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What Causes Soreness In Muscles Post Hip Replacement?
Posted on
Wed, 2 Sep 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 2 Sep 2015
Answered on
Tue, 22 Sep 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi. 4 weeks ago, i had a hip replacement. I was having pain in my groin area and also Mri showed bone on bone. I have had lower back problems too prior to surgery in that i have degenerative disc disease. After my operation, my lower back didnt bother me, but muscles in legs very sore. I have been seeing a physical therapist. About 2 weeks ago, i started getting pain in my lower back probably around SI joint and i am having a difficult time of it. I wasnt doing too bad until that started. Is that normal? Will that eventually ease up for me? I am so disgusted right now. thanks
Brief Answer:
It seems to be muscular spasm.
Detailed Answer:
Dr. Hanif warmly Welcomes you to my virtual clinic HCM!
I have carefully worked through your case, and can realize your health worries. Being your physician, I will take care all of your medical concerns.
It seems to be a muscular spasm and it happens post-surgically very often. All the symptoms of pains also are usually causes in convalescent period due to the fluid and electrolyte imbalances and muscles take time to get back to work.
I suggest you to apply Bengay Ultrastretch Ointment on the affected areas of back and thigh and massage gently.
Apply ThermaCare HeatWraps at painful areas. It will soothe you a lot.
Take any over the counter pain medication too. Take plenty of fluids. If not hypertensive you may take Pedialyte judiciously.
Have a wonderful time ahead. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
It seems to be muscular spasm.
Detailed Answer:
Dr. Hanif warmly Welcomes you to my virtual clinic HCM!
I have carefully worked through your case, and can realize your health worries. Being your physician, I will take care all of your medical concerns.
It seems to be a muscular spasm and it happens post-surgically very often. All the symptoms of pains also are usually causes in convalescent period due to the fluid and electrolyte imbalances and muscles take time to get back to work.
I suggest you to apply Bengay Ultrastretch Ointment on the affected areas of back and thigh and massage gently.
Apply ThermaCare HeatWraps at painful areas. It will soothe you a lot.
Take any over the counter pain medication too. Take plenty of fluids. If not hypertensive you may take Pedialyte judiciously.
Have a wonderful time ahead. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks, With this hip replacement , in between exercises, i sit in a lounge chair a lot. I was told that i could sit in a reclining lounge chair. could this be contributing to my lower pain around si joint? Pysical therapist said that i could sit in it as well as my dr after hip replacement. thanks in advance
Brief Answer:
Yes prolonged reclining and sitting both are contributing factors.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back. I appreciate your follow-up query and I am happily available to answer you.
Yes, reclining causes tension on a continuous basis on the lower back muscles. Sitting longer also contributes and both of them may cause the pain in lower back and in the area of sacroiliac joint.
So physical therapy is a must for you. Keep changing the posture while reclining. Don't cross your legs anytime in any posture. I wish you a very good health and early recovery.
Have a wonderful time ahead. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Yes prolonged reclining and sitting both are contributing factors.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back. I appreciate your follow-up query and I am happily available to answer you.
Yes, reclining causes tension on a continuous basis on the lower back muscles. Sitting longer also contributes and both of them may cause the pain in lower back and in the area of sacroiliac joint.
So physical therapy is a must for you. Keep changing the posture while reclining. Don't cross your legs anytime in any posture. I wish you a very good health and early recovery.
Have a wonderful time ahead. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
thanks. also, my physical therapist had me doing some exercises that involved me laying on my back and doing things that really bothered my lower back. Today he told me to stop all those exercises and just walk. I am to sign up for outpatient physical therapy next week and I am almost afraid to. My back was doing OK until I started all those other exercises I do have degeneration disc in my lower back. Would value your opinion. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Ask for careful therapy by the physical therapist.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back. Happy to see your follow up query.
Yes, as aforementioned, you need physical therapy too. But expert hands are needed for that as this should not add to your symptoms, rather should relieve them.
I wish you a good health and fast recovery. I also want to appreciate your courage and commitment towards good health. Please don't get afraid of physical therapy and ask her to limit the span of stretching exercises and movements for you according to the need.
Have a wonderful time ahead. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Ask for careful therapy by the physical therapist.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back. Happy to see your follow up query.
Yes, as aforementioned, you need physical therapy too. But expert hands are needed for that as this should not add to your symptoms, rather should relieve them.
I wish you a good health and fast recovery. I also want to appreciate your courage and commitment towards good health. Please don't get afraid of physical therapy and ask her to limit the span of stretching exercises and movements for you according to the need.
Have a wonderful time ahead. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
thanks. I start outpatient physical therapy on Tues. I have consultation first and will make sure I tell him about my lower back pain. It feels like ligament or soft tissue near the SI joint is swollen. i sure hope he can help with that too as that makes it more difficult to walk right. I have been putting ice and heat on. Thanks so much!
Brief Answer:
Very right.Consultation first and then to make a plan of action for therapy
Detailed Answer:
Morning and welcome to my virtual clinic!!
I am happy to see you back with a follow up. You are heading towards the right direction now. Yes, consult in detail with the Physical Therapist and then make a plan of action for the future visits.
During Post-Surgical convalescent period some patients get inflammation of the area of surgery and the surrounding tissues due to manipulation. The inflammatory fluid always tends to accumulate subcutaneously in the most dependent parts of body.
You have been in a reclining seat for considerable time. This had led to the inflammatory fluid accumulation in the area to give the feeling of swelling in Sacroiliac joint area.
When a person remains in a supine/sitting position for longer time, it also leads to fluid accumulation subcutaneously.
This all will resolve with mild movements. Once you start physical therapy this oedematous fluid will get dissolved very soon.
