pain in my hip & back

[gbetty]

I am 3mon post op & I sseem to be getting pain in my rt hip & back when I walk too much. I had a rt tk in Nov & the knee seemed to be doing well but
I'm not walking as much as I think I should. My pt seems to think my rt leg is shorter so I' trying lifts in that shoe. I go to th MD next weekI was wondering if anyone else had this problem

 

[Pattipoo]

I'm almost 1 month post op.....walked the grocery store today....am SOOOO paying for that...it didn't hurt my back or hip, it hurts in my groin area...I did spend a longer time on the bike this morning and it was lowered another two inches - the pain could be from a number of today's activities!

I hope you find relief from your pain, soon.

 

[kath]

gbetty,
If you have read any of my previous posts you would know I too am in your boat. I have my left knee done Jan. 4, and the right one is going to be done March 14. My greatest challenge has been my back and my hip sometimes. I was so bow legged and know with my new straight leg, it has really wrecked my back. My Dr. told me this would happen and to keep doing the stretches, etc. at PT and when the second knee is done he expects after a few months to see a remarkable difference. I hope he is right.
I do know that since I changed therapists to one that does massage and stretches my back has been better for the past 3 days. I know the leg lifts with him pushing on my leg, my left leg (operated one and the side that my back and hip hurts on) and my right leg flat. It stretches those muscles and really helps. When I feel the pain kicking in at home I do them myself and also I find if I lay on my back in bed and tighten my thigh and muscles in my butt, it really helps relieve the pressure in my hip and back. I flex and hold for 10 seconds and do about 20-30 of them. Give it a try, might give you enough relief to rest for awhile, also keep taking the pain meds. You may need them more for your back then your knee, that's how it is with me most of the time.
Keep us posted and let me know if you find anything that helps you.

 

[beachcomber]

hello gbetty,
I have a wonderful PT who, as a woman, is very in tune with how we do things with our posture that impact all the connections in our system and how changes in one area can impact other areas. I alternate visits with her and her PT partner Nate who is a hard-core, tough PT who really pushes me, sometimes painfully, and I know my progress is good because of the combination of their two styles and philosophies.

Today I worked with Nora and a licensed massage therapist about some of those "connections" that affect my posture and therefore my gait. The MT worked on muscles, tendons, etc in and around my new knee and up toward my hip. There is a tendon band and also some bursal sacs up your thigh and toward your hip that are commonly tight and possibly inflamed in people, especially women, with knee and/or back issues. There are stretches you can do to help with those....
In my case, I am 8 weeks post op on my knee and 4 weeks post-op from back surgery so I can't do some of the stretches just yet in my knee PT due to the back-surgery complication..... but as soon as my neurosurgeon clears me for PT for my back we will start working on more of the systemic issues. In the meantime we are working on my posture and balancing and remembering not to do things like "kneeing in" (as all good girls were taught to do when we all wore dresses) and to look straight ahead and up, rather down when I do my walks.... fire those glute muscles and tuck in my abs.... it all works together...

I think this combination of therapists is wonderful for me. I don't know if you can find someone of a similar training and philosophy where you are---- but I wish you luck as you look for solutions.

Carolyn

 

[Josephine]

Anyone tried a TENS machine?


.

 

[gbetty]

Josephine
You have suggested a tems machine before & I looked on the internet Seeing many different versions. I am not sure which would be the best to purchase. Do you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it.
My new knee is doing good but the back pain is holding me back

 

[Josephine]

Try Ebay!!

This is the one I have and a pretty good buy at $20. I would recommend it. Only down side is that it has a 30 minute cut-out which I find annoying but is actually a safety feature if you fall asleep as you shouldn't keep them running whilst asleep.

If you decide to get it, let me know if you need advice on using it. I'll be happy to help.

 

[Skeet]

I am interested in purchasing a TENS, Josephine. What is the best use of this, for relaxing muscles, building muscles, etc.?? Just could use some information.

Thanks,
Skeet

 

[Doug]

Try this site.
https://arthritis.about.com/od/assistivedevicesgadgets/g/tensunit.htm

 

[Skeet]

Thanks, Doug. I knew they helped relax muscles, but I didn't realize they could help with pain. Interesting. I may check them out. EBay has some at reasonable (<$50) prices. Sounds like I would need to go to my PT to get instructions on how best to use it though.

