10 Months of Leg Pain

[Michael G.]

I been dealing with leg pain that I thought was my back for the last 10 months.
Talked to a orthopedic doctor, attended physical therapy, had shots in my back, no relief.

Tried two different Chiropractors with electric treatments, 10's unit, stretching table, no relief.

My son suggested one day maybe it's your hip.

Back to see a different orthopedic doctor.
She said we can tell if it's your hip with a shot in my hip.
If it helps, even in a short term, we found the problem.
Had the shot, instantly no pain for the first time in 10 months.
Yes, Virginia there is a God.:a040:

I get a new hip in June.

Has anyone had hip surgery?

Cheers :beer3:

[badkarma318]

I've endured chronic hip pain for years (a misspent youth + years of martial arts = no bueno for hip/neck), so I literally feel your pain.

Be sure to get multiple opinions, as hip replacement is not always necessary. Check out the "El Paso Manual Physical Therapy" YouTube channel - they have numerous videos on this exact subject. One of their videos helped me out immensely. I have not had surgery . . . yet.

[Topspinmo]

I’ve known several that had hip surgery all successful and no regrets. Supposedly easier to recover from shoulder surgery. Which I know couple that didn’t do rehab due to pain and difficulties. One can’t raise his arm above his head. Other one not much better. Know one that had knee surgery turned into disaster, but after three follow up surgeries finely some relief and getting better. I’m getting close to right hip surgery also.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I already had my first consultation for total hip replacement surgery a few years ago. Things were so bad I could barely walk, and that was after having my third cortisone shot. Because of family medical history issues, it was advisable that I not ever have more than three, lifetime. Turns out, the reason my leg was in SO much agony, was that the last shot developed a minor bone infection. It resolved on its own before I realized what it was, but it was gruelling for a couple of months.

I'm still bone-on-bone on my right hip and pretty close to it on the left. I'm actually looking forward to getting the replacement, and nervous because it's not hurting nearly as much anymore. They usually recommend replacement ONLY when it's so bad you can't really walk anymore. The older you get, the more difficult the recovery. My surgeon told me that the expected recovery and physical therapy process is to simply walk, as often as possible, every day. The more you walk, the quicker you recover and the more limber you are when the recovery is complete.

So I'm hoping to "need" surgery sometime within the next couple of years. Hopefully when I turn 65 and go on Medicare, so I don't have to shell out my $9800 out of pocket expense for this $25,000 procedure - which would put me in major debt.

[Bjeanj]

Friend of mine had what she thought was sciatica. Went to an ortho and he said it’s your hip, bone on bone. Had hip replacement, three weeks later after a lot of walking, she had no limp, walked fine. Easy recovery, and she’s in her mid-to-late 70s.

OrangeBlossomBaby, put this surgery first on your list as soon as you go on Medicare! You’ll be so happy!

[tophcfa]

Hip pain sucks. Had the right knee replaced 14 years ago and subsequently enjoyed a relatively pain free leg for 12 years. Then the dam hip started hurting. Hip pain is a totally different kind of hurt. Very deep and achy, and radiates both down the leg and up into the back. Ironically, it doesn’t hurt too bad when moving, but is worse when at rest or just standing in place for a long time. Hurts the worst sometimes when sleeping. Was scheduled to have it replaced last September, but then the shoulder went bad from too much swimming. Doctors told me the hip couldn’t be damaged any further, but shoulder would be severely damaged if I kept swimming, which wasn’t an option, so I had the shoulder fixed instead. Good decision, already hit 100 miles of swimming so far in 2025 with very little shoulder pain. Hip is still killing me, but unfortunately I’ve gotten used to living in pain, so just powering through it. Planning on having the hip replaced in September so I can enjoy the summer and then should be good to go for next winter in the Villages. This getting old thing sucks. I enjoy the fond memories of sking moguls, playing football, basketball, lacrosse, and hiking all the presidential peaks in the White Mountains, but now kind of regret how severely I beat on my body as a youngster.

[J1ceasar]

For what it's worth I have had knee pain for years and found out through two doctors one knee and one hip, that there is a large nerve connecting them, possibly same thing with your hip. First I had the knee surgery which was partial replacement so it wasn't as bad as full still two weeks in rehab. Year later it was a hip replacement which was a lot easier. There are several doctors well known in The villages you can go to and there is some these days can do side incisions, which are supposed to be much easier to rehab.
God made us great and everything is interconnected unfortunately, good luck



I been dealing with leg pain that I thought was my back for the last 10 months.
Talked to a orthopedic doctor, attended physical therapy, had shots in my back, no relief.

Tried two different Chiropractors with electric treatments, 10's unit, stretching table, no relief.

My son suggested one day maybe it's your hip.

Back to see a different orthopedic doctor.
She said we can tell if it's your hip with a shot in my hip.
If it helps, even in a short term, we found the problem.
Had the shot, instantly no pain for the first time in 10 months.
Yes, Virginia there is a God.:a040:

I get a new hip in June.

Has anyone had hip surgery?

Cheers :beer3:

[Radrxman]

Are you by any chance taking a statin for elevated cholesterol?

[La lamy]

I already had my first consultation for total hip replacement surgery a few years ago. Things were so bad I could barely walk, and that was after having my third cortisone shot. Because of family medical history issues, it was advisable that I not ever have more than three, lifetime. Turns out, the reason my leg was in SO much agony, was that the last shot developed a minor bone infection. It resolved on its own before I realized what it was, but it was gruelling for a couple of months.

