I had my total hip replaced in September, been left with an inch longer leg too, finding it very hard to adjuyst as on the same leg, had 2 half knee replacements which were messed up, so had to have a full knee replacement, which has left me with little use of knee, so with that and the hip, very hard, still waiting for hospital to sort out my only pair of boots, which they have had since beginning of December, feeling fed up and down, as also carer for my husband........any advice on getting better use of leg ........
Susan, I feel for you, I really do. It's hard enough getting through all this without having to be caring for someone else. I have a strong suspicion that being a carer with all the stress involved has contributed to my own arthritis. I see that medical opinion is now coming round to accepting that arthritis is less to do with wear and tear and more to do with inflammation. If possible I would love to be able to undertake research into the backgrounds of people who need hip replacements. Anyway, is it certain that your leg is longer because it can be that the pelvis is tilted which makes the leg appear to be longer? Have you had or are you having physio?
Hi Juliette, yes have had leg measured from bone to ankle,and is an inch longer, went for physio as have no strengh in leg, cant have anymore till i get shoes from hospital, i have little bend in knee as opened so many times, cant kneel on the floor, but manage, mine is too from osteoarthritis, i am 59, it was refreshing finding this site, as felt alone as all my ops have gone wrong, didnt realise there are so many, i also art have in my spine, so have injections every year.... i dont complain as care more about looking after my hubby than myself, thank you for answering,
Hi Susan, I am sorry u r having so many problems. Well, if you know that one leg is longer than the other I would think putting a lift in the shoe of the shorter leg would help. Usually, here in US, drugstores and physical therapy places carry a selection of smaller orthotics but podiatrists ( foot doctors) can send you to a shoe store that makes custom lifts. I don't think it takes months to get it done though.
i feel for your knee problems as I have had one arthroscopic knee surgery followed by two total knee replacements on same knee, and one aging knee replacement in the other leg. The swelling does not go down , likely because the operations messed up the lymphatic draing system ; there was a lot of inflammation and damage caused by first knee slowly disintegrating then breaking. It's been a year but doc says it will just take time to resolve the issue. Do you think the THR was cause of legs being different lengths or the knee surgeries?
Some osteoarthritis is now being linked to the autoimmune system, and much of the pain is caused by the inflammatory response to the degenerative changes. Many people get some pain relief thru anti inflammatory meds, which are avaiable without a prescription. Do you have any access to caretaker relief like visiting nurses or respite day care? That would really help take some stress off of you. Like Juliette said,any stress can slow heeling & recovery, so maybe find someone who will be supportive or help you with getting medical care arranged.
i hope you find help soon and start feeling better. My THR is 2 wks away!
Like you, I had my bone to ankle measured, and I'm 1-1/2" short. It's not a tilted hip or anything the doctors like to blame it on. I found my surgeon put in the wrong size femur neck. I now have a malpractice attorney! I'm also getting my replacement replaced in two weeks. Do you know how wide your femur neck is? And what size femur neck did they implant?? Get your X-rays and all your medical records, and take them to a different surgeon for a second opinion.
Hi hon, no i dont know when i left hospital, i wasnt offered any help physio or anything, i went back for my six week check, where i didnt even see a doctor or consultant or had an xray, just saw nurse, who referred me to orthotics, ( who confirmed the length increase and put a request in for physio ) the hospital which 9 miles approx said i was out if their catchment area, so referred me to doct, when phoned them i was 359 on list, so went and saw doctor who got me in sooner, and also told me while i was in hosp in sept this now being November, my blood tests taken in hospital shew i was anemic, no one told me, i dont see my consultant till April, i am more annoyed that i cant even put a pair of socks on and have problem dressing myself, in the last 7 years i have jyst had one disaster after another..... i dont like moaning about it, and always just say i am just unlucky, but after reading on here its too common...........thank you for your advice. ........
I don't know what country you're in; I'm in the US. My surgeon's office scheduled physical therapy immediately after surgery and the PTlasted 6 weeks. I think it's awful that you didin't get any PT. They need to get your muscles strengthened. I think it's standard that every hip replacement patient gets physical therapy after surgery. Anyone else on this chat ... is this true with you? At my six week check-up, they took X-rays. You should moan! It's my opinion that something is very wrong that you were ignored once the surgery was completed. Honestly, if I were you, I'd get an attorney. This seems like medical malpractice with everyone connected with your doctor. Again, call your doctor's office and see what you need to do to get all your medical records, X-rays, etc. I had to fill out a form. Fight! Scream! If you want to see your doctor, call the office and demand to get an appointment NOW to see your doctor. The squeeky wheel gets the oil, you know. If you want to see another doctor to get a second opinion, call one and make an appointment. Don't let this go. Fight for your rights.
