Leg length discrepancy
Posted , 4 users are following.
11 wks post Left tkr. Had Right tkr 12 months ago. Have no pain. Great movement and strength. Began to notice dull ache in left hip. Then realised if stood up straight right heel off the floor. Seen surgeon, physio and orthotics person. Turns out measurements show right leg 3cm shorter than left. Corrective surgery ruled out. So shoes to be built up on sole by 3cm. NHS pay for 3 pairs per year. Am gutted and really upset. Have to use a stick to maintain balance. Am surprised measurements not taken prior to surgery. Anyone else had this as not mentioned in tkr documentation I was given by NHS?
0 likes, 4 replies
pauline300567 C-C
Posted
hi yes had mine done last october and was never told abt the length difference mine is the same and suggling to walk without my clutches
ddaapp C-C
Posted
hello i am 6 months post tkr my leg is 12mm longer now. have a shoe lift get 2 per year nhs my thigh aches and i feel off balance no one mentioned this could happen before surgery but when measured for the shoe lift the orthotics dept said they had a lot of post tkr patients this happens to the more people i meet in the surgeons follow up clinics the more things that affect them that we are not told about
CHICO_MARX C-C
Posted
NOOOOOO!!!!! First go to a chiropractor to check for a tilt in your hip alignment. Leg length discrepancy is completely common in a TKR recovery because we subconsciously shift our weight to avoid pain and throw our hips/back out of alignment or pinch the SI joints. This is the first thing you should check before spending money on orthotics.
I got severe sciatica 5 weeks post-op. Chiro found a leg-length difference of almost an inch. Three weeks of treatment 2X/week and everything was back to normal. The only way the leg-length difference is permanent is if the surgeon screwed up. If your ortho's alignment measurements do not whow this then the fix is chiropractic. PS: Even a PT can correct this.
Remember that orthotics only work with your shoes on. When you walk barefoot in the house or on a beach, your legs are STILL different lengths because you have not addressed the underlying cause. See a chiro to make sure that the legs are off or if it's your hips causing the problem. Just sayin'...
C-C
Posted
Update: been to see a chiropractor/myofacial release therapist. Had 2 sessions. Early days but working on back and pelvis. Really interesting talking to the therapist about how my legs/muscles are responding. So feeling more hopeful. Off to see Consultant tomorrow for 3 month review. Thanks.