Muscle spasms years after hip replacement surgery

Hi yes I had that after my operations , I’m 54 have had 4 ops and 7 dislocations in 3 years and I’ve just had a cap ring put in to keep it in .... and I have that hamstring tightness now not sure how long it will take to go away sorry . I rub lotions on or ice it

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@schnufflebug Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

That's strange that the cramp started so long after the surgery.

You'll notice that I moved your question to an existing discussion. I did this so you could connect with members like @yossiradu @lioness @autumnleaves01

Below I have linked a related discussion where members like @jidetemi @lotsofpain @peggyp @hopalongnm3 @sandy148 @cobweb @amallasch @yukoner777 have discussed a related topic. You may wish to scroll through the past posts for information and connection.
- Has anyone had sharp thigh pain after hip replacement https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-had-sharp-thigh-pain-after-hip-replacement/

May I ask if you go to or have considered going to PT for this?

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Hi yes I had that after my operations , I’m 54 have had 4 ops and 7 dislocations in 3 years and I’ve just had a cap ring put in to keep it in .... and I have that hamstring tightness now not sure how long it will take to go away sorry . I rub lotions on or ice it

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I had a hip replacement in 2015. My surgery, on march 9th went well. My recovery was fantastic......i was cycling again by the end of April.
Beginning in November of last year, I had terrible leg cramps/charlie horse that would last for hours. I would wake up in the morning with it. I had to crawl from my bed to the bathroom, take a muscle relaxer and soak in tub loaded with Epsom salts. That helped. This went on for about 6 weeks on and off. I dont know why. It hasn't happened again but now and then, in the same leg, I get a sharp stabbing shooting feeling in my thigh. It's in the middle of thigh between the knee and pelvis and seems to start or shoot from the outside of my leg. It happens when just standing on my leg...no special reason. There is no warning but the pain is sooooo bad that my knees almost buckle.
I know my right side is stronger than my left (surgery side) not sure how to just strengthen one side as I walk, swim and cycle on both legs.
Anyone have suggestions?

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I've been living with the same issues for 10 years. If I ride in car, plane or stand more than 1 hour or sit on hard chair, I get intense charley horses in inner thighs that last 25 minutes of agony and then reoccur for days after. I started reading and Europe has lots of articles on ilopsoas impingement after hip replacement. After years of physical theraphy which ended 15 minutes into each session with charley horses, cortisone shots and just about every other remedy doctors suggested, I am going back to hip surgeon to see if I have an impingement. It seems likely as most of the attacks are positional. It seems most of the specialists I've seen over the years are not familiar with psoa impingement. There are specialized imaging techniques that have to be done. A hip xray is not enough. I'm taking the European articles with me to the hip specialist incase he isn't aware of them. After a 10 year journey of incredible pain and very restricted lifestyle, hope I am on to something.

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I had intense cramps like you are describing for many years, and Charley horses both before and after hip replacement surgeries. When I added calcium citrate to my supplements and hip abductor and adductor stretching as well as hamstring and iliopsoas stretching to my daily routine they gradually subsided. Now these areas only bother me if I sit too much especially on a recliner or soft seat or without lumbar support.
Have you ever tried any of these exercises? When I first started, my movements were tiny to avoid pain, and it took a long time to become more flexible.
Sue

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I do take several vitamin supplements, calcium in several forms, magnesium, zinc, D3, biotin, etc. I've been sent to physical therapy at least 3 times over the 10 years of this problem. Usually after 5-10 minutes into session, I'm walking around 25 minutes in agony from a simple exercise like leg lifts or squeezing a ball between my thighs. If I do 3 or 4 squats...the session is over for sure. I've had myofacial massage on the thighs, groin, hip areas and same results after a few minutes. The only exercise I can do is 2 or 3 days of senior aqua classes. If I turn my foot inward to put a rubber band around the ankles for aqua walking, it immediastely triggers charley horses in thighs. The left is far worse than the right even though that prosthesis is 12 years old and minimally invasive. The right hip prosthesis is 21 years old and the incision is about 12" because the bone was necrotized when they got in there and they had to use a very long shaft. The fact the left thigh is the major problem, leads me to think its an iliopsoas impingement, after ruling out other possibles after 10 years of various doctors and testing. Waiting on appointment with hip specialist to pursue that possibility.

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Interesting that the problem is on the side where you had minimally invasive surgery. Even now, in 2021, my ortho doesn't like to use that technique, and dose so only reluctantly and very selectively (my brother chose a different surgeon because he wouldn't do it that way.) When I asked why, he said it is impossible to get a clear view of the entire surgical site, so risks are higher - sounds like that might be what happened to you?

I think another strategy might be a to try a PT who is specially trained in pain management/mitigation. When I was dealing with really bad systemic pain a year ago, none of my therapy involved "traditional" exercises like you describe, and I was specifically told to avoid them until the pain was controlled. I was reluctant at first, because I had many negative experiences in my life with PT that really did not help, and often seemed to make me worse. And with PTs who thought if you refused a specific exercise I was "uncooperative."

Instead, the therapist I was sent to used a method I can only describe as "laying on of hands" in the painful areas, and felt how my body responded to specific range of motion movements. Then he would design a very specific, gentle stretch for each area. Sometimes left and right sides were given different stretches. Each was done only once a day or 3 times a week and only to the edge of discomfort. It took months, seeing him weekly, doing the regimen, reporting back what worked or did not, to get almost complete relief. Most of these stretches I still do to keep safe.

Unfortunately, I found this "magical therapist" through my pain management doc, so I am not sure how to suggest you find such a person. All I know it that traditional, one-size-fits-all PT formulas definitely do not fit everyone, as you and I have learned.

Have you ever considered sing a pain management specialist to help you?
Sue

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Very interesting approach. How did you come across that type of therapist. I've been to several in big practices and the routine is pretty standard and not doable for me. The myofacial massage therapist was closest I've come but that was deep tissue massage of psoas and other thigh muscles and if she wasn't careful, it would trigger spasms and charley horses. Everything is now down to 1 hour rule. I hour in car.....got to get out and walk. I hour standing or walking have to pad thighs with heat or ice and lay down. Can't sit on hard chair at home or restaurant unless I take a chair pad. Go on a plane, have to take disposable ice packs and seat pad and still in agony because you can't walk around on plane.

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