Hi Lyn, i am in UK, I rang my surgeon office this afternoon, she told me they dont xray at 6 week check up, and wait till i get my raised shoe back then if i still feel the same to ring her back, having to cancel physio again, only had one sesdion since i had it done in Sep, and that only cause nurse requested it at 6 week check, i could go on about the disasters i have unluckily had but it would take all night, 
i just been unlucky, but will wait till get my shoes back, hopefully soon, they had them since 4th dec....... thank you Lyn for your input........ this forum is helping me loads if notjing else to cope ......
Yes, I have one leg longer than the other and the thr was 4 months ago. My dr. Measured and agreed but suggested I hold off on a lift until the hip settles down. I have scoliosis and would strongly lean towards the curvature as the reason I am "crooked". As a result of putting more pressure on the longer leg, I have lower back pain on that side, so I concocted my own solution......went to a shoe cobbler who sold me some heel lifts. I then bought a set of dr.scholls support and put that in my shoe. I am in warmer weather now and like to wear sandels (Tevas) so I did the same thing with those. It does help and I have almost got rid of that back pain. Very happy with the hip operation.......but I fell in the parking lot of a restaurant and crashed on my two knees and hands.........now trying to recupe from that.......thank goodness I didn't hurt the hip! Must be in there pretty good!
My doctor suggested I have my shoes built up. I said 'are you kidding? Do you know how many shoes women have?" I refuse to do that. I'm have my replacement replaced in a couple weeks. I'm not going to let an arrogant doctor be condenscending and think he can tell me to get my shoe built up ... just to cover up what he screwed up! I will get my hip fixed and go through the pain and recovery and PT before I will walk around with a shoe built up.
Ouch I bet that hurt, iI can fall off flip flops...... I wouldn't mind the length thing so much if I hadn't had my knee messed up, and because it the same side, causes me problems as can't reach my feet as not much bend in my knee, but grateful to be free of arthritic pain, so that one blessing, mainly just want my independence back...... Hope you are well and your knees, are ok
I know and I was really feeling pretty good too. Am going to try to get back on my bike and see how that goes. I can almost get rid of the knee pain by taking a Tylenol or naproxen. Good luck to you!
Thank you, have tried to ride, but knee wont go round, far enough ....... so shanks pony for me........ and all the best to you hon....
Ha ha love it, i dont do shoes, only have two pairs and pair boots, one pair shoes and boots being done, cant wait to catch up with consultant, as not wasting money on shoes i dont, want......
Here in the UK we don't get physiotherapy after hip replacement. We are sent home with a sheet of exercises to do. Only if we return some months or years later with a problem do we get physio. That usually consists of one or two meetings with a physiotherapist and a sheet of exercises. That is,unless you can pay, then you can have as much as you like!
Very true hon, so in othet words we have to put up with it, when the local medical centre said i was 359 on the list, i said that will be 5 to 6 months then, might as well forget it, my doctor at local surgery got me in earlier, had one appointment, as you say sent home sheet paper, come back when shoes done, not good, it typical thing today, so whats the point, in hosp they good the nurses but physio just see you can get on off bed, up down stairs, two sheets paper bye you can go home now. .......
I couldn't do the bike either with my knees so I sold the regular bike and bought a recumbant bike. So much easier on my knees, hips and back. Your legs out out straighter, not bent so much. One of the best purchases I've made!
That doesn't seem right that you have to be responsible for your own PT. I am terrible at doing my exercises at home. I'm a wuss and don't like pain, so I don't push myself. Insurance here in the US pays for PT, for as much as we need. I am blessed I have really good insurance.
Susan I can relate to you. I'm 33 years old and I had my first left hip replacement in Oct. 2014 leaving my leg 1 1/2 inch longer and recently had my right hip done Dec. 29 2014 and now I'm a 1/2 longer on the right. Doctor said he tried his best to even me out. Recovery from the second surgery is worse than the first one.
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Thats terrible hon, i have heard having a second done is worse, dont think i will be going down that road, ehen they messsed my knee 3 times, now the hip, yes i am grateful to be free ftom arthritic pain, but are you when your mobility is limited, all the best to you hon.....