Knee Problems and Limping 10 Weeks Post THR
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi,
I'm 42 and had a THR 25 Nov 19. Since day one I've had a swollen painful knee on the operated side, which doesn't seem to be improving - I am having physio and doing the exercises. The other day I heard my knee crunching when I was going up stairs and also this morning when I was doing my squat exercises. Has anyone else had similar symptoms, including crunching noises in their knee, and what was your outcome?
Secondly, I am 10 weeks post op today and cannot walk without one crutch due to limping. I also lean over to the unoperated side when walking on the crutch. Has anyone else had this, and if so, how long did it take for your limp/lean to subside?
I'm quite worried about these issues and would really welcome any reassurances from others who have experienced similar. Thanks.
0 likes, 17 replies
kelly1010 michelle89100
Posted
Hi Michelle,
I am 58 and 2 months post op THR and have had knee pain and slight swelling since surgery. My knee crunches with every step. My doctor thinks this may subside with time, but will do an xray next month if not resolved.
I was diagnosed with chondromalacia patella (softening of the cartilage around the knee) years ago and maybe surgery made it worse?
I am using a walking stick when outside the home, doing exercises, bike and walk daily. When stretching the leg it sometimes feels like the kneecap is loose.
It's a big surgery. Hopefully all will go away with time.
michelle89100 kelly1010
Posted
Thanks Kelly. Good to hear that your Dr thinks it may resolve with time - that is definitely what I'm hoping for! I might get an exercise bike too if that's going to help strengthen the muscles around my knee as they are obviously weak as a result of surgery and pre-surgery altered gait. Thanks, and I hope your recovery continues well x
Ellenthevegan michelle89100
Posted
Hi Michelle, I had my 2nd hip replacement (left) on November 12, 10 months after my right. I to am have EXTREME pain with my left knee. I can't weight bear on it. I had NO PAIN prior to my THR. I have been to the surgeon several times and three weeks ago I reluctantly had a cortisone injection in my left knee joint, which HURT worse than my surgery. My knee still hurts. I have been so anxious about having pain and can't do my life like it was before. My surgeon says I have OA in my knee, which I never had pain with before. I had to see a therapist because of "panic" attacks. I am not sleeping. My entire life is disrupted now. If I had know my knee would be like this I would not have had my THR on the left, for this pain is worse than my hip pain was. I have been house bound since my surgery only going out occasionally. I do walk in the afternoons in my neighborhood with a walker, but that causes pain. I am going to PT, a mediation class now and will try biofeedback this week also. I am hoping the pain goes away soon.
michelle89100 Ellenthevegan
Posted
Hi Ellen,
I'm so sorry to hear about the extreme pain and disability your knee is causing you. I can relate to the panic and upset that you describe, albeit your knee issues sound considerably worse than mine. I really hope that you turn a corner with your recovery and that with time things resolve.
Ellenthevegan michelle89100
Posted
Thanks Michelle, I am trying everything. I see my surgeon again on Friday, he will probably want to inject my joint again with cortisone. That pain was worse then the entire hip replacement. Hope you get better soon also.
ptolemy Ellenthevegan
Posted
I think the number of steroid injections given in the same place is limited nowadays as it is thought they can have negative effect on the cartilage. Normally max of three a year.
NEWEY124 michelle89100
Posted
hI michelle I'm 7 weeks into my recovery from a total right hip replacement and as soon as I came out of the epidural my knee was more of a problem than my new hip and still is it feels like I've had a new knee not hip I still on one crutch a nd can't walk without pain in my knee the surgeon has said it's quite common and should get better over time but I can't think see that happening anytime soon I'm still walking penguin style it's particularly painfull in bed.
michelle89100 NEWEY124
Posted
That's good to hear that your surgeon thinks the knee issue will settle (and that it is common). What you have described is identical to what I have experienced. I will keep this thread updated as I see any changes in my knee as I think that'll be helpful for those with similar issues who are further behind me on the recovery journey.
