip about three weeks ago. Another feature of it is that it's sore when I take a full breath.
I am 3 weeks post op THR on the right side with the same back pain. Doctor said it was due to the fact that now I am stand up straight again and it will take sometime for the muscles to adjust.
I had RTHR last July and I experienced similar problem, I put it down to sitting in an unnatural position after the op due to swelling on operated side, but I did find it righted itself after swelling went down.
I'm 3.5 weeks post surgery and have been struggling with the same problem. The doc said it was due to the body adjusting to the right sized leg. I use lumbar support when sitting, try to sit completely straight, and do extra back-strengthening exercises in addition to the hip replacement exercises they gave me. Try to flex and hold the lower back muscles throughout the day. All this has seemed to help. At the end of the day, I usually fall asleep in the recliner with a heating pad.
You just had major orthopedic surgery - Not only brutal and very invasive but also caused disruption to the rest of your body.
Just picture it - leg has been manipulated, joint forcefully removed, cavities prepared to have foreign objects (aka hardware) being hammered in -
In all likelihood, whatever your body has been doing to compensate for your hip pain or malfunction before this surgery has also been causing problems all on its own.
Bad posture, overcompensation etc. and in my case severe muscle tightness all up and down my leg and around the hip - Decades of muscle memory don't disappear overnight.
My new hips also pushedaffected my pelvis, as I was told, causing the femur to bear weight differently.
My surgeon assures me it will go away as my body re-adjusts to the new alignment.
It is so uncomfortable isn't? and discouraging ...
do you have physcal therapy? gentle stretching exercises might help as some deep tissue massages -
Hi all, thanks so much for your responses. Glad I'm not the only one who's experienced this! Things are fine with the actual hip so I shouldn't be complaining, and yes, I do have existing back conditions but they never would particularly have caused pain before... I guess I need to wait a while and be less impatient! I'm still doing all my hip ex and have added some for this back thing, but they're mainly ab ones.
Massage might be a good idea.
I know side lying could give me some relief but I have quite wide hips and I think side lying on the non op side is not something I'll be able to do for the forseeable or maybe ever. Oh well...
Look up the "Superman exercise" on line. To do this, you lay on the floor on your stomach. Simultaneously raise your arms and feet. This engages your lower back and core muscles. The superman exercise may be a little much for some, so what my therapist told me to do initially was to lay on my back, then try and raise your stomach up while keeping your buttocks and shoulder blades on the ground. You won't be able to raise it more than an inch or two, but you'll feel your back muscles flexing/engaging. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 3-5 times. A very simple way to engage the back, really the core, is to sit up straight and just pull in the stomach. You should feel your back muscles contract as well. Once again, hold for 30 seconds and repeat. Anything you can do to strengthen the core helps. I do the superman exercise once daily and try to flex/contract my core muscles multiple times throughout the day. I think this has really helped me.
Thanks Jollykev, I had a look at this online, it looks great. I'm not able to do stomach lying quite yet but I'll stick to the other ones you mentioned until the hip is stronger. Much appreciate your advice
In just had hip surgery 2 days ago and the owner back pain is excruciating at times preventing me from sleeping. I have tried muscle relaxers,pain oils, the whole nine yards all withno relief. Best of uck with your recovery
4 weeks as of yesterday I had total hip replacement. .my lower back is killing me in the same place just like before the surgery. .iam miserable.. I went back to therapy...hopefully it will go away.. the Doc.. ((and I went to him.because he is a equestrian. As iam. He told me ide b back on my.horse in 8 weeks.. I just don't see that..
4 weeks as of yesterday I had total hip replacement. .my lower back is killing me in the same place just like before the surgery. .iam miserable.. I went back to therapy...hopefully it will go away.. the Doc.. ((and I went to him.because he is a equestrian. As iam. He told me ide b back on my.horse in 8 weeks.. I just don't see that..
I am 1 year post RTHR. A few thoughts about your back distress. A few months after surgery, I experienced constant back pain. I consulted a chiropractor who diagnost my condition as primarily due to my operated right leg was now longer than my left. This difference caused an imbalance while walking, which over time caused severe back pain. I purchased a quarter inch heel lift for my left shoe. It took some time but it solved my back pain. The chiro gave me a number of strenching exercises which helped as well. I also recommend yoga as a great whole body exercise to maintain flexibility. Best wishes on your journey to full health.
I'm nearly seven weeks after a right THR and the pain I'm having in my left lower back is incapacitating. Both my hips need replacing (the consultant asked me which I wanted doing first), and historically I have had back pain. So is the pain I'm getting on the opposite side to the operation only going to go away when I have the left one done?
Due to work commitments I'll have to wait until next year for that.
Did you have an epidural? That gave me a lot of back pain for around 8week post op. Drove me nuts. I saw my Osteopath at 4weeks and she did treatment with me sitting on the bed. I also laid on a rolled up towel - roll it length ways and then lay your spine on it. Opens up the spine and helps. I am 21 months post op and muscles get tight still. Xx
I did have an epidural, and thanks for the tip about the towel. I'll try anything!
I expected to go back to work after 6 weeks but the consultant signed me off for another 2 due to the pain. I'm bored out of my tiny mind so don't need any more delays.
I am 16 months post surgery. I had severe back pain thought actually a year before be surgery. My surgeon was concerned about possible back problem. I had the surgery, four months after surgery I had an MRI done on my back, found out I have degenerative disc desease, L5, D1 disc is bad. My left leg was 1/2 shorter than my right leg, now only 1/8 to 1/4 shorter. I have shoes that have a 1/2 left on them I can't wear anymore, cause pain when I do. Have just 1/4 insert inside new shoes, maybe have the lift on the old shoes cut down.
I have just discovered this site for probably the same reasons as other contributors; had my THR 0n 15th. August - surgeon is very good [Llanelli Hospital] and well respected. Came off pain-killers after 3 weeks and thought everything was going well, but in last few weeks, lower back and buttock pain is at times very bad [and depressing]. Not sure if this is a result of doing too much exercise or possible spinal/pelvis crumble! i.e., muscular or skeletal.
Hi, I'm new to this group, , I'm 48 YO female and I had my THR on Feb 14 and it has been pretty good, until this last couple of days, because I don't know if the pain is muscular or my bones or joint...
But your explanation of makes so much sense and I hope this weird lower buttock pain goes away.
The thing is, you read so many things online and the fear of dislocation gets worse.
I'm sorry, I know this is about a year old post; but as I said, reading it put me on some ease.
