Question
I am a 38 year old female who had a hip replacement almost a year ago, November 11, 2005.  When I woke up from my surgery I had the worst knee pain.  Now, If I am on my feet for an hour I get this horrible pain that shoots up the side of my leg.  I was told by a hip surgeon that my knee cap is touching my bone and when I am on my feet too long there is too much stress on my bone causing the pain.  How could this happen?  I have never had knee pain before?

Answer
Dear Manuela

I am not a surgeon, but sometimes knee pain can come from nerve damage during the hip surgery especially if the surgery is long and complicated.  The other reasons why people sometimes get knee pain is because they are not walking correctly, or one leg is shorter than the other.

Ask your doctor, to explain to you, if this pain will get better or it will always be with you.  Also ask him if it is possible that your gait is off and/or you have one leg shorter than the other and if that could be causing the pain.  If that is the problem physical therapy and a shoe lift can help.

If it's nerve damage, and it his not gotten better in over 18 months, I have been told that it will not get better.  I have some nerve damage in one knee from a hard hip surgery and I have tingling, but I have learned to live with it.

I wish I could be of more help.,

Sharon