I'm still bone-on-bone on my right hip and pretty close to it on the left. I'm actually looking forward to getting the replacement, and nervous because it's not hurting nearly as much anymore. They usually recommend replacement ONLY when it's so bad you can't really walk anymore. The older you get, the more difficult the recovery. My surgeon told me that the expected recovery and physical therapy process is to simply walk, as often as possible, every day. The more you walk, the quicker you recover and the more limber you are when the recovery is complete.

So I'm hoping to "need" surgery sometime within the next couple of years. Hopefully when I turn 65 and go on Medicare, so I don't have to shell out my $9800 out of pocket expense for this $25,000 procedure - which would put me in major debt.

$25,000 for 1-2 hour procedure?!!!! WOW That's quite the pay day for these surgeons.

[brucecheney75@gmail.com]

I'm having my left hip replaced this AM. DR. Van de leur at west marion.

[Kcwombat]

I'm having my left hip replaced this AM. DR. Van de leur at west marion.

He’s a good surgeon, you’re in good hands.

[Augdog]

My brother had his hip just done 3 months ago and is enjoying normal life now. His wife is doctor and they did a lot of research. Here is his comments.
Old hip surges were cut from behind posterior and take much longer to recover. New approach is anterior cut from the front. More delicate procedure but no complications or restraints of movement. Old docs still do posterior, younger docs do anterior. Hard to find a good anterior trained doc. My incision is 3 1/2 inches for a 1 foot piece of hardware. 👍

[Rocksnap]

From what I’ve seen, hip replacement is much easier/speedier recovery than knee replacement.

[Lynnesail]

$25,000 for 1-2 hour procedure?!!!! WOW That's quite the pay day for these surgeons.
The surgeons get a very small part of that.

[Dexterconfetti]

I played gentle pickleball 4 weeks post op. Easy recovery — why wait? Note: had 2 knee, 2 hip replacements within 3.5 years, last in June 2017. All good! I’m 78. Don’t wait.

[John Sarubbi]

My wife had both hips and her back done by Dr. Rogers of Orthopedic Associates of Ocala and she is doing great.

[H-ned]

I had bilateral hip replacement, both hips replaced at same time (actually one on Tuesday and the other on Thursday that same week). Like many have said, I feel like I should have done it sooner. If you choose to proceed with surgery, I definitely recommend the less invasive anterior approach. Less pain and faster recovery. I also recommend intense physical rehab during the couple weeks immediately following surgery. I stayed at an acute rehab center for 9 days following my bilateral hip surgery and greatly value the daily therapy and care. Best wishes for a successful outcome!

[Gettingoutofdodge]

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is expanding its presence in Florida with several new facilities: 
• Naples: In collaboration with the NCH Healthcare System, HSS is constructing a state-of-the-art orthopedic center on the NCH North Naples Hospital campus. This 100,000-square-foot facility, known as the Patty & Jay Baker Pavilion, will house the Kapnick Foundation Ambulatory Surgical Center. It is expected to open to patients in March 2025. 
• North Miami: HSS is partnering with the University of Miami Health System to establish a musculoskeletal program within the new UHealth SoLé Mia facility. This 184-acre development will feature physician practices, outpatient surgery, imaging, and rehabilitation services. The facility is anticipated to open in fall 2025. 

Additionally, HSS has been operating in Florida since 2020:
• West Palm Beach: HSS Florida opened in 2020, offering surgical and nonsurgical orthopedic care. As of January 2025, it celebrated five years of service in the region. 

These expansions reflect HSS’s commitment to providing world-class orthopedic care to residents throughout Florida. 

[rothbear]

Make sure to thoroughly research your surgeon. I had a hip replacement with supposedly a top surgeon and he managed to damage 2 major nerves in my leg. I knew there was something wrong as soon as I came out of the anesthetic as my entire leg was totally numb. PT, nerve test, etc and all they kept telling me was that it would heal. We moved so no longer in their area.

Over 10 years later and I still have pain. The damaged nerve has affected my knee and it is painful and stiff most of the time. I had a posterior replacement and now find out that an anterior would have been better. Too late now.

[Ramblnman]

Same thing happened to me over the last (5) Five Years. Went to 6 different back doctors and got 6 different diagnoses for back surgery from L2/3 Laminetomy to a 4 level fusion if you can believe that...(I didn't) Finally found a pain mgmt doctor that told me the same thing... If we shoot the hip with cortisone, and the pain goes away...It's Your Hip! It did, and I just had Dr. Locker from The Orthopaedic Institute in Ocala replace my Left Hip last Thursday...looKs like Back AND Knee pain has subsided...and of course its early on but my Hip is on the mend as well...Good Luck!

I Had the Anterior Method...

[Michael G.]

It just seems to me there has to be a way to determine where the pain is
coming from before spending all that time treating your back all this time. :shrug:

[JMintzer]

$25,000 for 1-2 hour procedure?!!!! WOW That's quite the pay day for these surgeons.

The doctor performing the surgery doesn't get anything close to $25K...

[Ramblnman]

Absolutely agree. The problem was that I had originally been diagnosed with spinal stenosis and multiple MRI's supported that, so unfortunately that is where the focus stayed after I underwent an L4/5 Laminectomy. I subsequently complained about hip pain but they just wouldn't listen. Imagine that? Anyway, I finally broke away from the insanity and scheduled my own appointment with a pain management doctor that worked under a Hip Surgeon, and the rest is history. Healthcare is like Financial security...If you don't take responsibility, who will? And the experts are "Always" right...NOT.

[Topspinmo]

The doctor performing the surgery doesn't get anything close to $25K...

Mmmm, just like paint job on old car? Not the cost of paint but the prep time? :thumbup: