Has anyone experienced a significant leg length discrepancy following a THA? My back is taking the brunt of this. I'm told it's normal, but my LLD is over an inch!
yes I suffer daily w this and now lumbar is sore all the time and spine cervical having issues again they found a fluid pocket about the size of a walnut on my MRI of hip and hamstring issues what is this about
I also want to add that the surgeon for my hip NEVER sent me to PT not until I was complaining about my LLD and pain and a significant limp. also was told from second opinion hip surgeon that the cup overhang he sees is 3-5 mm off what does this mean and how long do i need to keep going to doctors and MRI and cat scans and still no better in fact worse each day we are doing on a year w painful LLD and now deep deep hip pain and spine pain now
just desperate for someone to hear me and help me i want my life back
Get a standing X-ray. My surgeon kept blowing off my concerns that the hip replacement leg was short. I went to my primary doctor in order to have a standing X-ray ordered. My leg was 2cm short! This is causing constant knee and back pain. Shopping for attorneys now.
@ndreyer Welcome to Mayo Connect. Uneven leg length is a not uncommon result of hip replacement surgery. It is sometimes unavoidable if the joint was very damaged before replacement, and insertion of the properly shaped femur head and acetabular cup make the leg longer. One of my best friends is still adjusting, one year after her replacement (due to a broken femur head.) Now she only has issues if she is very tired.
Another thing to know is that most of us have some discrepancy in the lengths of our legs naturally or have developed them as joints wear, but our bodies have accommodated to them.
I have had five hip replacements and/or major revisions. Each one presented a new challenge as far as length. On my fourth surgery, the orthopedic surgeon tried to reduce the discrepancy between my legs by using a shorter stem, smaller ball and acetabular cup. That was a problem! The muscles and tendons were too long for the smaller implant and it dislocated.
Instead, intensive physical therapy and gait training taught my body to accommodate the difference. As I was adjusting, I used progressively thinner lifts in the shoe on the shorter leg, until I no longer needed any (took about 2 years.)
Have you talked to the physical therapist about gait training and using a heel lift in your shoe?
Sue
Hi,, I am new to the group as well. I'm not sure how to cope with the LLD! My unoperated leg is shorter and it is making it difficult to walk. I am in PT and I just want to know if shoe lifts are always going to be necessary or are there ways to minimize the discrepancy. It's been six months now and I don't feel I will ever get back to my heels again and it's causing me to stir so much mentally. I've tried the lifts but they just slip off my feet. Can this get easier??
Hi,, I am new to the group as well. I'm not sure how to cope with the LLD! My unoperated leg is shorter and it is making it difficult to walk. I am in PT and I just want to know if shoe lifts are always going to be necessary or are there ways to minimize the discrepancy. It's been six months now and I don't feel I will ever get back to my heels again and it's causing me to stir so much mentally. I've tried the lifts but they just slip off my feet. Can this get easier??
This is an interesting question - has the orthopedic surgeon explained why you have such a discrepancy? I surely would ask.
The other person who may be able to give you some insight is a rehabilitation Physical Therapist. After multiple replacement and revision surgeries, I still had a significant discrepancy - but careful evaluation determined that much of the issue was my own tilting/leaning/limping - most was corrected by posture and gait training and now at 1/2" my body had adapted. Have you been carefully evaluated by a PT?
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yes I suffer daily w this and now lumbar is sore all the time and spine cervical having issues again they found a fluid pocket about the size of a walnut on my MRI of hip and hamstring issues what is this about
uuggghhh never ending in pain
Get a standing X-ray. My surgeon kept blowing off my concerns that the hip replacement leg was short. I went to my primary doctor in order to have a standing X-ray ordered. My leg was 2cm short! This is causing constant knee and back pain. Shopping for attorneys now.
Hi,, I am new to the group as well. I'm not sure how to cope with the LLD! My unoperated leg is shorter and it is making it difficult to walk. I am in PT and I just want to know if shoe lifts are always going to be necessary or are there ways to minimize the discrepancy. It's been six months now and I don't feel I will ever get back to my heels again and it's causing me to stir so much mentally. I've tried the lifts but they just slip off my feet. Can this get easier??
This is an interesting question - has the orthopedic surgeon explained why you have such a discrepancy? I surely would ask.
The other person who may be able to give you some insight is a rehabilitation Physical Therapist. After multiple replacement and revision surgeries, I still had a significant discrepancy - but careful evaluation determined that much of the issue was my own tilting/leaning/limping - most was corrected by posture and gait training and now at 1/2" my body had adapted. Have you been carefully evaluated by a PT?