Hip Pain After Knee Replacement Surgery: Causes And Treatment
It is not uncommon for patients to experience hip pain after undergoing knee replacement surgery. While the surgery itself is designed to alleviate pain in the knee, the recovery process can sometimes put added strain on the hip. In some cases, this can lead to the development of new hip pain or the exacerbation of existing hip pain. While this is not a common complication of the surgery, it is important to be aware of the possibility so that you can seek treatment if necessary.
Following knee replacement surgery, there is frequently a reaction to hip pain. The bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments required to adjust to the new knee are all present. The first few weeks after your knee has been replaced, you will need to relearn how to walk properly. Following TKR surgery, there is no set time frame for recovery. Hip pain is common after knee replacement surgery. My physical therapist told me to strengthen the muscles around my knee as a first step. Before going on vacation, I took several 6-8 mile hikes in a week.
According to many scientific journals, there is a strong correlation between patellofemoral pain and hip weakness related to external rotation, abduction, and extension. Hip weakness is frequently thought to be a factor in knee pain because the knee bones are linked to hip bones.
This can be referred pain or radiated pain, and it is a fairly common condition. If you have lower back pain, you may experience discomfort on the outside of your hip or buttocks.
What Problems Can Tight Glutes Cause
When your glutes and piriformis are tight and fatigued, you may experience lower back and hamstrings pain, poor balance, and even nerve pain down your leg caused by sciatica. The sciatic nerve passes through the piriformis, which is located on your thighbone. When piriformis are inflamed, the pain is caused by compression of the nerve.
What Causes Knee Pain After Hip Replacement Surgery
Its not all that uncommon to have some knee pain after a hip replacement. Changes in the length of your leg can put some additional pressure or stress on your knee joint. Another common cause is that the sensory nerves that lie over your hip also provide sensation to your knee. This can cause perceived knee pain when its really coming from your hip.
Additionally, a total hip replacement may cause pain at first until your bone and the implant unite, which can be felt around your knees.
But you may want to get medical attention if your knee pain continues longer than a few months after surgery.
Read on to learn what can cause knee pain after a hip replacement, how long this type of pain typically lasts, and what you can do to help ease knee pain.
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Is Bursitis Common After Knee Replacement
It is usually a self-limiting condition that has a good response to conservative treatment and is more common in patients with inflammatory or degenerative knee arthritis. Painful PAB following total knee replacement, on the other hand, is uncommon.
Get Relief From Knee Bursitis With Massage Therapy
You may experience tender skin on the front of your thigh, swelling, and redness. If you canât overcome your pain, you should take some time off. Maintain a low level of activity. When pain is gone, you can resume normal activities. Place an ice pack on your thigh three to four times per day. Massage therapy for knee pain is available. Massage therapy may be able to help you with your knee bursitis. To help relieve pain, a therapist uses gentle, rhythmic strokes to move the tissues.
Lifetime Precautions After Hip Replacement
Aside from ultra long-distance running, there isnt necessarily any activity that is completely out of bounds after a hip replacement. It all depends on your level of fitness and activity before and after surgery and the advice of your doctor.
As you can see by our advice for cycling after a knee replacement, there are plenty of ways to remain active and healthy with your new hip or knee.
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Can I Do Martial Arts After Hip Replacement Surgery
Q) Im 57, not overweight and dont smoke. I need a total hip replacement and have been told its my choice when to have it.
Can I ask what your opinion is on people having a replacement hip then continuing to do martial arts, specifically karate? Any kicks I do are to a maximum of waist height. I’ve put off the surgery for the last three years as I have been advised not to train ever again afterwards. Although, apparently its OK to play tennis and badminton, which I would have thought involve significantly greater impact than karate. I’d be interested in your opinion.
Ruth – 2018
A) The main risk of doing karate or other martial arts that involve kicking after a hip replacement would be dislocation of the joint, rather than the impact. Its the twisting movements involved in martial arts kicks that are different from racquet sports.
That said, it seems like quite a sweeping statement to be advised to never train again. You’re clearly someone who will demand a high level of function from any joint replacement, so it might help to see an orthopaedic surgeon with expertise in surgical management of hip osteoarthritis in sportspeople. They’d be able to advise you on the specifics of treatment and rehabilitation, and on what the full range of options are available to you, not just a total hip replacement.
Its worth doing some research online about your local surgeons and their areas of expertise. Your GP should then be able to refer you.
