Hi @paddledavid, welcome to Connect.
I moved your message to this thread started a little while ago by @Cjropes who was also experiencing sharp thigh pain after hip replacement surgery. I'm also tagging members @marysapp @marikat @stumpy @learningtolive2 who have had hip replacement surgery so that they can join the discussion.

FYI, here's some info about Meralgia Paresthetica that Dave mentions http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meralgia-paresthetica/basics/definition/con-20030852

Dave, Is taking medication the long-term plan? What other options did your doctor suggest? I really hope @Cjropes got some answers to share here.

Hi, I had my hip replaced 2 years ago following a failed open reduction/internal fixation. I started having thigh pain like you describe alnost immediately after the THR. I have had x-rays, ultrasound and CT scan, and the only thing discovered was quadriceps strain and bursitis. I just had injection of the area of bursitis... which did seem to help a bit but not a great deal. My physio suggested that my replaced hip could have loosened. I am on Lyrica. Although this helped a lot in the beginning, it seems to be wearing off. Am off tomorrow for a 2nd surgical opinion. Can't go through life feeling like im being impaled when going up and down stairs. I wish you well. Hope you get sone answers. I know it's terribly frustrating to feel like you aren't getting the answers you need.

I just had my right hip replaced in Aug 2017 (second hip surgery). I am having the exact same pain in my thigh. You described it perfectly. Did find a solution or is there any way to alleviate the pain?

Cheers 🥂 Dave! I too was diagnosed with meralgia paresthetica over 2 years ago! I had a total hip replacement almost 3 years ago. I dislocated it and three weeks later I had to have a total hip revision. I started getting sensitivity in front of my thigh starting about 3 inches from my waist down the thigh then midway to side of thigh to knee. Started about 4/5 months later after revision. It was so sensitive anything that touched my thigh was painful. I was using voltaren and aspercream to alleviate the pain. Long story short it’s been over 2 years and I’m still struggling with that pain. I am on gabapentin and I do use Tramadol when I’m going to be out of the house for long periods of time. I’ve had injections in that nerve, femoral cutaneous nerve. But no relief. I’ve also had a spinal cord stimulator implanted as my pain dr said it would help, but I’m not sure how much it has helped. They told me it will never go away. Most of my pain now is on side of thigh. Thinking the IT band has been affected. I have been short all my life on the leg I had hip replacement I think dr stretched everything in thigh. I was almost 2 inches short by the time I had replacement. Sorry I don’t have better news. Dr also said to numb that nerve that would last about 6 months but I have numbness already on side of thigh by buttock. And I didn’t want to risk the solution they use to numb it to get to any other part of my leg as it will leave the leg useless and will have to be in a wheelchair. It’s called ablation of the nerve. I have good days and bad days. Bad days I take the Tramadol. When I’m away from home I’ll take a Tramadol. I usually take half a pill. Rarely do I take a whole pill. Only as needed. Wishing you all the best. If you get or find relief please let me know!!!