Can't straighten leg 5 weeks after TKR

I'm 4 weeks post op knee replacement and went to my first physio appointment and he was so insistent on me straightening my knee but at the mo it just won't do it it's frustrating it feels like it locks up and is just to painful I'm quite young at 41 for full replacement so I want to get the best possible outcome

Replying to Lorraine58772.  I am sorry you are having so much trouble after your meniscus surgery. I had a meniscus surgery (right knee) in the summer of 2014 and it went fantastic.  So when I had to have it done on my left knee in 2016 I wasn’t worried.  Needless to say the left knee did not go so well.  I was doing great.  The surgeon took the stitches out and I was able to walk for one day after that with no pain.  Then all of a sudden I couldn’t walk again. I kept telling him that something was wrong because my recovery was not like my right knee.  The surgeon informed me that all recoveries are not the same and to be patient. After a month of this I finally convinced him to give me a script for another MRI. Only to find out that the meniscus tore again.  I went in for a 2nd surgery on the knee (3 months after the 1st one) and I was told that if it didn’t work this time, because the arthritis was so bad now, that I would need a total knee replacement (TKR). Well I am almost 7 month’s post-TKR and I still have issues.  I have a constant achy pain and my knee still does not straighten fully.  I do notice an improvement every day though.  Just hang in there, but if you are still in pain tell your doctor to give you a script for another MRI.  Maybe your meniscus tore again like mine. 

I know this was posted 3 years ago, but just came upon it last night. I’m 5 weeks post-op and I’m dealing with the same.. I can not straighten my leg. If I’m on it to much, it swells and discolors. I thought I was the only one feeling so disheartened.. some days just wanna say screw it and just lay in bed every day and cry.. I’ve been feeling so alone.. it’s hard to do the exercises at home when your in so much pain, and your so swollen. And feeling so alone.. all these tips I’ve read in definitely gonna try. So thank you for this post .. sincerely thank u 

I am 9 months post partial knee replacement and still can't straighten my knee.  I work out everyday on a bike, a rowing machine and a eliptical and I still can't get it to straiten out.  It has taken me everyday going to the gym and working out to get where I am but still can't straighten my knee out completely and don't know if I will ever be able to.  

Hi all my name is Rosemary I am currently in remission from SLE Lupus diagnosed in 1992 last hospitalised in 2004 last Lupus symptom ever experienced. I am now 53 years old. During the time of my Lupus torture period I had many many complications and almost dying several times removed replaced repaired and recovered  most limbs and major organs given chemotherapy dialyses lost all my hair had it all grow back... anyway long story short my last Serious bout was in 1998 complications from the SLE (Lupus) would see me ending up with septicemia(blood poisoning) to my right thigh to which all the muscle and tendons around the knee would be debrided and as well as suffering from a stroke due to blood clot all from the complications of that surgery I ended up with a very distinctive limp, what looks like a shark attack from where the skin and muscle was all cut away and also lazy foot from the stroke. SO I guess what I am saying is that the left leg only became injured because it compensated for all those years of the right leg weakness. So I had my left knee replacement on 5 March 2018. I am abit puzzled as to TKR or PKR I wasnt told as to what was the extent of my replacement all I know is that they put steal or plutonium plates into my left knee because I had no cartilage left in that knee and the pain of that wasn't good and was only going to get worst. SO if anyone can tell me although I have a 6 week followup appointment very soon.                     However my situation is that my knee feels like it clicks into 2 positions. One where the knee will not straighten when I walk which I feel strains my hips and right leg and is very energy draining while also maintaining awareness to make sure it dosnt click into the 2nd position which is to temporarily straighten. if it straightens because of a certain position I get into it immediately clicks back into bent position and it all too often almost has me in tears every time. Yet the temporary straight knee position is also a relief from the exhaustion of bent knee walking. Also when I do the sliding foot back and fourth while sitting down if I place my fingers under the knee it feels like there is some clicking under the knee at the back of my leg when I am bringing the foot back  Another concern is that after I have finished while sitting on a kitchen chair resting the Knee Replacement foot on another chair in front of me and letting gravity help it straighten. I then place my KR foot on a chair directly in front of me again but this time I slide that foot back toward me and slowly forward to straighten it is here I notice that the foot seems to jolt and click into another position before resting into straight position. Also When I do the lying on my back with the pillow under knee to slowly raise the foot while tightening my quad muscles it is quite excruciating but I battle through it but it almost forces me to not want to do it every time. I am so afraid of not walking with some normality I push myself to do these exercises that have me tearing up nearly all the time lol but I feel I am being weak if I dont push on. Also to lift the foot off the bed. If the foot is straight it is ok but I feel the urge of it wanting to click and bend and it hurts like OMG when it does click bent ..SO sorry for the long explanation but I am so tired of being in pain and worrying if I am going to walk ok..So can anyone tell me if these symptoms are normal and also what else can I do to strengthen my quad muscles and what can I ask my Surgeon at the followup please help..ALso not sure if this is important but while their is no redness to the knee I feel it is more warmer than the rest of the leg and it is still quite swollen..PLease any advice is appreciated. Also I searched and searched for Chicos post and I couldnt find it ..Thankyou all.

Hi there thankyou so much for your words of encouragement of course yes I see the logic in your advice about once muscle is toned and strong enough to bare the weight and assist new joint it will help so I am going to ask my doctor at the followup appointment next Friday 20th April if swimming would be a good for me to do now.  I know in the past I did do some swimming exercises for the right leg but due to there being no muscles there the right leg was virtually at the mercy of the water basically just flapped around like dead weight I did this for almost a year and it didn't help but I see that it will help with the left leg so thank you. Also I know I did push myself for the first few weeks but at the advice of my PT who comes to my home was that I could do no harm to the joint and so continuous exercises are good also the lying on the bed on my stomach with leg hanging over the bed gives me alot encouragement as gravity forces the leg to straighten though I am abit concerned that this might do some other damage if I over do it..I am also happy now that the PT being happy with the progress I had reached and assured me I was exactly where I am supposed to be I wasn't convinced at the time but now I am. I am happy that  you pointed out the obvious as I was quickly reminded of a point in my life where I felt the same despair  which was also overcome by the strengthening of the muscles so I will change my outlook and focus on strengthening the muscles but not over stressing..Thank you