Strange sensation... like tendon(s) overlapping implant...normal???

[Bioguy501]

Hello Surface Hippies... I had hip resurfacing 9.5 months ago. The hip and leg has gotten strong (with a lot of dedication to PT and strength training)... but I have this strange sensation... several times a day. It comes on simply when I shift my weight a little bit... like when I am shaving in front of a mirror. My best guess is that one (or 2?) tendon(s) are flopping/snapping over the implant. It does not really hurt, but it is not a stable feeling in the hip and is disconcerting.

When the doctor did the surgery, he said the ball of my femur was relatively smaller than the acetabulum (cup of the hip) it fit in to. Thus, instead of the planned 52 mm cap with a 58 mm cup (the perfect 6 mm difference according to the inventor, Dr. Derek McMinn)... the doctor said the designers knew anomalies were common in people and had each size cup match two different sized caps (2 mm apart). Thus, the doctor put in a 50 mm cap with the matching 58 mm cup.

On the X ray, the smaller cap still looks a bit large on the narrow neck of my femur... and seems to jut out a bit from the neck of the femur.

I beginning to wonder if this is something that is going to be permanent due to my unique anatomy... or have other surface hippies had a similar sensation up to the one-two year mark.

I welcome all comments. Thank you in advance. Gary

[jimbone]

Gary,

I can't respond to your question directly because I only felt that kind of "slippage/snapping" very briefly and only a few times very early after surgery and it resolved itself within a month or 3.  However, at about 9 months after my second hip [both done 3 months apart] I went back to work in construction- 64 yo at the time.  The project required me to measure and layout dimensions on a 20' wall face getting formed up using a rickety scaffolding system with 8' gaps in it that needed to be crossed by climbing sideways across the re-bar in the forms.  I experienced considerable hesitation doing something that years earlier would not have left me pause, but even after 9 months of serious, daily gym workouts during recovery I still had considerable lack of full stability in the hip.  A member from the forum made the recommendation of including the Bosu ball in my gym routine- using it to do squats with a stick for balance at first and moving up to single leg partial squats w/out the balance stick. I stayed with that exercise until the shut down closed off all the health clubs and credit it with restoring the remainder of my stability issues.  It does a great job strengthening the external rotators, glutes and legs.  You might consider giving it a try for a couple of months and see how it works for you as well.  If your doctor does a 1 year follow up as is customary here in the States, I would definitely be asking about this condition when you see them even if you need to ask for the 1 year consultation, but with a couple of months to go before that potential appointment, you might find the condition is starting to resolve itself with this exercise.  Best wishes and good luck.

[dsmcamelot]

Good morning Bioguy. I had bilateral RS about 5 years ago and I will tell you I also had that strange snapping sensation. Oddly enough it was also when I was partially bent over at the sink. I never had any pain with this and in my opinion it is the Psoas tendon passing over the metal femoral cap. I have been a physical therapist for 36 years, so I feel like I have an idea what a snapping tendon feels like. The anatomy of the anterior hip also makes sense. I had extremely tight hip flexors for years prior to my operation.
I have consistently been stretching all aspects of my hips and my movement and flexibility have improved continually over the years. I will tell you it does take time, so be patient and be consistent with your stretching and strengthening. All the best!