Shin pain. knee pain

Hi Charlie I am now 13 weeks op, and the shin on my op leg is still tender to touch, not too painful when walking just if anything touches it, even getting dressed it can be tender.  When I mentioned it to GP I got the usual response "it's normal and takes time"! 

I still need 1 stick to walk outside, have tried to walk without it outside but can only manage a few steps!!!

This recovery sure does take time................

 

Hi Charlie, I got pains in knees and calves after my first hip up to about 3 months and am now getting twinges two weeks after the second. We all heal at different rates and our bodies adapt at different times. Before my second hip my foot was pointing outwards to compensate the OA in my hip. Since having it down I get pain in foot and knee. 

My answer is to go back to square one - ice packs, crutches, supporting the leg while doing anything until the pain subsides. I am a 'galloper'  - I think I am doing well and drop the crutches around the house but I should have learned my lesson by now.

I would rest up and then take it really easy - if the pain keeps coming back then I would be off to the doc to get it checked.

Hi Charles, 

warm welcome to our friendly forum where we share our personal stories and experiences -

It can be so discouraging, right? you think and are really doing so well and then, bam! back to square one -

You are doing more and more each day - healing is still taken place and will for a while - it is still so fragile - your body has been through a lot ... you are re-training your brain and body to walk properly again after a long time of bad posture, etc.

this takes a lot of enery and effort - knees, shin, ankles, feet, back, even shoulders and hands and neck are involved -

it is challenging and we wan to move on and quickly - our body tells us when we overdid it - it takes time .. 

tender loving care and a lot of patience - 

big warm hug

you are doing great 

renee

 

Charles - How many years has your hip been very slowly wearing away, developing arthritis and as the hip has done that you have adapted your walking style probably without even realising you have been doing it.

Now suddenly you are fixed up, you are discoving muscles you havn't used correctly for years, I did the same.

Spoke to my GP about it, and he said PAIN slow down, walk correctly, heel toe, and generally go a ittle slower until you start to feel better and retrain your body what is correct.

You are doing the right thing seeing a physio, I have just been through a one year review with a physio, felt I was not making the progress I should.

I do have major problems with left THR, but thought I could do better, she went through all sorts of exercises, what I could do and what I couldn't, very impressed with my ability to do sit-ups, planks, and bridges, but had weakness in one muscle in my buttocks, clam shell exercise, so have been wroking very hard trying to get these muscles to co-operate, getting there.

2nd visit physio commented standing straigher, walking better, and generally less pain and ability to walk further distance without grinding pain in pelvis and spine.

Hi Charles,

I think you have some good input here.  Over all I guess I will reinerate the fact that our bodies have to adapt to a new alignment.  A great many things have to shift around and it takes a full year to heal.  

One tip I like to share is to make sure that you are wearing a new pair of shoes since the surgery.  Our former wear patterns can interfere with our new way of walking.  In fact, my surgeon insists that his patients begin post op with a new pair of shoes.  Closed toe, closed heel, good grip on the bottom.  Slip ons are easier right out of surgery. 

Another thought I had about the shin pain is that it is a common pain with thyroid problems.  Does your thyroid function normally?  Hypothyroidism is what caused my shin pain in the past, way before my hip surgeries.

Hope you find something to help you!  

Dawn, USA