Had hip replacement, wondering about topical numbing agent

Thank u. I needed this today. 9 weeks in from TKR and I’m doing pretty much everything that needs doing but having trouble getting getting my ROM past 90 degrees. Probably some patience is needed 🤪

I am 9 weeks out and still having pain and discomfort down the side of my thigh and the the front. About 10 days ago I must have done touch walking because I started to get these shooting pains in my thigh area. Really painful
I used ice and Alleve but didn’t stop it until 2 days later
I called my doctor and was told to use ice and hot and take pain medication
I just feel like the pain is in the bone down my thigh area.
It is somewhat better but use analgesic cream and Bengay

Hi, Becky & welcome to Connect. Isn't it comforting to read that you are not the only person around who is not "totally back to normal" 2 months after major
surgery?

It certainly sounds like the "shooting pains in my thigh area" were your body telling you to take it easier in your rehab! The pain in the thigh bone is the new stem that was implanted in the femur settling in, and bone beginning to grow around it. After 5 hip replacements and revisions, I can tell you that leg & thigh discomfort is part of the normal healing. Pretty soon you'll have a day where you don't have to think about each movement and whether it is going to hurt you.

In addition, some nerves were likely cut or disturbed, and those also need to heal. So if you get numbness, tingling, pins & needles...that is nerve regeneration - a very slow process. When it happens, you can help the process along by tapping on the area with your fingers, or rolling over it with one of the balls that looks like it has knobs on it (often found in the pet toy section.) My friend taps on her numb areas with a pencil.

Hang in there, keep walking & icing,
Sue

Thank you. I know I have to give it more time. Just frustrating that after 6 weeks you “should be back to normal “ and the doctor release’s you from care.

No, I am going to be dramatic here. SIX WEEKS AFTER MAJOR ORTHO SURGERY NOBODY IS "BACK TO NORMAL"! I don't even know where that crazy idea came from.

Maybe it comes from our society that expects everything to happen instantaneously? You have been anesthetized, cut apart and put back together, with artificial parts added!

How many people would go ahead with surgery if they were told how long it would take, and how much work was involved in recovery?

First, being released from care just means you are past the acute post-surgical phase, the highest risk of infection, dislocation and other problems.

Second, at 6 weeks, the bones, muscles and nerves are NOT back to normal, they are still healing.

Third, for most THR recipients, it took us years to get to the point of replacement. We were in pain, other joints were affected by favoring or limping, maybe a little weak or stiff...it stands to reason recovery will also take time.

I have a truly genius physical therapist, and we have talked a lot about recovery. His specialty is tough cases and chronic pain. My previous PT specialized in rehab from complex joint replacements. Both of them told me the true recovery time from a total hip is ideally 6 months but can be longer depending on complexity or other medical conditions. They say full knee recovery is also 6 months, but a year is not unusual either.

As the veteran of 10 ortho surgeries, let me assure you that every one took longer than I expected to rehab. But I would do every one again without hesitation - they have allowed me to stay active and with less pain for almost 30 years now.

One day, you will wake up and not think first of your aching thigh. Soon after, you will realize you can go down the stairs without hesitation or pain. And finally, a day will arrive when you don't think about that hip for a whole day. And then you will realize it was worthwhile.

Hang in there. Next time someone tells you you should be "back to normal already" ask them if anyone ever sawed up their femur!
Sue

I am 10 weeks post op and still not back to my normal. It is frustrating because i was told before the surgery “you should be back to normal, in 6 weeks”. The pain is much less. I still have numbness in the front of my thigh. I had one day when i did too much exercising and I had pain for a good 36 hours. My ROM is just about 100%, but the strength is lagging. I am going to physical therapy twice a week and will do that as long as I can. I also go to the gym. Hang in there. It will get better, it just takes more time than expected.

Thanks, I feel the same....one day at a time....