Thoughts?

 

[Josephine]

I am interested in purchasing a TENS, Josephine. What is the best use of this, for relaxing muscles, building muscles, etc.?? Just could use some information.

Thanks,
Skeet

As far as I know, the kind of unit to which I am referring only blocks the pain stimulae. It doesn't relax or build muscles. The electrical current is too weak for that. How the machine works can be found broken link removed: https://www.nos.org.uk/dr_media/nos/TENs_18-Feb-08.pdf.

You may be of a broken link removed: https://www.medword.com/MedwordStore/PCP/EMS_truth.html. A quite different animal.

 

[Skeet]

Thanks, Josephine. I was thinking of what they use at the chiropractor to exhaust your muscles to relax them, which seems more of the second type than what you are referring to. I appreciate the extra information. How does this work on a knee? or on the pain such as inside where the hamstring tendon attaches to the bone? I would like more information on exactly what kind of pain this machine might help with.

Thanks!
Skeet

 

[Josephine]

Almost anything in my experience. All you need to do is place the electrodes either side of the centre of the pain and away you go! I actually use four most of the time. I place them in a square and connect north and south to one set of wires and east and west to the other. The electrical current crosses at the point of the pain so you get a double wammy!!

 

[beachcomber]

Re: pain in my hip & back- TENS

I have a TENS unit and found it very useful for back pain, especially sciatica. Mine has 4 modes or patterns of current. Center the pads around the pain and find the mode that feels the best. The pulse mode seems to work best for me and I also got better results from cross-placement. Two electrodes operate on the same pathway and fire at the same time so I place them diagonally from each other.
There is a belt clip with the unit, but I found cargo pants to be the most convenient way to wear mine. My pain was worst when I had to stand or walk so I would reach down and turn it on before standing up and allow the current to over-ride the pain.

One caution- You should not leave the unit running constantly! When my pain was so severe (before I started taking stronger pain meds) and I was so desperate for sleep I would just turn it on constant mode
and finally fall asleep. My PT says you can actually "wear out" the nerve's ability to be 'fooled' by the TENS unit and then it doesn't work at all. So set a timer for 20-30 minutes and give your nerves a break from time to time.

Electrode pads are multi-use and the life can be extended by rubbing them down with a little water before placing them on your skin or on the cards. I left them on 24/7 except for showers. Keep the little plastic cards they come on to store them when not on your skin.

Have an extra set of electrode wires. They do wear out and then the pulse becomes erratic and is not effective pain control.

I am sure I will be using my TENS again as I am going back to work. The meds have my pain better under control again---- thank you all for your support---but I will need all the "tools" in my kit to get back into my classroom and teach 30 teenagers how to cook! Not a "sit-down" kind of job.

 

[Josephine]

Not only which, leaving them on for extended periods or falling asleep with them on, having them on too high a setting for too long, all can give you superficial burns. In other words, make sure you thoroughly read the manual!!



I actually went to work with my TENS on when working in the operating theatre after my arthroscopy. Couldn't have coped without it.

 

[Joanie]

I have exactly the same problem gbetty. I had a TKR (left) on 23/01/08. The thing that is really holding me back from walking more is the pain in my right hip and lower back-very demanding, is'nt it?

My right knee is also need ing done. At the moment I feel my left knee is super sturdy but my right knee is still a crumbling athritic mess so I daresay it's the mechanics of my body when I'm mobilising that is causing the problem. Either a built up shoe or a new knee very soon, will hopefully fix this- I go to see the surgeon in two weeks. I just don't want to get rid of one pain to be hit by another!!!!

What I'm gettin just now is a real strain on the back of my calfs and tenderness on my left shin-anyone else have this problem?

 

[gbetty]

Joanie I went to the surgeon last week & Iam not going back until Aug but he is sending
me to about orthotics & shoe lift. I hope taht will help. Friday I went shopping like I use tto do for about 4 hr I I paid for it yesterday . It wass snowing so I didn't mind being home. I tried putting a lift in my shoe & it helps but after a lot of walking my back & rt calf hurt & get tight. I feel I need to keep going to get stronger & get on with my life.
All thing considered I. m doimg very well with 120 degrees