The reason you waddle, limp or have knee or nerve pain.
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi all
Some know me on here and know I have no movement in my knee after 12 weeks post op rthr I found this today extremely helpful in understanding what's going on with our bodies. If you have any muscle pain, weakness in your glutes or movement issues then read this.....
https://www.healthpages.org/anatomy-function/hip-structure-function-common-problems/
2 likes, 14 replies
michael62695 penny08987
Edited
Thx for useful link. I may have missed something but I *didn't* get any understanding of specifically why the different pains in the leg are caused by the hip problems - why for example they occur on the right shin, sometimes on the left, why there is sometimes difficulty placing one's foot straight down more on the left side of the foot, sometimes more on the right side, and so on.. (I'm pre-op) Explanations of these shifting presumably referred pains would indeed be very useful. Anyone know any other sources? Thx again
penny08987 michael62695
Posted
I got the impression from the source that these issues elsewhere happen when tightness or damage was inflicted and then transfered pain occurs in a completely different area. For example my surgeon had to use a replacement one size to big, when this is the case it effects the knee and surrounding muscles putting extra strain on the tendons and ligaments. It made sense to me on a personal level but we are all very much recovering at different rates it would seem. I look forward to the new discussion.
penny08987 michael62695
Edited
Meant to say I look forward to Jim's new discussion 😊
jimbone penny08987
Posted
Hello Penny,
Thank you for the link. I think it's important to understand the anatomy involved in our condition and allows us to talk more specifically and accurately. I don't think the article addresses the issue of dysfunction exactly but it does state and imply that a problem in one of the tissues/bones/connections will cause a variety of malfunction and attending pain. It is a question I've had for some time: if it is the hip joint [bone] that is damaged from osteoarthritis, then why do I experience muscular pain? I plan to start a new discussion that I hope others will contribute to regarding their specific symptoms/pains/restrictions prior to hip replacement surgery. Maybe I'll hear from you there as well. Best Wishes.
Jim
michael62695 jimbone
Posted
Jimbone, I think the reason in general why you have *muscular* pain is that the system automatically tightens key muscular areas in order to protect the hip and spine when injured in any way - they are such vital areas.- and ensure you don't make any movements that might damage them further. That's my experience - I had a lot of problems with lower back pulls from squash as well as hip probs more recently - but I'm not sure whether it's standard wisdom.
penny08987 jimbone
Posted
Yeah I do feel a little better after reading it but yes I agree another discussion would be helpful. I look forward to it. 😊
jimbone michael62695
Posted
Michael-
Hi. Yes I think you're correct and it's more or less the answer I was given when attending a hip replacement class conducted at a local hospital. This Fri. I'm scheduled for a pre-operative physio therapy assessment. I asked for it to evaluate my current state of weakness/tightness of muscles that are giving me difficulty with the intent to strengthen and stretch them prior to surgery later this summer. I plan to discuss this with the therapist and will hopefully be able to provide some insight later. Penny- wanted to include you in this discussion. I want to start a discussion of pre- operative symptoms which I'll be doing after the meeting with the therapist. Thanks all and best wishes.
Jim
michael62695 jimbone
Posted
Jim
My further experience is that the system in tightening muscles, leaves - reasonably - a large margin of error. Overtightens. What that means is you can *gently* push all those areas with exercise - and they can improve - and possibly your hip can improve too. This certainly has worked for me considerably. I have pushed those areas with gentle exercise and have regained a great deal of mobility. It certainly worked on my lower back pulls two decades ago..I believe what I'm saying is *contrary* to received wisdom, which I think will tell you to *avoid*/.work round those areas of tightness - do *other* forms of exercise like swimming.
