I Regret Having Had a THR - Knee & Hip Problems Message Board

omaggi · 11-26-2005, 04:00 PM

I had a total hip replacement (THR) 4 weeks ago. According to the surgeon & physical therapists, the new hip is functioning well. Unfortunately, however, I awoke with Foot Drop, a condition I had never heard of. Basically, on my operated-on leg, I can't pull my foot and toes back toward my ankle more than slightly. (Right after surgery, the foot wouldn't budge. Now I can move it perhaps three-quarters of an inch toward my leg.) In addition, my leg from knee to toes feels constantly asleep with frequent stabbing waves of pins and needles. An EMG reveals damage to the peroneal nerve, so I am scheduled for a Peroneal Nerve Decompression in 6 days. The surgeon is hopeful that it will solve some or all of the new problems, but cautions me not to get my hopes up, as nothing may change. I was fitted in the hospital for a very uncomfortable off-the-shelf foot brace and have been measured for a custom foot brace that I am supposed to get this week. The brace is necessary to keep me from tripping myself with my dropped foot when I walk (although I had the non-cement type of THR so I am still not able to put much weight on the operated leg and am walking or rather hobbing on a walker). I'm told I'll have to wear the brace for as long as the foot remains dropped, which could be anywhere between 8 months more and life-time. // Although most of the replies to threads on this board are relentlessly upbeat, I would advise anyone thinking about having THR to keep in mind the possibility of unwanted side effects, such as foot drop and peroneal nerve problems, and weigh these possibly life-changing alternatives against the inconvenience of an arthritic hip. If I could go back in time, I definitely would NOT have had the surgery.

Kiricki · 11-26-2005, 04:37 PM

Maggi--

I answered your post on the wrong topic......sorry! Check *6 months after replacement* for my reply to you!

happybunny · 11-29-2005, 01:49 PM

I really feel for you as I developed long term unwanted side effects ( nerve pain) after a big op myself. Don't give up hope that it will sort out. It sounds as though they have some strategy for you and although it may not seem like it to you it really is early days yet. Bodies are remarkable at being able to adapt and adjust to the strange things we put them through. We are very resilient and there is every chance that you will soon find the problem sorting itself out with the help you are getting.

I admire you for pointing out the negatives with the op though. So many people are afraid of giving someone else a realistic opinion of treatment. We need to be aware of what can happen. It is not natural to have surgery, chopping bits out and so on. Usually we can recover well and benefit in an incredible way from the skill of the surgeons and teams. But problems do arise and we need to be aware of the risks. The "before surgery" situation has to be bad enough to take the risks. Don't weigh up your own "before and after" balance until more time has passed.

I worry that my 80 year old mum-in-law is rushing into this THR she will have (see other posting). We feel she may not be bad enough to take the risks but she has made her mind up so all we can do is support her. The surgeon seems to have told her "everything will be fine in 6 weeks" and we have had to try to warn her that it will almost certainly be longer and that there may be unforseen problems but her mind seems shut to it. I think such promises by surgeons are cruel. They should warn of possibility of longer recovery and that things will not be 100% perfect as she knows it. A "new" hip is never like the original structure.

Push for all the help you can get but it can sometimes take up to 12 months to see the true benefits of an op, allowing time for things to adjust and settle down. Don't give up hope. Our bodies do a grand job with healing.

Best wishes with your recovery. Take care.

gram17 · 12-01-2005, 03:23 PM

Omaggi, I had hip replacement surgery 3/9/05 and like you woke up to a numb foot except for the sole, the left side of my leg (surgery was on left hip)has a numbness about two inches wide which continues down to the foot, I always feel as though I have a very tight sock on the foot. Like you I wish I had never had the surgery done, its been 8 months now. I have had an emg, and was told that I will get some feeling back, when and how much they cant tell me.
On top of all that because of the way I'm walking, I developed bursitis in the same hip. The surgeon keeps saying " the numbnessis moving down on the side of your leg, which it has about 3 inches, but the top of the foot toes and left side of the foot are totally numb. In the hospital they gave me a brace, which was very uncomfortable.
My primary Dr. sent me to a specialist "Diplomate American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal/sports medicine, after examining me he determined that the operated leg is 3/4 of an inch longer then the other, he gave me a cortisone shot in my hip for the bursitit, referred me to the Hanger Orthopedic brace maker, where the made a mold of the bad leg/foot and now I have to wear a new brace from mid calf to the bottom of my foot, with velcro straps, and I cant wear any of my old shoes, and had to buy a pair of special sneakers for #139.00
I'm also back in P.T. where I have to do exercises to strengthen back and buttock muscles because the foot and calf muscles dont work therefore the other muscles aren't working properly. I also get heat and electrical stimulation to the muscles.
At this point I feel I will be handicapped for the rest of my life, which is not what I anticipated when I went in for pretty routine surgery.

simpatica · 01-12-2007, 08:33 AM

I had a peroneal nerve decompression 2 weeks ago so I am very interested in the outcome of this surgical procedure. I actually had a freak accident where I jumped on my foot the wrong way 6 months ago and as I had another injury which was what the doctors focused on, it was not discovered that the nerve was entrapped. Now I am also wondering if I have tarsal tunnel syndrome which is even less common than peroneal nerve entrapment. I have been through the brace saga and found that a regular boot that goes up to the knee works better than the brace to provide support and is meuch more comfortable. Also, i would like to know if there is anything I can do to encourage the regeneration of my nerve. And what is the time frame if there is hope for recovery?