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pfitz123 Asked January 2021

Neuropathy Caused by Hip Replacement?

Of course the doctor won't admit it, but I suspect that my mother's drop foot and club foot and numbness (which has now progressed to extreme heavy feeling in the foot only while walking) is likely related to nerve damage during her hip replacement in 2011. The foot is very deformed and she can't even stand on it barefoot without her orthotic and shoe. I don't think it's a coincidence that the hip replacement was done on the same side as her foot problems. I THINK that a Physical Therapist mentioned that drs sometimes tie too tightly during surgery to prevent bleeding and it causes nerve damage? Does this happen much because if so, I would be petrified if I ever need my hip replaced! She also has terrible balance - she falls backwards when standing/walking so uses walker PLUS must have somebody walk behind her. She's only 84 and walks like she's 104 and often moans the entire time she's walking to bathroom because lifting the foot is so much effort. She has bad restless legs at night so doesn't sleep well. It's all heartbreaking. Is this all a familiar story to anybody? For closure I would like to know WHY her foot is deformed. I would love to hear your story and/or swap ideas to help her. She takes 300 mg of Gabapentin. Thanks in advance. Pat

Grandma1954 Jan 2021
Drop foot can be caused by a number of things.
A friend developed it after sitting on his wallet on a trans Atlantic flight.
My Husband developed it due to a spinal stenosis
At this point a GOOD A.F.O ( ankle, foot, orthotics) might be the only thing that will help. My husband had one that hinged with a spring so it would help the foot return to a “normal” position when walking. He chose not to use it as it was more uncomfortable than the drop foot. ( trying to get him back to be refitted was an exercise in futility!)
So I would not completely blame the hip repair for the condition.
Have you consulted a good podiatrist as well as an orthopedic to determine why the foot is deformed. If it was not that way prior to surgery I would think part of the blame lies with where her rehab was. Maybe they neglected to position her leg and foot properly. (Wild guess on that)

AnnReid Jan 2021
My mother shattered her hip so badly at age 90 that it had to be rebuilt to be usable with the replacement joint, and the result was that although she was able to walk slowly with a walker and one of us near her, the repaired hip was very conspicuously not at the same angle as her other hip. Her foot was not deformed, but her balance was impacted by the fact that her leg was, after surgery, a few inches shorter than the other.

A “club” foot is a birth defect. Did someone tell you that she had a club foot? Could you describe her “foot deformity”?

If you feel that she’d benefit from a second opinion, that might be worth a try.

My mom never complained about foot pain after her surgery.
pfitz123 Jan 2021
Ann, Thanks for responding. I myself named it a club foot because it's turned in like a golf club. That's the deformity, it's turned in and it's also dropped. My mom's balance may be due to her left knee being under-rehabbed after that was replaced. She can't totally straighten it and she tends to walk with BOTH knees bent. She's also a bit hunched over due to scoliosis and stenosis.

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