Strange night-time tensing of muscles from waist to knees

I don't think that will affect the hip recovery.

Post operatively I had involuntary tensing of the body from stomach to knees - I thought it was to do with the painkillers,  but it sounds like your sensation.

Absolutely nothing I could do to stop it, and made it very difficult to move.

I never had it before, nor since I came off Tramadol.

Graham 

Hi

Here's a few things I can offer to tell you that I experienced

I am 7 mos post op THR

Before the surgery I had similar problme that you described and could not sleep accept on my back. 

The pain and muscle tension you are experiencing is likley due to the nerves and just condition of your hip.  I had same.  After surgery the pain and muscle tension went away.

When I say after surgery I am speaking of within about a week.  the first 5 days after my surgery I was still getting through the pain and just healing .

Everyday gets better.

Within 5-7 days I was sleeping better than I had in years.

You will not be able to lay on your sides until after about 5-6 weeks and the longer the better.

After that period, you can lay on your sides.  but you shoudl do two things-  put a pillow between your legs and don't lay on the sides to long of a period at first. gradually get sued to it.

Another tip is to be dilligent about excercise and stretching.  Excercise for first 8 weeks only-  then begin adding stretching to your routine.

Some people heal fater than others and recover quicker.  Excercise, nutrition and rest are the key to accelerating the recovery.  Building strength is the component needed to get back on your feet without cane.

Hope this may help some.

Best on your surgery.

God Bless.

It may be that your lower back is having to over work to support the bad hip, and that is why it is protesting.  Have you tried to spend some time on your back with a pillow under your knees?  This will allow your lower back time to relax.  Try it a couple of times during the day - watch some day time TV or read a book, listen to some music, etc. to distract your mind, and do it again before you go to sleep.  You never know, you may even fall asleep in this position!

I rather think that this may came from the nerves in your back/spine and radiate down to your knees.  Probably best to give your GP a phone call in the morning.

Thanks for your answers, it is very reassuring to know that others have experienced this.  I do have OA of the spine, and have compensated for painful hips by leaning forward slightly at the hips and by slightly bending at the hips (my consultant did an exaggerated posture of this) and believes the hips are exacerbating some of my back problems.  This stance has become more noticeable over the last few months, and maybe it is this that is causing the senation which is fairly recent.  I will try a pillow under my legs at night to see if that helps with the back pain jt215.  

Graham I currently take Gabapentin, but try only to take Tramadol when needed.  

I think I might try some stretching exercises before bed and see if this helps

Sorry susie74530 it was you who suggested the pillow under the legs.  I will give this a go.  I am 55 and feel like an 80 year old and probably look like one when I walk.