Back problems and effects on new hip.

[littleb]

This is more a question. I have some bad back problems that sadly didn't go away with fixing the hip. The back problems are effecting my left side and my resurfacing is on the right. I find that when I walk I tend to lean towards the right. I am also feeling increasing pain in my hip over the last 3 days. Bad enough that I pulled out a crutch to take pressure off it hoping it would just go away. I am not doing anything strenuous because of my back but I started to notice a clicking in my resurfaced hip when I hold it while walking. You cannot hear it but you can feel it. I've been avoiding the idea of surgery on my back, first because it scares me much more that hip surgery, second because I just had major surgery with the resurf only 6 months ago.

Do you guys think that the way I am walking is putting stress on my hip and causing pain? Is the clicking normal if you cannot hear it and it's not that clicking I used to feel without touching the hip prior to surgery? Is it time to call Dr. Su or just talk about it with my back doctor?

[toby]

littleb,
As someone who had severe back problems prior to surgery, I can really sympathise. I was lucky-mine went as soon as I had surgery and walked perfectly. I don't know how much physio/gait guidance you received but clearly from your post, still after 6 months you are not walking properly with an even gait-this is causing imbalances and unusual stresses on the hip and associated soft tissue structures. With the additional issue of the clicking (often an indication of soft tissue weakness) this substantiates the benefit of having a consulation with your surgeon. So, if I were you, my first port of call would be Dr Su (I'm in the UK-from all I've read about him he seems outstanding) to gain his expert opinion.
Best Wishes
Keep Us updated
Toby

[Lopsided]

Hello Little B. I too had resurfacing six months ago, have had back problems that did not go away with the resurfacing, and have mild silent clicking in my operated hip. I know that some time in the future I will need back (and neck) surgery, as well as my other hip done.

But I am not worried about my back pain (although I do not like it) as I am more mobile after resurfacing, and I try to do a lot of back strengthening exercises. And you could do these too.

I only found out that my hip was bad because I had problems with my back, and before resurfacing I was bent sideways over my left hip. After resurfacing, amazingly, I was straight. This lasted for three months, and since then, I have started to get back pain, and occasionally I am bent sideways, just a little. However, I am still gaining strength in my hips and mobility all round, including in my back. So what I think is that the extra mobility that resurfacing has given me is putting extra strain, not on my arthritic back as such, but in the muscles and tendons that I had not used properly for years. About a month ago, I got my walking stick out again, and tried it out on the other side. Then put it away again.

Also, I religiously do back and stomach strengthening exercises (opposite muscle groups work together), along with the PT exercises for my hips. You might want to ask your PT for back and stomach exercises.

The clicking that I get in my resurfaced hip is very mild and not uncomfortable. I think it is the tendon clicking rather than the device. It certainly is a better feeling that the grinding I get in my other hip.

Maybe you should call your surgeon for reassurance. I just contacted mine. He said I should hold off on any thoughts of back surgery for as long as I can.

D.

[gary2010]

Most back problems can be traced to weakness in the abdominal muscles, which should be lightly contracted at all times, and the glutes, which must fire early enough during walking to avoid overloading the spinal erectors. Surgery is seldom necessary. I find hanging from a beam gets rid of the one-sided cramp, if it's really stuck get someone to pull on your legs.