Nerve damage post hip replacement surgery

As a total L hip replacement (due to a missed diagnosed fracture-)I now have sciatica in my good leg. My husband just had a hip revision due to a recall, & now he has sciatica in the good leg. A friend of mine had both hips replaced and now has severe sciatica. I feel there is a connection due to the closeness of the sciatic nerve to the surgical area. People don't realize or are not told ,that there can be many side affects when any type of surgery is done. More conservative methods should be explored first- surgery does not always solve the problem. It should be the last, not the first alternative.

I am into my 8th week after a total left hip replacement. My hip feels great, but i am having a pinching feeling around the scar and numbness down the outside of my leg below the knee, which runs across the top of my foot. The worst thing is the intense pain. Like has been said before, it's like 1000's of needles stabbing. I also get horrendous stabbing pains, which make me yell out, as they come on very suddenly. I am at my wits end. I mentioned it to my GP, but she didn't know what it was and suggested I speak to my orthapaedic surgeon on my follow up on the 20th August. I can't even bear to touch my foot, it feels totally raw across the top, even though there is nothing to see. I've tried hot and cold treatment, painkillers etc, but to no avail. The post op swelling has stopped now and this has got worse since it did. 

I am into my 8th week after a total left hip replacement. My hip feels great, but i am having a pinching feeling around the scar and numbness down the outside of my leg below the knee, which runs across the top of my foot. The worst thing is the intense pain. Like has been said before, it's like 1000's of needles stabbing. I also get horrendous stabbing pains, which make me yell out, as they come on very suddenly. I am at my wits end. I mentioned it to my GP, but she didn't know what it was and suggested I speak to my orthapaedic surgeon on my follow up on the 20th August. I can't even bear to touch my foot, it feels totally raw across the top, even though there is nothing to see. I've tried hot and cold treatment, painkillers etc, but to no avail. The post op swelling has stopped now and this has got worse since it did.

I also have nerve damage after total (with one revision) right hip replacement.  I don't believe there is enough said about this side affect and don't feel I was informed of these results.  I doubt it is documented and that there are few statistics about nerve damage.  I have been doing water physical therapy plus exercises for over a year with no relief or improvement.  I limp horribly and still use a cane.  My life has been sorely changed and I've had to make many adjustments.  Of course, I cannot work, have trouble walking any amount.  I hate taking medicine but do take tramadol for some relief from pain.  I have considered getting a lift for my shoe, but both doctors don't feel this will help.  I am also considering going to a pain clinic; just hate taking more drugs.  I believe this damage to the nerve was done during the operation due to carelessness while cutting the muscles/nerves.  I am frustrated and just gearing up to live as a disabled person for the rest of my life.  I was a very active 60 year old and looked forward to climbing more mountains.  I work on my attitude and know it could be worse.  I do appreciate my full life and just wish I still had my mobility.

had hip replacement surgery nov 2011. damaged sciatic nerve still wearing and in a lot of pain some days worse .

I too just had a left hip replacment 3 months ago and am now experiencing sciatic in the right leg, I did have a right hip replacment 7 years ago with no problems, so this is very discouraging and painful, I do have a 3/4 discrepancy where the left leg is now longer than the right, so I beleive instead of nerve damage it's just the tilted pelvis and leg length difference causing the sicatica?

I too just had a right hip replacement 3 months ago and nothing has gone right.  I had the left hip replacement back in March of this year and it went great! Was up and running in no time, with no problems.  However, since the right hip replacement, I have severe pain running down my leg from the hip to the knee and sometimes to the ankle.  I do not have drop foot.  I also have no feeling whatsoever in the back of my leg from behind the knee to my butt.  I get sharp  stabbing pains down the outer side of my leg.  Also, when I walk, I can't put full weight on the right leg as I have sharp pain in the right side of the hip and it feels like something sticks out and the muscle there feels like a brick.

I went back to my orthopod and he was concerned as well.  He referred me to my neurologist (I also have Lupus SLE). The neuro conducted an EMG and also had MRI of pevis just this week.  I go back to the neuro the 22 of October and then back to Orthopod on the 23.  I hope they have some answers for me then.  I will post as soon as I know something.  Also I am 56 years old, dx was AVN, avascular necrosis caused either by the Lupus or the high doses of steroids that I was on for the Lupus.

I will also mention that my orthopod said that he did use a bigger ball and a little taller stem to even me out.  I am told that this was good that he did this so I am not uneven as this would cause a lot more problems down the road with my back.

