Severe Nerve Pain after Hip Replacement Surgery

Hi,
I have had my MRI and Bone scan done on my hip and spine and they all come back clear so my surgeon can not find why I am having this thigh pain.It has now been 9 months since hip replacement .My surgeon wants me to go to the pain management team to see if they can solve this problem.I have had this pain for 6 years and he thought the hip replacement would fix it.Has anyone got any suggestions
margaret (mogwai)

   I'm so sorry you are suffering I have a pain management doctor and we have tried Neurontin, to no avail, bio feedback, big deal. Advil, Norco etc. I am going to get an MRI next. Of course my fear is that al reveal nothing wrong when we know there is something. My hip replacement in 2002 rt. hip is perfect, left hip 2009 , not so good. I just want the doctor, new one , to just go in and revise the whole thing. I was a life long professional ballerina and I am still slender and continue to do a ballet designed work out.. I will keep you up to date on the mRI results. Good luck to you, Ann

The Ilizarov technique treats acute fractures, malunion, non-union and correction of angular deformities, and need for limb lengthening. I had this procedure to correct a deformity that occurred above my ankle 40+ years after my leg first broke. INCREDIBLE! Not much fun but the results are WELL worth the effort. This is offered by some (BUT NOT ALL!) orthopedic doctors -- find a doctor that is certified / well trained in this technique. Do NOT take any anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin after surgery or the bone will not grow back as it should.

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I had a THR on 21st June 2011 via anterior approach minimal invasive surgery, for just over 3 weeks I was fantastic, I could walk easily with little pain only from the muscle and wound, once i started to drive my car to work, one hour there and one hour back I have developed sciatica and now my hip and knee are in a great deal of pain.  I have had sciatica before and it got better from a weekly visit to the physio and having my back strapped and going swimming 3 times a week.  I am off to the physio for a gentle back manipulation and to have it strapped, although you cannot have your back strapped forever I dont see any other alternative, I am sure i get this from my car so I have rigged up cushion and towel system to keep me together. Has anyone else had any success from back manipulation from a physio.

I had surgery back on April 1st,2010. I'm 16 months post op and still on medication (amytryptyline 50 MG) just to get by each day. My surgery was to repair left hip impingment. Just like a lot of other posts, I was feeling great after 8 weeks post op and doing physio. Fast forward to 4 months post op and all of a sudden the pain became overwhelming and impeding me just to function each day. I'm still off work as a operational police officer however have been performing office duties. I'm now waiting a second surgery to remove hardware as this is what the surgeons "hopes" may be causing me the pain however I don't feel the same. I don't know if or when I will get my "normal life" back, but if I had to know surgery was going to cause this daily pain I would have never had it. The pain before surgery was a walk in the park compared to this. I'm glad to see I'm not going "crazy"!

Hi all,

I now know I AM NOT CRAZY! I have been having issues with my groin, hip, pelvic area for about 3 1/2 years.  I am now 34 female who WAS active, but due to pain and mobility my life has changed.  I have been to so many different drs. for my pain issuel.  I've had two laproscopies performed because drs. felt it was "female related." Appenzdix removed and lymp nodes in pelvic area removed. Still no relief.  I finally meet up with a dr who said that my pain issues are from the hip.  So in August of 2009 I went to Hershey Medical Center and meet a hip specialist.  There he saw I had a labrum tear.  That was taken care of thru surgery in October.  Still in constant pain.  He felt a THR was the next best thing.  So, in January of 2010 I had a THR of the right side.  I was still having constant pain and now walk with a pronounced limp.  He injected my illou pseauous tendon and I had a day of relief.  He felt that the tendon was being impinged so he felt a revision was necessary.   In January of 2011, I went back down to Hershey Medical Center for a revision.  Dr. cut the tendon and left it hanging in thigh, cleaned up some scar tissue and reset the cup to a different position.  None of the components were replaced.  With this surgery I contracted Bacterial Meningitis and almost died.  I know I contracted the meningitis thru part of the surgery.  Now, 7 plus months after the revision and a year and 7 months after the THR I am in extreme pain still.  My leg gives out sometimes.  When I walk I can't put full pressure onto hip or if I do then my pelvic area/groin start to feel like there is a mass and someone is grabbing it.  My leg becomes numb where I must hit it to wake it up.  I feel like there is a rubber band being stretched and let go.  Stability is worse now.  I have since gone to a new dr because I am afraid to go back down to hershey medical and never come back.  The dr there is ARROGANT! Feels I am making up the pain.  Says he doesn't know what to do.  So, I have found another hip dr. and I was wondering if anyone has anything I can preset to this new dr.  I regret getting the THR now unless the pain goes away! Please help with any ideas.  I have no infection in the hip thankfully from the meningitis.  Xrays look good to new dr.  PLEASE HELP!   ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use

I have heard alot of comments about the pain has anyone one found out the answer for it I to was looked at like I was crazy all though the pain  did get better after a while and I was doing great now all of the sudden ater almost two years it is giving meproblems I have a appointment mon so I thought I would google and see if any one also had a problem i was suprised to see how many I would like to know if anyone has had any success with finding out why??

I had a total left hip replacement in february 2010 and made a good recovery , i have always been an active person cycling walking and just love the outdoor life i.e. camping.  just before xmas i went out cycling and was ok then the following day i had sharp pain in my left buttock and around the scar with some numbness in my toes , i telephoned my Gp and he examined me and sent me for x-rays but they were ok , unfortunately i am still in pain and was wondering if i have any nerve damage . i have an appointment with my orthopaedic consultant on the 26/01 and am naturally 

First, you should concern with your doctor who did this. And if there is no problem related to hip replacement surgery then your grandfather should get assistance of physiotherapist.

