New Hip Progress

[Millietant]

Some great news today.......I have a provisional date for my "Total Hip Replacement" surgery - 4th February 2022.

The only factor influencing this is the availability of my bespoke prosthesis, but unless something goes wrong in the supply chain (or the hospital staff call in sick), it's pretty much a guaranteed date.

Today I found out a bit more about the background for my bespoke prosthesis - not only is the pelvis side of my left hip socket all out of shape (just like the femur side), but my left leg is 4cm (1 and 1/2 inches) shorter than my right leg and the current wait for treatment because of hospital overload (staff sickness absence/isolation levels) since the start of the pandemic, has caused my left leg muscles, particularly my thigh muscle, to reduce noticeably in both size and strength (due to the lack of use, with me both "favouring my right side" when walking and also using a crutch).

So there's extra risk of back problems when they correct my left leg length with the femoral section replacement (my back will have developed to cope with the unequal length legs, over time) but that's a chance I'm willing to take. The real surprise to me was that 20 years ago i was told that my left leg was apparently only 20mm shorter than my right - not sure how this extra difference has come about, but the consultant didn't seem surprised.

Fingers crossed this means I should be fit for the bulk of our riding season next year. Liz and I have already set up a home gym (static spin bike, cross trainer, loose weights, bench (flat + incline) kettle bells etc....and a nice big Smart TV) for our son's physio exercises, but it looks like I'll be in there a lot for my recovery too, to build up strength around the joint to help prevent dislocations (another risk for the type of replacement I'm having).To be honest, I can't wait to be able to get in there and get started properly.

I also can't wait to get off these bl**dy painkillers !!!!

[Pat Conlon]

Good news Dean....in the interim, can orthodontics provide you temporary help on the 4cm difference?

[red]

So there's extra risk of back problems when they correct my left leg length with the femoral section replacement (my back will have developed to cope with the unequal length legs, over time) but that's a chance I'm willing to take. The real surprise to me was that 20 years ago i was told that my left leg was apparently only 20mm shorter than my right - not sure how this extra difference has come about, but the consultant didn't seem surprised.

Dean,

One man at work had one short leg, from a war.  He had one shoe with a thicker heel and sole than you need.  I would not think it wise to fully compensate for the entire difference for you now, because of the upcoming repair, but some compensation (~2cm?) may be helpful.  Check with the experts there, of course.

Best wishes.

[Millietant]

When the difference was 2cm it wasn't felt necessary, but now it's so much more, I'm going to see what can be done footwear-wise to help in the short term 

[Millietant]

So there's extra risk of back problems when they correct my left leg length with the femoral section replacement (my back will have developed to cope with the unequal length legs, over time) but that's a chance I'm willing to take. The real surprise to me was that 20 years ago i was told that my left leg was apparently only 20mm shorter than my right - not sure how this extra difference has come about, but the consultant didn't seem surprised.

Dean,

One man at work had one short leg, from a war.  He had one shoe with a thicker heel and sole than you need.  I would not think it wise to fully compensate for the entire difference for you now, because of the upcoming repair, but some compensation (~2cm?) may be helpful.  Check with the experts there, of course.

Best wishes.

Yeah, there isn't a plan to add 4cm to bring my legs back to equal - the discussions have been around gaining 2cm maximum back through this surgery.

For almost 40 years of my life, the difference of up to 2cm didn't really cause me any issues at all.

It's interesting but since mentioning this to a couple of people I see regularly when I'm out walking the dog, they both said that the way I walk always made them think my left leg was a lot shorter than my right - they say they only really noticed it when spotting me from a distance, and that up-close, they couldn't tell.

[Greenlander]

So there's extra risk of back problems when they correct my left leg length with the femoral section replacement (my back will have developed to cope with the unequal length legs, over time) but that's a chance I'm willing to take. The real surprise to me was that 20 years ago i was told that my left leg was apparently only 20mm shorter than my right - not sure how this extra difference has come about, but the consultant didn't seem surprised.

Dean,

One man at work had one short leg, from a war.  He had one shoe with a thicker heel and sole than you need.  I would not think it wise to fully compensate for the entire difference for you now, because of the upcoming repair, but some compensation (~2cm?) may be helpful.  Check with the experts there, of course.

Best wishes.

Yeah, there isn't a plan to add 4cm to bring my legs back to equal - the discussions have been around gaining 2cm maximum back through this surgery.

For almost 40 years of my life, the difference of up to 2cm didn't really cause me any issues at all.

It's interesting but since mentioning this to a couple of people I see regularly when I'm out walking the dog, they both said that the way I walk always made them think my left leg was a lot shorter than my right - they say they only really noticed it when spotting me from a distance, and that up-close, they couldn't tell.

Hello Dean,
You certainly have the textbook signs and symptoms of a worn out hip joint. I've rehabed many a hip during my 26 years working in Physical therapy and have observed a few surgeries. You are right that 2 cm is the max the femur can be lengthened due to putting to much stretch on the soft tissue in particular the sciatic nerve and femoral artery,risking complications.
Also a lot of times leg length discrepancy is caused by pelvic misalignment causing back and hip pain and often correctable with proper physical therapy.  But you being bone on bone obviously need a THR. You can do preop partial or non WB exercises to minimize loss of strength .
Hang in there until February .
Cheers,Hans

[giantkiller]

Different. But somewhat the same. I had gone into double knee replacement thinking i was going to be taller. He was going to straighten my extremely bowed legs. But couldn't completely straighten them due to ligaments being too loose on one side and too tight on the other.  Plus I had worn over an inch off the bones on the left side. So he had to shorten the right..even though he straightened my legs I came out shorter.
Plus I don't know how you straight legged guys deal with no room for your package. First time I walked with straight legs. I thought he did something wrong and my stuff had swollen massively.

[Pat Conlon]

That's because it was your package that caused your legs to bow......

[Flynt]

Plus I don't know how you straight legged guys deal with no room for your package. First time I walked with straight legs. I thought he did something wrong and my stuff had swollen massively.

I think this is what the Hipsters call Big D!ck Energy...

[Ted Schefelbein]

Good luck, Dean.

Ted

[ribbert]

Different. But somewhat the same. I had gone into double knee replacement .....

Yeah, I feel your pain Dan, I had a knee replaced last year and now probably need the other one done, as you can see from the xray.

[Moderator EDIT - Image removed, does not comply with Terms of Service]

Noel

[giantkiller]

 
Hope you heal well and quick Dean!

[Waiex191]

Best wishes for a good outcome Dean!

[Dads_FJ]

Different. But somewhat the same. I had gone into double knee replacement .....

Yeah, I feel your pain Dan, I had a knee replaced last year and now probably need the other one done, as you can see from the xray.

[Moderator EDIT - Image removed, does not comply with Terms of Service]

Noel

Copyright infringement?  Now I'm curious what TOS was violated.

[FJmonkey]

Copyright infringement?  Now I'm curious what TOS was violated.

I sent a PM.