Hip replacement complication

I presume the surgeon hit nerves. I hope she isn't permanently damaged. The THP for me has taken longer to recuperate than I thought. In 5-months with swelling. Blessings.

I am 4 and 1/2 months post op anterior THR and I still have trouble lifting my leg as high as my other leg. It was extraordinarily difficult the first two months but I went home from the hospital. Now I am working on lifting my leg thankfully without pain. No one said anything to me other than weakness is expected despite the fact I pre habbed and rehabbed continuously. I was told you have to retrain the muscles to respond and I believe there is something to that. I would ask the surgeon what he or she meant by “extreme damage” and to what specifically.

Also I would add that I think there are differences in anatomy which affect the process from person to person.

There is too much hype about how there is little pain and swift recovery which may be the case for many but isn’t for everyone. Everyone is different and I had a lot of pain for the first 3 1/2 months which is like what happened with my knee replacements. So I wasn’t particularly alarmed.
I read a study recently which said that there were differences between anterior recoveries based upon use of cement versus cement less, and also type of angle of the implant.
So obviously they know there are differences in how the body reacts and they are just looking for explanations.
Here’s hoping your sister gets better but I wouldn’t be too impatient at 20 days. It took me 3 and 1/2 months to feel I could use my leg without pain.

Yes! Yes! Yes! to this comment: “There is too much hype about how there is little pain and swift recovery which may be the case for many but isn’t for everyone.” Hyde3357! It seems that everyone from PT folks, friends, even a famous meteorologist on national television said that it is a piece of cake! It wasn’t and hasn’t been a “piece of cake” for 10 months! Even my PT said in the pre op exam, “you will be back in the gym in a month!”😳 I am now back in the gym at 10 months post surgery but it’s painful and I don’t yet trust my hip to “stay put.” I’ll get there with perseverance, but not because someone told me it would be a “walk in the park!”

I know that it’s a bit of a tight rope walk in encouraging others through hard times, so let’s be careful that we are frank in our conversations, saying what we know to be true and compassionate without placing expectations on others that might not be within their ability to reach.

I am stepping down off of my soapbox, now! 🤗

It’s so much more beneficial to the patient to say things like, “it’s not easy,”
“ you will need to go at your own pace in recovery,”
“it looks differently for everyone, but you can get through this,”
“I want to support you on this journey. How can I help you?”

Hi, I had a TRHR in September 2023 so next month will be one year. I still cannot lift my leg without pain. It kind of worries me. I can go up stairs, but when I am sitting I can’t lift it without manually helping lift it. How are you? It sounds like we had them replaced around the same time. Can you lift your leg up easy and without pain?

Where did you have it done and doctors name? I'm shopping for a hip doc in Phoenix.

My hip replacement and subsequent revision surgery was 3 years ago. The last PT I worked with discharged me after 6 sessions and told me that he did not know why I walk the way I do and that there was nothing more he could do for me. I decided that I would continue to do my own re-hab doing the exercises I was given and working out at the gym. At 3 years post surgeries, my hip is good and my leg works OK. I know that it is weaker than prior to surgery. I use a walker now because I am unstable walking. (I also have neuropathy which is not helpful for walking and balance etc. and do exercises for those issues as well.). I have learned two things which may be helpful for your sister. One is to work toward the pain and to not give up. The second thing is I have learned acceptance. It is difficult sometimes. I named my walker "PITA". most know what that stands for. A little humor goes a long way. I have a dear friend with ALS which helps me put my problems/issues in perspective. I wish your sister the best and am sending tons of support.

I agree….too much hype about how easy this is. My hip replacement is 6mm wider than my “normal” hip. I realize that is not much, but it has been almost 2 years post surgery & I still experience SI joint inflammation & a piriformus that is chronically over stretched. Not to mention it looks like I have a handle where that hip is. LOL! I too was told by my surgeon that I would be back to the gym within 2 months, but it took longer. I still am not able to do any leg machines at the gym. For those of us who are active, this was a very rough road to take. I have shed a lot of tears, but I am hopeful my body will eventually adjust. And I realize it could have been worse.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Exactly! I was told the same from many people saying "I heard it was easy peasy." Not in my case! This all set me up for high expectations and when I could barely lift my leg after one week in rehab, I became so discouraged. Majority of pain continued for 6 weeks, using walker.
I live alone. Our hospital gives pre-surgery seminars on what to expect at home. So I had my house & assistive equipment set up to accommodate my needs. Family & friends provided meals + cleaning. At age 72, my surgery was at the end of Feb 2025. After 5 months, I still cannot cross my leg so putting on sneakers is difficult. Probably my biggest complaint is that I have a lot of numbness + pain on side of my thigh. It's better than it was initially but still painful when I sleep on it for short intervals. While I haven't used a cane for awhile, I cannot walk or stand for long distances without cane or somewhere to sit. I found my right total reverse shoulder replacement much less painful in 2023. My surgeon reassured me, everyone recovers differently. I am grateful to this group that validates my experiences.

I had my first hip replacement two years ago, age 72, normal weight and fairly active. I have no pain in walking or moving my new hip, so cheers to that. However, I had more side effects than I think I should have. I would be curious if anyone experienced any of these effects. My new hip caused a 1/2 inch length discrepancy (like walking after your loafer heel falls off). I have to add an adjustment to every shoe I own. My leg blew up about two weeks after surgery and PC sent me for scan and Doppler. All ok, but no explanation for extreme swelling. Then UTI that required three rounds of antibiotics, but strangely after starting them, I peed like crazy all night and the leg swelling was gone in the morning. Don’t know why this happened. I have a large pad of numb flesh on my hip that never went away and the scar, which was done horizontally across the top of the front of my leg collapsed because it was right where I bend my leg and is tender if I bump anything. Has anyone experienced any of this, as my Dr has apologized, but I have no explanation.