Connect
Post TKR Muscle Issues
I’m 10 months post TKR and feel that things have gone well. However, I still have issues with my hip flexor, hamstring, and inner quad….is that common?
I realize that everyone’s journey is different, and patients enter the TKR process with different levels of pain and mobility issues. Therefore, it is only logical that outcomes and the road traveled post TKR can also be different. That said, I have no perceptible pain in my knee, but my upper thigh, hamstring, and hip flexor still are not what they were.
I’ve heard many people, to include medical professionals, suggest that years of a degenerated knee cause all kinds of muscle imbalances and weaknesses. I understand that as well, but I became an avid cyclist more than two decades before surgery because it was the one of the exercises I was able to tolerate. As such, my quads were well developed prior to surgery, as was my hip flexor…can’t really say the same for my hamstring. I did have notable knee pain, but my muscles, or lack of leg strength was not the issue.
I fully participated in physical therapy and have worked with a trainer at my local gym. I’ve clicked off 6 bike rides of about 20 miles, have a 5 mile walk under my belt, and have had several days of 12,000 plus steps. However, I still get weakness and discomfort in my muscles that push me back to my Tylenol & Celebrex regiment….and the less active I am, the greater the weakness and discomfort.
I’ve shared all of this as background, but my questions are quite simple, is the muscle weakness to be expected, do other TKR patients have similar experiences, and how long does the total healing process (“this is as good as it is going to get”) really take in other’s experiences?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.
Connect
I think it is to be expected, and like you said every person's journey is a bit different. I had a lot of pain in my thigh, which my PT explained was due to the microtears in the fascia with the incision. I think it was about 5 months before that diminished. I am at 6 months now, and have been working hard at building my hamstring and glute muscles which I found were the source of my hip pain. I got a couple of massages, and asked my massage therapist to focus on my hip, which helped a lot. I am noticing now that my groin muscle is really tight...I can't sit cross-legged on the floor yet, and hoping that will come with time and patience.
I would suggest a mesage...might loosen some things up.
Has anyone experienced changes in taste since replacement? Maybe it’s the antibiotics? Everything seems bitter or stronger and makes me feel a little nauseous. I’m doing great otherwise. Not quite 3 weeks and 120’ bend at pt today. I’m 74.
Come to think of it I don't think my taste has been up to scratch ( might be an Australian saying ) my son bought some mint choc ice creams and they were bland plus main meals been mediocre
Thanks for the feedback. I too have hip and glute weakness. It used to present as pain, but now at month 10 it is more weakness than pain. I also remember the stage when my groin muscle was noticeably tight. That has receded a great deal, but still exists slightly. I feel that everything is going well, but knowing that I’m coming up on one year since surgery I am starting to wonder when the healing stops and you are left with the functionality that you have at that point. Basically, I feel like I’ll need another year of additional recovery time, at my existing rate of recovery, before truly feeling that I am back to baseline. Most of the info I read suggests that I should be fully healed and recovered in two more months, and that seems highly unlikely at this point.
I have heard and read 12-18 months for complete recovery, and what I'm reading on the forum there seems to be a percentage that would say it's much longer. I tell people I'm about 85-90%, but I have also adjusted some expectations. I feel like I can do the things I want to do, and some things I might not be able to do, but that might also just be getting older.