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Having knee replacement: how to prepare and questions about PT
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jun 17, 2021 | Replies (170)Comment receiving replies
I had TKR on left knee in September and I can’t completely straighten my knee and I worked hard at PT and at home. I now have one leg way longer then right leg and now hips and back killing me. I found copper insoles and put it in right shoe. It’s taking pressure off of left knee and leg but still is a little off and feels awkward to walk with but I’m desperate for help! I just left a message to the Dr that did surgery and more PT isn’t going to help the fact that one leg is longer! I don’t want my hips to go bad so this has helped me. Any suggestions from you or anyone out there since you have had it done? I’m new here too!
Replies to "I had TKR on left knee in September and I can’t completely straighten my knee and..."
Hi @jillypooh - Welcome to Connect! There are a lot of great people here who are helpful and caring in sharing their experience. I'm going to say that 3 or 4 months is still a little early in the healing process. I think you will continue to gain extension and flexion as you exercise. For me, I continued to improve for months. I hope you will too.
I agree with @contentandwell JK that I haven't heard of that particular outcome in a TKR, however, there was a discussion about changes is leg length due to a hip replacement. You might check out this link:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-any-one-know-if-you-have-a-hip-replacement-1-leg/?pg=1#comment-31704
As you will see there there is an NIH study mentioned that addresses the issue of "limb discrepancy:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4094096/
I'm curious about how you determined that there was a difference in length? I know when I had my TKR and was working on leg extension it would have been really painful to try to measure my leg length. Also curious as to what your physical therapist says? Does he/she have any advice? Please keep us posted as to what the doctor says when you get in touch with him. Wishing you the best.
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@jillypooh I have never heard of the length of a leg changing from a TKR. I think the best thing to do is to immediately get some type of insert to lengthen the shorter leg so you do not damage your hips.
I also have never heard of copper insoles. Is the thickness of this enough to offset the difference in length, or is it copper because copper is supposed to help with certain things?
JK