Have now had my TLHR almost 4 weeks ago and am doing really well in recovery. I had the anterior approach. I am even walking at times without the cane entirely and doing fine with that. My PT encourages me to do that around the house. The only problem I'm having is with my ankle pain. Strange, as I never did have that with my TRHR 2 years ago. It's a strange feeling, almost a 'weak pain' as I can best describe it. But I finally figured out it's beginning in my gluteous maximus (sp?....rear end) and traveling down the back side of my leg to my ankle. The PT has stretched and worked on all of those muscles and I'm thinking possibly it could just be muscular and even maybe ligaments that have been stretched. My Orthopedic Surgeon also had to put a slightly longer ball into that socket in order to make my legs even. He seemed to do that pretty well as I feel more even now, but I'm wondering if it will just take time for everything to settle into place and for the muscles and ligaments to adjust? Any thoughts? Anyone else experience anything like this? Thanks for your input!
Terri, you are only four weeks, walking without support but, it is still a big operation and the bones need to heal. I really would put it down to healing.
Hi Terri, I’m no doctor but your pain describes sciatica. I had it once many years ago before having THR. Of course it might be as you seem to suspect that it’s related to your surgery. Look up sciatica and of course keep discussing this with your caregivers. All the best to you and a speedy recovery.
Sciatica is quite common after THR. I noticed my surgeon said he had protected my sciatic nerve, I am not sure how well that works! I think sciatica is more prevalent after anterior approach.
I too had to have a larger ball in socket because right leg was shorter than left. Yes my ankle on my right is hurting. I had left hip done in January and you are doing great. I am not allowed to do full weight and he said it should be better and walking better in 3 months. I try hard not to limp but you can tell a little leg difference. He said it has to settle and I will not tell the difference. Continue to do well.
Thanks Nuggie56 and ALL for the replies! Makes me feel a lot better hearing from you all and knowing it's something I can probably work with and will eventually smooth out. I will, however, keep voicing this to my PT and also to my Ortho Doc if it continues. I know it takes a lot of time, and I have to keep reminding myself to be patient!! I do use my cane in the evening sometimes and I keep it next to my bed in case I have to get up in the middle of the night. In the evening I'm tired and the muscles don't respond like they do in the morning and I don't trust myself in the middle of the night My PT told me also to keep it next to my bed and when I go out (because of uneven sidewalks and grounds) to use it as well for security, but if I feel confident, to go without it at home. That plan seems to be working out for me nicely. Strangely enough, I had my R hip done also in Sept. but in 2016 For whatever reason I am so much farther ahead with this one than my R hip. At this point in time I was just learning to go on a cane instead of my walker! Can't figure that one out, but they say that no two surgeries are the same even if the second hip surgery is on the other hip! For whatever reason I responded much quicker with this one than the first one. (wondering if this was due to the fact that with the 1st one, the other hip was getting bad too, and I didn't have the complete integrity of the other hip, and with this one, I now have a solid other hip that is pretty much if not completely healed?) In any case I appreciate the feed back, and you guys have given me some peace of mind! Thanks again....Wishing all my hipster friends a very fast and very SMOOTH recovery!
Oh and btw, my 1st hip, done in 2016 was also done with the anterior approach, but I didn't seem to have the 'weak pain' in that ankle like this one.....at least I don't remember having it.