Knee pain after total hip replacement

Hi dp, I'm from the chronic pain forum and saw your post. Congratulations on a successful hip replacement as it looks like your well on the road to recovery!

As for the knee bothering you, its true that many hip people have problems after replacement with one sometimes both knees but generally the knee that bore the brunt of weight from the unusual gait pattern used when your hips painful.

I used a knee support, soft stretchy kind sort of like runners and ball players use? Most all pharmacys carry them for around $20. It gently allows the knee some support to guide it back to your normal gait pattern as you adjust to your new hip.

Good luck and healthy healing.

Hi, I'm a new member and very happy to have discovered this forum.  Any of the knee pain resolved yet following THR? I am 5 weeks out of surgery and did remarkably well for the first 4 weeks.  Off the cane within days after surgery and walking well.  Severe knee pain set in at week 5 with spasms above and mostly below the knee.  Also along side the knee, which I believe is all related to the IT band and problems I've had for over 10 years. (not knowing the real problem was coming from my hip).

And tips? thanks.

I think most folks who have the hip replacement are at the point where you really don't have another option. Perhaps you could try a cortisone shot first?
My surgeon x-rayed both my knees and we discovered I have arthritis in both knees. (not really a big surprise for me). So more than likely the physical therapy exercises after the hip surgery put too much strain on my worst knee (same side as operated hip) and since all my muscles in the leg were very weak after surgery the knee wasn't supported properly. I went back on some anti-inflamatory meds, quit PT for the hip, and after a 2 week rest I'm now working with a personal trainer to strengthen my knees. Hip is doing great!
2 of my co-workers recently had hip replacements (anterior method) and had no additional problems and are very pleased with the results. We all had the same surgeon. I believe I tore cartilage in my hip 30 years ago and have been moving and walking "off" to accomodate it ever since. I am confident with a little extra effort I'll biking and power walking soon again. Best of luck to you!

I have OA in my feet, but they feel like there's a truck sitting on them when it flares. Do you have normal touch sensation everywhere? I'm wondering if it could be a neuropathy.

Hello, My mother is 96 years old and fell leading to a partial hip replacement. Everything was fine until taken off precaution then the knee started to hurt a lot. We are on are second round of physical therapy. But we have added a few exercises from "floor-barre.org" . Their exercises work Very well for
alignment !!. We did a few from the DVD for seniors for the lower legs (knees thru feet) and so far the knee pain has subsided. Just wanted to let you know what worked with us.
Thank you for all your input about knee pain.

Thanks Koni! I am now 3 weeks post THR. I am seeing my surgeon for my post op visit tomorrow. I am fluctuating between periods of pain free euphoria and inevitable setbacks. Your point about general fitness and years of pre-surgery misalignment are well taken. I was a distance and speed runner and former high level soccer player. Maybe like you, I have no hopes to return to that functioning level, BUT........I do probably have higher expectations that cause me to push myself a little harder than I should.

Thanks for the book recommendation! How is your recuperation coming at 7 weeks post? This post could go on and on, but briefly, I am so happy to be able to work my lower abs now. My pre-surgery pain prevented crunches, leg raises etc.

Nearly three years after a left hip replacement (not anterior and neat, small scar) in my 70's, I now have extreme pain in the left knee when walking. My right knee is due for a knee replacement which I was going to have done after the hip. The x-rays show the right knee is bone on bone and surgeon says replacement will fix the problem - if I do the arduous rehab required! He says nothing wrong with left knee, doctor says I have patella tendonitis, physio says otherwise and recommends a regime of physio, perhaps a knee brace etc. Whatever I do have it is the left knee that is much more painful than the right and is making walking difficult. I feel it is related to the hip surgery and proper alignment but doctor and surgeon won't discuss this possibility. I don 't take any medication except the occasional panadol if I'm going to be doing some walking. I sleep well and only have pain when walking. I dread going out sometimes now. It is all too painful. The hip replacement stopped the other extreme pain but hip feels heavy and back stiff and, of course, right knee prevents normal walking. I'm scared to get the right knee done because the left is hurting so much! It all started with a damaged medial meniscus in the right knee and an arthroscope which left me in non-stop pain in the knee (day and night) for 18 months. The bone on bone was caused by the surgery. Before the surgery I was told I had minimal arthritis in the kn ee. IS SURGERY EVER THE ANSWER??? I joined this forum because others have a similar problem. Scarey but informative!!

I had a THR in April 2012 with a fast recovery and all seemed well. a year later started getting shooting pains in my outer thigh running down the outside of my right leg into my shin. Saw my surgeon 2X and he said most likely the post is touching a nerve slightly and my bone density on the outside of the femur was weaker than the inside. This wasn't the answer I was looking for. He suggested taking calcium and vitamin D which I do daily. All was good for 8-9 months now it's back. I'm beginning to think it could be the change of weather?? Seems like in the cooler months I'm good with no problems whatsoever. I've only had xrays post op with no MRI. I'm going to suggest an MRI to see if the post is touching any nerves. Q: if the post is touching a nerve is there anything that can be done to stop this from happening???

