Setback 7 weeks after TKR

I am six weeks out from my TKR. I am having shin pain on the front of my calf and top of my foot on the front. I don't know why. I also was riding my recumbent bike and it was going really well. Had PT yesterday and they gave me some new exercises and today went to ride my bike and it was really uncomfortable (not previously). I could go backwards with some discomfort however I could not go forward at all. Very frustrating as I'd really been enjoying getting on the bike. Any thoughts?

Hello @cindymattern, So sorry to hear you are struggling with your knee replacement rehab. I did all of my PT at home using a list of exercises the surgeon and care team gave me, pretty similar to the ones on this site:
-- Total Knee Replacement Exercise Guide:
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/recovery/total-knee-replacement-exercise-guide/
At my follow up meeting with my surgeon he chewed me out because I had not been icing and elevating the leg as much as he wanted me to do it. I was doing it several times a day but he had told me in no uncertain terms that when you are not doing anything then you need to elevate the leg and ice it. This helped a lot with the range of motion, as well as reducing the pain and swelling. I also spent 30 to 45 minutes a day on my recumbent bike along with walking outside using a cane or walker in addition to the exercises he sent home with me.

How often are you icing and elevating the leg?

@cindymattern - Thought you might find this video helpful.

I am icing several times a day, I use ice at night when I sleep as well and change it about every 3 hours for new ice. I am probably guilty of not elevating as much as I should but I was doing amazing before the one PT session. ROM 115, walking without my cane, driving etc...Riding my recumbent bike at home and doing exercises as well. It wasn't until one PT session where she had me do several new exercises at one session. All my other therapists only introduce 1-2 new things with what I am currently doing. That day she had me do several new things that really did me in. I'm doing most of the exercises on the website you gave (thank you for sharing). I feel I was given to much at one time (you don't run 100 miles off the bat) and it caused me to go backwards instead of continuing forwards. I plan on talking to the therapist I have on Monday about this issue.

Hi, Cindy
I am at 10 weeks out (5 from one; 10 from the other knee). I have occasionally had the same disappointing experience as you. Don't lose hope. Keep communicating with your PT team. They most likely will modify exercises to counteract the reaction you had. I also share new/other exercises I add with PT so we are all on the same page. I do continue to ice up to 3 times a day, only for 20 minutes, plus elevate the leg, foot above the knee, often.

What surprised me most about knee surgery recovery is, well, the recovery time period. PT tells me to keep stretching and providing attention to what my legs tell me for the first year as I go about my daily routine. I'm in it for the long haul anyway, so that's what I'll do. All the best to you.

I remember finally at just over 3 months pain went away and I could finally sleep. Awesome, but then a few weeks later I had setback with pain returning.
I was in tears. My therapist told me to hang in that it happens. I also checked with another friend who had a TKR and he said that he had a setback at one point during recovery too and got through it. So I kept on and with 4 months I was doing outstanding. Today 1 1/2 years later my knee is awesome. I hope you are having the same therapist every time. I feel that that constant one on one has been key for me! My therapist in addition to exercises, icing, elevation, he used dry needling, muscle stimulator, deep tissue massage, cupping and taping of the knee. Call and talk with your therapist about what’s going on, hopefully they can help. Best of luck

unfortunately I have a different one but usually the same 4. They do ice, use heat, muscle stimulator and some massage but no taping. I was in tears this past Friday my leg had so much pain.

Hi Cindy I can relate I am 110 days out I had set back three weeks ago also …. I was at 110-115 I also started new exercises suggested by my dr well my knee did not like them …..my knee swelled up than got tight I have been struggling ever since ….. this is like 3 week in I have been on stretching exercises I just got back on bike 2 days ago …. I can honestly say at least it doesn’t hurt to walk now …. I have not got back in the pool yet waiting on my dr okay ….. but it will get better … set backs are tuff just hang in there give your body the break it needs I know it is tuff to do that… and you will be back to your range of motion before you know it …..

The same thing happened to me and I had a strong conversation with my pt person. If the pt is too hard and causing a setback, it’s too much. I want to be making progress, not a setback. Once he adjusted the intensity it was a lot better.
FYI my pain tolerance is pretty high and up until then my progress was great.

FWIW, I think the PT gave you too much. Stairs and squats are the last things you get back after surgery. That can be two months, or longer depending on your progress. I'm late responding here, sorry. I had both knees replaced last year. Get better as your body allows.