Hey guys. Ever since my surgery 8 months ago, I’ve adopted this strange gait that I can’t seem to get rid of. I was waking normally for the first couple of crutch-free days. But then, I started overthinking my gait. Some of the stiffness that I had before the surgery came back (but not any worse than it had been). So I thought “there’s no way the stiffness is back” and decided it must be the way I’m walking.
So I started walking in this extremely unnatural fashion. Basically I locked my entire limbs into extension, which is not how you walk. I eventually developed extreme discomfort in my good knee. I then realized I should be walking naturally instead of trying to walk in this strange manner.
But I couldn’t shake the limp. And it’s so abnormal. I started standing on the balls of my feet (especially on my bad leg), leaning forward. Sometimes my heels even lift off the ground when I’m standing.
The physical therapy that I had for 6 months didn’t help at all. My PT suggested walking a lot more, which only seems to aggregate the limp. So I’ve been completely sedentary for 8 months at my parents place, not knowing what to do except try a new therapist whom I I’m seeing next week.
Any suggestions? Should I be using crutches or a walker to relearn proper gait? Very frustrated and confused, and I’m a knee surgery veteran (6 surgeries) too. Would greatly appreciate help
