Numbness, and inability to extend leg below knee following THR

I was sent home the day right after double knee surgery and pain management was tough at best. I had similar pain up in the thighs and groin. Almost sounds like nerve block effects. I feel for you. Hope things improve for you real soon. Take care.

I had a THR end of January at mass gen in Boston with a top notch surgeon. I had none of the effects that you are having. Is there any way you can get an earlier appointment? August is way too long to be in that kind of pain and discomfort. Also I had a complex hip replacement. My x-ray shows a cable which I thought was a bolt but I cannot tell where it was placed.

I’m not really is a lot of pain. My knee and thigh throb a bit but I take Tramadol for it. My biggest issue is my quadricep being extremely weak and therefore the inability to extend my leg and hold me up sometimes. The fact that I cannot drive is so depressing. I have lost my freedom and independence. This has changed my life and not in a good way.

Have you been doing physical therapy? Four months after surgery I am finally feeling that I am almost getting there as far as being able to walk normally. I’ve met other people whose recovery was very rapid compared to mine. I think having a treadmill has been very beneficial because walking is one of the best exercises after THR. Are you walking for exercise?

Hello. I do walk, mostly around my house with a cane and on Saturday’s my husband and I walk around our mall and I use a walker. I have a treadmill and used it once but since I had a bad fall outside when my knee gave out, I’m a little afraid to use it again. I also still do the exercises my PT gave me when I first had the surgery. I do not go to outpatient PT because I cannot drive and my husband works outside the home. I am so thankful that I have a remote job or I would have had to apply for long term disability. This whole thing has been a horrible experience.

On June 1st I am seeing a local neurologist about it. Hoping to get something started before my August appointment with Mayo. I will keep you posted.

My brother-in-law has had multiple surgeries and he told me to keep moving! I can hold on while I’m on the treadmill and I started out going slowly. Is there such a thing as a knee/leg brace to help you stay on your feet? Good luck with your appointment!

Hi...I had total hip replacement (right side) on Mar. 27th, 2023. I have also had numbness, exactly the same as you have described. MOST of that has disappeared, as of last week, but I still have swelling in my right leg and foot....I can drive, thank God, though. I'd go nuts if I couldn't. What I am worried about right now is that on the inside of my lower right leg and foot, it is red, purple and mottled. Why? The foot is painful. I also had (much) more pain than what I was told. I'm not a complainer, but when I was told it (the surgery) "will be a piece of cake", it was just the opposite. I told myself to just hang in there, it would get better. I was told practically nothing before I left the hospital the next day....so I thank God that I am healing. The worst is my lower back, but maybe I am doing too much (been cleaning & working in the yard, should I be?)....or moving in the wrong way. To be TRUTHFUL, if I could have, I would have stayed longer in the hospital (which I thought I would NEVER say LOL!)....I know a lady who, because of Medicare, and the fact that she lived alone, was allowed 14 days....her room was next to the physical therapy room and she loved it. Even though I don't live alone, it could have really made it less stressful to stay in the hospital.....and let THEM take care of me & make sure I did my therapy. I had my 6 wk. follow-up with the surgeon (they x-rayed the hip, all was fine they said)....I showed him all the mottling & told him the foot hurts....I can live with all of this as long as I know that I am healing correctly & what I am experiencing now will simply eventually go away. ALL he said was, "Put on the compression sock." That is NOT the answer. Hopefully, what is going on is just an 'after-affect' of the surgery....and it will disappear. I know everyone is different....and we all heal differently and in our own time. It is the fact that no one actually prepared me for ANYTHING before the surgery. I'll make it, though....I'm past that 'hump' and just need to know what is going on with me now. Don't see the surgeon for another 6 wks. I just wish everyone good health here....I envy the people who have been well-advised before they had different surgeries. LOL I bungled through but will be fine! If anyone has had the red/purple mottling and leg/foot pain after a hip replacement, I'd sure appreciate knowing. I just tell myself that I've gone through worse...and this, too will just get better. Thanks for listening! 🙂

I have had three dvt’s over the past 22 years. Pain in calf. Swollen leg. Red purplish color. Swollen foot. I’m sure they must have checked you for blood clots?

I just googled “mottled bruising after hip replacement surgery “
And apparently it’s common even down the leg into the foot.

Hi...yes, they sent me to the hospital immediately after my 2-week follow-up with my surgeon's assistant....they thought I might have one (or more) blood clots. But, at THAT time, I didn't have any of the purple/mottling color.....he just looked at the swelling & some redness & sent me straight to radiology. I had an ultra-sound, it showed nothing. I was relieved, but evidently this is 'normal' with some people? I'm SO thankful to not have the horrible pain of osteoarthritis in my hip anymore (dealt with it for so long), but it's like you 'trade' one thing just for another. If it doesn't get any worse, I'll just wait for my next appointment. Thank you so much!! (thank God I found this site, people are so helpful)