Femoral nerve palsy post THR

[BrandyLaine]

When I awoke from my THR, my leg felt like mush.  Within 5 days, I lost all quad strength, hip flexor strength and my lower leg was on fire, crawling, stabbing horrible pain...EMG's were silent for 41/2 months. The injury was "above the inguinal area." Now, I am 8mos post op and my lower leg is numb with intermittent stabbing pain, my knee feels like mush, my quad is stronger but still extremely weak and gives out as I walk.  I cannot walk upstairs, cant even lift my foot 3 inches off the ground due to hip flexor weakness.  
Recently, the doc noticed on a cross lateral xray that the cup protrudes from the pelvis and this must be the cause of the intense iliopsoas pain and groin pain I still experience.  Could this also be affecting my femoral nerve?  Doesnt the nerve cross in front of the cup as well?  Could this be preventing healing of the nerve?  I had a cortisone injection as a diagnostic tool for the tendon issue- 3 days post injection and the intense pain I was experiencing is greatly reduced. From an 8 to a 3.  It seems strange to me to ignore the nerve issue?  Please help, Im 35 with 3 kids and I have to get back to normal!
Thanks,
Brandy


This discussion is related to Femoral Nerve Palsy.

[annie_80]

hi my dad had a revision hip replacement 3 weeks ago and is too not able to life his leg, doctors think it is nerve damage, do nerves grow back or is paralysis possible. our family is sadened and doctors cant give us an answer. how is this caused apparently it is quite rare that this happens....

[whitkyle]

Hi,

Have either of you ladies seen any progress?  My 61 yo mother had thr one month ago.  Her hip is doing well but she has what I believe fermoral nerve damage(after many hours googling.)  Her surgeon continues to tell her that she is fine but is having a slow recovery and cited muscle damage.  She cannot use her quad muscle to kick her leg while sitting or to lift her leg while lying down.

What should we do?  We have not had any PT or seen nuerologist.  We will see surgeon again tomorrow.

[hipgirl]

Same problem, only it was immediately after surgery that my quad was nonfunctioning. 5 months post surgery, I have regained considerable function, although still unsteady and just recently regained some control of hip flexor. Can lift leg now but not all the way................see a neurologist and/or a physiatrist! I assume you are in physical therapy. E-stim does seem to help, and vitamin b can't hurt! Good luck, it is a very slow healing process.