Has anyone had sharp thigh pain after hip replacement

Posted by Cjropes @Cjropes, Dec 30, 2015

Has anyone had sharp thigh pain after hip replacement

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

@skitchymo

Hey @khalt, I would definitely wait on replacing your other hip until you resolve your present issue. My pains seem to be related to the muscels/tendons/ligaments along the hip flexor/upper thigh/buttock area. Leg lift from a prone position was extremely painful a few months ago, a real strain on the hip flexor. I can perform the exercise now with much less pain. The side-lying clam exercise is still very difficult for me. I seem to still have very little strength in the upper thigh of my hip replacement leg. I just started ART (Active Release Therapy) sessions and I think this could be of great benefit. They are trying to stretch out the muscels/tendons/ligaments in the problem area. I'll keep you posted.

Jump to this post

skitchymo, thanks so much for replying! I've never heard of ART but have been researching it this morning. I have an appt with PT today and am going to ask about ART. I also discovered something new while researching this weekend, and I haven't read it discussed here yet. Its called the Trendelburg test, for abductor muscle damage. I did the test and failed it, which made me very happy in a weird way because now I have atleast some kind of confirmation and direction. I don't think this is my only issue but it definitely is one of them. I also learned of a problem called "stress sheilding" which is failure to distribute load. It is found in %18 of patient with porous coated stems, which I have. It basically is thigh soreness caused by the absence of our old natural joint (which was forgiving) and replacing it with a new metal joint which has no give, or forgiveness. It can take the leg and hip area a long time to get use to this new setup. Did you ever feel like your new hip was not functioning as it should, I mean mechanically? Like something is just off? or has yours been isolated to muscle and tendon stuff? Do you have "start up" issues, like stiffness and heavy limp after sitting for a while?

REPLY

I have had both hips replaced and the right hip was revised in March of this year just 3 years after initial replacement,I still have pain in both legs in my groin and IT bands,doctors are kinda stumped,looking at revising left hip in January has just been about 3 years on it also,stairs and standing for anything over a couple of minutes is excruciating have alot of pain at night,FYI I do have degenerative joint disease, thought right hip was fixed but last couple months has been getting just like it was before revision,had a aspiration of left hip a few weeks ago here are results attached,have grown more and more frustrated,any ideas help would be greatly appreciated

REPLY
@pocodale63

I have had both hips replaced and the right hip was revised in March of this year just 3 years after initial replacement,I still have pain in both legs in my groin and IT bands,doctors are kinda stumped,looking at revising left hip in January has just been about 3 years on it also,stairs and standing for anything over a couple of minutes is excruciating have alot of pain at night,FYI I do have degenerative joint disease, thought right hip was fixed but last couple months has been getting just like it was before revision,had a aspiration of left hip a few weeks ago here are results attached,have grown more and more frustrated,any ideas help would be greatly appreciated

Jump to this post

Hi @pocodale63 - Welcome to Connect! You have come to right place to find a bunch of caring, supportive people. I can appreciate that your situation must be extremely frustrating - especially since you've been dealing with it over a period of several years. I haven't had total hip replacement, but maybe some of our other members may be able to share some insight. I'm going to tag @lioness, @beatricefay, @laura1956, and @skitchymo to see if any of them may add some perspective. Is there anything you are able to do to get relief from the pain? Especially at night, that kind of pain can be so disruptive.

REPLY
@karon

Hi. I'm new to this sort of thing so bear with me. On Dec. 25 it will be six months since my total right hip replacement therapy. I'm 67 and moderately active. My healing progress was really great. I did wind up with a seroma which is slowly going down. My problem is my thigh hurts. It's not a sharp shooting pain but an ache. The pain runs from the side of my groin almost to the knee. Whatever it is it causes a weird sort of numb feeling down the rest of my operated leg. I do bend over a lot. Picking up this or that. I sleep either on my non operated side or my belly. My seroma keeps me from sleeping on my operated side. So just wondering if this is a sign of dislocation or loosening of the joint. Any thoughts? Thanks so much!

