walking/pain with leg length difference

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Looking for some advice/info from hipppies with leg legnth differences. I am 4 weeks post op and am coming along. Still on a couple of pain meds a day My THR leg is 5-7mil longer. Surgeon said he had no choice because it's ceramic for fitting and also need other one so will match side then. Here is my question. I walk like a penguin and when I practice without cane it doesnt change. I have pain still and feel no wonder everything is out of wack. Does this settle in itself???? My sisters father in law had same op 2 weeks longer than me and he is 80..He is completly back to normal doing farm chores....I would me lieing if I didnt say how dissappointed I am hobbling around. Will more plain walking help? Sorry for such a long story

2

I find it very odd how people can notice such a small amount of difference considering nearly every person has a small amount of leg length. I have a 4cm leg length which is 40mm of something like that but i have to wear a shoe raise but it doesnt really help. Theres not much you can really do but hobble i suppose. I have a incredibly obvious limp but its slightly removed with the shoe raise. But if i dont wear shoes i tend to walk on my tip toes on my left? Leg

3

My knee kind of buckles. I have a gel insert and it helps some.  So your experience hasn't gotten better by the sounds of  it? sorry to hear that Sarah! Dissappointing news.

4

Oh no wait i should have clarified. I have had that leg length since i was born. My thr is also to move my hips down to try and remove the amount of difference. A lot of people on here have said they had a slight difference after their op but after a few month it goes back to normal

5

I've read that it can take 6 months to settle so don't be disheartened just yet 

6

I too am 4 weeks post op, to get rid of the penguin walk you need to put heel down first and stand as straight as you can I still walk with a cane it's too early to try and walk without a cane and yes I still get a ache in the thigh muscle and bum muscle especially if I have sat for a while, by the way this is my 2nd op and it does get better, walking is the best exercise and just remember heel down first and I think you will notice the difference

7

Before my op i had about a 21/2(6cm) difference as i had displacia of the hips, oa and the displacement pushed up my pelvis, i couldnt walk with my right foot on the floor, now both feet on floor when i walk, there is still a tiny difference but it had dropped a bit so i am hoping they will be even as my surgeon promised. My physio said i may just have to have a shoe lift just in case. But as long as i can walk properly, thats all i want, 

8

6cm? Wow i thought mine was bad. But im so embarressed of it i cant wear dresses or shorts hahaha

9

I love this site....For the first time I walked heel to toe today and it IS better. I think I had read that before but at times was overwhelmed with some info. Today I listened and am sooo glad! Thank you Marilyn!

10

Ok I have to go figure out what 6 cm is? I am from Canada

11

Hi savy, 

I agree with sarah here -  nobody's legs'  are exactly the same length - the wear and tear on the soles of your shoes will tell ... 10 mm seems quite normal - my right leg got 20 mm shorter due to OA - after (1st Right hip surgery it was lengtened but not much - Left leg's length was adjusted with 2nd THR - 

4 weeks is too early to walk without cane or stick - I was told by PT to use my wheeled walker outside for 6 weeks at least, and with cane inside -

I have been practicing proper walking for the last 3-4 weeks - goodness!!!! what a difference -

there is a youtube video you can find under "walking properly" (something like that) from an Oriental PT (I think --- Dr. Li???? so sorry for this vagueness)

very basic, very simple but sooooo challenging in the beginning - 

stand up straight, relax body and shoulders - heel to toe steps, slowly and finish step - make sure you lift your feet - move your shoulders and hips - 

To be honest, I could not do many of those steps in the beginning and had muscle pains and aches in legs and everywhere - so don't overdo it -

hope I make sense - 

big warm hug

renee

 

12

Thanks so much....I do use the cane everywhere...I don't see how I cn ever go barefoot tho. It will have to settle down quite a bit.....I use the leg lift in clarks around the house and put in boots for outside......Could be worse....

13

2 1/2 inches now down to inder 1"

14

I too have a leg length discrepancy which I've been told will be corrected when I have my other hip done. It's around 10mm and I don't know if I'm getting used to it or if it is getting less as time goes on. It isn't noticeable when I walk tho, I've had people watch me to check, but I think my stride is slightly longer in the long leg side.

No pain tho and I can walk without the crutches I've had for the last 2 years so small price to pay.

15

I am 4 weeks post op.....How long are you? I have some really good days then the next is terrible. Pain down the leg which I am speculating is from the leg difference as my body is sitting different. I guess I just need to be patient.

16

I an 10 weeks post op. I do remember at first the difference felt massive but it just seems less and less all the time now. When I'm tired or have walked a lot it feels bigger - maybe it is still the same I am just used to it and compensate in the way I walk?

Hang on in there 👍🏼 it'll get easier