How Long Does It Take To Recover After A Hip Replacement
On average, hip replacement recovery can take around two to four weeks, but everyone is different, says Thakkar. It depends on a few factors, including how active you were before your surgery, your age, nutrition, preexisting conditions, and other health and lifestyle factors.
Achieving a certain level of activity before you have the surgery can help you bounce back more quickly, shares Thakkar. We use a regimen called prerehabilitation, or prehab, to help patients get in a physical shape that will set them up for a successful recovery.
Preparing for Hip Replacement Surgery | Q& A with Savya Thakkar, M.D.
Savya Thakkar, a hip and knee replacement specialist, talks about which conditions may require a hip replacement and what to expect before and after the surgery.
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Signs It May Be Time For A Hip Replacement
When is it time to consider a hip replacement? The orthopedic hip specialists at University of Maryland Medical Center may recommend hip replacement to patients who, after non-surgical treatments for hip arthritis, continue to suffer and have the following symptoms.
You can make an appointment with one of our hip specialists by calling or request an appointment online.
Data Synthesis And Analysis
As studies reported different pain measures, we summarised pain outcomes in a way that was applicable to all measures. The proportions of people with different severities of pain were summarised as favourable, unfavourable or uncertain outcomes. Favourable outcome includes people with no pain or mild pain at follow-up, while unfavourable outcome includes those with moderate-to-severe pain or for whom surgery had not relieved pain. The uncertain outcome includes all patients for whom we cannot be sure of their pain levels at follow-up. These include patients who died, had revision surgery, contralateral surgery or dislocation and were not followed up with questionnaires and those lost to follow-up. We also included as uncertain those patients with a degree of reported pain, which we could not classify as a favourable or unfavourable outcome.
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A Loose Implant In The Hip Joint
The next most likely cause of thigh pain after hip replacement is a loose implant from the surgery.
This was a more common issue in the past, when the medical field wasnt quite as advanced as it is now. These days, surgeons, implants, and the tools they use to install them have come a long way.
But, it is not unheard of. Unlike an infection in your new hip, a loose implant is more likely as time goes on and you put some wear and tear on your new hip.
As the hip loosens, it rubs on the bone and ligaments surrounding it. This is what causes the pain in your thigh.
You can visit your doctor and tell them about your condition, and they can help identify if the implant is loose. Its a pretty easy fix if this is whats plaguing you.
This can be very frustrating, and leaves you asking, how long will this thigh pain last?
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How Long Does It Take For Thigh Muscles To Heal After Hip Replacement
Many patients are out of commission in as little as two to four weeks, says Thakkar, but this varies by individual. The result is determined by several factors, including your level of physical activity before the procedure, your age, nutrition, pre-existing conditions, and other factors such as your health and lifestyle.
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Pain Control After Joint Replacement
Joint replacement surgery, such as knee and hip replacement, is often done to reduce the pain caused by arthritis. However, in the days following surgery, some patients pain is just as bad or even worse than their original arthritic pain. While we understand that surgery without any pain is the exception and not the rule, we take pain very seriously and take a multidisciplinary approach to limiting pain to maximize recovery.
Will My Implant Set Off Metal Detectors At Airports And Courthouses
Usually patients with joint replacements will set off metal detectors. It is reasonable for you to inform the TSA screening agent at the airport that you have had a joint replacement however, you will still require screening and will need to follow the directions of the screening agent. Learn more about airport security.
There are millions of individuals with joint replacements, and screening protocols recognize that people who have had joint replacements may set off detectors. You do not need to carry specific documentation to prove that you have a joint replacement.
Metal detector screenings follow universal protocols that allow for people with joint replacements to proceed after confirmation that no threat exists.
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Frequent Or Recurring Hip Dislocations
Your hip joints are made of a stem, ball and socket. Hip dislocations occur when the ball of the joint comes out of the socket . Some hip dislocations are the result of trauma, such as an accident, but if you frequently have hip dislocations after a hip replacement surgery, you may need a revision to correct the position and size of your hip components.
Symptoms of a hip joint dislocation include:
- severe pain in and around the hip or groin area,
- inability to walk,
- weakness or inability to move your leg, and
- one leg that is noticeably shorter than the other.
Should I Continue To See My Surgeon After Ive Healed
It is important to follow up with your surgeon after your joint replacement. In most cases, joint replacements last for many years. You need to meet with your treating doctor after surgery to ensure that your replacement is continuing to function well. In some cases, the replaced parts can start to wear out or loosen.
The frequency of required follow up visits is dependent on many factors including the age of the patient, the demand levels placed on the joint, and the type of replacement. Your physician will consider all these factors and tailor a follow-up schedule to meet your needs.