@jzkennels. Thank you so much for sharing, you told my story although I'm a female. Skilled doctors are rare in Baja and my doctor assured me that pinning my fractured hip was not a major operation. Iwas given an epideral and could feel the tugging and drilling even though I was drowsy.

I was told the epi would last 24 hrs. HA! 3-4 hrs. it starts to wear off. The nurses don't speak english. I am in total agony. This is at 3pm. Finally at 5am I am given something that puts me to sleep. My worst f-ing nightmare.

In talking with the doc the next morning ( I got up and stayed at a local hotel) he explained that pain meds should be reserved for people who are dying and that American doctors overprescribe. Excuse me BUT I have a 5 inch incision on the side of my leg and I didn't just stub a toe. He finally relented and gave me 4 pain pills to get me home and in to bed.

Almost 3 mos. post op, I am in constant pain. My husband totally invalidates this. We are all different. The feelings of helplessness over not being able to do by job (I'm a housewife) make me feel worthless and depressed. Everything is a challenge. Bathing. Getting dressed. Sometimes I feel Like giving up. My husband likes the doctor ( he's a no meds kind of guy) and feels I should be walking with my cane although the doc said no weight bearing till I see him Jan. 20. Maybe he'll appreciate the clean folded clothes, the nice dinners,everything picked up right where he left it. If I sound angry, it's because I am. My username is NOTAGAIN because I've fractured a wrist, broken ribs (twice) Broken Calcaneous (heel bone,very unusual), have had knee surgery to correct a genetic problem, and last but not least I have bulging dics on C-5 thru C-7 and 4 in my lower. I've been dealing with this c**p for over 20 yrs. and I'm tired.What is the key tto presrverance? Thanks again jskennels, you got me thru another dat

hi real quick i had my first back surgery 15 years ago. since then I've had the same disc operated on 3 times.{L-5 S-1} after each surgery i had instant relief. this last time i still had pain in butt cheek ,down my leg ,and numbness in toes. it turned out my hip was bad and i needed hip replacement. since the hip was done most of the pain was gone its only been 2&1/2 weeks. it may be your disc from compensating for the pain in your hip. hope this is helpful. C.C.

I thought I was alone.


Born with a congenital short right femur and hip displasia (R), I have struggled with walking and pain. I am 35 years old now, and most of my life was spent in the hospitals undergoing corrective surgeries (like hip surgeries, leg lengthening, surgeries as a result of the leg lengthening, and two hip replacements). Before my right femur was lengthened two inches, I used a 2 inch lift. But I continued to grow and my right femur became shorter and shorter. By the time I stopped growing, my right leg was again 2 inches shorter. My left growth plates were removed with hopes the right would catch up, but it did not. It was not until my first hip replacement that my legs became closer in length.


Because of hip displasia, arthritis came in and made my life too difficult. I went in for the replacement - the new hip socket was relocated to my original which was 7 cm down. Consequently I suffered a bit with some sciatic nerve pain in my right foot (big toe actually). Not fun to say the least, but that did go away with time (about a month and a half). Before this surgery, I walked with a cane. In fact, I could not walk to the door without needing to sit down. Walking into a party, if there were not a place to sit, I left. After the surgery, I just walked. And walked. And walked some more. Like in the movie "Forest Gump" - as a child, Forrest ran away from his tormentors and broke free from his leg braces. And off he went. That is what I felt. I hiked the Inca Trail. Summited Mt. Hood in Oregon.


Alas that did not last forever. After ten years, the hardware loosened and I had to go in for a total hip replacement revision. On March 6th (this year : 2012) I went to the Mayo Clinic in MN. Like I mentioned, I did get some length, but my right leg was still approximately an inch and a half shorter. I went back to wearing a lift on my right sole. But with this operation, not only did I get new hardware, but the physicians were able to add length to my femur (using an attachment to the rod, I guess). For the first time in my life, my right femur is, in fact, the same length as my left. When standing sans shoes, I do not have to bend my left leg in order for my legs to be "equal". In addition, they repositioned my leg so at rest, my right leg does not "fall" to the left. This, too, helps with walking and more specifically right ankle - my right foot does not collapse inward. I am now eager for my "Forrest Gump" moment. It has only been 4 weeks - I just simply cannot wait...


I am sure to have at least one more revision in my lifetime. But new technology comes in frequently. Ten years ago, the rod placed in my right femur only went in a short ways. Because of numerous surgeries, the bone was not the greatest. Too much trauma. This time, the rod used was longer and it went further down in my femur (reaching and cemented with good, strong bone). This, I was told, will allow the hardware to last much longer - more durable, strong, and secure. In addition, ten years ago, I understood that there could only be so many hip replacements. Apparently that is no longer true. My orthopedic actually told me of a woman who had undergone 42 replacements.


-Forgive the wordiness. Like I initially stated, I thought I was alone. It is easy to feel alone. Reading the first post proved this to be incorrect. I, too, wanted to share my experiences.


-Norm

I went through the same thing . I am 47 ,and went 2 1/2 years of therapy and pain after my hip replacement. Finally just had revision surgery . It turned out that the ball was too large for me and was rubbing and damaging tissue . I am post op 3 weeks and already feel better than I have for the last couple years. Don,t give up !! Find a Dr that will help you. It took me 4 Dr's until I found the right one.

yes i a female just had hip surgery in august 2011 and now have severe sharp pain in the groin area the doctors say it is do to the two bones pubic and pelvic bones not healing. Well it is possible explantion i have to go back and get a bone graph and a steel plate and screws to help the healing and possibly the pain

can you tell me how you are doing your story sounda like mine with the same type zimmer durom I am going to the doctor soon I had a partial hip on 5-8-11 and I knew something was wrong right away after surgery and I have not slept through the night or walk right or had a good day since looking for help or I want them to take my leg off,