End of stem pain after total hip replacement

Hello @amber67, and welcome to Connect.

I would like to introduce @mnpat, @grandmacheryl, @popolopo, and @sma1952, who have all had hip replacements and may be able to talk about their experience with recovery and pain related symptoms.

I am also inviting @success10, @chief917, @Adrainpalmer, @learningtolive2, to return and share their experiences with pain and recovery after a hip revision.

@amber67, would you mind explaining exactly what end of stem pain is? How are you getting around after your hip revision, other than the pain?

I do not know what end of stem pain is but I still have lots of pain in the outside upper leg. They think it is mostly nerve and muscle pain ,maybe the same as you. This replacement of my hip was in 2015 due to arthritis. I take gabapentin, tylenal3,and extra strength tylenal. I can walk without a cane but use a walking stick often. Doctors tell me to try more exercises but that is too painful if I do more than a few minutes.

Oh my goodness, I can not believe someone answered.  I have never been able to walk without a cane or walker. A few months after the partial in July 2015, I started having sever pain when I put pressure on the operated side to walk. I can stand and sit without pain, but can not put pressure on it to walk. Went to surgeon in January 2016, he said a revision to a full was necessary to correct the pain in the thigh. Went thru the full revision to a full hip in may 2016.  Eight months later after the revision, the same pain and  still on walker,  the pain at the stem along with the inner and outer thigh is so bad, it requires a walker or the leg will buckle and I will fall. I have had a bone scan, nerve conductor test and blood work to rule out infection, loose stem, and nerves. All were negative. I am at my wits end. I have had the exact pain since July 2015, so far no answers as to why, except end of stem pain and the stem is stiffer than bone. Thank you for any help that you can give me Please ask me any questions that you need that may help. 

Hello.
I am Will from Brazil. I am a 6th year medical student in here. My father has had a bilateral total hip replacement 2 years ago due to steroids (kidney transplantation). He is 60 now and experiences the exact same type of pain that you are describing. He is able to walk but experiences a 7/10 pain on a daily basis. He has had a bone scan, multiple MRI's and blood tests to rule out infection and everything came back normal. As a medical student I feel completely powerless and saddened, as any medical professional can imagine. He has been treated with OxyContin and Lyrica (Pregabalin) with little success. His trauma doctors are unable to determine the cause of his pain but it's the same type of pain as this other person is reporting in this thread.
Ant insight will be desply appreciated.

Will, I know exactly what your father is experiencing. I have tried both medications also with no success. I had a CAT scan done last week, still no answers for the pain. The only thing the Ortho can see is that when he compared the regular x-rays is that the bones on both sidee of the stem look weaker. He showed them to us and they do look lighter in color than the other leg that is good. He never did give and answer as to if this can cause so much pain. I know you are so busy, but please do not forget us on this site. You are definitely in a position to find out what we can do for this pain, especially with your father having the pain. We are in our 60 s and we are both too young LOL. Thanks again for all your help and please keep us posted

Hello @guipacker Welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community that shares information in various health topics. I see that @amber67 has already shared some valuable information with you. Will, another posting you may find helpful info for your father is http://mayocl.in/2bVSUwB.
Jen

@guipacker, thank you for jumping in to this discussion. @amber67 has been patient waiting for another with similar experiences and I am glad the two of you could Connect to share ideas/experiences.

As a medical student, it sounds like you are experiencing some difficulties with frustration and powerlessness yourself. You are not alone in those feelings. While you bounce ideas off with amber67, you might want to check out the Caregiver's group to meet others who are experiencing the same emotions you are regarding care for a loved one, http://mayocl.in/2h1ttpY.

@guipacker, is your father scheduled for any more tests or to try any different medications or coping strategies?

Went to orthopaedic Dr. last week. His opinion is that when I had total hip replacement he lengthend the leg to keep hip in place. When he did this, he stretched all the muscles and tendons in the thigh. Therefore they say nothing can be done and I am left in severe pain and can not walk except on a walker. Anyone have any ideas on anything that can be done. Thank you.

I had a cortisone shot last week in hip area but did not help. Tramacet is really good for pain but I am worried about addiction. I have asked for cannibus oil but the medical profession is not ready for that yet.

I ask the dr about the cortisone shot too he said it would not help the pain in my inner thigh because everything had been stretch when they did the surgery. I have heard about the ioil also but we are not a state that approve it. We may have to take a vacation. LO L. The Dr did give me a prescription for a physical therapist that does Dry Needling something similar to acupuncture. I will keep you posted. Waiting on the PT office to call back woth an apt. Keep me posted if you have any luck anywhere. Thank you.