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Calf atrophy after TKR?
Had RTKR 9 months ago. Mostly pain-free, motion range 132/0. No major problem. Currently battling hip bursitis. Uneven gait, perhaps because of this. Got cortisone shot today since exercises did not help enough. Have stayed active, 5 to 6 days/week either 1/2 hour brisk walk or 40 min. + lap swim. In addition to lots of yard work. HOWEVER, in spite of activity, and still doing scaled down exercises, the right calf is roughly 3/4” less in diameter than the (non-dominant side) left one. Anybody else with this type problem? What did you do about it? I am fed up with exercises, but will do specific ones if it would help.
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Hi @ellerbracke - Congratulations on your ROM! I'm surprised that your TKR-side calf is smaller. I've haven't heard of that happening. I know this sounds crazy but instead of atrophy could it be that you worked your TKR side harder during PT and it got smaller from the exercise? During my PT I sometimes wondered if working so hard on one side of me was going to make be lop-sided. It didn't! I'll be interested to hear what others think.
@debbraw : interesting theory. Hoping to get lots of different responses..... I doubt it’s the hard work I put into rehab with the right leg. There’s pretty much no extra padding on either leg, the muscles on the left side are very well defined, just that there seems to be much less of the musculature on the right lower leg.
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