Thigh Pain After Hip Replacement

People who experience thigh pain after a hip replacement surgery should not be too alarmed with their condition as this is something that is not unusual. Many people go through this ordeal after their surgery, and the severity of the pain usually varies from person to person. In most cases, the pain occurs as a direct result of putting too much stress on the surgically repaired hip, and it soon passes along.

The more time that elapses since the completion of the hip surgery, the lesser will be the intensity of the hip pain. Thus it is normal to expect some degree of pain soon after the surgery has been completed. Apart from the pain, there is also a distinct clicking noise that can be heard for some time, and in most cases there is no pain that accompanies these noises and sensations.

One should start taking notice though, when the pain consistently increases as time goes by and does not go away on its own. This means that some complication has arisen after the surgery, and this is something that you must get looked at by the doctor who conducted the surgery itself, since he will be well aware of the condition of your hip.

Causes

The pain that is felt in patients is usually centered in the thigh of the individual. You should be aware of the possible causes of this pain, before you jump to conclusions.

The surgery may have ended up causing some kind of infection in the afflicted area and this can end up spreading to neighboring body parts. Sometimes, the operation in itself may be unsuccessfully carried out, and the repaired hip may end up getting loose after a few days or even hours. There are plenty of hip replacement complications that one is susceptible to. This will be confirmed if the pain is felt right after the individual starts walking and performing other movements. The surgery also affects many tissues and parts around the operated area, and this can also end up causing a certain amount of pain. Any changes in the hip structure and the tissues will be extremely uncomfortable to live with. These are all problems that can be avoided if the doctor takes all the recommended precautions.

There can possibly be ossification within the muscles, there can be a fatigue fracture of the pelvis, there can be nerve damage or there can even be some sort of inflammation due to some reason. Sometimes, the thigh pain can be caused by some other factors completely. A problem in the spine or some sort of vascular disease can also end up causing this pain. The exact cause can be determined by a doctor with the knowledge about the exact area where the pain is occurring, the time span for which the pain has been present and what the patient was doing when the pain was first felt. It is important to remember that the recovery time also differs from person to person.

Managing The Pain

How to deal with the chronic pain is something that will differ from person to person. If you feel that the problem is persistent enough for you to be alarmed, then you must go back to the doctor who performed the surgery. With a few questions he will be able to ascertain the cause of the pain, and how to deal with it. Some pain killers will be administered to you in the meantime, so that you can cope with the pain for the time being.

With the help of an x-ray and some other lab tests, the exact problem will be ascertained soon enough. In extreme cases, a fresh surgery may be necessary to get rid of this extra pain. Studies show that about 10% of the people who undergo total hip replacement (THR) experience pain afterwards and require further treatment for their condition. The pain in itself is merely a symptom of a larger problem and it is important to get to the bottom of the thigh pain causes as soon as possible.

The individual experiencing pain must be strong, and must follow all the instructions of the doctor. This is the only way to avoid a further relapse, and a worsening of the condition. Some exercises will also be recommended, and these must be performed sincerely, while refraining from strenuous physical activity is also vitally important.