I wish you happy times ahead and a real good health soon. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Very right.Consultation first and then to make a plan of action for therapy
Detailed Answer:
Morning and welcome to my virtual clinic!!
I am happy to see you back with a follow up. You are heading towards the right direction now. Yes, consult in detail with the Physical Therapist and then make a plan of action for the future visits.
During Post-Surgical convalescent period some patients get inflammation of the area of surgery and the surrounding tissues due to manipulation. The inflammatory fluid always tends to accumulate subcutaneously in the most dependent parts of body.
You have been in a reclining seat for considerable time. This had led to the inflammatory fluid accumulation in the area to give the feeling of swelling in Sacroiliac joint area.
When a person remains in a supine/sitting position for longer time, it also leads to fluid accumulation subcutaneously.
This all will resolve with mild movements. Once you start physical therapy this oedematous fluid will get dissolved very soon.
I wish you happy times ahead and a real good health soon. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I am back to sitting in recliner as that feels the most comfortable, but I am sure that isn't helping. Also. I do sit around a lot in between walking around my house. The fluid makes a lot of sense and I hope the physical therapy helps with that as sometimes even when I sit it feels like something is hitting a nerve ir
Brief Answer:
Yes, Physical Therapy will definitely help in this regard. Start Kegel too.
Detailed Answer:
Warm Welcome to HCM with a follow up.
Yes, after the surgery you had, sitting definitely is the most comfortable position. It also helps in relieving inflammatory processes because taking rest makes the joints immobile and least friction and stretch on the inner structures. So, it is a necessary evil, we can say.
Yes Physical Therapy will help improve the venous return in the area, relieve undue stretch and spasm on muscles. Muscles when are stretched in specific positions (under guidance of a physical therapist) also leads to increased new blood flow and flushing the waste products of the metabolism.
One important thing I want to add here is will even make your reclining/sitting fruitful too. When you are sitting around in between the walks around the house, do KEGEL EXERCISES. This will strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor and will help relieve the stress on muscles and tendons during long sitting. It is also helpful for urethra, bladder and anal sphincter muscles tone enhancement. It also helps advancing age issues of Urinary, fecal incontinence and improves the muscles strength.
I wish you happy times ahead and a real good health soon. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Yes, Physical Therapy will definitely help in this regard. Start Kegel too.
Detailed Answer:
Warm Welcome to HCM with a follow up.
Yes, after the surgery you had, sitting definitely is the most comfortable position. It also helps in relieving inflammatory processes because taking rest makes the joints immobile and least friction and stretch on the inner structures. So, it is a necessary evil, we can say.
Yes Physical Therapy will help improve the venous return in the area, relieve undue stretch and spasm on muscles. Muscles when are stretched in specific positions (under guidance of a physical therapist) also leads to increased new blood flow and flushing the waste products of the metabolism.
One important thing I want to add here is will even make your reclining/sitting fruitful too. When you are sitting around in between the walks around the house, do KEGEL EXERCISES. This will strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor and will help relieve the stress on muscles and tendons during long sitting. It is also helpful for urethra, bladder and anal sphincter muscles tone enhancement. It also helps advancing age issues of Urinary, fecal incontinence and improves the muscles strength.
I wish you happy times ahead and a real good health soon. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thanks again as always Approximately how long will it take for me to feel better--hip and lower back? It's been 4 1/2 weeks now. Is it safe for me to venture outside yet? or to go out to eat? i thought maybe getting out may help a bit but wasnt sure if it's too soon. I do have to go outpatient therapy Tuesday. If it wasnt for my pain in lower back, i would walk and sit better. It seems like when i sit i am pushing against a nerve or something because it feels like my nerves a re going crazy in my lower back and sometimes legs. you have been a great help and for that, I thank you
Brief Answer:
Recovery time differs in different people depending on many factors.
Detailed Answer:
Morning!
I am happy to see your follow-up query. Its been very great time being with you in the hour of need and I am glad to know that I was of some help for you.
I will come to your follow up questions one by one.
It usually takes 4-7 months for patients with hip replacement to recover completely and it depends upon many factors:
Bones & muscle health.
Other comorbidities.
Overall health and
Rehabilitation-effectiveness.
To Venture out/To go out for eating---Just keep attention to your body. If you feel it is allowing you to move around (as much as body bears easily) you can do it. But use walker or any walking support you have available with you. Getting out will hep refresh you a bit, but with precautions.
These nerve, muscle and bone problems and backache, will all may take 4-7 months to heel up properly and make you feel better. Your determination is the key and you have been very brave up til now. I appreciate your patience and courage.
I wish you happy times ahead and a real good health with a fast recovery. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Recovery time differs in different people depending on many factors.
Detailed Answer:
Morning!
I am happy to see your follow-up query. Its been very great time being with you in the hour of need and I am glad to know that I was of some help for you.
I will come to your follow up questions one by one.
It usually takes 4-7 months for patients with hip replacement to recover completely and it depends upon many factors:
Bones & muscle health.
Other comorbidities.
Overall health and
Rehabilitation-effectiveness.
To Venture out/To go out for eating---Just keep attention to your body. If you feel it is allowing you to move around (as much as body bears easily) you can do it. But use walker or any walking support you have available with you. Getting out will hep refresh you a bit, but with precautions.
These nerve, muscle and bone problems and backache, will all may take 4-7 months to heel up properly and make you feel better. Your determination is the key and you have been very brave up til now. I appreciate your patience and courage.
I wish you happy times ahead and a real good health with a fast recovery. Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have any further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you in no time. If satisfied here, please give a generous five star rating and don't forget to close the discussion.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up after sometime regarding the treatment efficacy and to see any need to change the treatment options is very necessary. Keep a follow up some days after this visit session ends.
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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