Severe left knee pain after total left hip replacement

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I have written on the blog,  I had total left knee replacement July 18 of this year and was doing fine for about 4 weeks then I got a severe pain my left knee (the left knee of the hip replacement). I have had numerous xrays and nothing shows up.  i am going for a bone scan tomorrow and I just cannot understand why the pain.  The surgeon looked puzzled so I went to my family physician and he ordered a bone scan.  I feel that if this does not show anything I will want an MRI on the hip and knee.  They call it an occult fracture (a possiblity) I do not want more surgery and I have been through enough.  Anyone else out there had complications in the knee after total hip replacement and what was recommended for you.  Thanks for listening...

2

Hello I have had both hips replaced and once I feel able the surgeon will be doing both of me knees. Although I am a little apprehensive in getting those done... 

Both of my knees are bad and have been for over 20yrs.. so I am suffering with them whilst getting over the bi lateral THR 7 weeks ago.  And then I have managed to sprain my ankle how I have no idea... 

3

I am told that one of the most common referred pains after hip fracture/hr is in the knee, mines driving me nuts and also going for MRI to check and make sure it wasn't damaged more when I fell than they first thought

4

Let's hope that the MRI and my bone scan show something that will benefit us in our health issues good luck and let me know how things are progressing.  I wish you the very best.  I believe that I willeventually need an MRI as I stated earlier...

5

I hope knee pain can be anialated LOL its so debilitating and has no purpose, I had xray and no fracture so don't know if its referred or from damage, mine hurts to press in places does yours, I wonder if that's possible with referred pain.

6

Had a THR on left hip and left knee is playing up.  I'm hypermobile and it keeps sublaxing in my sleep (partial dislocation).  Probably due to the monkey walking after op.  I'm hoping it settles down. 

7

Yes mine hurts Alexandria to touch.  At times the left part of the knee if hot and swollen.  I am still so disappointed in the hip surgeon as he looked at me like I was an idiot and did nothing so  went to my family Dr. and he is the one that is giving me the bone scan and if that does not show up I want an MRI, which I feel should be done in the first place.  My hip feels great since the replacement but as I said my left knee is killing me and it hurts to touch.  All the best to you..

8

Sorry to be thick but what exactly is monkey walking? Is yours referred pain or just down to the hypermobility

9

Mine does too but keep being told its hip, are you getting PT, does it help if you are, are you full weight bearing

10

What is monkey walking is it a limp??

11

Hi both - yes sorry monkey walking is just a limp.  I started off with monkey, then went to Pengiun and then duck.  

Not sure if referred pain.  My kneecaps used to occasionally lock/pop off but now it's really frequent.  That's why I think it could be down to my altered walking for that initial period.  I had a lot of referred pain in my leg up to week ten though.  Knee was worst.

12

Sorry I know its not funny but vision's of you progressing from the different animals/birds is a smile provoking sight.

So will it get better.

How far are you post,

13

hi junegro, 

so sorry to hear of the pain you are in ..

Hopefully the bone scan will give more information -

It is not unusual for all kinds of pain and discomfort to show up after this major surgery --- Your body has been off balance for some time and is sort of realligning herself while healing an repairing the severed muscles, tendons etc - 

knees are important part of keeping our body erect and in balance and might get a bit overburdened - 

I know that I became so rigid in my movements like walking - trying so hard to walk "properly" that my knee was hurting afterwards - 

Do you have physical therapy ?  

please come back and let us know how you are getting on, okay 

big warm hug

renee

14

Thanks Renee just had the shot and I will go back in 2 hours.  I hope they will help me as the pain is getting worse on the knee. Thanks for your kindness and a hug back to you...

15

My hip pain actually showed up as knee pain.  I went for 20 yeras thinking that my knee was my problem only to be told it was my hip.  My Dr. told me that there are nerves that run through the hip and end in the knee so referred hip pain in the knee is common.  Hopefully, it is referred pain that will get better as you heal and not damage to your knee.  It can be horrible at times!

16

Hi Junegro, I am 6 weeks post left hip replacement.  I had in home physio for about 5 weeks and I too suffered knee pain on that side.  My physio watched me walking and told me I was keeping that knee straight and stiff and not bending it as normal when I walked.  She was right, I was favouring that side and keeping it tensed up.  After I realised I made sure that when walking I bent it in the normal way, same as the right knee, and the pain ceased.  Also make sure your foot is pointing forward at all times when walking and not turned in.  Just be conscious of how you are walking.  Sometimes I still get some knee pain and know that I am tensing up, as soon as I correct this, the pain goes...

Hope this helps.

17

Jennifer thanks for the tip maybe I am tensing the left leg more, but the knee hurts so much, I shall try some of your advice any help I will take, as I said I am going to physio next week and hope she can help me out so I can walk pain free a bit  Take care 

Hugs,

June

18

Yes, try relaxing that leg more when you walk or stand and don't stiffen it.  Good luck with physio.

19

good advice jennifer - we are learning to walk properly again after a period of avoiding pain and getting in to bad habit of bad posture, putting down feet etc -

I walked (and sometimes still do) like Mrs. Frankenstein ( had 2 THR's) - flat footed and stiff knees - 

 

20

Hi Renee, its easy to fall into bad habits isn't it..  My physio was a middle aged woman and really on the ball.  She told me that trying to walk normally was really important as it could lead to a permanent limp later on and if this happens it places stress on other parts of the body like the pelvis etc.. I think we tense up thinking it will ease the pain but it makes things worse in the end. Best wishes on your recovery..