Leg over and inch too long - Knee & Hip Problems Message Board

legtoolong · 04-18-2005, 02:35 PM

I had my second hip replacement Jan. 6, 2005. All went well until I got off the walker at 6 weeks postop and found that my right leg was 1" longer than the left. My doc. made light of it and called it 1.3 cm. He said he had to use a longer prothsesis since the shorter one popped out when checked. He also said it would "settle in". (I don't believe it) He prescribed a 3/8" lift for my shoes. My back is hurting and I throw my hip out when I walk. Tomorrow I consult a Physical Medicine and Rehab doc to get an accurate measurement and hopefully correct my leg difference properly. Anyone out there who has been through this?

balleteach · 04-18-2005, 05:55 PM

Hi. Having one leg longer than the other can happen with hip-replacement. I'm not sure why, but I have heard of this problem before. Luckily for me, I ended up with a great result after my surgery. What was the result of your first hip-replacement? Did you feel uneven afterward? It must be very frustrating to recuperate and have this problem.. Keep posting and good luck, balleteach

hip2it · 04-18-2005, 07:09 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your problem. I just had my first hip replacement last November and it sure felt to me like it was uneven (the new one felt much taller). As time goes by it feels less and less like that. The only time I can tell now is when I put my legs together standing straight. It's very slight. The doctor said it would get better and so far it has, so I think I will wait and see.

What happened with your other hip? Did you feel this way with that one? I will be interested in what the physical rehab doc has to say. Sometimes I think I need help to re-learn how to walk properly so that I use the prosthesis to it's best advantage. I started off walking like I did before the replacement (I was making compensations for bone spurs and flexibility issues that were no longer there). You may want to get this new doc's opinion about your gait...?

Good luck... let us know what happens.

legtoolong · 04-19-2005, 08:34 AM

My first hip replacement went very well and I did feel a slight difference but it went away. This one is way over the top and obviously different.

I'll let you know what I find out at the appointment today.

legtoolong · 04-20-2005, 07:41 AM

Well, this doc was really high tech—she measured my leg difference by putting a stack of paper under my left foot then checking my hips to see if they were level. Then she measured the stack of paper. (She said this is how they were trained to do it.) It came out 1 cm. which is about ½ inch. The weird part is that my sandals with the 3/8” lift built in, and a removable 3/8” lift inside, made my hips look level and my gait improved. I think different shoes will need different correction and will take experimentation. My gait still needs work so she is sending me to physical therapy. She had worked with the therapist I went to after surgery and said he is good and I liked him too, so I’m going back to him. It is going to take some retraining since I’ve gotten used to walking wrong.

I walked around the block this morning and still have back pain but I think that will need time to heal after 2 1/2 months of walking wrong. I also want to tell you that I am praying for the Lord to heal me both in my back and to even out my legs. Nothing is impossible, so if you think so too, join me in prayer.
Thanks