I had a THR anterior approach in April of 2016 and I have always had some degree of pain following the procedure. Upper thigh pain is now excruciating when I stand after sitting for any length of time over a few minutes. I sought a second opinion and my PC physician told me that I might need a revision. I'm set up for an orthopedic consult in May. I was so careful choosing the procedure and doctor. Can't understand why I drew the short straw as only three out of 100,000 require revision. Anyone else going through this? or am I really the unlucky one?
Dear Chuck
Sorry to hear that you are in pain so long after your hip surgery. I don't have any figures but the figure of 3 in 100,000 hip procedures requiring a revision sounds unlikely to me!
What does your surgeon think has gone wrong that requires a revision Chuck?
All the best, Richard
Well, Chuck2018, I think I'm going through something kind of similar, but correct me if I'm wrong. I chose my surgeon carefully too and I'm so disappointed to say the least. Had a mini-posterior approach in August 2017, so it's been six months. I have very bad thigh pain whenever I walk. The further I walk, the worse it gets. I'm lucky to make it to 20 minutes before it's just too uncomfortable and painful. CT scan was fine, PT was happy with ROM and strength, but I can't walk any real distance. That was the reason I had the surgery, and now I think I've just swopped one pain for another. You say your pain is just when you stand after sitting. Does it then go away? Can you walk any distance? No one has talked revision to me, but I am not a happy camper as it has really affected my life and not in a good way. I can't understand why I am unlucky either 
Maybe you won't need a revision. Maybe your new consult will find you a solution short of revision. Hope so. I want a solution too !
Dear Margot and Cliff please consider getting another opinion.
Good luck. Richard
No. I went through it too. I had end of stem pain because the implant was put in wrong and was jabbing into my bones from the inside when I put any weight on it. It was more painful than it was before the surgery. I was in tears a lot.
I got it redone 3 years ago and I am now recovering from my third hip surgery as I had my other hip replaced.
The revision is a much more invasive surgery and you will have to treat your restrictions like gospel law. I almost dislocated after my restrictions were lifted so be very careful. It is a longer recovery time BUT is was so much less painful than the original hip replacement. I think it is because they don't cut off the head of your femur. I was amazed and needed no narcotics at all, only Tylenol.
It sucks wind to be the one to have to go through this. I read that 5% of us will. Do it quickly and take very good care about your restrictions and you will be happy. Mine does not hurt any more and for that I am extremely grateful. The muscles are not as strong and may never be but I can walk without pain on that side.
Sending best thoughts!
Chris
RichardKen,
Thank you. You’re correct, it’s time for a second opinion.
Hi Margot. Please do some reading on psoas tendonitis after hip replacement and see if the symptoms apply to you.. I personally have it and am having a surgical release next week. Doctors say this happens in 5% of hip replacements..
There are some really good forums on here for this. Hope this helps. Chrissy
Hi Margot
I also am having similar symptoms to yours, although less severe but intermittent. My posterior RTHR was in Dec 2016 and my recovery went well initially. I was walking my dogs slowly and carefully about 3k at 6 weeks post op. However as I increased activity have days when I limp badly and painfully. I have tried to work out reasons by monitoring my activity. I was good for 3 whole weeks recently and hoped healing had been achieved! But now I’m back to painfully hobbling round walking the dogs . My pain starts on the outside of my hip and tracks down the outside of my thigh, past my knee with ‘dragging ‘ sensation.
I did go back to the surgeon 6 months ago but was told all normal, X-ray and range of movement good. What I find odd is the variability as some days I can walk fast and without pain. My hobby is competing in dog Agility and I hope to get back to competing but the unpredictability of pain level makes me think this may not be possible. To make matters worse I was told I could expect to be back running in Agility 4 months post op, I wish!!! It is now 14 months !!!
That's puzzling and must be so frustrating ! At least you have some days that you can walk fast and without pain. Perhaps your surgeon could give you another consult to a PT to help you analyze the reasons for your continuing pain. Or a second opinion? Sorry for your troubles, thanks for chiming in !
Hi Patientzero007. Thanks for the suggestion, appreciate it a lot. In some ways my pain seems like this psoas tendinitis, in some ways not, but I will keep reading. Some articles suggest that the pain of this Psoas tendinitis is more in the groin area, but others mention more of the pain in the thigh. I'll continue to look into this and mention it at my next appointment. Best of luck with your surgery next week. It's no fun being in that 5% ! Thanks for the tips.
My primary care physician said that he can see that the stem is loose and looks dark around the tip. He wonders if I am getting the "piston effect" when I put weight on my leg making the stem move up and down in the bone ever so slightly. I think I'll learn more at the orthopedic consult.
Thanks for your comments, yes the days pain free are great so I am lucky in that respect. I will go to see the Physio again and hope I have symptoms then!!! I hope you get to the route of your problems. I can fully understand the disappointment of such pain when you had been led to believe you would have a solution to the hip problem. Best wishes to you Margot.
Hi Margot50: Yes, I can walk some distance. However, the pain is unpredictable. My mid-thigh might start hurting or the pain in my upper glutton becomes too much. For example, my wife and I went for a walk around the neighborhood last night just to get some air and a little exercise. I can't walk fast so two miles took some time and my hip felt stiffer by the minute but the pain was around a 3 on a scale from 1 to 10. When we got home we turned on the Olympics pair skating. I sat down and watched just one pair - maybe ten minutes with all the commentary and replays. When I stood up I thought someone had shot me in the let. The pain jumped to a 10 and stayed that way for about 12 minutes and gradually retreated back to about a 4 before going to bed on 800mg of Advil. Pain this morning is still around a 3 but zero when i'm sitting. I know it will be a nightmare all over again when I stand.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Chris. I'm starting my research all over again. It has to be right this time for sure. I want the anterior approach again so I'm starting with a list of facilities and surgeons who have access to the Hana table. Without that table, it is nearly impossible for surgeons to manipulate a hip to open up enough to do the procedure. I DO NOT want them to cut through all that muscle for the traditional approach. I am about 6'6" so I know that they need this table. I'll check back with my original surgeon but I'm skeptical now. Here's a link to the table if you're curious: http://www.mizuhosi.com/products/orthopedic-fracture-trauma/hana/
Oh golly Chuck that's a bit of a bummer. As it is so long since the surgery I would imagine that you need to get used to the idea of a revision. As I often say on this forum I'm not a doctor! Please keep us updated Chuck.
Good luck, Richard
Chuck2018, It must be so puzzling not to mention maddening that your pain is so unpredictable . I sincerely hope a revision is not needed, and that there's another solution for you. It's a nightmare for sure when we have this major surgery and end up with these problems. You definitely need another medical opinion, maybe even two more opinions. I will be getting another opinion ( or two) and I'll post any progress (assuming I make any !). Best wishes to you Chuck.
Hi Chris, I’m probably heading for a revision which terrifies me. I’ve never read anything nice about the operation except your comment that it was less painful than original operation. Is that really the case? I’m amazed considering the surgery. How long were you in hospital?
Dear Carol
I had to have a hip revision last year which did not require the removal of the stem as that was still secure but had it had to be replaced I think the recovery would have been a lot tougher. Each revision will be different. Good luck. Richard
Thanks Richard. You’re a mine of info. on this site. I had a hemiarthroplasty and remember the surgeon saying when the problems started that the implant would be replaced in a revision. Thought Chris’s post was too good to be true. I’m the wheelchair user on this site and I’ve been really trying to strengthen my thigh muscles for the future but that’s making the post op. nerve damage I have feel worse! Beginning to think I could write a book about things that can go wrong!
Dear Carol thanks for that. Best wishes with your journey. Richard