SusDen, thank you for the info I am 49 years old and had my rt hip replaced at 42, then the left just recently, it is about 3/4 inch longer and I think that is what is causing right leg sciatic and pain, unfortunately the only thing they could do is redo my replacement, NO THANK YOU! I am wearing a shoe lift in the right shoe, but being barefooted in the challenge

i just wanted to to tell you that i totally understand where you're at. had left hip replacement. hip is fine. monday surgery, ready to go home wednesday, had to stay cuz hemoglobin dropped. that night i experienced the worst of my life as i had developed a hematoma the size of a basketball and it was smashing my nerves. did surgery to remove it, then the next day same thing happened and another surgery to remove it. sitting in my recliner at home with 24/7 unbearable pain. 6-8 weeks after surgery. like you said, at my wits end. now 11 months post op. i can get around but left calf is numb and have foot drop. still thinking positive that it will come back. foot still always, from a 1 to a 7. pain meds do help. just wanted to give you some empathy and something to read to take your mind off things. good luck.

Hi everyone, thanks for all the responses: we can't all be wrong!!

Anyway, I am now on the waiting list for my (R) hip to get done, I expect about Dec/Jan and same consultant.  I don't attach blame...cos' there's no point.  However...I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't worried about it happening again - surely not!!

I'm looking forward to being pain free in (R) hip as it's been awful cos' of over - compensating in (L) hip over last 3-4 years but the legacy of the nerve damage will always be there - it is permanent.

i will keep you all posted, Annie J

I am 3 months post op THR and experienced total numbness from waking after the surgery. Today the numbness extend down the buttocks from the site of the incision under my thigh down my right side of my leg into my really swollen ankle and then into a numb foot. 4 of 5 toes are numb abd the pain in my foot is awful. My pain has been almost unbearable at times. I have a great GP who straight away said a nerve has been damaged somehow. Now to get to the point, I had nerve conduction studies and as you say painful in fact really painful when the needles go in, but these studies tell you exactly where the problem is. I am being referred to National Orthopedic Hospital where I believe there are experts who can put this matter right, please God, Take the tests, bite the bullet and you will get an answer. Good luck

I also have drop foot after THR nine months ago.  Did any of you have your surgery done in Bowling Green, Kentucky?

 

 

my 12 year old daughter had a hip operation after suffering a SUFE in september. she was put into a broomstick cast immediately after the operation.

as soon as she started to come around from the op she complained that she couldnt feel her toes and couldnt lift her foot. She complained that the cast was too tight and she found it unbearable but it wasnt cut off for 3 days.

she now has drop foot with very little movement in her big toe. I have found it extremely frustrating that no-one will tell me how long it will take to heal and why this happened to her. doctors have said that the cast may have been too tight and compressed nerves behind her knee or that her nerves were damaged during the operation, while she was positioned on her side. it isnt even on the bad hip side which makes things worse.

she has been given a plastic foot splint that rubs her feet so badly she constantly has blisters. i dont know what to do to reasure her that it will get better and feel that the hospital are unwilling to give me any advice. i just feel so frustrated ! As parents we signed the consent form and were talked through the risks of her operation but at no point were we prepared for foot drop.

however, all of that said, her hip is healing well.

I also had a total rt hip replaced, woke up with complete foot drop. I live with the nerve pain and numbness everyday with the help of neurontin and tramadol. I wear an AFO,walk without any cane etc and work and drive independently. The nerve pain is severe at times but I try to keep busy and focus on something else. I wish you luck but don't give up on the driving you can do it wearing an AFO.

If you're not in Arizona, then I assume all surgeons tell their patients that their pain is in their back. I had a total hip replacement 18 months ago (left hip), but when I started having the pain, numbness, tingling, etc., in my thigh, down my left leg and foot, up my left side, into my shoulder, arm and hand, and of course my gluteal muscles, my surgeon, "Dr. Martin", said all the pain and other sensations were clearly from my back.

This was a second surgery because a hip pinning failed since he forgot to write the word "precautions" on any paperwork that went home with me; thus, the home health care people, including the physical therapist, told me I could do anything. No precautions! The surgeon also failed to pick up on the symptoms I had of a possible blood clot: Swelling and pain in my left foot, ankle and calf, petechiae all over/in my calf, shortness of breath, and chest pain. I was in agony, but he had me get X-rays so he could tell me that everything was fine. At the time, I didn't realize that what he meant was that the metal screws used in the procedure were fine, although he placed them too close together, which compromises the strength of fixation.

If it weren't for my regular doctor, I might not have been around for the surgeon to give me a DePuy Pinnacle ceramic-on-polyethylene hip, which of course he says looks just fine on X-rays. It has to be my back. I will never have another surgery as long as I live.