Saw the Dr. today and I can hardly walk, the bone scan shows severe osteoarthritis in my left knee, the same one I had my hip replacement. He gave me more pain killers, but I still wanted more answers. I am going to get my family Dr. to order an MRI on that knee cause something is very wrong. Can osteoarthrits be that painful. I did not bad news, don't get me wrong but I cannot take this pain much longer. It has been almost 6 weeks of pain..I cannot seem to get the help I need. Anyone out there have knee problems of THR...Thanks for listening. I appreciate all of your posts and think of you all often, I hope things improve for all of you, Thanks again, Hugs to all June
Hi June,
My knee on my operated leg (1st thr in Feb) was really badly swollen and bruised after surgery. It took a long, long time for this to stretch fully and be free of pain. But I had problems with it before surgery and with the IT band postsurgery as well.
The IT band runs between the top of the hip to just below the outside of the knee. Could this be ontributing ...? It might be worth checking this with a good physiotherapist or athletic therapist as the therapy for this is pretty simple if quite painful at first ... use a roller or ball to run down the band allying as much pressure as you can stand. Repeat throughput the day as often as possible. It started releasing after a few days (one is actually breaking down scar tissue apparently) with the worst gone within 10 days.
My knee wasn't as bad after my 2nd hip replacement (2 weeks ago). But the IT band got tight with this leg as well but far more easily managed.
Either way, if you are in this much pain more investigation is needed or you will simply end up causing more damage.
Please let me know what you find out ... I hope the problem is quickly identifed so things can improve soonest.
Hugs,
L
PS - it was my physiotherapist who mentioned the need to change out your shoes or orthotics if you have them ... with a new (and improved gait), the old shoes will work against straightening things out and can actually cause problems ...
Hi Junegro
I have ostearthritis in both my knees along with other problems... I had my hips done first and yes knees can be very painful and infact was told there is only so far in my recovery for Bilateral Hip replacement i will go before the knees will need doing. since my hips were done my Right knee will not go straight and is grinding and clicking on every move.
I find having something under my knees when sitting helps but our knees do take a battering following hip replacement and my knees seem to have disappeared with so much swelling around them which is not going down.
Take care and good luck in getting an MRI on your knees.
hi june,
I am so sorry to hear in how much pain you are ..unfortunately OA can be that painful ..
what did the doctor say after the diagnosis ?
I had more knee problems before THR surgery due to bad posture and also post-op - our body is trying to keep us balanced and knees are so important, pivotal to support us in this -
I hope you will find the help you need ---
please come back here and let us know how you are getting on, okay ?
big warm hug
renee
Hi June sorry your not feeling too good 😏 like you I have severe pain in my knees but consultant told me it should go away after having both of my hip replacements done....i very much doubt it I've asked my Dr several times for scans/x-rays but he refuses because he said it would improve 😐...ive had trouble with my knees for years before I was diagnosed with arthritis in my back and hips....ive one last attempt on Monday to ask him before my hip replacement goes ahead....i feel for you the pain is unbearable at the moment nothing helps hope you get answers soon....take care 😊 xxx
I don't know about the impact of the THR, but yes, OA can be that painful and more. Alternating hot and cold packs can help a bit. And I massage in warming emu oil ( not the knee for me, but it'll be just as useful). If it is OA then you already know there is no fix, but these can help a bit with the pain. Plus exercise - from sitting, just raise and lower the leg, making the movement through the knee so that it goes from bent to straight and back. Do it slowly, up to ten times. And sets of ten as often as you can. You won't be able to do ten at first, but if you persist it'll get easier
Hi June:
Most of your correspondents seem to have mostly knee problems post THR. Mine is in my lower back left (side of HR#1 2013). The pain is excruciating when i stand or try to walk, eases when sitting. So physios and docs agree it is likely a trapped nerve due to the time between both surgeries and my prolonged imbalance. The pain occurred six weeks p;ost HR#2 2016) when I started to walk more correctly and balanced! Just a thought! I await result of MRI on Monday and then who knows.. and epidural might do it for me. Physios are not confidant that manpulation, massage and exercises aalong will accomplish a freeing of the nerve. Good luck with yours...I can identify with the awful pain and not knowing exactly what is going on compounds the stress.
regards, liam
OA pain can be very severe - I know it was for me. It even stopped me from riding my beloved Triumph Rocket motorcycle with my wife, and we loved going out on it together, getting the country air and finding a good country pub to have a meal at.
If you have OA in the knee, I suspect you are going to need a replacement very soon. I know there are many who get knee problems after THR, I think some find the knee pain has been masked by the hip pain.
I do hope you find the answer to your continued pain, and things improve very soon for you.
