Hi all. I’ve been following this great forum since my THR done 3 months ago. I was surprised to feel,that my operated hip seemed to leave my leg very slightly longer. Maybe 1/4 of an inch? talked to my.
surgeon about it several times and he gave a somewhat convoluted explanation that both legs were measured carefully and were the same length. He suggested that because the unoperated hip was not in great shape, it affected the way that that leg connected to it. in other words the hips weren’t aligned but the legs were equal. He said, no heel lifts and that I should give my body time to settle in to the my new hip. Meantime I’ve got a slight side to side gait which my family says they barely see. This discrepancy has caused my lower back to hurt and sometimes my knees too. Is this a common phenomenon and should I just wait and hope for the best. Before thr I limped in pain and now I have another little limp. I want to be not only pain free but limp,free too. Am I too vain?
Don’t worry, I had the same concern. It felt so weird to me right after surgery, but I have no problems now. It helps wearing sneakers for the first few months as they give u a little cushion. There are lots of little exercise you can do to align your hips. Are u going to Physical Therapy? Have them help u. I am 1 1/2 years out of surgery and I am out playing tennis 4 days a week, bike riding, swimming and enjoying myself. Hip replacement basically gave me my life back.
HiCecilia! !I'm 56, and had a thr right hip on may 6. I also have a 1/4" difference and surgeon said exact same as yours . That it will rectify itself once pelvis and all settles, and to NOT use a lift or I will always have to use one. Had to go back into physical therapy because of a pain running down lef that isn't explained in MRI or xRay's. Spine dr said he feels it's the SI joint pressing on a nerve. Put me I. 6 weeks of physical therapy along with a strong antinflammatory to calm things down. If this doesn't work he will try an injection into SI joint. I'm so frustrated as I was so athletic and healthy before this surgery. Feel like I'm 90 years old now. Really hoping at my one year mark, all will be normal as surgeon said it will be.
And yes I also have back pain on my operated side and that knee has suddenly been hurting the past couple weeks. Physical therapist said my pelvis has been rotated since right after surgery and is the cause of most of these problems. It wont hold an adjustment though, goes right back after therapist works on it. Its caused by the muscles compensating from before surgery, for that hip that hurt, and the way I walked. It just got worse after surgery.
Things continue to settle and improve for at least a year after the op. Also remember that you probably unconsciously found the best way to move and walk causing the least pain and now you are walking “correctly” again your muscles and tendons are complaining and causing pain
That is a minimal leg length difference and should not be any issue. I would strongly suggest that you should see a good chiropractor but not a McTimoney qualified one as it is more than likely that your back is out of true.
Good luck, Richard
Don't forget, most of us live with slightly uneven leg lengths all our lives, we're just used to the length they are.
The gym trainer noticed that new hip is considerably shorter, but I have no problems at all with walking or working out in the gym. It is normal to recommend not using shoe lifts for some time after the operation to allow the swelling in the whole joint to settle down.
I am just 10 weeks post-op now, and able to walk many pain-free miles without any aids, in fact my wife cannot keep up with me.
Excellent news Graham. You thoroughly deserve it!
Cheers Richard
Dear Cecelia,
I am exactly like you. I had my hip replacement 4months ago. I never limped before either. My operated left hip side is longer and the other shorter. My doctor and physical therapist keep insisting that both legs are the same length. I disagree. I am limping, going for therapy and nothing is changing. My lower back hurts, the upper thigh and groin area on the operated hip side hurts and feels inflamed. No doctor wants to see a patient that was operated on by another doctor. My doctor is now rude, arrogant and doesn't seem to want to deal with this. He feels he is right, but I know how I feel. I am limping and in pain. I was in agony before surgery but now have other pain issues and am very upset that this will never correct itself. I know others who had this surgery and are fine. I am very disappointed and depressed that I am not well after 4 months, feel awful, limp and it is ruining my life. I live in NYC.....
Hi I had my THR nearly 2 years ago and on days I have perhaps been too active my hip and Femur really remind me it is time to slow down and I limp which makes my leg feel a little shorter than my 'good' leg.
It settled down for me after 6 months and my Doctor assures me that now both legs are equal length; it's just the occasional limp that makes it feel that one leg is shorter than the other!
Thanks to you and all others on forum for their info and support. My surgeon suggested I see a pain management m.d. for the pain in my back since thr done 3 months ago. The hip itself does not really hurt but because I feel a leg discrepancy I sway slightly from side to side. Pain doc is going to give me shots in both sides of back at sacroilliac areas next week. She cant guarantee extended pain relief but hopes it will give my body time to adjust itself to new hip. While I’m happy the severe pain I had before the thr is gone, it’s been replaced by other pains in my back and both knees. The pain in knees is not new, but it has been years since they bothered me. I go to p.t. twice a week and I’m really hoping for a better outcome in future.
Thanks Ken, life really does feel good now I have a good hip.
I too have a leg length discrepancy of 1/2 inch. It has been 5 years & I sometimes use a shoe lift because of the back pain. Since the day of surgery I have felt like the implant was too big. Finally found out that the offset of my hip was changed causing a bulging & pressure feeling in my hip constantly. Having revision surgery in 2 weeks in NYC! Sitting in airport now after flying in to do all the prepping. Best of luck to you!
I finally got an appointment with another orthopedic surgeon in 2 weeks. Would love to know which doctor you are going to in nyc. I live in nyc and am so interested in hearing about your surgery and all info concerning your surgery. Good luck but please keep me posted
Are you any better. I am not. It has been about 4 months since my surgery and still limping. The leg that was operated on is still longer and limp is bad. Doctor swears both legs are the same length. I don't believe it!
That is very disappointing. news. I wonder how you have been getting on with the muscle strengthening exercises and have you been using both crutches for walking?
Cheers Richard