jimbone michael62695
Posted
Hi Michael-
I' m all in with you on exercising for improved function and pain reduction. I found swimming to be the first go to exercise for this and usually do a 1000 yard lap swim 4 times a week. I use fins for two reasons- they apply greater force against the thigh/hip muscles and lead you to kick from the hip with more extension although kick more slowly. Never used them before but found after the hip really degenerated the movement and speed of my normal kick aggravated the hip joint. Also, I have a very specific point of pain which along with the massage therapist I'm working with appears to be an impingement in the psoas/illium and using the fins duplicates a stretch and resistance I get when using resistance bands that is soothing and strengthening. Oddly I also find push ups to help. I think it's for two reasons: you have to keep your core and abdominal/transverse muscles tight to do them correctly and my feeling is that improving upper body strength also "balances" you out and allows the body to compensate as a whole and takes some of the strain off the lower muscle systems. I'm back in the gym working pretty hard for the next 6-8 weeks by which time I'm hoping to have been scheduled for surgery and as prepared for it as I can be. Indolence is no prescription for health or recovery. I hope you'll pick up on the thread I'll get to posting here in a day or so regarding pre-operative symptoms and have the time to contribute to it. Best wishes.
Jim
michael62695 jimbone
Posted
HI Jim
Sounds like you're v. into exercise as I am. Actually, I was and am, considerably more detailed in my approach.; I found it important to explore one's whole range of movement and identify all the areas that have become restricted. For example, normal recommended exercises tend to be in straight up/down/side/side directions. But twisting movements are also very important. I found it important to ghost squash moves, ghosting a squash backhand along floor, twisting round, and moving back several steps to the other side, to do a forehand along ground - back and forth. Involves much twisting, and at first painful and jolting, but I am slowly getting better and stronger at it. Still about 3" off floor on backhand - wh. puts *major* pressure on hip. Ditto still about 3" off floor on normal bending down to touch toes. Then took me long time to realise that lifting the leg high is v. important - and not just walking/ gently jogging. I'm taking 2 steps at a time on my hip leg up the stairs - still slow, but gradually improving & strengthening. This seems to be a *v.* key exercise for my hip. My experience is you have partly to create/tailor your own exercise regime. All such exercises have to be initially tackled in *slow* motion. If you try and be heroic and do them normal speed, your system will automatically avoid parts of the movement, and the proper muscles will not be fully engaged. Won't take up too much space/time talking about this here. But delighted to discuss further. So if you'd like that, pm me privately. I've actually put off 2 surgeon appointments, (both private/NHS) to wait & see how my exercise pans out.
Ink_blot penny08987
Posted
hope4cure penny08987
Posted
Anyone tried the AlterG anti gravity treadmill. It's comfortable and safe with a anti gravity chamber created by air pressure. It helps preserve muscle, walking, and memory to adjust to loss of bone and readjust to new prosthesis while strengthening patterns in movements and muscles retain strength.
After revision surgery it was very helpful in establishing good walking patterns by adding body weight from 20% and move up adding more weight 30%-60% as healing and strength improves until 100% is achieved . I had a lot less swelling ,knee and back problems. Much different than water therapy yet gentle because there was more control in leg and body movements.
Revision is a bit complicated in my case the femoral component removed was replaced with a longer implant. The removal of the primary implant removed by surgical saw cutting the femor bone in three places for removal and positioning of the new press fit component. The ball and cup were replaced and updated with new poly cup liner and metal ball replaced with ceramic . The greatortotancher had a hair line fracture . The whole area was supported with cerclage system . The bone was healing in three places as well as adjusting to new implants.
Every case has its unique issues. Also all the recommended recovery exercises were also done. Always never pushed or let PT push my progress.
Wishing everyone a good outcome.
penny08987 hope4cure
Posted
Thank you for your reply
That gravity treadmill sounds really good and I've never heard of it. I have my first Physio session next week I'm hoping for some reassurance. Keep in touch
hope4cure penny08987
Posted
Good luck on physio. Don’t let the PTS push you. If it hurts stop and do something else , rest or know that hips heal quite well and need rest and light exercise to improve. Each healing stage is different from everyone.
Physical therapy can help, but it has to be carefully tailored to your THR surgery and exercise to your tolerance. Could involve water therapy or zero-G a gentle way to help build strength. I’ve had therapists who are pushy and cause me more pain than help. So be accertive and let the therapist know your limits. 👍