knee stiffness post op

Bones, joints and muscles
1

HI HIppies

Today I am 4 weeks post op TRHR.  I am doing all the exercises and walking outside with my crutches, I am fully weight bearing but after limping so long I am finding it hard to trust the new hip.  My leg still feels like it does not fully belong to me and I am experiencing stifness in the knee on the operated side. I wondered if anyone else still felt stiffness after 4 weeks, maybe I am now being impatient. 

2

I still have some stiffness too, I think it is in the most part completely normal. I also 'protect' my hip without thinking, we have been doing it so long!! I would also be interested to know when the stiffness completely eases. Any tips?

My new and very kind physio said it was muscle tension (she said my thigh muscle was solid) and you may benefit from massaging (or asking someone else to) just to ease the muscles. They have been through a lot!!! I am going on Friday and will let you know the outcome. Knee stretches and stretching carefully can also help, are you seeing a physio?

3

Hi Toto

i know that feeling your hip "not fully belonging to you"!....it's a weird feeling. I am 9.5 weeks post op and am doing resonably well. I can walk short distances unaided but getting up from a sitting position is still painful. My hip area is still totally numb (from the scar tissue I guess) and my groin pain is still annoying. As for stiffness in the knee? I developed this at week 6....and I think I was overdoing the light gym exercises I was doing. I have eased off the specific weight bearing exercises on my operated leg and the knee pain has eased considerably. 

Good luck with your recovery...

Philip

 

4

I was 4 weeks post op TRHR yesterday.  I have been doing the exercises and am also full weight bearing since day one.   I, too, have the feeling that the new hip does not yet fully belong to me.  I am still working on my limp,  When I consciously try to force myself to walk without the limp, I really notice the stiffness in my knee.  I will have PT again this Friday and I'm hoping they can help me with this.  

5

Hi, I am 11 months out and can say that things have settled down quite a bit.  I have moments of natural movements without thinking that I have fake hips, but I think I will always be on guard to make sure I do not do something silly that will cause dislocation.  You are still very early in a recovery that takes a good year to complete.  I too had the knee stiffness and even swelling.  I guess all the joints below the hip have to adjust to the new pattern of walking.  It will all work out in the end.  It is very easy to feel impatient.

Dawn, USA

6

Hi Toto, 

4 weeks already !!!!   Typically this is the time when one starts doing a little bit more - I agree with below comments - As you already mentio, you have been limping for so long and so did/do I - Our brain will still find the easiest way for us to walk, which is the old way - we, however, want to walk correctly - stand up straight, heel to toe, lift feet, and trying to keep in balance - Our knees are major partners here - 

I had 2 THR surgeries, 1st in March and 2nd in September and so sorry to say that I still have aches around knees, in thighs, hips and lower back - legs feel heavy and I think I even can feel the hardware at times

I am getting impatient too .... 

I do trust my hips however am very cautious and protective - 

big warm hug

renee

7

Also my knee feels new not just the hip Toto, it all feels completely like an alien leg that won't do what its told. My knee genuinely does not feel the same at all. Even when cycling as I have just been doing, it feels different. The previous posts are right to say how much it affects everything. My knee makes a small cracking sound when I cycle which was not the case before.

Once you have the six week check you can start to do some cycling to build up muscles and maybe swimming if you want to. Although I am not sure how to get in and out of a pool easily without twisting etc, so need to think about that....

In another few weeks you will feel the difference, it is all terribly slow, I had hoped to be doing the maration training by now (hee hee!) just joking, but seriously thought I would skipping along but there is no rush, better to recover slowly and properly and preferrably without any dislocations or dramas. 

8

I am 9 months post op and sometimes I still have a little stiffness. In the beginning I felt just like you do. I thought my leg was going to fall off or something.

I still limp a little if I'm walking for any lengthy period of time and still use my cane when I go outside. Thank God I don't have knee problems. They are the only places where I don't have OA

Just take your time and don't push yourself. Do your exercises and get the rest you need.

Good luck to you!