Jump to this post

Hi @karon - Welcome to Connect! Congratulations on getting through the healing process and being moderately active! I haven't had a hip replacement - but I did have a total knee replacement. I'm don't feel like I have anywhere near the background to say whether your discomfort could be a sign of dislocation/joint loosening. I'm going to tag @JustinMcClanahan & @danl6 - maybe others may have had this kind of issue? Are you still doing PT?

REPLY
@khalt

skitchymo, thanks so much for replying! I've never heard of ART but have been researching it this morning. I have an appt with PT today and am going to ask about ART. I also discovered something new while researching this weekend, and I haven't read it discussed here yet. Its called the Trendelburg test, for abductor muscle damage. I did the test and failed it, which made me very happy in a weird way because now I have atleast some kind of confirmation and direction. I don't think this is my only issue but it definitely is one of them. I also learned of a problem called "stress sheilding" which is failure to distribute load. It is found in %18 of patient with porous coated stems, which I have. It basically is thigh soreness caused by the absence of our old natural joint (which was forgiving) and replacing it with a new metal joint which has no give, or forgiveness. It can take the leg and hip area a long time to get use to this new setup. Did you ever feel like your new hip was not functioning as it should, I mean mechanically? Like something is just off? or has yours been isolated to muscle and tendon stuff? Do you have "start up" issues, like stiffness and heavy limp after sitting for a while?

Jump to this post

Hi Khalt, I can pass the Trendelenburg Test. Hip does not roll out when standing on the hip replacement leg, but it is very difficult to stand solely on that leg without support. I believe my hip is 'functioning correctly' meaning I seem to have full mobility BUT not without pain and lack of strength. Most of my pain is related to 'start up'. Definitely stiffness and heavy limp after sitting. I've had my second ART session and walked out like a normal person, but lasted only a few hours. Hopefully, more ART will accelerate my recovery. Second opinion with another Ortho Doc next week. Actually, my replacement Doc didn't express an opinion, so this will be my first.

REPLY
@debbraw

Hi @pocodale63 - Welcome to Connect! You have come to right place to find a bunch of caring, supportive people. I can appreciate that your situation must be extremely frustrating - especially since you've been dealing with it over a period of several years. I haven't had total hip replacement, but maybe some of our other members may be able to share some insight. I'm going to tag @lioness, @beatricefay, @laura1956, and @skitchymo to see if any of them may add some perspective. Is there anything you are able to do to get relief from the pain? Especially at night, that kind of pain can be so disruptive.

Jump to this post

No there is not really anything that works to alleviate pain,all Dr wants to do is just operate again istead of finding cause thanks

REPLY

Yes it's painful but I believe it's the result of using the artificial hip. If it continues I'd see your surgeon

REPLY
@skitchymo

Hi Khalt, I can pass the Trendelenburg Test. Hip does not roll out when standing on the hip replacement leg, but it is very difficult to stand solely on that leg without support. I believe my hip is 'functioning correctly' meaning I seem to have full mobility BUT not without pain and lack of strength. Most of my pain is related to 'start up'. Definitely stiffness and heavy limp after sitting. I've had my second ART session and walked out like a normal person, but lasted only a few hours. Hopefully, more ART will accelerate my recovery. Second opinion with another Ortho Doc next week. Actually, my replacement Doc didn't express an opinion, so this will be my first.

Jump to this post

Ha Ha, my surgeon didn't give an opinion either. I also have another appointment with a new ortho surgeon next week for a "first opinion". Here's to hoping we get some answers!

REPLY

I am feeling much better now but it took 3.5 years to feel about 80% better. I walked and exercised everyday,went to physio and massage therapy.
I think my new massage therapist is helping the most,he concentrates on pressure points. I take gabapentin for the nerve pain,helps me sleep also.

REPLY

I had my right hip replacement in May of 2018. Now in November, I get thigh pain where I can not put ANY weight on my right leg periodically. It comes and goes. What causes this ?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.