Thanks Jim

This is all very interesting and giving me insights into follow-up I must do. I am a 60-year old hiker and skier. Very active and in good health. Partial hip replacement on right side ten years back. Left side partial almost four years back. Wonderful results. No pain, great mobility. Two years ago developed "click" in right hip, but no pain. Recently the "click" moved to my knee and now is quite painful.

Thoughts??

I am new to this forum. I am 5 months out from a THR and I am using a cane. I used a walker for the first three months. I could not put weight on my hip for a month because it was determined I had weak bones so that made me walk funny and inhibited my recovery. I have also had two total knees and they are great. The problem is-------when I walk I have thigh pain just above the knee that is on the same side as the hip that was done. I had the hip done Feb. 2 and this is June 22 and I am frustrated that I can't walk far without pain. I am an active person and this is very depressing. I am doing leg lifts, etc. trying to strengthen the thigh muscle, but it just doesn't seem to go away. Sometimes the pain runs down the outside of the knee and stops there. When sitting, nothing hurts. Any advice?

Hello Don,

Your story is very similiar to mine. First THR in my mid 40's. second 10 years later. Both hips replaced. Then the knee issue on the first one torn meniscus. OA in the other. The list is a mile long.

After 6 months the second hip was recalled by the manufacturer.
My first surgeon pasted away too! He was very experienced.

In my experience the younger new surgeons THR docs are trained by the manufacturers and in some cases a rep is in the surgery room to help facilitate any issues while the patient is on the table. My last surgeon did 4 THR BY 1 pm. These tables are specifically designed by the manufacturer for ease of implantation & for different modules and parts for implantation.

See you tube demo. It's wise to watch the proceedure to be familiar with the process. These surgeries are show in great detail and visually acceptable . This is major surgery. Not every one who has this surgery is alike or has a good outcome. Look up the modules and parts online by the manufacturer. They can weigh anywhere from 3-6 lbs. for each hip. Becoming familiar was helpful in my case.

Then after the recall the revision was done, since then I have had several issues with the recalled replacement hip. Can't put all my weight on that leg or lift a gallon of milk. That was 3 years ago. So there has been a lot of adjustments and especially walking on level ground is important to watch every step. I am very mindful of all my movements and the environment that I am in at any given time.

It's good advice to keep all the records. Type of manufacturer as well as all X-rays all tests before and after. They are all on disc now. Comes in very handy.

My walking is limited, movement too. Coping is crazy. Life is a lot different. I am very grateful I still have my mobility.

Kind Regards,
CHOTTI

I too have great pain above and to the left of my left knee following my THR to my left hip.
My surgery was 7 days ago on 1/27/2016 and i've had the pain from day one so I reject the idea that it's my knee getting used to the new hip and it's new alignment. (the front centre of my thigh also feels like a very bad "cork".)
I'm shocked to see what a common complaint this is .
I'm also surprised that no-one in this forum has mentioned whether they have seen video of this procedure.
YOU MUST CHECK THIS OUT ON YOUTUBE
My friends and family often suggested this to me prior to my surgery after they'd seen it on 60 minutes etc. but I didn't want to scare myself ! But once the surgery was done I was curious to see what I had endured.
NO WONDER OUR KNEES HURT !... I viewed several different clips including both posterior and anterior procedures (mine was anterior).
In each video it shows how once the cup is in place and the post is in place with the ball attached the leg must be twisted in order to insert the ball into the cup . ... this is to be expected of course.
But check out how they do it ! In EVERY video ONE person grabs your foot and ankle and turns your leg from there. There is NO second person supporting your knee . Perhaps those lucky people that haven't ended up with the knee pain DID have that second person supporting their knee.
But to Don who posted on 7/2/2015 I would suggest this is a strong possibilty for how your fragile kneecap got fractured.

I apologize for the lengthy post but bear with me while I point out my second alarming observation.

Only on a couple of the seven videos I saw did I see any removal of bone marrow (or whatever the technical term might be) from the femur to make way for the post to be inserted . Rather, the surgeon used "trial" triangular posts that gradually increase in size to ensure a tight fit .
Even on the clips that do show the marrow substance being removed it seemed to be only a small amount compared to the size of the metal post..... now I'm just a carpenter , but if I did the same thing to a piece of timber it would split.
Perhaps a poor comparison but it occurs to me that the inner marrow of the bone is being compressed down and down with each increasingly large "pilot" post. All of this must build pressure at the bottom of the femur (JUST ABOVE THE KNEE).
I would greatly appreciate any feedback on these thoughts from you fine people. You see , I've never had knee problems prior to this surgery and all the doctors' explanations that I've read in these posts don't seem logical to me and nor do they to a lot of you.