Hi sambles,

I'm sorry for your predicament. Sciatic pain is usually very different from the pain you'll fell in recovery from a TKR. It's hard to tell for sure. That looks like a picture of a swollen knee. Three weeks out it should not be that swollen. Did you do all the post-op stretches and exercises? Are you elevating the knee above your heart and icing? are you taking or have you been prescribed something for inflammation (Rx like Celebrex, or NSAID like Aleve OTC)?

Joe

Shambles I had a lot of your same pain …. I had my knee done twice the first time I experienced all what you are saying except the scar was closed …. Ok you may no be able to get to mfr …. Some other things that definitely worked ease the pain was my pt taped me …. I wish I took pictures … but she would tape my it band felt the support right away ….I have been taped a lot in last few months very helpful…. But you can buy from Walmart and watch a video on kinesiology taping for instance it band ….. it is not a cure all but takes some pain away …. I also found a very good chiropractor that did everything from laser to cold therapy and Kinesio taping so I was very fortunate…..tense unit was my best friend that’s only way was able to sleep sciatica was so bad …. I used heat and ice also on my hip and it band …. The knee I know it hurts but try continue to exercise it does get better I am proof of that …I hope you find relief

Shamble - Oh, I am so sorry! Hope it helps you to know that I & many, many others can totally relate to the feeling of concrete and super tight elastic bands around your knee. I’ve also learned from this blog that scar tissue formation is very different for different people & some people form loads of scar tissue on 1 knee but not the other. Suggestions: ice frequently, totally surrounding your knee with the ice pack & sleeve & get your knee to toes above your heart - 20 minutes each time; compression sleeve if you can tolerate it with your scar; ask your doc about different/more/ more frequent nsaids, including topical to supplement oral; more help at home so you can keep knee up while not doing your stretches & exercises; PT 2+/week. If your PT is not addressing that scar consider looking for another. My best to you.

Hi. I am sorry for your difficulties. I had a Mako robotic TKR on my Rt knee, about two months ago. The moment I woke up from surgery my sciatic was so reactive.
Before my surgery I watched several YouTube videos for Mako TKR and traditional TKR... eye opening and cringe worthy stuff. This is a very tough assault on your body. Not just the technical removal of the old and in with the new but the extremely aggressive manner in which they test the strength of your replacement before closing you up. It's as if they are slamming your leg into flexion and side to side, up and down to be sure it all holds. After watching the videos I would have been extremely surprised if I had not had any sciatic pain.
There have been a few points of frustration where I couldn't believe I still had so much pain when my PT would glibly say... what do you expect? they cut off the ends if your bones! 😳
( Then they shake, rattled and rolled them)
In these two months I have come to realize that pains can come and go to varying degrees depending on PT and how much I push myself or whether some nerves decided to wake up and let their presence be known. Ice, CBD lotion massages, moving when I really don't want to... Aleve, Tylenol as needed and resting when needed and whatever else works. Oh did I say ice? Love the ice...
Best of luck finding what works for you. This too shall pass.