Still limping and having pain in thigh a year after THR surgery

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I was told that I would have to repeat surgery as the prosthetic stem isn't adhering to the bone inside my leg.  This is so gut wrenching.  Has this happened to anyone else out there?  And how have you coped. I think I will get a second opinion but it does make sense this is the reason I am not healing. 

2

So I'm presuming you have had xrays to substantiate the decision and that there is no healing taking place around the replacement and bone.

Is the pain extremely bad, I'm hoping for you that you can maybe not have to have more surgery but if there's no other way then I'm sure it will relieve your symptoms.

3

Ann. I would definitely have a second opinion, preferably with a revision specialist who is in a different practice than your current surgeon. Yes, some people have problems with their prostheses not settling in right, or loosening, or other situations. It does makes sense that, if you are still limping and having pain a year later, that there could be something wrong with the stem.

I just had surgery 15 months after my THR after having pain and limping all that time. In my case, the prostheses were fine, no loosening or infection. I had a severely torn gluteus medius tendon that could not heal on its own and prevented me from walking properly. So it is important to get the right diagnosis and treatment for whatever your problem is, and that may mean more surgery.

It IS gut wrenching to have a complication, but it does happen. Best wishes to you in your quest to find answers!

4

Thank you so much for responding! I was supposed to have a bone scan last week but after researching the procedure decided to opt out (they inject you with a radioactive solution that could cause DNA and cell damage and cause cancer down the road. With all the cancer in my family from oral to colon and everything in between I just couldn't do it)

The pain is worse when lifting my leg but bearable. I think I'm going to have to be brave and have it done again. The surgeon said he would cement the stem in this time.

5

Thank you for being so kind. You've made me realize that the pain could be something other than the stem. I'm wondering if a cat scan would show the same information as a bone scan. Yes, good idea to get 2nd opinion from doctor in a different practice

I hope you are fully recovered from all your surgeries and life is back to normal. I can't wait to get my life back and be able to work out and hike again. I do swim, which helps.

6

hi ann,  

so sorry to hear this and I agree with previous posts -

what kind of pain is it ? 

were you told why the prothesis is not adhering to the bone ?

please let us know how you are getting on, okay --- we all learn so much from each other ...

big warm hug'

renee

 

7

Hi Ann,

Sorry to hear you may have to have a re-do.

I'm currently addressing the same issue after 5 years.

Had tons of physical therapy, etc. when in fact the initial surgery was just messed up. Doctor also made leg too short and I thought that was the problem, but it wasn't.

For me, I'm just sucking it up and doing whatever it is I have to do the get through it and maybe the future will be brighter.

Wishing you the best of luck.

 

8

Ask them to do a straight xray, that will show calcification, that's enough to be able to see bone growth.

9

​Thanks Renee.  Pain has different levels, from dull ache to sharp pain depending on what I'm doing.  Can't walk up hills.  Going from sitting to standing hurts until I get going.  Doesn't hurt when I'm resting or sleeping thank heavens.

​Doctor said that in a small percentage of patients (aren't I the lucky one!) their chemical make-up rejects the stem as a foreign object.  Or maybe he used a prosthetic that was too small.

Big hug back,

​Ann

 

10

Oh Pat, I'm so sorry you have had to deal with this for 5 whole years! 

​All that therapy for nothing.  I will keep you posted on what I find out.  I don't think we have much choice but to have the darn thing done again.  The option is limping around for the rest of our lives.  I'm tired of thinking about my leg all the time and having to second guess if I can manage an activity or not.  I am right back where I started.

Sorry to be a misery!  Stay in touch!

Love, Ann

11

Hi Alexandria!

​Do you mean a regular xray?  I did have one done and you could see some space around the stem.

12

Hi yes that's what i meant, I'm not sure if that means you have some healing or zero, at what stage did you have xray?

13

X-rays showed nothing wrong with my prostheses. I also had a bone scan, which showed no problem, and MRI's of my spine and hip. The MARS MRI of my hip showed the serious soft tissue injury. If there is stem loosening, it should show up on x-ray. How did your orthopedist make his diagnosis? What imaging did he use?

14

Hi Ann,

Yes, this is so very disheartening and overwhelming.

I feel sad with you.

hugs

judith

15

Thanks Judith. EVERYONE'S been so kind 💕

16

Just wondering what kind of issues were you having.  Right now I feel like there is something not right in my middle and upper thigh. Could be muscular but I don't think it is. . X-rays showed no loosening   Everything looked great.  I am a yr post op.   I go for a bone scan tomorrow.  If they don't see anything I wonder if an MRI is next.  This all just started happening in the last month.  When I walk I have no idea when I'm going to get that awful feeling.  Makes me walk very cautiously.   I am doing so much better than before my thr.  No pain at all in the joint or around it.  Just my thigh   

17

Jeannette, I had pain in the middle of my buttock and down to the greater trochanter on the surgical leg. I also was unable to balance on my surgical leg alone, ever, after the surgery, even many months post-op. I was diagnosed by physical exam and results of a hip MARS MRI of having a torn gluteus medius tendon. Just had the surgery to repair it 13 days ago. I am wearing a movement restricting brace for 6 - 8 weeks and am 20 pound flat-foot weight bearing on that leg to try to make sure it doesn't tear again before the healing is strong.

I had a bone scan at about 6 months post-op. Usually they like to wait a year post-op for a bonescan, since healing is still taking place around the prostheses for a long time and will show up on the scans. I was surprised to see evidence of a previous rib fracture on my scan. I knew I had hurt myself there years ago, but didn't know it was broken. It showed up as a dark spot on an image. If there is a problem with your prosthesis it might show up on the bone scan. With the MRI you can see soft tissue damage, but you need a real expert to interpret the images. Of the two MARS MRIs that I had, two radiologists and my former orthopedic surgeon missed the tendon tear. Only my new surgeon, who has a specialty in repairing gluteal tears was able to see the tear in the images.

 

18

Goodness you have been through a lot!!! I am so puzzled with my thigh issues.  I can walk with no pain then boom.  I have sudden pain.  All in the thigh.  This just started about 3  weeks ago.  I'm praying that nothing has loosened up!  Hopefully find out in a few days!  Hoping your recovery goes really well this time!!!!! 

19

He just used a regular x-ray Annie and wanted me to have a bone scan to make sure he was correct.

20

Hi jeannette. I'd be interested to find out what the bone scan shows. I kept thinking it was my thigh muscle too. Like you my actual joint feels great, it's all in the thigh.