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Hip replacement recovery
I'm 9 months post hip replacement. Surgery was completed down the thigh. I began physical therapy about 8weeks later as advised by my surgeon and am still going once a week. I have a slight limp and the small of my back often hurts. I use a cane when my back or hip grows tired. Several folks don't think I should need a cane or PT at this stage. Is this a normal experience or should I seek more care?
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@dannyandebbieY9ur experience is a worst nightmare!! Does the ortho surgeon know about these issues? If nurses weren't following instructions, s/he needs to know about it, and could possibly help you?
@cindisue
I am 73. PT did not begin until 8 weeks of healing. The main issue is my limp which makes my back hurt and has caused plantar fasciitis on the good foot. I'm seeing a podiatrist soon to have shoe inserts made to correct the limp. I think that should relieve the issues. Thank you!
@twin52 yes, the orthopedic surgeon was informed! The physician at Rehab received written instructions on what was required and he chose to ignore them, wrote his own orders for his staff omitted her need to have a stabilizing unit on her left leg at all times! The nurse was not aware of this because it was not in the order, removed the mobilizer, had my wife stand and that is when she went down. The orthopedic surgeon then moved to a different hospital location. Due to ethics the nurse was not allowed to consult with us!
@ams & @twin52 After my final hip revision (bilateral hip s replacements, followed 5 years later by 3 bilateral revisions (2 on one leg, one on the other), I was left with a leg length discrepancy of 1/2 inch as well, resulting in a limp, turned in toes, knee and back pain. Color me unhappy!
My ortho surgeon sent me for rehabilitative PT at a center that looked at the whole picture, worked with my on gait training and strengthening, and finally a small lift on one of my orthotics.
Their first order was to replace my pre-surgery shoes with new ones that weren't worn in to my old walking patterns. It took months of work, on their part and mine, but now, almost 15 year later I walk pain-free. If I get too tired, I may toe-in, if I wear poor footwear, I limp, and if I slack on my stretching exercises, I invite my friend bursitis for a visit.
My legs still differ in length, but my body has adapted.
PS My psoas muscle was slightly damaged in one revision surgery, but time & therapy healed it.
Have you had PT other than the "standard" post-surgical protocol to help address the other issues?
@sueinmn Great post! Thank you for thinking of the "rest of us". I think your idea of doing an inventory of the aches and pains one has prior to getting another major procedure means a lot. I never had severe back issues until I had a left knee arthroscopy in April 2025. I never trusted that doctor. He left me under anesthesia to finish the arthroscopy, cut too much tissue and left me with bone-on-bone knee anatomy. He should have stopped the surgery and brought me out of anesthesia to discuss my options. Now, I am faced with a total knee replacement and about a year to recover from it due to my age of 78 years. What I hate is that when facing major surgery, the surgeon spends no more than 10 minutes preliminarily with the patient and then suggests only one option which is the absolute most radical surgery with many, many months of recovery. But gives the doctor the biggest payday.
@laughlin1947 I'm not sure how to respond because I have never faced a similar circumstance, my orthopedic surgeons have usually been pretty upfront about the options. If I were in your situation, I would definitely get a second opinion.