FSP - Experienced Femoral Stem Pain post hip replacement?

Posted by mayo99824 @mayo99824, Aug 22, 2025

After my second hip replacement, I started getting a strange pain mid-thigh. Mostly right in front but now sometimes on my outside thigh. I did some research and hit on Femoral Stem Pain. My doctor said that it is possible and it should resolve in 6 to 12 months.
From what I gather, the stem implant is less flexible than the bone and that causes a problem or pain. The doctor says that when the bone near the implant beefs itself up, the pain should go away.
I notice very slight improvement day to day, but the femoral pain has slowed my recovery. When it hits I can just shuffle, not walk. If I apply constant pressure to that pain point, I can stop the pain as long as I push on it. I also try to avoid any twisting movements - no matter how slight. I think any torsion sets it off.
My hip is a-okay and free of pain. I am frustrated that my thigh isn’t.
Research says that 25% of hip “replacees” report that they have this, but I am having a herd time finding anyone else. A friend with surgical pins for something else said he experienced something like this but got poo pooed by his doctor 10 yers ago but his doctor now says the difference in stiffness is a thing. I did not have this pain for my first hip replacement.
For my second, the doctor was very proud of the very tight fit that required more of a degree of pounding on it to get it to fit in place. Maybe that tight fit made the second replacement have FSP. Nobody knows.
Has anyone else had this? Does it get better and go away? The doctor said that if it is still there in a year, they address it surgically. Anyone have to get surgery for this?
It is only about 10 weeks for me so I am still hopeful it will go away.

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Profile picture for merglia4281 @merglia4281

Found your reply very informative.
I gather from other people, this constant pain in the left side of my thigh is common. I am very active and get tired of dragging my foot around. Still no answer as to why terrific pain wakes me up every night, regardless if I have been active or not during the day.
Found a chiropractor that really listens. He has helped my walking and loosened up the IT band. (Which was very painful). I have found that using a 4 wheel walker has made my balance issues easier. Only do that in the house. Seems to help with the training of my left foot to
remember to put the heel down first. Only use the cane if I know I will be walking a distance. Otherwise, I walk very slow and carefully, looks like I’m tipsy.

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@merglia4281
It sounds like you are on top of things for your recovery. I didn’t notice how much I relied on aids ( walker, hiking poles) until I stopped using them for balance. Bravo for walking unaided.
For me, the thigh pain eventually only got bad if I twisted/pivoted on my leg. I don’t have any pain now (1 year out).

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