Dr. Timothy K. Durnin - 8/14/2007

Question
I am-was a very active 48 year old woman.  Because of development dysplasia, my left hip was bone-on-bone and I chose THR after months of research and talking with others who had it done.  I wanted to get back to my active lifestyle as soon as possible.

I had a posterior MIS procedure with metal-on-metal parts.  I had 3 weeks post-op PT at home, 3x a week.  At 6 weeks the doctor asked why I wasn't walking (I was still on crutches).  He said the xrays looked good.  He prescribed water therapy, of which I have 3 sessions left.  I have been using a cane for a 1 1/2 weeks, but feel extremely unstable and weight bearing is very painful.  Doctor says I've done too much and went back to work too soon.  He told me I could return to work in 2-6 weeks.  I went back half-time in 3 weeks.  When not working or doing PT, I was resting.

Therapist says I'm not doing enough and that I'm probably scared to put weight on the leg.  Having trained for and run 8 marathons previously, I feel I know the difference between muscle soreness and pain.  

After almost 12 weeks, I'm frustrated and bitter and no closer to walking than the day after surgery.  The pain on weight bearing is a 15 on a scale from 1-10.  Nobody wants to HEAR what I'm telling them.  All I keep hearing from the doctor and therapist is that I need to be patient.  All I know is I think I made the biggest mistake of my entire life.

Answer
Hi Michele,

I wish you would have talked to a few more people before getting a THR. Few hospitals even do them anymore for just that reason, here at University of Chicago we do resurfacing which is much less invasive and few if any complications. Unfortunately, this procedure has been the Gold Standard for decades in other countries, the USA is about 25 yrs behind in Medicine due to the red tape. We just got the OK for resurfacing in October of last year and the results are astounding. Patients up and walking in 3 days, running in a week. Same with the knee, no more total knees unless absolutely necessary. I would get another Ortho far away to re-evaluate you, it's obvious this guy isn't going to admit he did an unnecessary and incorrect procedure on you. Call around and see, also Google the new technique, if your other hip needs it at least you'll know what to do. Sorry to hear about the outcome, unfortunately with spine and replacement surgery, the outcomes can be very bad.

My sympathies,

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com