Cannot lift my leg after hip replacement

I see my surgon next month for the second time since surgery. And next month will be one year on the 7th of September

Please let the surgeon know in advance that you still have concerns. And if there is no apparent cause shown by CT or MRI (not just an x-ray) you ought to insist on a referral for PT for a full evaluation. Surgeons who resist sending struggling patients to PT mystify me - who wouldn't want them to have the best possible outcome.
If the surgeon refuses to do further evaluation, it is time to look for a doc who will - try starting with your primary for suggestions.

did you see all of the questions? if you can't answer that you are doing what is mandatory then that could be why you are having a negative result. I had both hips done only two years apart. The first one I was super strong. The second one I was so much diminished in strength. There is no way around needing to rebuild the muscle after surgery properly. You need to be in rehab (PT)

so sorry, I only saw the last comment! In a way "one day it will happen" is "one day you will forget you even HAD surgery! but that will take 2 years. At one year you feel normal pretty much. At 4 years you can't see the white scar that was 9" now maybe 4". I have to sit down pretty much to put on pants BUT I have ZERO pain. I am 12 years and 10 years out from surgery. I can sit on my chair and lift my legs one at a time as I am typing. The stiffness all kinda disappear after that first year. I walk every morning and afternoon.
I would suggest finding a different surgeon. It doesn't sound like you or your surgeon are interested in seeing each other. My surgeon sees me at standard intervals. One year out was one of them. You should be in PT and in pain management (depending on the issue at hand). You need to go back to the surgeon - or a surgeon - to be sure the healing has happened. Sometimes revision surgeries need to happen. Maybe there is an issue with your back. There was with mine. But my hips are golden! I knew a guy who needed 3 surgeries on one hip. Maybe you just have some bursitis. Maybe you just need a little cortisone injection. I would look up exercises on youtube - there are MANY VIDEOS. They are all basically the same.
Let me summarize:
1 year and having pain in a small movement like you are describing - means you need to go back to the surgeon and get a determination, make sure there is no infection, inflammation or swelling. They should do a simple xray and make sure it is all good. They should then refer you to pain managment and physical therapy.
If you have a few bucks - try a Deep myofascial tissue release therapist. I should have done it years ago. You can try acupuncture too. It is great for pain relief. But the Dr. needs to check his work out. If you were 85 I would have said something different. Also - IF you are obese - that would create a problem like you are describing. You have to do a lot more than he described. I was in p.t. AFTER I got the driving clearance. (at 2 months). Medicare PAYS FOR IT AFTER SURGERY. Get your dang surgeon or primary care doctor to REFER YOU and go for P.T.! You deserve it. I am very sorry to hear you didn't get what you ought to. Maybe the surgeon thinks people won't pay for it so make sure you apply for your medicare NOW. you are in the range. It took me 9 months to get it. Do it now.

@kdbee
I see some good suggestions from others. If I was in your situation, this is what I would do (I haven't had hip surgery but had cervical and lumbar surgery, lumbar just 8/2/2024, and lots of hip/buttock/leg pain due to neurogenic claudication):

1. Meet with your surgeon as planned with a prepared list of questions to ask/symptoms still dealing with during your next appointment. Bring someone with you if it would help capture responses/ensure you get what you need.

2. Make sure you get an updated X-ray and MRI to see how everything looks in your hips/pelvis/buttocks. Pain can also radiate from lumbar spine so you may want to see if you can get a MRI. When I was dealing with pain in my hips/buttocks/legs, I had a hip/pelvis MRI (both sides) and it revealed I had bilateral gluteal tendinopathy and bilateral hamstring partial tears. I had no idea when this happened and what caused it. It certainly made my spine problems worse because I was already dealing with pain/weakness/numbness. I also have a hard time lifting legs to put on pants and moving in/out of bed. Do you think you may have injured muscles/tendons due to weakness following hip surgery? I know I am having extra challenges moving post lumbar surgery due to the weakness in my buttocks/hamstrings. I was told steroid/lidocaine injections could help manage pain and PT to strengthen muscles.

3. It might be good for you to see a neurologist to get a lower EMGs/nerve conduction studies to test the nerve health in your legs. It should be able to detect if there is any disruption to nerve signaling tied to certain leg movements.

Thank you so much for this.

I am 1 yr post R THA and have had restricted range of motion since surgery. Was told at my 1 yr appointment it was from scar tissue formation. I did everything as instructed post op, they said to walk, I walked 2-4 miles a day. I have had PT numerous times. I had difficulty lifting leg to walk, PT helped a lot and my walking pace increased easily and it is easier to step. The surgery PA just says, well..... If, I extend, rotate very far which is under the normal ROM it becomes painful. I am guessing that means a redo is in my future?! Frustrating to say the least

Oh gosh. I’m so sorry. How long has it been since your replacement? Mine will be one year on Sept 7th.
Can you lift your leg to put pants on? Or lift your whole leg up when you’re lying down? Thats what I cannot do. Or getting into the car I have to grab my leg and help it up into the car. Or the top of my thigh hurts. I am so sorry to hear you’re having pain too. And yes it’s super frustrating.

Switch surgeons. Get a proper orthopod who checks on you regularly. What kind of doctor sees you once and then a second time a year later? A fantasizer.

I had my left TKR anterior at the end of Feb this year. I have seen both doctors several times who operated on me and I am continuing PT since for scar and mobilization. My leg is still problematic with some of the things you describe but I tell my PT and I tell my doctors so that we can together figure out what to do next.

I was lucky to find an article and a blog on anterior THR muscle weakness and pain and glad to see I am not alone.

Each person is different and doctors who think everyone fits a formula should be avoided no matter how good they tell you they are.

It’s all about how good YOU will be. You are the patient, the customer, the client. The surgeon probably has never had a joint replacement in his or her lifetime. So all their info is anecdotal and not from personal experience.

Good luck. Go to a PT and orthopedic surgeon for PT and surgery who cares. Not who tells you why you should be doing this or that.

Eek all. I'm preop total hip for a torn labrum. I'm 69 with CRPS. Walking isn't really something I do well. I walk with crutches normally but in such pain, no choice. I fell. Took 6 months for a dr to take my pain seriously. Turned out two complex labrum tears. Isn't it great when you csn prove ITS REAL! Now flattened ball of hip. Mishappen acetabulum and arthritis from not getting it fixed sooner. As usual, only the pt pays the price. Drs have no skin in the game. A certain amount of failures are probably "expected." But when its you...

If you need a replacement replaced, find the specialist who replaces replacements. Its very specialized.

I'm having the first one done by the specialist who replaces replacements. I figure I've got the best chance except I live alone, nobody can stay with me and he does 90% of his replacements outpt. I have other things going on but I need two overnights to get into a real rehab hospital. (Not a nursing home with one PT.) I can't do surgery right now. Refused to give me one tramedol a day. I've been in such pain for do long, I'm too stressed, unbalanced, full up on psin, I can't even think about surgery right now. Hsvent barely slept in 6 months.

My PCP ordered them for me. I don't take psin meds tho.I've been in constant pain for 45 years. The one time I ask, they say "take tylenol? I'm on prednisone with no relief. Tylenol? The drs have lost compassion, empathy.

I want to say to them " every bit of food you and your family have eaten in decades has come from patients. Your electric bill, your gas bill, your water bill, every vacation, kids tuition, every single bill you have has been paid by patients. Time to respect the literal hand that feeds your children rib eyes." Respect. Its beyond time. Getting worse in fact.