1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Knee Problems

Can't straighten leg 5 weeks after TKR

Posted , 66 users are following.

green1
green1

The physios tell me this is normal but the exercises don't seem to make any difference.  Does using an exercise bike help or are there any other suggestions?  Saw the consultant yesterday for a follow-up appointment and he seemed to think that I should be completely pain free by now.  Should I be?  My reaction was that he can't possibly have much post op experience.

3 likes, 128 replies

128 Replies

Prev
  • ruth39320
    ruth39320 green1

    Posted

    Sometimes the consultants don’t treat people as individuals after 13 weeks I still have a bit of pain and when I saw the consultant 6 weeks post op he said stop using the stick! I wasn’t ready to stop using the stick . Now I’m fine and haven’t used it for weeks. All I’m saying is take your time! It will get better 
    • taylorrose
      taylorrose ruth39320

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that but you are so right. The professor that did my preop for my Left knee replacement operation wasnt interested in very much of anything I had to say and the same thing at the post op I wanted to know how  this operation might affect my right knee which is weak from stroke and flesh eating bacteria that ate away all my muscles on the right leg. I feel if they had considered my right leg and told me what might happen I wouldnt have had the op and wouldnt be struggling with excrutiating pain Im sorry I have high pain tolerance but now I feel like a baby wanting to cry feeling sorry for myself ...So yes they dont treat patients individually for these operations which is wrong..
  • taylorrose
    taylorrose green1

    Posted

    SO just an updateMy Left KR op was 5th March 2018 I am still finding it hard to walk properly as the knee still dosnt straighten fully in fact now the right knee(Stroke and Calf flesh eating bacteria from October 1998) has now gotten weaker and more painful than ever.

    SO the reason I had left knee replacement was from wear and tear of compensating for years and years of the right leg which ended up with no cartilage result knee replacement. 

    SO right now Im feeling somewhat bewildered and quite disheartened as I feel Im not being heard. I have told doctor, Podiatrist, Physio and specialist basically anyone willing to listen. I have told them that my right knee and left knee feel like there is something very wrong like both kneecaps are shifting or doing something. In order for me to walk after sitting position my right knee feels like it has to relocate itself first it clicks with a very painful jolt and then I am able to move the right leg the left knee(Knee Replacement) seems to be facing outward and when I walk I walk like a crab...well not really but both my legs face out from the knees when I try to walk. And the pain of both knees OMG so excruciating the worst is every single time i go to stand from sitting..And I dont sit for long at all I am a doer so cant sit for long. The pain of SLE Lupus has nothing on this pain. At least with SLE I could get up and find me some kind of ease. With my legs it is far worst I have a baby I have things to do I have to be able to walk... I have never experienced a pain like I do now both knees my right knee is the worst left knee feels like pinched nerve and wants to buckle. So i have made many enquiries and tried many things by way of services available for rehab. Tried the local gym under a support group referred by my doctor..Gym is located 2nd floor but elevator is not working..Tried group swimming thinking there is support as I am walking with crutches. I got to the pool the support group wasnt there so I was given wrong planner and I almost flipped over...Totally alone Im sure someone would have helped me but I dont usually like to go where I might inconvenience anyone unless it is part of the support we received and so I never went back there as well. However there is a place called Laura Ferguson Hydo pools which was founded especially for people with any kind of disability or restriction and they offer hydrotherapy. After speaking with them I am looking forward to going to visit with them after my next followup appointment with my specialist. I am confident I will have some progress with this group of people as they have wheelchair access to the pools, they have physiotherapist to assist you in the pools they sound perfect for anyone in our position. I will update you all once I have any update to give you all so that I hope it might help you all as well but for now I will sign off thankyou and godbless you all

    Cheers 

    Rosemary

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 taylorrose

      Posted

      In sure the pateller is moving. When the ligaments are weak the kneecap isn't tracking properly letting things slip and slide. Only the proper exercise will bring things back in line. I had/have a rare tumor that ate my knee up. 11 surgeries and 5 complete rehabs plus 30 rounds of radiation has damaged the tissue to a large degree. The pressure on the "good" knee has weakened it to the point of having to go through more PT. I had been continuing to work on the bad knee and s imply forgot the other knee. I'm not going to forget to work on both from now on.

    • laura1304
      laura1304 taylorrose

      Posted

      Rosemary, hang in there - it does get better. I also thought I had a high tolerance for pain but the pain from my TKR was debilitating. My surgery was August 3, 2017. I still have aches and stiffness and my knee still hasn’t straightened fully, but I do see improvement every week. My recovery is slow, but I AM SEEING IMPROVEMENT!  In the beginning my doctor kept yelling at me to stop limping and I would snap back that I was still in pain.  After awhile he stopped telling me to stop limping.  

