7 days post op q3 clunking in ligament? In operated leg

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Generally the op site is fine and exercises getting easier. But going up stairs (good leg 1st) when I lift my operated leg it clunks at the front about 1/4 way down between groun and knee. It’s quite unnerving. At first I was worried it was the hip joint but think not. More likely to be a ligament? If so is there anything I can do to help it?

2

Dear Frances

Have you talked to your surgeon about this yet? Until you have I would try to do the stairs in a way that avoided a clunk because this is more than likely because of the ball floating in the cup. Dislocation potentially is not far away in a situation such as this if you are unlucky. My comments are made in the absence of essential information about you and I am not a doctor just someone with some experience of hip replacements!

All the best, Richard

3

Dear Frances I have reread what you described and I am more inclined to think that the stem may be loose and if so this needs attending to as a matter of urgency as it needs fixing if my guess is correct.

Good luck and please let us know what the outcome is. Richard

4

Hi there

just saw your post about the clunking. 

I have had six hip replacements and they do make all sorts of noises. It’s very early days and you have a lot of healing to do . You will still have pain from the surgery and unless you suddenly feel a significant increase in pain I don’t think you should worry. You would certainly know if your hip dislocated . If you really are worried I would ask your GP for an X-ray and let your surgeon see it , this is probably the quickest route if you are under NHS. I have done this several times just for peace of mind , sometimes we just need to be told everything is fine.

Good luck

5

My original hip replacement of twenty years old and the revision last year have both been without any hint of sound sound. Just saying. Cheers Richard

6

Thanks Jane. Wow! 6 hip replacements - that is some going......hats off to you!

7

I'd get it checked asap you don't want to be in the same position as me now!

8

Thanks Rocketman - I will mention it this week if it continues. It’s only when I come up the stairs. I feel it is tendon related but am very mindful of what people have said on here. My immediate task at present is for doctors to stabilise my iron and liver enzymes....