I'm a 65-year-old woman - just under 10 weeks post-THR right posterior. The first two weeks went well and I was off the cane mostly after 2 weeks. Cane if I was going outside where I would have much walking or have steps without railings. After the home PT ended I plateaued until starting outpatient PT at 4 weeks out. For the next 4 weeks, I progressed, but then started getting new discomfort - sore butt, tight muscles on the thigh, occasional foot pain, occasional shin pain. Sometimes it was outer thigh, sometimes inner , kept moving around. Started driving a little at 8 weeks. Yesterday I drove the furthest I had gone -40 minutes each way to and from my volunteer job (where I had used a wheelchair to get around for a 4-hour outdoor shift). Sat down for dinner and had a coughing fit. (I have acid reflux/allergies/allergies/esophagus issues.) Almost immediately, I felt a weird, painful sensation in my groin - almost like a rubber band had slipped out of place and was pinching me. At the same time I had a sharp pain in my right knee. Now, every time I cough I get groin soreness and sharp knee pain. I also now can't do straight leg lifts and getting in bed is difficult, which it never was before. My knee (around knee cap) throbs. I now can't lift my right leg in a forward position more than a few inches off the floor, so can only get in and out of the shower by standing on tiptoe on my good leg and then can step with the operated leg. Before yesterday. I could march in place (high step) with little pain. Now, when walking, I avoid putting my heel down first and use the toe first to avoid pain. I also had pain last night and today when I tried to do some of my usual hip exercises, so other than ankle pumps, I have left off doing them at all since yesterday. I have followed all the hip precautions religiously this whole time.
Has anyone else experienced this? I am not sure if I should try to work thru the pain, continue with my PT appointment or try to get in to see my surgeon before my next scheduled appointment.
I am also feeling EXTREMELY discouraged. I had thought that, by now I would be recovering nicely. Instead I have more pain and less mobility than I did before the surgery. I've also started having frequent severe headaches, which I last had 30 years ago.
Working through the pain shouldn't, in my opinion, be something to do. Call the surgeon. Want to make sure it's not too serious. Could be that you caused some kind of strain but not something to make a self diagnosis.
There are usually ups and downs, but shouldn't be extreme.
I think you need to consult your medic, Some of us did/do get some pain stiffness as we move more and more and cut muscles and nerves start working again. A year is the average time for full recovery. Yours seems to be a little on the excessive side so if only for reassurance consult someone.
just an afterthought, could the pain that started after the coughing fit be due to a hernia ?
Don’t feel discouraged this is part of healing. Also if you can’t do therapy then it’s your body your call. Sometimes the therapist push to much and we are the judge of what we can do. Sometimes a long goodvrest and a nivcevcholate barbis allmwe need. Then a few days later your resting body will be ready to take what exercises is needed.
I have had 2 THR one revision. Each one is very different in recovery . I learned to not be pushed to hard in therapy the hard way. Just saying! take your time it’s doesn't mean you won’t get better with a few days off. Happy resting!
Discouragement is common sometimes. For some it is two steps forward and one back for a while. Most of us are puzzled because this is all new to us. I am at about 9 weeks and when I have a bout of pain, I take some of the pain meds I quit taking at week 3 but only briefly. Call your surgeon ‘s office.
Hello Dee
It is not easy getting over a THR and takes time. It is easy to become discouraged but as time moves on you will be so pleased with your new hip.
Perhaps time to see the GP or surgeon if you have so much pain and perhaps an xray.
All the best.
We all respond to pain differently. I too have bouts of leg pain occasionally but just keep trying to work through it. Pain is a very frustrating event.
I had a “fast track” hip replacement in July 2016. Fast track was a trial, I went into surgery at around 6.30am and was home by 8pm the very same day. I had absolutely no pain, the consultant and anaesthetist visited me around 6pm, asked me to walk a few metres with crutches, then again with one crutch and yet again without any crutches. Pictures were taken by the consultant and I was sent home a couple of hours later.
im now 19 months down the road, I’m in great pain emanating from my thigh. It’s there all day and all night, I can only sleep on my back and it wakes me up when I move. I’ve had 3 MRIs, a CT scan, an ultrasound scan and a few x-rays. My consultant says he can see nothing wrong. I’m now turned 63, very fit (a bit overweight) and used to walking and cycling. I can do none of that now. I’ve been through 2 sessions of physio (around 16 sessions) and been discharged on both occasions as they’d cannot see any progress. I can’t fasten my shoe laces, I can’t put my sock on and I’m still using a raised toilet seat. I have a second opinion in 2 days and I’m very anxious. I don’t want this to be the rest of my life. I was fine (other than a groin pain) before the operation and could walk, ride a bike and go swimming.
Anyone got any ideas?
An orthopaedic surgeon friend of mine is working at an orthopaedic hospital in Chicago at the moment. There are 32 operating theatres and virtually no beds as it is virtually all same day surgery.