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Back pain since having a double hip replacement
Hi Everyone, I'm new to this and this is my first time joining a forum so please bear with me. I'm 51 and had a total hip replacement of the left hip, August 18 and then the right hip December 2018. I still use crutches to move around and experience a lot of muscle pains which I expected. The Physiotherapist said i'm doing well and she doesn't seem too concerned. However since having surgery I have been suffering with excruciating lower back pain, my consultant has said that i have 3 bulging disk in the lower spine. This has limited my mobility tremendously and I'm only able to walk or stand for approximately 5 mins, then having to sit for about 4/5 minutes while the burning, crushing and throbbing sensation passes. As soon as I stand to continue, within 5 mins I have to sit again and so on until my task is complete. This has stopped me returning to work or even leaving the house now. My GP has prescribed Tramadol to control the pain but the pain in my back is still unbearable.
Has anybody else experienced this type of back pain after having surgery? and if so what helped you? I would appreciate any advice that would enable me to get back to some sort of normality. I would like add before this I never suffer with back pain.
Looking forward to a reply
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Have you talked to either doctor about Rehab PT (this is different than just post-surgical PT.) A Doctor of Physical Therapy evaluates your posture, muscle tone, flexibility and gait, then prescribes a regimen meant specifically for you?
It may include pool therapy, manual manipulation and myofascial release, stretches, exercises and possibly gait training? After five hip surgeries and many hours of PT meant for my back, this was the key for me.
Most of us with bad hips/knees have one or more spine issues as well, and surgery should be a last resort for most of them (long term relief/pain relief success for most back surgery hovers around 50%), but often the proper therapy regimen, combined with daily stretching and exercise at home can keep us moving for years.
Sue
Jo Anne, I had lower back surgery in 2022 with a rod inserted, then in 2025 in Fe. Had a total hip replacement on left hip, then in July 2025 total hip replacement on right hip. I walk with a walker in my house and wheel chair outside house. I was told I have arthritis all through my back. I take gabupentin 3X a day and Tylenol arthritis. It helps to a certain extent. This severe pain in my lower right side and lower back just started 4 days ago.
@bestnana53
I have hip-spine syndrome and swim 3 days a week. This gives me some relief. I also water walk. I have chronic groin and buttock/hip pain. I also have spinal stenosis. I can't pick up my new grandbaby. I'm constantly in pain. I take ibuprofen a couple times a week, but it doesn't help much. I'm hoping I won't need a hip replacement.
Your hip pain may have been masking the back pain.
I have a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, a hip/knee surgeon, internist, rheumatologist and urologist. Amazing what happens when one gets old. I have spinal stenosis and lumbar stenosis and I have had my left hip replaced about three years ago and my right knee replaced about 5 weeks ago. After my ortho surgeries, my associated pain went away.
My spinal and lumbar stenosis for years was non symptomatic. My neurologist was amazed. Then suddenly about a year ago it became symptomatic radiating pain down both legs. I ended up with a pain doctor giving me a steroid shot epidurally and caudally. Now, after my knee surgery, I am currently pain free.
I met with my neurosurgeon earlier this week. He is very busy and skilled (he has written a primer for other surgeons on performing minimally invasive spinal surgery) so he has no need to try to rush me into surgery. Our meeting was brief: we agreed that if my leg pain came back, I would try another steroid shot. If and when the steroid shots stopped working, I would call him. Perfect outcome.
My advice to you is to find the best neurosurgeon in your area and have her give you a consultation. You need the best.
A while back my neurologist wanted me to get an opinion from the neurosurgeon but at the time the neurosurgeon was having an issue with my insurer (no surprise there). Since we were looking for a second set of eyes and not an actual surgery, he referred me to a surgeon who has generally good reviews. After reviewing my history of MRIs, that surgeon said that he could not do minimally invasive surgery on my neck area because it was too bad there.
When I went back to my preferred neurosurgeon (he had resolved his insurance issues) he said that he could do minimally invasive surgery on the neck area if I needed it.
I did a lot of research on hip and knee problems and surgeons. I ended up with a surgeon who is the primary inventor of the Superpath method of hip replacements and who has been doing the most complex knee procedures for at least a decade using minimally invasive methodologies. I had no post surgery pain either time.
This forum, and the Reddit one, is filled with unfortunate stories of people having severe pain and other problems. Finding the best surgeon does not guarantee a positive outcome. Feces can still happen. But you have maximized your chance of being a positive outlier.
My point here is to find the best surgeon you can. They are not all equal.