Uneven leg length after hip replacement

I have a lift put on my now shorter leg. It does limit me in the type of shoes I can wear. It does help with my balance though. My local shoe shop is used to me coming in now. I am at the age where I don't worry about high heals anymore.

@drummergirl Yes, uneven leg length is common after hip replacement. Sometimes your body adjusts on its own, other times the issue can become a problem. Like you, I wore a lift for years, but after hip revision, my therapist worked with me to get my body in balance and correct my gait. Also, sometimes the apparent length discrepancy is actually because you walked off balance or with a limp for so long that the correction feels unnatural.

Have you had the leg length, your hip/pelvic alignment and gait evaluated by a Physical Therapist skilled in Rehabilitation? (not just an associate who has a list of exercises to do after surgery)
Sue

Thank you ams.

Thanks Sue- I have had in home therapy and no advice on the subject. I do start outpatient therapy on Tuesday and hope to get better direction. I will be looking at all possibilities, as I am hoping to be able to wear at least a low heal, since I am 5’2”.
I think it is absolutely important to level up my body, as I have a noticeable hitch in my step when I don’t have the insert in my shoe.

I was already walking with a limp as I have had tendon surgery that left me with a profound limp. I have had PT several times with a very experienced therapist. I also have a damaged psoas muscle that I feel was damaged in the hip replacement.

After I had hip replacement I felt the same thing. At first it felt really off balance and awkward but eventually it seemed to get better. I was told swelling and the need for your muscles to adjust to the new hip could be part of the cause. Two weeks ago I the knee replaced on same side and going thru all those effects again. I have tried adding an extra insole and it helps a little. My plan is give it time and use some kind of lift to get an even gait. I think having a proper,
Level gait is important in all stages of healing to ensure proper muscle memory. I would recommend you talk to your therapist over and over until you feel comfortable with your progress. Good luck

I'm also dealing with deep tissue pain in hip that was replaced. My thought was damage during surgery; for me it's been 5 yrs since hip replacement and my pain is worsening down my leg to the knee.
A yr earlier I had opposite ankle replacement and surgeon inadvertently severed tendon to my big toe. (But repaired that). Needless to say my balance, gait are way off, with PT it improves, however, I'm looking for some more permanent form of relief for the pain coming from hip replacement.

Have you confirmed with CT scan that the implant is not loose? Just heard from a friend that his Dr denied a problem until he insisted on a CT and Dr admitted it was loose. He had to have his redone by another Dr. Sometimes you have to go to a different Dr for a better evaluation. Sorry for all you have been through.

Hmm, no I haven't heard that or considered it. Two different doctors have confirmed the replacement appears good by x-ray only. I live in another state now from where the replacements were done so its worth a try. Thank you

I have a real dilemma. It took five surgeries for one hip revision.... The first surgery, the ball slipped off of the cup. The second surgery replaced that one, but I ended up with staff infection and had to go through a third surgery to take all of my hardware out and put spacers in. Could not walk at all for 7 weeks. Another surgery to put the hip products back in. That did not go well, so a fifth surgery was done. I am not young anymore and I'm feeling very tired from all of the surgeries that went from March of 2023 through September of 2023.
The fifth surgery is the final but I have a huge dilemma, in that my foot and knee are pointed straight outwards at 90°. My femur is stuck outward, as well. I am crippled at this point in my left leg. About 2 inches shorter now as well. So much of the bone needed to be cut off to replace the stem over and over again.
The surgeon has sent my information via a recommendation and referral to the Mayo clinic in Jacksonville. But I have yet to hear from them. I have had my back rebuilt and would like the surgeon to help me with that area as well. I'm hopeful they could help me with my left leg
Have any of you ever endured that many surgeries to get it right. And most importantly, have your hip surgeries lead to a foot that point outward at 90°? I am so disappointed. I was a well man before this started