The trauma and inflammation associated with total hip replacement surgery can also irritate the trochanteric region, creating pain with nearly every regular, daily activity. Physical therapy involving stretching and strengthening of the musculature around this area can improve the pain.
Most of the pain from hip surgery lasts several days to a week, although each case is different. Some people experience some degree of pain for weeks after the operation, but your pain should not grow in intensity.
You can expect to experience some discomfort in the hip region itself, as well as groin pain and thigh pain. This is normal as your body adjusts to changes made to joints in that area. There can also be pain in the thigh and knee that is typically associated with a change in the length of your leg.
ANSWER: There are a number of possible reasons for the discomfort you're experiencing. It might be a problem with the artificial joint, or you may have an infection. The pain also could be related to a condition called hip flexor tendinitis.
The Don'ts
Don't lean forward while sitting or as you sit down. Don't try to pick up something on the floor while you are sitting. Don't turn your feet excessively inward or outward when you bend down. Don't reach down to pull up blankets when lying in bed.
Walking. Proper walking is the best way to help your hip recover. At first, you will walk with a walker or crutches. Your surgeon or therapist will tell you how much weight to put on your leg.
If pain was present right from the outset, it may indicate infection or a periprosthetic fracture. Impingement or early failure of osseointegration may also cause pain to have been present right from the first day of surgery. A pain free interval followed by pain may indicate loosening or late infection.
The hip is really a much simpler joint. The knee has to balance off-center loads and move side to side. And with a total knee replacement, you are removing a lot of tissue and bone. Postoperative pain is higher with knees since the soft tissue affected by the surgery must stretch more than soft tissue around the hip.
Surgical Procedure
The surgeon makes one incision to the front of the hip, about 4 inches long. The surgeon then pushes the muscles aside to access the hip joint to begin the replacement. At no time during the surgery are any muscles cut. The femur (thigh bone) is separated from the acetabulum (hipbone socket).
One of the most common serious medical complications related to joint replacement surgery is blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) refers to a blood clot in the leg and is called a deep vein thrombosis. A sudden increase in leg swelling along with calf tenderness may be the first sign of a blood clot in the leg.
Most people experience some pain after a hip replacement. Pain usually ranges from mild to moderate and may radiate to the thigh. Doctors call post-hip replacement surgery pain in the thigh femoral stem pain. A hip replacement is a common procedure that replaces a hip joint that is no longer functional.
It is important to gradually increase your out-of-home activity during the first few weeks after surgery. If you do too much activity, your hip may become more swollen and painful.
Tendonitis around the hip muscles or subtle tears. Sometimes, inflammation around these tendons irritates the local nerves around the hip and can cause radiation or pain in the groin, thigh, and buttock. These can also usually be addressed with physical therapy, cortisone injections and anti-inflammatories.
As with any operation, hip replacement surgery has risks as well as benefits. Most people who have a hip replacement do not have serious complications. After having a hip replacement, contact your doctor if you get: hot, reddened, hard or painful areas in your leg in the first few weeks after your operation.
If the acetabular portion of the replacement, known as the cup, becomes loose, you may experience groin and buttock pain. If the femoral part of the replacement, known as the stem, becomes loose, you may note thigh pain and sometimes pain in the groin.
A total hip replacement is a major surgery. With walking and other physical therapy done daily, a patient can expect to be back in their usual routine in about six weeks. If you have more questions about recovering from total hip replacement surgery, contact Dr. Dan Albright at 919-863-6808.
The best position to sleep in after total hip replacement is on your back with a pillow between your legs. You can also sleep on your non-operative side with two pillows lined between your legs. When you're sleeping on your back, make sure you don't cross your ankles or legs.
The exercises your physiotherapist gives you are an important part of your recovery. It's essential you continue with them once you're at home.
may return as soon as comfortable, however chairs of an appropriate height and stability are required. may return from six weeks if able. Remember the hip precautions are to be followed for six weeks.
10 weeks to one year after surgery
In most cases, any pain will have gone away after a year, although some people continue to experience some mild pain or discomfort after a year. You will need to keep up with your daily physiotherapy exercises and regular walking.
The best strategy for controlling your pain after surgery is around the clock pain control with Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (ibuprofen or Advil). Alternating these medications with each other allows you to maximize your pain control.
Remember you can't bend more than 90 degrees in those early days, so ensure everyday items are stored at waist height. It's also worth thinking about hiring a raised toilet seat and a shower chair. Setting up a recovery station is a great way to avoid unnecessarily getting up and down when you're trying to recover.