Pain in fifth week

Posted , 9 users are following.

I am 6 weeks today, TRHR anterior approach. From day one I had zero pain and never had to take pain meds, only Tylenol. Stopped using walker the first week & stopped using cane by 3rd week.

By week five I started having knee pain, primarily in knee cap but also outer side & calf plus severe pain & stiffness in hip when getting up from a sitting position. Going into my 6th week, that pain is just as bad as pre-op.  To say I'm disheartened is an understatement!

I'm wondering if the PT exercises are causing the pain? I do them every day 2x a day. I'm wondering if just walking and riding stationary bike is enough exercise to strengthen those muscles and forget the ones the PT gave me??

Anyone else experience pain weeks after op?

Thank you, Betty

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

Next
  • Posted

    I had the anterior approach, too. No pain. No walker or cane. I’m at week 5. No pain pills or NSAIDS since day 2. Just some stiffness in front of thigh from surgeon moving and stretching muscles.   That’s all. Good luck. 
  • Posted

    Dear Betty

    If it's any consolation several weeks after I started weight bearing my knee on the revised hip side started to become uncomfortable at times.

    This continues for several months, nothing really bad but I did start to wonder if it was early signs of knee failure! Thankfully it seems to have gone away. It was most obvious when going up and down flights of stairs.

    Hope yours goes away on it's own though your problem sounds as if you should get it checked out just for your peace of mind.

    Good luck. Richard

    • Posted

      Hi Richard,

      What is the most distressing to me is that I had a TKR in 2014, in the knee that's causing pain. Since I'm the queen of worry, I worried whether I need a revision on the knee or is the pain coming from the "new" hip.

      I have an appointment with my surgeon at the end of the month for routine x-ray of the hip to see how it's looking, so I'm going to request he take an x-ray of the knee as well, to rule things out.

      I appreciate everyone's comments & realize 6 weeks is still early days & I may have over done the exercises, but my surgeon, GP & PT all stress the importance of exercising those muscles NOW while they are healing, or it will be too late later on, so Im obsessively doing what Im told! 

      Thanks and hope you are doing well.

    • Posted

      Dear Betty

      I suggest that you ease up on the exercises a bit and see how you feel before pushing ahead again.   Just listen to your body as you will know when you have got it right.  If then you are suffering ask the doctor or surgeon and keep asking until you get satisfactory answers.   Sometimes there are no good answers but you will not know unless you push.

      Good luck.

      Richard

  • Posted

    Hi Betty you have just had major surgery and at only 5 weeks post op you sound to me as though you have pushed too hard and overdone it.

    Ice and elevate and that strange word rest, give it a day and see how it feels, if no better I suggest you contact your surgeon or your GP.

    • Posted

      Hi, yes I'm hoping that's all it is, overdoing a bit and still early days. It's just discouraging because I started off with zero pain  and thought this surgery was a life changer! I was giddy with excitement until that damn pain & stiffness came back after sitting!😞

  • Posted

    Also, had no rehab exercises at all. Went back to gym day of discharge from hospital. Resumed regular workout with the exception of no running for 3 months. 
    • Posted

      Hi Chrisa,

      Let me/us know if you do develop pain in later weeks. 

      When you say you resumed regular work out at the gym, what type of exercises do you do? Are they strengthening exercises? Stretching?

  • Posted

    Betty:

    We must have had our ops on the same day or very close. I'm a little over 6 weeks post op (Oct 2 was the operation). I  had RTH anterior procedure. As I did with the left a year ago, its two step back three steps forward. I had a little regressive pain after the 1st 2 weeks to present. Nothing horrible. I just take 2-4 advil on the bothersome days.PT helps a lot. I am just doing PT exercises at home and will start PT in a clinic in a week or so.

    I also had knee arthroscopy on both knees about 2-3 months prior to each hip replacement. I had torn meniscus in both and was advised to have this done (scope the knee and trim the torn meniscus) prior to insure a better outcome for THR. On some days the knee acts up but on the whole it is much better. I also have had some lower back pain on the right side (side of operation). My surgeon suggested ortho massage at the 6 week checkup to alleviate tightness in the area.. I'm in the process of getting that scheduled.

    I just finished PT this morning and it feels very good after the session. I have been advised to do the sets once a day. And 3 types of stretched he wants me to stop after 2 weeks. Maybe cut back to once a day. It is easy to overtax the recovering muscles in the early going. My surgeon told me "that less is more in the first month".of recovery.

    However, your pain sounds more significant and I certainly would consult with your physician as soon as possible to see if there aren't other issues you are dealing with.

    You'll be fine in the long run. Don't push your recovery.

    Take care

    • Posted

      Funny how we are told different things. Your surgeon said less is more & I'm being told how important it is to do those exercises 2x a day, 7 days a week, as well as walk, walk, walk, go up & down steps several times a day, etc. whew! There's no time for anything else!

      The Tylenol does take the edge off and the pain is not so bad that I can't do the exercises. It's mainly the pain & stiffness when getting up from a sitting position and when my knee acts up.

      Nice to compare notes 😋 Take care

  • Posted

    Betty:

    Ah yes, ice. Icing is your best friend early on.Ice 20 on/ 20 off for several sessions then just rest.

  • Posted

    Hi Betty. My first THR was just like urs. No pain no meds. In 2 weeks off walker. Once I started physical therapy I started with pain. Doc had me rest from that for a while. Then I started with resting pain. Each time I’d get up from sitting oh my gosh I had to get warmed up before I took a step. Little by little and with only stretching exercising of the muscles and areas gave me discomfort I’m doing a lot better. I did notice walking helped me a lot more than exercises and doctor told me from beginning he wanted me to walk a mile a day. Which I didn’t. But yes it was painful and I was very discouraged. 

    Still dealing with tightness in the groin and scar tissue. I just had my second THR last week so here I go again. 

    Hope things get better. Try the walking. 

  • Posted

    Betty

    I've had a bit of pain in my knees since my THR revision. Unlike yours mine a standard bone knees, though I did have an anterior cruciate op on one of them.

    I was fairly inactive for quite some time before I had the revision so had lost a lot of muscle tone.

    I think you need to balance how much exercise you do and what exercises you do.

    Are you doing knee exercises. These might be a good idea.

    Cycling, although great, may put a bit of strain on your knees. Walking is great but you need to make sure you are getting the right movement. Straightening your leg in front and pushing yourself forward with your foot (well that's what my PT told me)

    But 6 weeks is still quite early so take it gently and listen to your body.

    Hope you feel better soon

    Mike

  • Posted

    HI, I am almost 6 months post op mow and I didn't have any official PT just the home exercises and lots of walking , was back to nursing walking at least 3 plus miles a day after 4 weeks and that was my therapy 

  • Posted

    Hi Betty,

    I am in the 11th week. I have pain in my knee, too.  I am told by my surgeon that this will go away.  I have pain sleeping.  I gave to constantly turn from my back to my good leg.

    Regards,

    Steve

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.