Trendelenburg Gait after hip replacement
Posted , 38 users are following.
I am 9+ weeks post op THR and am experiencing a Trendelenburg Gait as the result of a severed gluteus medius (and minimus) from a lateral surgical approach. I'm getting blank stares from the surgeon and PT when I ask if it will ever go away if I exercise well. I have not spoken to anyone else who has had this problem but would love to know what prognosis to expect down the road. Can anyone relate to this? I am 71 years young (the new 51!) and otherwise have had a spectacular recovery. I still use a cane and sometimes a walker when I need to go faster without limping. The Trendelenburg Gait (without a cane/walker) will eventually damage my back, hips, pelvis. I'd like to correct it before it does damage.
10 likes, 76 replies
kevoowen diannemcgee
Posted
First I heard about Trendelenburg was when I received a copy of my six week checkup when the physio had included the term "Trendelenburg Positive".
I thought I was too young to die then the panic passed and I researched it and found that I basically had a limp! He he
I was exactly like you but with the help of my Physio I am walking reasonably straight for short distances not (currently week 11). I am under strict orders to use a crutch or stick when walking outside to make sure I dont get back into the habit I had got into before the op. She also said that the leg muscles need to be woken up again onhow to walk properly.
So, if you are ever in Chester and you see someone walking while mumbling "heel......heel......heel" then that is me. I thought it was daft but she has been spot on. I will be back in work at the end of next week and feel ready for it too.
Th exercises she has given me are to strengthen the Gluteus and also the muscles around the knee but we are all different.
I would suggest you keep giving the physios hassle until you get some sense.
Good luck and take care.
diannemcgee kevoowen
Posted
I still limp when not using my cane but now I have a pulley installed so I can do passive exercises as well as attempt some active ones. YEAH!!!!
What are the Glut exercises your physio showed you?
kevoowen diannemcgee
Posted
I'm at the stage now when I forget at times and its either a pain or one of the family shouting that will remind me. Never knew I had a gluteus medius before the op. He he
Here's the link
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00303
jill48316 diannemcgee
Posted
Dear Dianne,
I was very interested to learn about your problem with Trendelenburg Gait. I had never heard of it until I saw it mentioned first in a letter in the SAGA mag and I am sure now I have it too. For me perhaps, unfortunately, I am 10 years olderthan you and have had my new hip for just a year now.Like you I have been delighted to cope without pain and move freely and it is only more recently when I have been walking either with or without a cane that I have realized this failing so much. Another problem I have, I wonder if you have experienced, is if when walking, I am hailed from behind I have to watch myself how I turn to address someone I have the sensation I could easily lose balance. I am about to start physiotherapy next week but I hope all is going very well for you and woould be very interedsted to hear of progress.
diannemcgee
Posted
HippiechicUK diannemcgee
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HippiechicUK
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diannemcgee
Posted
shushu100 diannemcgee
Posted
i'm being told to get myself off the cane. What are others hearing? Use the cane until the T-gait is gone? thank you for this blog!
diannemcgee shushu100
Posted
I'm rambling so I'll close. Just folllow your instincts and remember that you are healing your body the way it needs to heal. Don't listen to ANYONE else about the speed you're doing it. D
shushu100 diannemcgee
Posted
ps: give your surgeon a 1/2" lift and ask how they like how having one leg longer feels!
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pamela81726 shushu100
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diannemcgee pamela81726
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pamela81726 diannemcgee
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victor30102 shushu100
Posted
Thanks
Victor
patty6412 shushu100
Posted
I'm 10 weeks post THR anterior approach with significant trendelenburg gait if I don't use the cane. Very interested to hear a year out how you are doing. I'm still doing PT twice a day. Good with everything but the walking. Able to bike about 9 miles a day and swim with a minimal kick, but I can not walk! I'm hoping this is not a permanent condition so anxious to hear how others with this gait are doing now.