Hi, I had a thp 5 weeks ago. Immediately as I was recovering from after surgery I noticed numbness and a pins and needles feeling in my foot. It has not gone away abd I mentioned it agsin to my surgeon during a follow-up yesterday. I called him a few days after the surgery as well, at which time he said it was "not normal" he also told me there was no nerve damage during surgery (he brought that up). Yesterday, he immediately said it has nothing to do with the surgery and it must be a "pinched nerve in your back or something". That was the end of that discussion. Well, I was not born yesterday, abd his not even considering that it may be nerve damage from surgery was a bit unnerving to me. I do not have foot drop, as I can bear weight and am only tingly and numb at ball of foot and toes. I can feel things, and also pressure, and temperature. But it doesn't seem fully, and there is always tingling along with a heaviness. Sometimes, tinges of oain on foot and ankle.. Has anyone experienced this? Thank you in advance for any input!
Hi Dee, I had anterior approach surgery 6 months ago and still have residual shooting nerve pain in my thigh above my knee and into the ball of my foot, and mine is definitely not from a pinched nerve in my back. This nerve pain was pretty intense in the beginning of my recovery but has since subsided now and only occurs occasionally. I am not super bothered by it and understand that this can happen with this type of approach. Hopefully you will have the have experience I did and the pain will all but disappear, if not I have heard getting on some type of medication for nerves might help too. Good luck!
Dear Dee
I'm very sorry that you are having nerve problems. it does strike me as a bit strange that your surgeon can be so certain that he did not cause any nerve damage during the surgery.
I wonder what approach you had?
Cheers Richard
Sounds like typical nerve problems - before my THR I used to get a severe shoulder pain that was diagnosed by my physio as a pinched nerve in the neck. All sorted with a couple of trips to an osteopath.
The surgeon may well have a 'get out' clause if you signed a 'permission to operate' form, there was a section in mine absolving him from any problems resulting from nerve damage . You would need to check that form carefully to spot it as you were rolled into the operating theatre though.
Best wishes
Graham
I'm thinking you may want to get a second opinion, if that is possible.My Dr. put me on Gabapentin for nerve pain.Unfortunately, it made me throw up every time I took it. I know people who are on it with good luck. Guess I was one of the unlucky. I hope you can get some relief.
Do you mean the legality of the 'get out' clause in the authorisation? My solicitor has confirmed that there is a clause in it, but luckily I did not suffer any nerve problems.
My shoulder pain was cured by the osteopath many years ago and is easily controlled by freeing up my neck with her exercises - I have to use a special pillow under my neck for sleeping too.
Graham
Hi Dee,
I have the same symptoms. I am 13 weeks out. I have an appointment with my surgeon in early January.
Steve
Dee
I also had hip replacement 5 weeks ago and I have the same thing since the surgery, but only after I sit in a chair for 30 minutes or more.
Our surgeons must have studied at the same Med School as mine also said it’s unnrelated and I should see my primary.
His attitude was dismissive and condescending.
It’ll be interesting to see what my primary has to say. Good luck to you...
I had a THR in Sept 2017. I also have R/A which I thought could have caused my problems I am having now. But now that I have read your comments I realize that I am not alone. I still have numbness and tingling in my toes. Which my ortho Dr said would probably take a year to get back to normal. All kinds of cuts and repairing were done during the surgery so the tendons and ligaments and nerve endings will need time to heal. And everyone has their different healing times. It IS very annoying and once something has been repaired because of damage its never quiet the same. Hope you get better soon!
I had my first anterior approach THR in 2014. No issues at all. I had my second anterior approach THR in 2016. This time, I had your exact symptoms ...... two years later, and I still have them. The orthopedic surgeon says the hips are fine. All he cares about is the joint. He doesn't seem to have any concerns about the numbness and pins and needles in my foot. "It should go away", I was told. Guess what? It hasn't. And like you, I have strength in my foot, no foot drop, but it feels like a have a pair of socks balled up in my shoes. And the health professionals like to correct me when I say my foot feels numb. The fact that I can feel sensations when they stick me means that I have feeling so numb is not the correct terminology so I am told. Call it neuropathy, parethesia, whatever. All I know is that my foot has the same feeling that your hands and feet get when you have been out in 5 degree temperatures for too long ... NUMB. My personal explanation: if you had the anterior approach, they flip your leg over the side of the side of the tablet in a very awkward position..... don't tell me that a nerve can't be damaged in the process. I just don't understand why the nerve hasn't regenerated after 2 years. I didn't have this issue before the surgery, but I had it right after the second surgery.
