The last thing you want after undergoing hip replacement surgery is to develop pain and discomfort in another joint like your knee, but it’s an unfortunate reality for a subset of hip replacement patients each year. When you learn how your lower body has to adjust during your hip replacement recovery period, it’s easy to understand why the knee can be a common area for discomfort to develop. With that said, if you take a few proactive steps following your hip replacement procedure, you can reduce your risk of developing knee pain after hip replacement. We share those steps in today’s blog.
Why Knee Pain Can Develop After Hip Surgery
Knee pain following a hip replacement procedure is not all that common, but it’s something that your hip surgeon will work hard to help prevent. One of the most common causes of knee pain following hip replacement is due to a change in the length of your leg. It’s not uncommon for a person’s leg to have shortened slightly prior to hip replacement due to a loss in hip cartilage and bone mass. After surgery, you may still walk with the same gait you had prior to your operation, and due to the leg shortening that occurred, you may end up putting more pressure on your knee as you adjust to walking after your operation.
A recent study also found that some patients begin to develop knee pain in the knee that is opposite their hip replacement. Again, this is likely due to slight gait changes as you work to accommodate your new hip. If you end up putting more strain on your non-operated hip, knee and leg, these structures will be more prone to stress-related injuries and pain.
Other causes of knee pain after hip replacement include:
- Pre-existing knee osteoarthritis
- Hip prosthetic loosening or inadequate fixture
- Trauma on nearby structures during the hip replacement procedure
If you begin to develop knee pain after your hip replacement procedure, or pre-existing knee pain worsens after your procedure, reach out to your surgeon or your care team. They’ll be able to walk you through some treatment options to help protect your knee while you’re still working to recover after your hip procedure.
