I had a total right hip replacement in March 2014. I can out with one leg longer than the other. Which I am told is normal. If this happens your supposed to even out. I have not been given a lift yet to even out. My doctor has said I have a pelvic tilt. After many months of physical therapy and doing what I am supposed to do it turns out I do not have a pelvic tilt. On top of this the muscles in my thigh are extremely painful. It was so bad I could not shave that leg because it was too painful to touch. I have been doing dry needling to reduce the trigger points which has been very helpful with the painful muscles. My doctor has finally admitted the my right leg is 8 mm longer than my left leg. And wants to do a second surgery... I have not found any good information to shorten the leg.. Has anyone had this done and did it go okay for them? Help
Can't really help, unfortunately, as a singular procedure.
I've been left with a leg 3cms shorter, due to the fact that the cop and screws have come loose and have been driven into my pelvic bone.
Surgeon will be doing revision when I come off warfari in Spring and will incorpate lengthening with bone grafting.
Perhaps they will use this technique in your case?
Elaine
UK
Sorry - *cap
Hi
I had THR 8 weeks ago and my operated leg is now 1cm longer. Surgeon will sorest whan I have the right hip replaced but that won't befor a while. I've corrected it with a heel raise and it works brilliantly - I'm not aware of it at all when wear shoes with the raise and have even got used to it in slippers around home.
cant help beyond that I'm afraid
whalie
Gosh cat123, I do not know anything either, All I know it that my second botched THR has left my leg very much longer that the other. So much so that when in the heated therapy pool, I like to put my feet flat on the wall and hang onto the bar with my hands and do a nice long stretch, but my right foot cannot reach the wall if I have my left foot up against it. In order for me to put my right foot onto the wall, I have to bend my left knee.
I will be following your discussion because I do not know what might be done for mine and I want to learn.
I wish you the best with this!
Dawn
Was it longer after the first surgery?
I was really worried about this before my THR Sept. 30th. My legs were different lengths before the surgery because my hip was so deteriorated it wouldn't stay in the socket correctly. My chiropractor kept it me in adjustments for months just so I could function until I got the nerve to have the surgery. Fortunately, now my legs are even. At least even enough I can't tell if they aren't and that's good enough for me. Personally, I would never go back to a doctor that messed up the first surgery. I would find one that is skilled at fixing someone elses mistakes. Because I was concerned about this, my doctor explained to me that all during the surgery there are procedures they follow so this doesn't happen. By the way, I read where sometimes if they are doing both hips at different times, they will make the first one longer then even them out when they do the other side.
So sorry this happpened.
Kathee
Maybe you can ask about putting orthotics inside the shoe instead of surgery.That's what I would do.No more surgery good me.
I am in the navy, so my choices in doctors are limited. The surgeon that did it is considered one of the best. Should I have the second surgery?
Hi Cat
I'm sorry it didnt go well fopr you.......I havent had one leg shorter than the other but do have a pelvic tilt. Different reasons, Four weeks post op {2nd THR} doing an NHS exercise I fractured my greater trochanter bone. At first another consultant said it would heal although they couldnt do anything about it. It would take a long time., The consultant/surgeon that I see more often has now told me it wont heal......so 10 months on {Jan was the THR} I'm still on 2 crutches with what he calls a "dip" looks as if I'm walking with one foot in a high heel shoe and the other foot, I'm barefoot Does that make sense?
Its very sore and I'm not at all steady when I try to walk in the house without them.
So he is working on easing the pain now.
I know one leg longer/shorter than the other seems to be a thing that happens to a lot of people so someone may come along.
I havent been offered surgery.....just told nothing will heal it.
So look forward to someone coming along who has had the surgery
Love
Eileen UK
Hi Cat. My thr is in its ninth week with left leg longer than the right by about 1/2 inch. My dr. Told me that it would adjust a and that I would get used to it. My problem is that after all those years of wear and tear on my left hip my back aches when the longer leg hits the ground and takes the pressure. Coupled with the fact that I have scoliosis .......so, although he dosent want me to use lifts in my shoe, I believe that that is going to work for me. But I have not heard of any surgery to shorten the leg......dosent mean it's not possible but my dr. Didn't mention it. Btw, I am very happy with my progress so far. Doing PT every day. But need to work on endurance.
My first THR on my right hip left my leg just a fraction longer but I could not tell. My surgeon admitted that he left it a little bit longer and I jokingly told him that he could even it up when he did the second THR.
I had a left THR and like you my operated leg is a bit longer. This was explained to me prior to the operation that due to the condition of my hips this would happen. It can be fixed by cutting a bit out of the leg bone or wait until the other hip is replaced. What wasn't explained to me was that my knee of my operated leg would stick out 2 inches past my other when seated. I also have a lady like shaped left hip now instead of my straight and manly right! I am going to correct the length issue with an insole thinggy in my right shoe. I am a bit concerened about the other stuff but it has only been 14 days. All The Best-Miles,Canada
Hi all, update.. I am having a total hip revision may 7, I am told by my surgeon its a 5050 chance. Now he is considered one of the best by the navy. I have been given the chance to deal with what I have now, it is livable, except for the days I have to lay on a cart in a grocery store to get around the store.. Because my lower back hurts so bad. I am finding myself back in the gym. With restrictions.. But it's not the life I had before .. I am having more lower back problems and I still have leg pain, odd nerve pains.. And ( it feels like growing pains) pain.. I have not found a lift yet that does not make my foot swell.. ( if you are a woman in a fantastic pair of heels and have had swollen feet after) then you know how it feels to wear the lift.. I need a foot ramp not a lift.. I also have deep pressure urticaria... Wearing combat boots for 15 years has given me that.. Is anyone in the military going through the same.. Stateside or anywhere should have same rules for serving.