Is Leg Pain Years After Hip Replacement Normal?

Q. My 81-year-old mom had a hip replacement about 15 years ago. Now, she complains of pains in her legs. I’ve heard horror stories about these replacements failing. Could this be the source of her problems?
-- Catherine W.

A. Like bionic creatures from the future, millions of us are walking, swimming, even waltzing around with hip implants.

We YOU Docs suspect you're worried because you’ve heard about the recall of some metal on metal hip implants, especially those made by DePuy. While recalls and lawsuits are going on, only a small fraction of the more than half a million people in North America who’ve gotten all-metal hip implants during the last decade have suffered injuries from the devices. For the vast majority, these replacement parts make day-to-day living a lot more enjoyable and pain-free. Add these herbs to your meals to prevent hip pain.

If possible, contact your mom’s surgeon to see if she got a DePuy ASR. Meanwhile, look for these typical signs of problems with metal implants: pain in the groin, hip, or leg; swelling around the hip joint; a limp or trouble walking. If your mom has these symptoms (she clearly has leg pain), her doctor can run imaging, joint, and blood tests to check for metal ions, which could indicate the problems come from the metal parts in her body. Tired of living with joint pain? Discuss your joint symptoms with your doctor.

Alternatively, it may simply be time to replace the replacement. At the time she got her hip implant, these artificial joints were projected to last about 15 years (today's may endure for 30 years). Your mom's hip replacement might just be closing in on its expiration date, meaning it's time for a new one. Find out if cold weather causes joint pain.

If her pain is in both legs and she only had a replacement in one hip, it most likely isn’t the replacement but another issue. An internist can make sure it isn’t some other issue that’s easier to resolve.

Got hip pain or a creaky knee? Find out if you might have arthritis symptoms.