Muscle thigh strain 2 years after hip replacement

Posted by djr03 @djr03, Jan 4 5:05pm

Hello, I’m new to this site and I was hoping to get some suggestions or to see if any other person might have experienced the same issue and if so what helped you. I had my right hip replaced 2 years ago and the left hip 4 months later. Then about 6 months after my right hip was replaced I started to get a very sharp, painful feeling in my mid thigh on the outside. When this happened I felt a pop or a sharp pull in my thigh and the pain was instant and intense. The pain would also go down to the inside of my knee at the same time. My surgeon told me to get several massages as the issue was just soft tissue damage. I got several massages also several acupuncture treatments with not much help. I had X-rays and ct scans and all came back normal and no problems with the device itself. About 3 months of off and on with my cane and even back on crutches my pain went away for 11 months! I thought I had it beat and was so happy with my patience. Then 4 months ago I started to get a slight pulling and a sore thigh again. I immediately went to a physiotherapist as well as my surgeon and stared to do more different stretching exercises. About a week later I felt another pop or sharp pull in my thigh once again in the exact same spot and I was walking normally at the time. Once again I was back on my cane or crutches and just very frustrated. My thoughts are that I pulled or strained my thigh muscles and it took 3 months or better to heal. I have seen my surgeon again as well as another physiotherapist, massage therapist and acupuncturist with small results. I’m currently waiting for an MRI which could be another 6 months away. Although I’m doing somewhat better - the stabbing pain can just come out of nowhere and I’m back to the same issues. There are also days when I walking just fine, no issues and kind of forget about it and then an hour or sooner it starts out of nowhere. I would appreciate very much hearing from anyone on this forum who have had any thing similar after their hip replacement. Thank you so much for any help or suggestions!!

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@djr03 Welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm sorry you are having such a painful problem, and that is is taking some time to find an answer.
I have had 5 hip replacements/revisions, and new issues came with each, but I neve experienced what you are describing. You have taken all the right steps in trying to solve the puzzle - it would be nice of the MRI could come sooner.
What you describe sounds like a muscle issue to me. As my body ages, and wear and tear as well as arthritis and other issues have crept in, I find it vital to continue a daily home program of stretches and exercises to keep pain down and muscles strong. If I get lazy for even a few days, things pop and pull and hurt.
When you had physio, were you given home exercises to do? Do you find acetimenophen or ibuprofen help with recovery?
Sue

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