In general seeing your surgeon every three to five years is recommended.
Rev. 2017
This article has been written and peer reviewed by the AAHKS Patient and Public Relations Committee and the AAHKS Evidence Based Medicine Committee. Links to these pages or content used from the articles must be given proper citation to the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
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Getting Pain In The Opposite Leg We Can Help
If youre experiencing foot, leg, knee or hip pain, our team of experienced podiatrists are here to help. We work extensively with our community and surgeons to help optimise the post-surgical recovery of their patients, helping rehabilitate any problems that may arise including pain in the uninjured leg.
We have a wide range of innovative treatments, and now have our own orthotic mill in-house for effective solutions to problems like leg length discrepancies. Even without additional pain, were proud to help patients get the best results after their procedures by optimising their rehab and recovery.
Book your appointment with us by calling 8405 6850 or book online here.
My Surgeon Talks About Approach What Is This
The way a surgeon gains access to the hip during hip replacement surgery is referred to as an approach. There are various types of approaches named according to the direction that the surgery is performed.
The most common approach today is referred to as the posterior approach, which is done from the back of the hip. Some more recent improvements to this approach have been called mini posterior approach. Another currently popular approach is known as the anterior approach, which is performed from the front of the hip. The lateral approach is less frequently used but a viable approach for the surgery.
There are pros and cons of each approach and little science to endorse one over the other. Surgeons tend to have a preference and comfort level with one particular approach over the others. The bottom line is that the best approach is the one your doctor is most comfortable with to allow safe and precise implantation of your hip replacement components. A conversation with your surgeon should help decide which approach is best for you.
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Why Do I Have Groin Pain After Hip Replacement Surgery
Some patients continue to experience groin pain after THA. Scaggsyness can be caused by a variety of conditions, including infection or a tumor, aseptic loosening of the components, and soft tissue. Flare ups are a feature of combustion. In some cases, tendinitis of the iliopsoas tendons is the source of soft tissue inflamma.
Joint Pain Is Wearing You Down Emotionally And Mentally
The physical ramifications of hip joint pain are obvious, affecting your ability to move and perform actions. However, chronic joint pain can also take a toll on a patients emotional and mental well-being. Even if you can tolerate your level of hip pain, after dealing with this symptom for months or even years, you may notice the signs of a mental health condition. In fact, chronic pain has been linked to depression and anxiety and shown to intensify the effects of preexisting mental illness.
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Getting Pain In Your Opposite Leg After Surgery
by Nina Lansdowne | Jul 3, 2021 | Leg Pain |
Once youve had hip or knee surgery, you would expect that you could get back to comfortable, mobile, and hopefully pain-free living after your recovery rehab period. Unfortunately, for some people, amidst caring for their repaired leg, they actually begin developing pain in the other. While its frustrating and disheartening, it is something we see from time to time, given our work helping many patients with their post-surgical recovery and our work with orthopaedic surgeons.
To help, today our podiatrists have shared reasons why you may be experiencing this pain and what it means for your recovery.
Recovery Restrictions After Hip Replacement Surgery
You can expect to spend about three days in the hospital following surgery, though you may need to stay longer if your doctor recommends it. Your doctor or a physical therapist will discuss precautions you should be aware of for the weeks after your surgery. During this time, you will usually need to use crutches or a cane to stabilize your movements to prevent further injury.
Your physical therapist will also help you learn how to use a shower bench and raised toilet seat to make daily functions easier during your recovery.
Patients with a desk job can usually return to work within a month, but physicians dont recommend driving for several months. If your job requires more extensive physical activity, you will have to plan on staying home a number of months.
In terms of an overall recovery, you can expect to feel mostly back to normal within three months, but a full recovery can take approximately one year. Your doctor will be able to anticipate specific restrictions you may face due to your current condition and medical history.
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Is Surgery And Recovery Very Painful
Pain following total hip replacement has come a long way over the last 10-15 years with increased use of regional nerve blocks, spinal blocks, and various other modalities used for pain control. Total hip replacement is generally considered to be less painful than total knee replacement. Early range of motion and rapid rehabilitation protocols are also designed to reduce early stiffness and pain, making the procedure in general much less painful than in years past. You may have relatively mild pain following the procedure, or you may have a more difficult time than others. Everyone is unique and handles and perceives pain differently. Keep in mind that while pain management has greatly improved, a pain-free surgery is unlikely. You will want to take your pain medicines as directed by your surgeon.