      Now about your knee cap - during my PT last year my therapist my pushing my leg back towards my butt and the pain when he released my leg was excruciating.  He told me that when they do the TKR they do not replace the kneecap so when he bent my knee and then released it the knee cap was trying to get back into position.  Maybe the pain in your knee cap is from it trying to get back in position. If you are still doing therapy, ask your therapist.  Also, have you thought about a leg brace for your “good” knee - just to add some support. I would check with your doctor or therapist about this first.  

    • taylorrose
      taylorrose laura1304

      Posted

      Thankyou Oldfatguy and laura1304 Some very encouraging points. fOFG1 when I lost my muscle tissue and ligament the extent of damage to the right knee coupled with the affects of the stroke my life changed. I didn't imagine how much until I wasn't able to run along the beach with my children ..dance with my father or even just ly under the stars with out anyone having to ask are you ok can I help you up now....I took it all for granted and it teared me up every time trying to imagine doing any of it. But I learned to accept what has happened and done the best I can no time for feeling sorry for myself anymore. So I got on with life have had several really good jobs in administration which I love and for community based companies ie social work helping families in need things like that and I loved and have always loved working. But then this happened and I felt here we go again what are you gonna throw at me now only this time was 10 fold intense and looks like another long way back I figure it will take me another say year or 2 if lucky to fully recover. I am going to focus focus focus on my rehab as I know this is all I need to do..Also Laura Im quite envious as your PT sounded pretty active in your rehabilitation. I dont think any PTs or Drs for that matter actively participated in anything to do with my knee actually the most my knee was touched was removing the staples and changing the dressings. No one has actually examined my knee since the operation even during the post op followup the professor didnt exam it he just looked down at the knee when I lifted the garment and he said ok looks good..and turned back to his computer. Also I had asked to see the xrays so that he could go through them with me. My PT last day yesterday only told me what exercises to do I never really did any with her unless to see if I do it properly. I want a personal trainer to push me the way your PT is doing. I am doing my exercises and while it feels like progress it dosnt seem to be straightening anymore in fact when I feel I have accomplished a little more. The next time it seems to be exactly the same as before..But I will keep going and wait for my followup with my rheumatologist> He is my specialist who diagnosed me with Lupus and has been my specialist since 1992 so anything I worry about he will ceratinly accomplish results. I am looking forward to telling him what you both have shared with me ..I also walk with a very obvious limp have endured the stares and the comments and the questions all my adult life..Have learned to ignore now. THankyou both I will update when there is an update ..again Take care look after yourselves..

  • samantha84401
    samantha84401 green1

    Posted

    I’ve had 7 knee ops since the age of 18, I am now 50 years old .I had a partial knee replacement in Oct 2015 to which was unsuccessful.I had every problem going with it which caused me to have to give up my job and have been unable to work since.Ive not come off of crutches either since then.In janurary of this year I had to have the partial replacement removed and a total knee fitted, revision surgery is horrific!!.I am still using one of my crutches, cannot bend properly , knee so swollen , extreme pain in my ankle joints, feet go blue and blotchy sitting or standing, pain at night is horrendous therefore sleep about 2 hours a night , cannot bend more than 90 degrees still.Back to the surgeon next week as they have to find what is wrong.On standing my leg will not straighten properly and is very very visual.Nearly 3 years on crutches is NOT fun and extremely exhausting coping with pain 24/7. Any medical people out there that have any suggestions what all these issues are.
  • laurie97568
    laurie97568 green1

    Posted

    Six months after a revision total left knee replacement and a month after a manipulation, I still can't get past 105 degrees in flexion and 10 to 15 degrees in extension, my knee will not stay down after my physical therapist pushes it down all the way to 1 degrees or when I work on it at home. Strength wise my muscles are getting stronger and I feel stronger but I feel like I am not getting anywhere and I don't know what else to do. Today, my knee was killing me as well as the top of my calf and was really bad when my therapist was bending it. This is making it really hard to work on it and I am at my wits end.

  • davidjk22
    davidjk22 green1

    Posted

    Your consultant probably hasn't had a TKR so can't possibly comment on your pain after 5 weeks. Listen to those who have had the OP and I think you will find very few if any were pain free after only 5 weeks. It's really impossible to say what stage your recovery should be at any given time. Everyone recovers at a different rate. It is really important to do your physio and exercise as often as possible. Use your medication to control your pain, don't "be brave" and put up with the pain it wont help at all. It's 21 years since I had my left knee done and 19½ for the left. Both are fine and I have had no problems at all with them. I returned to work after 6 months. Don't compare your recovery with others, we are all different. It takes time, how much time?, how long is a piece of string?

    • davidjk22
      davidjk22

      Posted

      didn't realise the original post was over 2 years old, but hope this helps someone.

Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.