It's been four years since my posterior right hip replacement. After surgery, I wanted a good outcome, so I not only did the required physical therapy, I continued almost six months on my own at the same facility (for a small fee). From the time of my surgery, sometimes when I get into the car, if I do it like an average person, reaching the right leg inside while beginning to ease onto the seat, then the left, I get severe muscle spasms that start in the groin area and reach around to the glutes area in the back. They were so bad when I first got them I thought my hip was popping out of joint. The doctor assured me this is not what is happening.

I MUST stand to make them go away. My therapist explained that that switches to other muscles and usually makes it go away. Not always, sometimes I have to walk it out. Not real convenient on an expressway on vacation towing a camper! Now, four years later, despite getting in the car with my knees together, I can still have them; this does not happen every time. I can set them off in other ways, reaching into the back seat of the car from the passenger seat, switching gears on my three-wheeled bike, and the gears don't take immediately, and my leg spins forward quickly with a small jerk. I have had such severe spasms once I tried four times to get into the car to drive home and could not even get seated onto the seat, even after walking around a while between and trying again. I thought I was going to need to call my husband to come and get me. The muscles affected can stay sore for a day or more after a bad one.

What sort of doctor should I see for this? I have had additional physical therapy at least three times in four years. I am very tired of physical therapy and don't feel that is the answer. My surgeon has no suggestions. My family doctor just keeps sending me for physical therapy. Is this something that can be fixed surgically? Was a muscle cut and not healed back together correctly?

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