Question
I am a 55-year-old female. I had an extremely successful THR on my right hip 3 years ago. I walk, hike, bike, do weight training, etc. Recently I have noticed a mild pain on the outside of my right hip. It's not severe enough to require ibuprofen, but it's irritating and something new. I have had nothing more than an occasional mild twinge to this point. I am wondering if doing squats with weights in my exercise class might be causing this, or if it's something more serious, like loosening. I go to my surgeon every year and he takes an x-ray--the hip has been "rock solid" (his words) every time. Any insight would be appreciated!

Answer
Hi Marta!
I am not a physical therapist, but I will try my best to help.  Did you have all the exercise that you do approved by you doctor?  If not, you need to let him know what you are doing so he can let you know if you are overdoing things.

Personally, I would not do do the squats, especially with weights. I did "step classes" for awhile (and they were approved by my doctor, but I had a lot of muscle pain afterwards so I stoped.   I can't say for sure if the prosthesis is loosening, and only an X-ray or arthroscopy can diagnose that.

If the pain is not in the joint, it MAY be a soft tissue injury and that might just require rest and heat or ice.  But to ease your mind, you do need to get with your surgeon so he can make that determination.

My rule of thumb is that if something doesn't feel right, and it's causing you to worry, or ask questions, you need to run the question by your doctor.

Sharon Davis