THR, now knee pain

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I had a hip reconstruction at the end of january ie a replacement plus extra metal and bone grafts. As part of my recovery I have been walking more - not lots but as much as i can. Im still using a stick for distance and walk with a limp when not using the house. 

Over the last week both of my knees have started to hurt and i am worried that i might have replaced one problem with another (or two). 

Has anyone has this problem? will it ease once my knees get used to walking? Should I wear support bandages on my knees? I would appreciate any help and advice.

thank you 

2

Dear Carol

Have you considered,using walking poles to help you to establish a good walking gait?

Cheers Richard

3

Morning Richard, ,thanks for this. I do actually use waking poles when I walk for a mile or two and they help my gait, definitely. Not sure whether the knee pain will go. I was partial weight bearing for 6 weeks and had to take walking steady to start with. Im just wondering whether the walking is affecting my knees. Thanks again

4

Morning Carol

Is your knee straightening and locking when you walk? I find that a bit of swelling and walking with crutches encourages you to walk with the knee stightly bent.

Have you asked a physio about it?

Mike

5

Dear Carol

I'm glad that you find walking poles helpful. I wonder if it might be useful to have your back checked by a good chiropractor as many pain problems can be traced to a back issue. Please avoid a McTimoney qualified chiropractor as they have a more limited skill set.

Good luck

Richard

6

yes michael, thinking about it, my knees are straightening and locking. im not seeing my physio until september now, but i might ring her.

Thank you 

7

hi carol, 

the knees are important to keep your body in balance - has anyine watched you walking? the way you walk is important - tedious practice though and easy to fall back to the default way of walking, aka walking pre-surgery -

there are great youtube videos on how to walk after hip replacement surgery if you don't have a physical therapist ... 

important is to keep your body/posture straight and relaxed until you feel balanced - then take one step, heel to toe and finish step, then next etc, 

It is so easy to walk faster and thus sloppier (I do that ) - flat footed and limping - this put a tremendous pressure on your knees -

Try to get an earlier appointment with your PT than September - 

keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on, okay - so many are having similar issues -

big warm hug

renee

 

8

Thanks Renee,

I am walking badly without my stick so am using it a bit more to relieve my knees. I will see if i can get an earlier PT appointment. So frustrating.

Thanks again x

9

Relied to myself nistead of you Renee! Thanks for your help. I am walking very badly without a stick and only for short distances. I can walk good distances with poles or my stick. I will see if I can get an earlier PT appt.

Thanks again xx

10

Dear Carol

After five weeks of enforced not weight bearing because of a suspected pelvis crack after surgery I was walking quite well without aids after a week or so of getting the all clear. However I felt that I had not built up quite enough muscle strength and have gone back to just one crutch and feel much better for it.

Cheers Richard

11

Thanks Richard,

Im using my walking stick again pretty much all the time to give my poor knees a break. Maybe I need to take two steps back before I move forward again. I just hate the thought of having knee problems when I thought I would eventually be able to walk well. So, fingers crossed. 

 

12

Dear Carol

We all want to vet on with our lives as quickly as possible but I think the trick is to listen to your body and to be prepared to adjust to match what is good for you.

I feel that my taking a step backwards was the right thing for me to do. I've just returned from a brisk walk of about a mile and still feel fine using one crutch to help my muscles a tiny bit.

All the best

Richard

13

Dear Richard,

Thanks for your support. i do love this site. i will keep using my walking stick for now and maybe gradually wean myself off as my knees feel they can cope! 

Thanks again and good luck with your progress

Carol x