Good luck. I had mine done 3 months ago. They had to make my leg 2 cm longer to make it even with the normal one. After walking for decades on a slant it takes the body a long time to get adjusted. I still feel tilted and can walk without a limp only when I try. The more tired I am, the longer the leg feels.
I spent the first month mostly in bed, drugged up on pain killers just to take the edge off of the discomfort of the stretched tissue. Stopped all pain killers after 6 weeks then promptly tore a muscle. Now taking naproxen 2 times a day which helps a lot. The torn muscle should be healed in another week or so.
Before the surgery I could touch my toes while standing. Now I can barely reach below my knees. I was told it will come back but can take a year or longer.
Hello again my metal friends,
sorry for the delay. Time just got away from me. I am 6 weeks post Rt THR tomorrow and I wanted to give you an update. I did have a problem which no doctor here can explain. the Physical therapist was the only one who said he had seen this many times. I fainted one day in week 2 while brushing my teeth one morning. Not from pain. I called to my husband who put me down on the bed before I fell on the floor. Went to the ER and was admitted for a few days. After many days of ruling out a stroke, clot, or a heart attack I was sent home without any diagnosis or explanation of what happened. My symptoms were this. When I was laying down my blood pressure would rise to 179/89 with a headache but when I would stand up it would go back down to my normal 100ish/60ish. Orthostatic hypotension is just the reverse, when you stand it goes up, and goes down when you lie down. Anyway they didn’t know what to do with me, and I was sent home to see my cardiologist who basically said it’s not cardiac, goodby. I paraphrase. I kept checking my BP and was sure to stay hydrated and these symptoms continued for many days after I came home.
From reading I came across studies in a medical journal of anesthesia that described these symptoms as a side effect of spinal anesthesia in fast track patients with hip replacements. Here in the US a lot of patients are fast tracked, getting up and walking hours after surgery, which I did. Currently the symptoms appear to be gone, but it was scary that every time I laid down, which was often, my BP would spike like that. When I got up it would go down again.
Now at 6 weeks,I am walking most times without the cane. Still pretty tired and like others not much appetite. I am still on aspirin for anticoagulation, hip precautions, and still get muscle spasms at the end of the day or at night. The operated leg is 3mm higher on my op report and when I went for a checkup he said it was about that plus some swelling which would go down. He put the smallest prosthesis he could because my bones were small. I still deny that small bone thing. Still feel like I’m walking tilted.
Question. Has anyone had anything like this? And did it just go away?
Dear Duc soup,
Glad it worked out well for you and wishing your wife a non troubled recovery. Sounds like you had a hard time getting diagnosed. How are you now? Are your legs the same length?
Dear Tiffany,
i know how you feel with the longer leg. I’m at 6 weeks Nd feel like I’m walking tilted also. It’s killing my knee on the operated side and creates spasms For me in both legs. My surgeon was unwilling to do anything about a lift for my shoe till I heal more. He said I would adapt to it sinc I was probably walking crooked the other way for so long.
touching my toes is a distant dream for now, like you. We’ll get there. Good luck. Keep the faith.
i can second your advice to keep hydrated. It makes you feel terrible otherwise and doesn’t help the constipation either.
Hello Margaret,
How are you doing? I’ll be about 4 weeks now. Hopefully your pain is better and the presurgery pain is a distant memory. Be well.
Legs are the same length. I am actually doing well. Spent most of the day at a local ski resort volunteering for the Spanish cross sci championship. Only taking Ibuprophen on days like this. Wife’s surgery We’d. Hope all goes well.
I am so blessed .. no pain .. all gone .. after pt little sore but ice cures that .. I can stand without pain .. I rome around at night trying to get comfy but each night getting better .. all the best to you
Maryboo, thanks for the link it explains a lot for many that have this issue after surgery,