I saw physio today who has told me to cease the knee exercises I was given that have made my knee cap 'catch' when I'm doing them, but not to worry about the crunching. Alarmingly she also said that my pelvis has rotated (whilst I spent 3 years trying to protect my bad hip) which might explain the ongoing limp, but I can't do any exercises to correct it as they'll hurt the new hip!! She said that the limp can be minimised, but possibly not eradicated altogether - I didn't limp prior to surgery. She has now put me on 2 walking sticks rather than 1 crutch as that will help centralise my core and walking pattern.
I hope your knee starts to feel better soon, best wishes x
Hippy1 michelle89100
Posted
Hi Michelle
Have you tried Chiropractic treatment, they might be able to help realign you, without displacing the new hip?
Ellenthevegan michelle89100
Posted
I am seeing my surgeon again this morning. I never had knee pain prior to going into the OR. I have had extreme left knee pain since my left hip replacement 11 weeks ago. MRI showed no tears or bone bruising. I can't wait bear on my left leg. It hurts all the time. I did take a cortisone injection out of desperation four weeks ago, still bruised and still have pain. I am seeing a therapist now for HIGH ANXIETY. Eleven weeks of acute pain is wearing me down. I was so active prior to my surgery even with the hip related pain. This is on a whole new level. Going to PT and back on excersing me knee and hip. I have lost muscle tone in my quad and glut area that is having atrophy. Will see what the surgeon says today. There is no way I can return to work for quite a while.
Hippy1 michelle89100
Posted
I'm the same, 9 weeks on, not seen my consultant yet. I have knee pain which was there before the op but worse now. My limp is bad if I try walking without the stick. Have you seen physio or your consultant? I suspect my operated leg is longer than my unoperated one. You can tell if this is the case by putting your hands on your pelvic bones, look in the mirror. see if one is sitting higher than the other. Sometimes it can just be due to muscular tension but it could be you have a leg length discrepancy which results in a limp. I'm feeling really frustrated that I am having to wait so long for my follow up, another week to go. It is affecting my full return to work too. PS I have done all the exercises and walking with my stick.
michelle89100 Hippy1
Posted
Hi Hippy1,
Thanks for your reply. I too suspect that I have leg length discrepancy, but at my 8 week consultant appointment he said that the xray showed my legs as being "pretty even". I have just done the hands on pelvic bones test that you suggested and again, it looks fairly even BUT all of my trousers are now shorter on my operated leg!! I don't know whether this is caused by my post operative weak muscles, allowing my leg to 'drop' or if I have a genuine leg length discrepancy. Physio said they won't measure until >3 months, so next appointment I will ask her to measure me. She'll likely say that I still have swelling of the hip (and my knee is swollen) and that is the cause of the length difference.
Good suggestion re seeing a chiropractor for my rotated pelvis, but at this stage I'd be concerned about allowing anyone twist or push, but if it proves to be a real issue then I will do that in a few more months time.
Interestingly, since ceasing the majority of the knee exercises, as advised by my physio , my knee seems to be settling - it is less painful, but still swollen. At my appointment earlier this week she gave me 2 walking sticks rather than crutches and I've found that even after a few days of using the 2 walking sticks, when practicing walking off the sticks indoors I am limping slightly less severely than a week ago. It makes me wonder if I have been leaning too heavily on the crutches (something you can't really do on sticks) and that has slowed down recovery of the hip muscles. Just a theory, I'll see what the coming week brings.....
Please let me know what your consultant says when you go for your appointment, as your case does sound very similar to mine, and in the meantime, I hope your recovery continues. x
Ellenthevegan Hippy1
Posted
I saw my surgeon on Friday. He states that me knee will get better it will just take time. I so want to believe him. In the mean time I am still have extreme anxiety and taking classes at Kaiser to help with that. He also stated that my quad muscle is atrophied from no using it and to push myself to do my PT.
Hippy1 michelle89100
Posted
Thanks Michelle, sounds like you have had some improvements that's good. I expect I'm going to get similar responses from the consultant but will keep you posted. I tried folding some paper towels into my shoe to see if it made a difference to my gait, and it does, not a complete success but less of a limp, so definitely think it's a leg length discrepancy .
Hippy1 Ellenthevegan
Posted
Hi Ellen,
I hope the exercises help. Definitely getting the muscles stronger helps with stability. Sorry it's making you anxious, I can understand that. I think we do lose confidence a bit, we need to build it back up too. Let me know how you get on.