Hi.
I'm 8 wks post op from a lthp..im doing great walking and moving..but I have pins and needles around my incision. There is hear..and it's like rashy around it..I seen my orthopedic Dr..he said he wasn't worried but they did blood work for precaution..the blood work came back fine..they told me to keep and eye on it..if it gets a purple color or fever to call them..
Has anyone else experience this rashy, pins and needles , heat around incision..I read some similar experiences but no one seemed to have the red rash..
dee - I'm curious if your numbness and tingling has improved?
I too have these same symptoms, it feels as if my foot is swollen(and it is, but not as much as it feels like) the toes are very sore and I have the pins and needles like it is asleep. it has been this way since my first operation. I have had a 7 month ordeal with this THR. after the original operation it took almost a week to come out of the anesthesia and then after spending 3 weeks in a rehab center I developed MRSA and STAPH infection and they had to go in and replace the original appliance with a spacer and I was on IV antibiotics for almost 3 months and then they went back in and placed a new appliance. Throughout this entire process my foot was "numb". My Ortho is only concerned with the Hip Joint and says everything is ok now and that the problem with the foot will go away in a year or so. I don't believe him and feel that there is some nerve damage,but don't know where to go to find out. The foot problem is severely limiting my ability to walk normally again without a cane. If anyone has any suggestions I would be very happy to hear them.
I'm so sorry you had such an ordeal...I hope things get better for you..wish I can give you advice..I can only offer prayer or positive thoughts coming your way.
I have had both of my hips replaced at the age of 22! My left hip was great and was walking 2 weeks later. But my right hip which I had done 4 weeks ago has been awful and the recovery has been very slow! I'm really suffering with numbness in my knee and ankle joint to the point I can't sleep! Has anyone else had this as it's not pins and needles I'm suffering with.
Hi i had my anterior hip replacement surgery July 2 and yes immediately after surgery i saw bruiseies around my ankle i ask the doctor did they restrain my feet he said yes exacatly where the so called boots were put on in where i have the heaviness and numbness around my feet my doctor also said that it is very rare that this could happen because again I’m able to move my foot but something is defiantly wrong all i can do now is wait and hope this gone away i don’t what to do 🤔
Hello...I am 10 mo. THR posterior approach. I developed bursitis around my hip after 4 months. Can't seem to get any relief. Also, I have pain in my ankle that I never had before surgery. AM wondering if I have nerve damage from surgery. Has anyone had this happen? My surgeon's office did not want to hear about it. But...why did I not have any ankle pain before surgery? Anyone???
This sounds so familiar. First one was cake, second one feels like neuropathy to a tee. Have requested a referral as it’s pretty obvious that hip surgeon feels his work was successful and is done.
Overnight pain is the worst and most shoes / straps make it feel like you are being poked with needles. I could attempt to wait it out but am ready to be pain free. Praying there is a reasonable remedy and appreciate any and all available updates and remedies!
Yes I am having a similar issue. I’m only 4 weeks in and have my 1st post op appointment in2 days. I’m curios as to what we find. Mine seems to come and go and I’m probably guessing it’s related to swelling. The only odd part is that it also occurs randomly in the non surgery foot.
I originally posted here after i had my left side THR. It has been a year this 20th of Sept. I still have tingling and numbness on the bottom of my left foot and the P.A. under the Ortho Dr. said i shouldn't have this still. I had tingling in my thighs and i felt like they were on fire. My regular dr put me on Gabapentin which helped me. I take as little as possible and arthritis strength tylenol 650. Both have helped me. The tingling is tolerable now...not gone but i can function. Find a combination of either OTC pain relief and maybe a prescription of arthritic creme like Voltaren and rest when your body tells you to. I wish everyone healing.