THR Unbearable shin and knee pain after anterior THR

[Mojo333]

He thinks the knee pain is from the hip. He thinks I may be slow to heal or there is underlying joint infection.

I'm sure this is making you anxious...it sounds like your OS is making you figure out what to do? Does your shin feel better?
I know there are lots of folks who have knee issues after THR and you are early days?
@Josephine, our nurse guru, could weigh in and likely will want to pose some questions to try to help.
Ice that knee and rest it between activity in the interim.

 

[Layla]

Please don't engage in PT until you know what you're dealing with.
I will look forward to Joosephine's response.
Wishing you comfort and continued healing.
Happy Friday!
@Golden985

 

[Eman85]

I had seen the surgeon again a few days ago. Another x Ray shows the hardware in good position. He thinks the knee pain is from the hip. He thinks I may be slow to heal or there is underlying joint infection. Out another 3 wks. We can possibly do an mri of the knee. I think he’s right that it’s coming from the hip. I don’t know what to do. He says I can restart PT. I already did 12 days of steroids too.

Like about every OS their big concern is the hardware and their suggestion is to let the PT hurt you more. There are a lot of threads on here about knee pain. The answer on what to do is less hurting the muscles and more ice. The comment that you are slow to heal is pretty surprising. I'd say you're about right on time and in the majority as far as healing goes.

 

[SarahBee]

I had anterior three weeks ago. I did have a brief period of shin, knee and thigh pain, which seemed to coincide with a great deal of swelling and bruises popping out all over. I found that certain exercises affected the shins more than others and the walking I am doing now is affecting my knee. My recourse at the time was rest, ice and elevation as much as possible. I will be honest and say that I don't think my pain ever was what I call unbearable. Whether I have a high tolerance for pain or it just wasn't, I don't know. I think a visit to your primary care physician would be a good idea.

 

[Debru4]

Not sure restarting PT will accomplish anything for you....is this something you are really wanting to do? I'm curious if you had lab work done since he thought it might be an underlying joint infection? I'm hoping when you said "out another 3 weeks" that meant he gave you more time before your return to work....sounds like that would help.

 

[tollertwins]

I had to use a hinged brace on the knee for awhile to even walk. Earlier than where you are, though. Doc thought it was referred pain, PT brought up a good point, though.

He said the swelling in the thigh takes a looonnnggg time to go away and in the meantime gravity puts some of that fluid around the knee. And where the fluid builds up is very sensitive.

I also used KT tape on both my shins and IT band for quite awhile. Helped.

 

[Labbadia1]

I'm surprised that an orthopedic surgeon would be prescribing steroids, since corticosteroids are way outside of his/her area of expertise. (7) years ago I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica, an autoimmune disease. The treatment is corticosteroids. Really the only physician that should ever prescribe steroids is a rheumatologist & no rheumatologist is going to prescribe steroids for THR post-op knee/shin pain. Even PCP's shouldn't be prescribing corticosteroids. I had a PMR relapse and my current PCP said he'd make the diagnosis, but not treat the PMR - that I'd have to go to a rheumatologist.

 

[Layla]

@Labbadia1
You are posting on an old thread from 2019. The thread starter has not been on BoneSmart since May 2019, so it’s very unlikely they will see your message.

Per an online search -
Doctor-prescribed steroids are powerful medications used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, pulmonary diseases, allergic reactions, certain skin conditions, and some cancers, and as adjunctive therapy during infections.

They work by mimicking the effects of natural hormones, reducing inflammation, and suppressing the immune system. Steroids can be administered in various forms, such as oral steroids, steroid injections, steroid inhalers, steroid nasal sprays, and topical steroids.

They are used in almost every medical specialty to lower inflammation and treat everything from seasonal allergies to life threatening organ inflammation.

It is personal choice who we decide to put our trust in for our medical care. In reading what is posted above it is apparent that other specialties, aside from rheumatologists, prescribe corticosteroids.