Hip, groin and leg pain weeks after surgery - but only after walking

I'm 61 and had a successful radical prostatectomy a month ago. I immediately started walking in short bursts that evening of the surgery. By the fourth day, I was walking a couple miles and soon 3+ miles/day without incident.

Then I did a little garage project - no heavy lifting but lots of bending. That evening my leg swelled - but no pain. The following day I walked a few miles and all was fine. Within a few days after that I could no longer walk more than a mile without excruciating dull pain in my upper thigh, groin, and hip.

However, after 15 minutes of elevation and icing, the pain is gone!

I've learned about lymphatic massage and that has removed 90% of the swelling. I sent this info to my Dr but (probably a nurse) responded with ... "you're still healing." I get that but ...

This wouldn't worry me so much if it happened immediately after surgery -- but after weeks of smooth sailing, lots of exercise, little to no pain, even had sex a couple times. It makes no sense.

I'd like to give my Dr the heads up before our meeting so tests can be run if necessary. I should also mention that prior to this I was an active runner, doing 20-60 miles/week, depending. Is it possibly related to an old running injury?

All I can figure out is that it's lymph related in some way, but I'm not convinced its lymphoceles -- or maybe I just hope it isn't.

Anybody have a similar experience?

I'd agree with Andrew. Unless it gets worse again, just slow down on the activity, it sounds like you may have done too much too soon and your body is telling you so.

If after slowing down, things dont settle down, then see the doc and push the issue.
On the other hand, if you are that nervous about it, maybe ssee the doc sooner, just for peace of mind.

Hi!

I had similar pain which started a month or two after surgery and became progressively worse. It was 7 or 8 months after surgery before I was diagnosed with 2 lymphoceles. Although the one on the right was the larger, it caused no pain but needed to be drained because it was pressing a blood vessel. The left lymphocele was small and caused significant pain due to pressing on a nerve. Both were drained but the pain relief was brief. The left lymphocele has refilled with fluid and is causing pain again. I’m hoping it will resolve on its own this time.

The radiologist did not use a sclerosing agent during the procedure as my urologist had requested. I don’t know if it would have made a difference or not. If you are diagnosed with a lymphocele which needs to be treated, I recommend you research the various methods and corresponding success rates.

Best wishes to you.

walking is good for the first couple of months, but ease into it - so easy to over do without realizing it. I've always been amazed at how interconnected our body is and how much moves the core.

A surgical nurse once told me to figure on 3 months of healing with just mild walking before trying to start to rebuild to your pre-surgery routine and then to figure on 6 months to a year before you feel like you're back to where you were. Frustrating, but after my gallbladder removal, I found her advice to be spot on.

Healing takes time and glad to hear you got the compression socks - that should help a lot.

Andrew

Thanks GoBucks. And Go BUCKS!