Episode 9 - Burning, Itching or Numbness Nerve Sensations in Leg

July 03, 2025

Burning, itching, numbness after hip replacement? Here’s what those nerve sensations really mean — and how long they can last.

Burning, Itching, and Numbness After Hip Replacement: Nerve Sensations, Recovery Timelines, and What’s Normal

Burning, itching, numbness, and strange nerve sensations after hip replacement surgery are far more common than most patients are told — and they can be confusing, frustrating, and even alarming if you’re not prepared for them.

In this episode of The Hip Replacement Podcast, double hip replacement patient and endurance athlete Chris Bystriansky breaks down his real-world experience with nerve-related symptoms after hip replacement surgery, including burning sensations, deep itching that can’t be scratched, and long-term numbness in the legs.

If you’ve searched for burning after hip replacement, itching after hip surgery, numbness in thigh after hip replacement, or nerve damage after anterior hip replacement, this episode is for you.

Chris explains what he experienced after both hip replacements, why these nerve sensations happen (especially with the anterior hip replacement approach), and what doctors and physical therapists often fail to fully explain. He walks through the different stages of nerve recovery — from early numbness, to burning and itching sensations, to long-term changes in feeling — and how those sensations evolved over months and years, not days or weeks.

You’ll learn:

Why numbness, burning, and itching occur after hip replacement surgery
How long nerve sensations can realistically last
Why itching after hip replacement feels “deep” and impossible to scratch
What level of numbness may be permanent — and what usually improves
How stretching, movement, and soft-tissue work can help manage symptoms
When these sensations are normal vs. when to talk to your surgeon

This episode is not medical advice, but it is the honest, experience-based conversation many hip replacement patients wish they had before surgery. Whether you’re newly recovering, months post-op, or years removed from surgery, this episode will help you feel informed, reassured, and less alone.

If you or someone you love is dealing with nerve pain after hip replacement, unexplained numbness, or unusual sensations in the legs, this episode provides clarity, perspective, and peace of mind — from someone who has lived it.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

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Episode Transcript

Welcome to The Hip Replacement Podcast, where recovery meets motivation and healing leads to a whole new lifestyle.

I’m Chris Bystriansky, your host. I’m an author, athlete, and double hip replacement patient. I’ve been through the surgeries, the setbacks, and the comebacks, and I’m here to help you do the same.

Each week, I bring you tips, tools, expert advice, and inspiring stories to help you take back your life one step at a time. Thanks for joining The Hip Replacement Podcast. New hips, new you. Let’s go.
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Welcome back to The Hip Replacement Podcast. I’m Chris Bystriansky, your host. I’ve had both my hips replaced — one a little more than 10 years ago and the other more than 12 years ago — and I’m here to share what I’ve learned over the last decade-plus.

Today, we’re going to talk about numbness, burning, itching, and strange sensations in the legs after hip replacement surgery. These are things no one really prepared me for.

My surgeon mentioned that I might feel burning or itching. My physical therapist mentioned it too. But no one explained how long these sensations might last or how intense they could be.
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Before I go any further, I want to point out that I had the anterior approach for both hip replacements, meaning the surgeon went in through the front of the hip.

During surgery, nerves are either cut, stretched, or moved. It takes time for them to regenerate — and sometimes they never fully do. As a result, the front and sides of my thighs have experienced unusual sensations for years, and to some extent, they still do.

Importantly, these sensations were not at the incision site. They were several inches away, down the front and sides of my legs.
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The first sensation I noticed — once the surgical pain and medications wore off about a week after surgery — was complete numbness.

The front and sides of my legs were almost entirely numb. I could poke them and feel nothing.
This was more disruptive than I expected. I couldn’t feel my phone or keys in my pockets. I’d walk around looking for things that were literally on me. For decades, I’d always been able to feel what was in my pockets — suddenly, that sensation was gone.

This level of numbness lasted for years. I simply learned to check my pockets constantly because I couldn’t rely on sensation.
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Occasionally — maybe 5% of the time — the numbness was replaced by a burning sensation, like my legs were on fire. I’d look down, wondering if something was actually burning. There never was.

That burning phase lasted about four to six months after surgery. Thankfully, it eventually went away.
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Unfortunately, the burning was replaced by something even worse: itching.
For years, I’d be mostly numb, but then suddenly I’d feel an intense itch deep under the skin.

Scratching didn’t help. There was nothing on the surface to relieve it.
I’d sit at my desk scratching through my pants, trying to get relief — and nothing worked. The itch would come and go unpredictably.
This phase lasted years, with about 95% numbness and 5% intense itching.
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Eventually, the itching faded. I haven’t felt it in six to eight years, which I’m grateful for.
What remained was numbness.

Now, more than a decade later, I’d say I’ve recovered about 75% of the sensation in my legs. The numbness is much smaller than it once was and mostly occurs where my pockets rest on my shorts or pants.

It feels like there’s a numbing cream on my skin — not painful, just dulled.
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The recovery of sensation happened very slowly over many years. It wasn’t something that resolved in a year or two. My surgeon and physical therapist told me nerve recovery would be gradual — and they were right.

I don’t expect it to improve much more than it already has, and honestly, that’s okay. It doesn’t interfere with my life.
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I’ve noticed that if I skip stretching or using a roller for several days — especially while traveling — the numbness becomes more noticeable. Daily movement, stretching, and rolling seem to help maintain the best sensation I can get.

The good news is this:
• The burning went away
• The itching went away
• What remains is mild numbness that’s manageable
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If you’re experiencing burning, itching, or numbness after hip replacement surgery, know this:
You’re not alone. These sensations are common, especially with the anterior approach, and they often improve over time.

I hope sharing my experience helps you understand what’s happening in your body and gives you peace of mind.

If you find this podcast helpful, please share it with friends or post about it on social media. The goal is to help as many people as possible recover well and live active, confident lives after surgery.

Until next time, I wish you the best recovery possible. Take care.

Episode 9 - Burning, Itching or Numbness Nerve Sensations in Leg

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