Graham - 🚀💃
Thank you everyone for your kind words and caring. I know from what the Dr. said my knee is shot. I ha osteo in my riht knee and had it replaced about 8 years ago and now I remember the pain is the same. I am so disappointed as I waited for the hip surgery for almost 3 years. I also had a surgery in Dec. for a tumor on my kidney which was malignant but they got it all, it ws very very small. I have had 2 MRI's and I am cancer free. So I waited for finally get this hip done and know what. The Dr. told me to take some meds and ice and heat it, but the knee is full of osteoarthiris and I am going to see physio next week and let yo kow how it goes. I cannot believe all the support I am getting. Family don't want to hear about my aches and pains anymore, they are supportive, but even I have my limits. Again thanks to eeryone and let's keep in touch
Hugs to all
xo June
Hugs, hugs and more hugs.
L
Elaine I never thought a knee could be that painful, but I can hardly walk and it's full of osteo as I said, I hope things get better for you and thanks for the good wishes...
Thanks for your kind words I hope things improve soon
Hugs june
Just thought Linda I see my RA Dr. next week and I will ask for his opinion about my knee as well, also hoping for more answers. I know it is osteo but hope phyio helps along with the meds I am on, Good luck to you as well
Hugs, June
Hey
Yes this happened to me it all started with what l thought was a pulled muscle in my groin but it never went away. After the pain got steadily worse and l went back to my GP who sent me for xrays that day. A week later l was told l had Ostioarthritis in both hips and both hips replaced. It was a huge shock l was 42 and relativley fit.
I had my 1st hip replaced in dec last year and the 2nd in feb this year. My recovery went well l started walking again then suddenly my left knee started getting sore after walks l was getting shooting pains up to my hip. I put it down to my hip heeling but it was not going away. So went back to GP wj again sent me for xrays and a week later l was told l had it in both knee's and they needed replaced. I felt so low l have been off my work since november last year.
I had my 1st knee replacement in august 16th. It was so hard compaired to my hips took longer to recover the pain stays a lot longer than the hips but 4 weeks after it starts to get better. I am back to driving l can walk better but l have good and bad days. I decided after that op l am going to hang off for as long as possible before l get my other knee done as l am not getting that much pain in it yet. I have had 3 joint replacements in a year thats quite enough for a while lol. So it is possible. They tested me before my 1st hip to make sure l did nit have the OA bone disease in me and l don't its just been bad luck on my behalf. If you need your knee replaced and its causing you a lot of pain then l would get it done as it does get better but it is a harder op than the hips l cant lie. But l have managed. If you want to know anymore feel free to ask. I know all there is about hip and knee replacements now. At 43 l am more metal than normal. But if it needs done it needs done.
Laura ☺x
Oh June,
what a strong and beautiful soul you are. .
sending you light and healing. ..
always come back here, okay? you are not alone. .
angel blessings
Laura I had knee replacement in my right knee about 5 years ago and the pain and therapy was very painful. It took me a long time to go back to work for about 6 months. No kidding it hurt like heck. Know I am looking at the left knee being shot right after LHR. I was devestated to hear the news. I know the Dr. tole me it was full of osteo so I knew what that meant. I still am getting an MRI on it to see the real picture but the waint here is very long. I hope you are feeling better and thanks for sharing.
Hugs, to you June
Hi Laura
I had a very similar story to you Laura. I too had hip pain which I was first told was just groin strain . It continued to get worse I was X rayed and got told I had severe arthritis in my right hip and medium to severe in my left .
At first I took painkillers for my right hip ,being 54 I didn't want to rush into getting it replaced till I had to.
Less than a year later whilst walking up stairs I heard an a,mighty click from the back of my left knee and intense pain I could hardly walk . I went to A & E as do tor couldn't give me an appointment for 5 days!!!! I had an X-ray and was told no arthritis just a tiny bit of wear and tear but not much. Just rest it a bit and wear a support.
My knee continued to give me odd pains and would become stiff so 8 months later decided to get it re xrayed . It now showed severe arthritis in that left knee and severe arthritus in my right one too which was now a little stiff too at times 😩
Over the next 6 months my right hip ,got worse by the week so much that I could hardly walk ,I was on crutches hobbling along even to just move around the house,so dr decided to give my right hip a total hip replacement.
I am now 6 weeks post hip operation and recovery ok I think but my right knee ( the one which was only a little stiff) is so severely stiff now I can not bend it hardly ,think it got injured further in the hip op and finding it hard to support that hip that's trying to repair.
My left knee ( the one I originally injured ) is stiff and swollen too .
i have my surgeons appointment to check the hip next Monday so am wondering what he will suggest.
I think though like you I will need both knees done soon and then my other hip .
Did they give you any explanation why all your joints went so close together? Or are we just very very unlucky.
Am dreading the idea of a knee op as everyone says how much worse it is to a hip 😩
Would love to hear how you are doing now Laura.
With best wishes suzie x