I am one month post op RTHR and still have difficulty bending operative leg when lying flat on my bed bringing my knee up to the ceiling and also when sitting. Feel a tight clamp-like tightness in knee and pulling sensation in thigh. I'm very distressed with this because sitting is uncomfortable bending leg. Will this ever go away and does anyone else have this? I never had a problem before with my knee and don't know if swelling is causing this or if my knee was hurt during surgery. I'm really distressed over this because bending my knee is important and this tourniquet feeling is so uncomfortable.
Hi Susan, I haven't had quite that but a lot of different pains in the thigh and knee. I think it has to do with all the muscles that were cut and stretched. I was one month post op yesterday, and everyone keeps telling me to be patient that it is still early and takes quite a while to heal. The physical therapist had me doing exercises where I pull the knee up towards the ceiling right from the start. They had me do it laying down on the bed and where the foot would slide fairly easy. I found for me even trying to sleep that I am more comfortable with my legs slightly bent at the knees, and I even prop them on pillows to keep this position. I have had a hard time laying flat. Sorry I couldn't have been of much more help. We are all unique on here and very possible someone has had the same symptoms that you are having. Wishing you the best in your recovery. Barb
Hi Susan,
I too had an incredibly tight front of thigh after my THR. My physio gave me the following tip, which really helped.
Stand holding on to a table or similar with a dining chair or similar close behind you. Hook your operated leg up behind you so the top of your foot is resting on the chair. Push down so you can feel a stretch. This was tricky at first, but you could feel it lengthening those tight muscles. As you begin to loosen up, you can put a cushion on the chair to increase the stretch.
Worth a try for you maybe? Good luck
Steph
Hi Susan,
Welcome again to this hippies forum ..
it is still early in your recovery from major surgery -
THR surgery involves forceful manhandling of leg to dislocate hipjoint - remove it, prepare it , prothesis banged in cavity and femur and leg put back in place ---
the knee takes a beating, so to speak ... I had bruises on my thigh and handprint behind my knee after 1st THR - with 2nd one I asked if they could handle me with care - they did and except for pain around my knee, no bruises ...
are you walking okay? can you stand on your operated leg ?
I am not sure which is better: cold for swelling or heat for relaxing the muscles -
let us know how you are getting on otherwise okay?
in the meantime, be gentle with yourself
big warm hug
renee
Hi Susan,
I'm coming up for 7 weeks post op and I am still have similar issues. My physio was not very helpful with it to be honest other than commenting that my movement should be a bit better... Now I have my post op restrictions lifted I'm just try to gently stretch it and it is slowly improving....
I dont think its anything to be distressed about, just part of the healing process.
Hang on in there , I'm 6 p/o and the pain and swelling in my leg/ knee is only just going down , it's still early for you , it will get better x
Hi Susan,
Sorry to hear you are feeling like this but I think most of us have been there, it's as Renee says we have taken a beating. I stuck at the exercises and now 11 weeks still do the excercises they were very difficult in the beginning, in the end I would lay on the bed tell all my muscles to relax one by one then go for it, eventually I was able to lift my leg off the bed yeah result. So my advise is just stick with it and you will suddenly wonder 'when did that happen' and have a break through. It is a struggle I know hun but keep at it. I am still far from 'right' yet but certainly moving forward at a slow pace at least no OA pain. I did think I was doing really well and now not too sure. On saying that I've just been over to Ireland and had a wonderful 2 days there, it was tiring at times so I just went and layed on the bed for 1/2 hour - the worst pain was from my new shoes. I have given myself a year (I know just trying to be realistic) so still a long time to go. It is such a 'common' op, I think everyone thinks it's going to be easy.
LOL on the new shoes pain ---
happy to hear that you had a wonderful time - Now you might to rest up a bit ....
I've started my 5th week post op. I can walk well. I can do just about all of the exercises except the ones that require knee bending. If it's healing pain I am okay with that. It's just that prior to surgery, even with hip problems, I always bent my knee with no problems. The tight clamp is on the knee itself and a little above the knee. There's no pain in the knee. Just this tight clamp which no matter how much I bend my knee doesn't resolve. Going back to surgeon this week for my 6 week follow up a week early because I am so uncomfortable bending my knee. Starting outside of the home PT this coming week. Visiting nurse service PT didn't understand why I am having this clamp like tightness in bending. So that's why I was wondering if this symptom was shared by others. Will feel better seeing what the doctor has to say. Thank you for your encouragement. Feeling very depressed that something isn't going right.
This takes time and you should be working on this with a physical therapist. There are specific exersizes for this.
Thank you. Starting with physiotherapist starting next week outside the home. Visiting nurse service didn't address this well and said I was behind others and should be able to bend my knee. I do do the exercises they gave me but the knee just doesn't cooperate
Thanks Barb. Sticking with the exercises and hoping this clamp-like tightness in knee goes away at some point soon because I sit a lot on my job and I'm worried about discomfort remaining. There's been no improvement so far
That exercise does seem to pull on the muscles more. I hope it gets the muscles to stretch. Will try doing that.
Thank you so much Renee for responding. Funny thing is heel slides are fine. Walking is fine. Doing most of the exercises without difficulty. Just the ones that require more extreme bending like sitting and raising knee up to ceiling lying down - maneuvers have not improved since the beginning because my knee won't cooperate when I try to bend it, It just won't bend without this tourniquet clamp-like tightness in the knee itself and maybe lower thigh. The feeling is horrible and hard to cope with. The slight bending of the knee with walking is not too bad. All other bending is horrible.
Hi. I am 13 weeks post op and still have that feeling. Will try the exercise recommended
Lin
X
What does your doctor say the problem is? My knee couldn't bend since the day after surgery. Now it's improved because I can bend it but with the most awful discomfort. Did your doctor attribute it to anything and did you have s knee problem prior to surgery on the operated side??? Does you doc say this will eventually go away after you have healed?
I have exactly the same feeling. I am post op 3 weeks 1 day and have found it increasingly tight and restricted just about the knee, at the back. My leg is pretty swollen and obviously this is the reason. I think when considering the trauma that the leg goes through it is not surprising. Looking on here (so invaluable) has made me realise that most people get these issues. It won't last forever but seems to vary.
Thanks for the encouragement. Hope you feel well in your recovery
I have a lot of swelling still. He says that muscle tissue is scarred and l should exercise to lengthen the muscle.
X
Thanks for the encouragement and support. Rest, elevation and ice seems like it's going to be a big part of our routine for a long time - - and patience. I'm just so afraid of disappointment in the result. Don't want to exchange one problem for another. Trying to stay positive. Good shoes is more important now than ever. Feel well.