Did anyone have hip replacement failure and require 2nd surgery?

Kelly

Hello, Hip Runners!

I am a 41-year old female and had left anterior THR on 3/21/18. Unfortunately, my recovery has been very difficult.  At the 8-month mark, I am limping by the end of each day and have quite a bit of pain that I can only describe as similar to biting on tinfoil with the old kind of fillings, but in my hip. Furthermore, there is a ping-pong-ball-sized concave depression at the front of my hip on the operated side that is right where the pain is. A similar depression is not on my healthy hip and is new since the surgery.

I have had three follow-up appointments with my Mayo Clinic surgeon (two more than expected) since the surgery. I have been told that the x-ray of the hip joint looks great, though the doctor did not do any x-rays to measure/compare leg length despite my requests. (He said we should wait until the year mark.). I suspect that my operated leg is significantly longer than the other.

Has anyone needed corrective surgery after the initial surgery? I am in more pain than before I had the operation. I am unable to do any of the activities I want.  Continuing to be active is why I had the surgery in the first place.  Even exercise walking is difficult.

I am curious what the second surgery might involve and what my options are? Given the fact that I am healing so poorly, my doctor asked me to come in for a fourth time at the end of this month to discuss options. This is a big disappointment because I was assured that because of my young age, recovery would be a breeze. Ugh.

Thanks, y’all!
Kelly

Home › Forums › Did anyone have hip replacement failure and require 2nd surgery?

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    • November 14, 2018 at 6:59 pm #14238
      Kelly
      Participant

      Hello, Hip Runners! I am a 41-year old female and had left anterior THR on 3/21/18. Unfortunately, my recovery has been very difficult.  At the 8-mont
      [See the full post at: Did anyone have hip replacement failure and require 2nd surgery?]

    • November 14, 2018 at 7:56 pm #14241
      TammyC12910
      Participant

      Hi Kelly.. I completely Understand..July 2015 left anterior.. I was 44 .. feeling bad, burning feeling and wobbly had another scan/countless dr.appt .Dr.said nothing was wrong/ still I knew. Trying to see a dr. For an 2nd opinion was so difficult especially just after 7mths .. but

      I was in pain back using my cane for stability. The 2nd option was in January 2016 And WOW! The femur was rubbing and lose needed a revision quick / but this dr would not operate on me because he knows the other DR. Who did the operation. Conflict!
      … February 10th I seen another orthopedic surgeon and February 29th ( leap day) I had left revision. Post …A lot of scar tissue swollen bad .. I needed a size 7 ( first dr.used the wrong size ) and I had a size 40mm screw to keep the socket stronger!
      37 staples later .. WOW!! So much better but was still scared .. In November felt weak at my right knee /December 2016 ..right meniscus tear from all my weight instability from the first operation. ..Today .. still have muscle spasms at times ..but I walk without a wobble and I’m able to Run again (thanks) to the elliptical/ sauna ..
      I really would have another opinion.
      .. from the swelling I had .. I was worried it was infected/ something an X-ray/ scan unable to see. Just really raw dr. Said .
      Please seek a second opinion.

      Tammy
      Fort Myers FL.

      • September 11, 2019 at 1:57 am #15496
        Gmoney
        Participant

        Yes!

        Surgery #1: THR

        Surgery # 2: Screws were put in to stabilize acetabular component to pelvic bone because I had aseptic acetabular loosening.

        Surgery #3: A DUAL-MOBILITY hip joint was put in after 4 dislocations! Look up dual-mobility joint. It’s for extreme athletes:)

    • November 14, 2018 at 8:14 pm #14242
      ds785042
      Participant

      I had my 1st hip replacement in 2008. It left my leg about an inch longer than my good leg. Also I was in a lot of pain. In 2010 I went to different surgeon who replaced the ball of the joint with a different type and size. 10 weeks after that surgery I was back to 7 min miles after suffering for 2 years. My legs are almost the same length too.

      • September 10, 2019 at 5:33 pm #15494
        Kelly
        Participant

        At 18 months, it has been determined after a bone scan with contrast dye that my acetabular cup is loose. (This was not evident on x-rays.) I will need another surgery to either a) replace the cup or b) replace the implant entirely. I’m happy to hear that this has been a successful option for others. Thank you for your comments. I will keep you posted 🙂

      • November 12, 2019 at 9:30 am #16890
        Kelly
        Participant

        Question for ds785042 or any other with loose acetabular cup: Prior to having the loose acetabular cup fixed, did you have pain at rest? With exercise?

        I had a second opinion within the same department, who attributed my pain to “menstrual cramps” or that it is “all in my head.” (It’s not.) This surgeon claimed that a loose acetabular cup would not cause pain at rest or with exercise, only in the first initial steps walking and pain would decrease with exercise. He also stated that an implant can’t hurt, since it’s all hardware.

        (I have had significant groin pain/ache x 19 months post surgery. I am unable to walk without a limp and unable to run completely.)

        I have a bone scan in which the radiologist concludes that the acetabular cup is loose. I have the opinion of an outside doc that my acetabular cup is loose, my symptoms are consistent with that diagnosis, and that I need a revision surgery. I had a radiologist warn me off the record that something may have gone wrong and that I may be labeled as “a head case” to “cover their asses.”

        Needless to say, it’s really frustrating. I see a second second opinion with another unrelated group next week. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, please feel free to share any loose acetabular cup / THR revision stories here!

    • November 21, 2018 at 2:03 pm #14263
      Hip Brother Tom
      Keymaster

      Kelly,

      So sorry to hear about your unfortunate situation. No ping pong ball sized depression on my hip. Hate to say it, but it may be time for a second opinion. As far as I know, your story is NOT the norm on this site. Stay hopeful and optimistic (I know it is hard to think it). :/

      Hang in there Kelly and please keep us posted on your progress.

      Hip Brother Tom

    • January 20, 2019 at 3:02 am #14640
      Gmoney
      Participant

      Yes! I had a hip revision surgery 16 months after my original surgery. My acetabular cap loosened and they had to put screws in to stablize it. After that surgery I have had three dislocations which landed me in the ER to be put under anesthesia for restabilization. I don’t know what to do now:(

    • September 11, 2019 at 3:36 am #15497
      Gmoney
      Participant

      This is an positive update (and hopefully useful), not a duplicate post 🙂

      Surgery #1: THR

      Surgery # 2: Screws were put in to stabilize acetabular component to pelvic bone because I had aseptic acetabular loosening.

      Surgery #3: A DUAL-MOBILITY hip joint was put in after 4 dislocations! Look up dual-mobility joint. It’s for extreme athletes:)

      • November 12, 2019 at 9:33 am #16891
        Kelly
        Participant

        I will look it up now, Gmoney. How is it working for you? Thank you for the update!

    • November 16, 2019 at 10:59 pm #16910
      Gmoney
      Participant

      My dual-mobility joint is working out splendidly! For the acetabular loosening I have screws holding it in now.

    • November 16, 2019 at 11:03 pm #16911
      Gmoney
      Participant

      My dual-mobility joint is working out splendidly! For the acetabular loosening I have screws holding it in now.

      I’m sorry, I want to respond and help people, but this website keeps refuting my posts, saying they are all duplicates😭

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