Scar tissue after knee replacement

I had a tkr done 15 months ago. I am still in awful pain. My knee is swollen bad and one doctor said I have a lot of scar tissue. I can’t do exercises because I had rods and screws put in my L-4 and L-5 back in 2018. Then 6 months after that my surgeon froze my S-I joint. I’m in more pain now than I was before either surgery. I’ve recently found out I have arachnoiditis. There is no cure for that. It is nerves that have been damaged. It is a result of the back surgeries and from epidural shots. The original surgeon knew it because it showed up on an MRI that he did after the 2 surgeries he did on me. He didn’t tell me anything about it. He told me there was nothing more he could do for me. The doctor I went to that found the arachnoiditis sent me the MRI that the original doctor took that showed that I had it. So I believe this doctor. I feel so sorry for anyone with knee or back pain because so many people who have had surgery are still in pain.

Have you tried mayofacial release or mfr …. John Barnes he is one the best teachers at the website they can suggest someone in your area where you can receive treatment ….. may help your back also mfr is amazing worth a try ….i hope you find something that will give you some relief …..
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I had a total knee replacement 8 months ago it it has been hell. I have had two manipulations, the second one popping open part of my three month old incision. I have may havee 78 degree bend after all this crap. I am currently having saline injections to try and help break up the scar tissue. After 3 treatments I have gained 12 degrees. Would never have done this had I know this would be the result.

Wow, much like my problem but I had TKR of left knee in 2021. 95 flex went to 80 despite PT, home exercise, icing etc. Blamed scar tissue and neglect (not true). Changed surgeons and had Revision in 2024. Got to 80 flex with Home Health, agreed to manipulation after 8 weeks. Was total bust. Surgeon said he maniulated leg 5 times and quit because was affraid of breaking femur bone. Went to PT, measured 43 flex! Did 50 PT sessions and got to 73. Horrible results and have pain in knee cap now. Still do stationary bike, walk, ice, treat with anything I think might help. The original protheses' was never changed and original from first TKR is still in. So, both surgeons claim I am an excessive scar tissue generator.

I understand and sympathize with your frustration. I had a TKA 3/25 and an MUA 3 months later. I did many, many PT sessions and home exercises, but could not achieve better than 115 degree flexion…temporarily! The flexion slowly over three years reduced until I was at 75 degrees. I did more PT last summer and managed to attain 85 degrees. I really wanted to bicycle and ski again, so agreed to have an arthroscopic lysis of adhesions and MUA. By the time of surgery, in Mar. 2025, I had regressed to about a 75-80 degree flexion. After the surgery, during which surgeon removed lots of fibrosis and flexed knee to 125 degrees, I again had PT 3 times weekly for 2 months. By the end of this time, flexion was stubbornly at 90 degrees. I am trying to do home exercises and walking to maintain this flexion, but feel that I am, again forming scar tissue and progressively losing flexion.
One of the worst aspects of this condition is feeling that one is being “blamed” for not doing enough to prevent the arthrofibrosis from returning. It is a painful condition and the swelling after walking/standing is terrible. At this point, I regret having any surgery on the knee!

Patrice, thank you so much for your reply. It confirmed the scar tissue and
other issues. I am at a crossroads now. Had considered some of things you
have now done. Incredible that you could go from over 100 flex and come
back to 70’s. And yes Dr.’s want to use scar tissue, neglect etc to say
what went wrong. They may be right on some of it but case in point, I had
right knee done 3 months after left and have no swelling or knee cap pain.
Same body! Flex also 70’s but it follows left I guess. I am active, love
to play golf but must doctor w/ drugs. Hate taking Tylenol and other
things. Still have swelling and pain in kneecap. It is .4 inches larger
across kneecap than right and revision is almost year old. Stay in touch.
My email is 921ted@gmail.com.

Patrice, thank you so much for your reply. It confirmed the scar tissue and
other issues. I am at a crossroads now. Had considered some of things you
have now done. Incredible that you could go from over 100 flex and come
back to 70’s. And yes Dr.’s want to use scar tissue, neglect etc to say
what went wrong. They may be right on some of it but case in point, I had
right knee done 3 months after left and have no swelling or knee cap pain.
Same body! Flex also 70’s but it follows left I guess. I am active, love
to play golf but must doctor w/ drugs. Hate taking Tylenol and other
things. Still have swelling and pain in kneecap. It is .4 inches larger
across kneecap than right and revision is almost year old. Stay in touch.
My email is 921ted@gmail.com.

Was your physical therapy any different?
I wonder if the aggressive therapy that I received contributed to the scarring? A body needs to heal. I don't know.

Pushing, pulling by 2 PTs until a patient cries out.... never achieving the numbers needed...

Finally the MUA helped. A year out now and I still give the knee a "C+" as its a problem going down stairs, still tight when I awaken and I have to "lube" it up with daily exercises before I start my day. PIA. Not what I expected I guess.

There is actually an association for the study of the population of patients experiencing arthrofibrosis post surgery. It is believed that prior surgeries to the joint predispose joint to form excessive scar tissue in subsequent surgeries. ( I did have two previous surgeries on the TKA knee). Also, there are some orthopedic surgeons who believe that a more “gentle” approach to physical therapy could benefit patients with a history of excessive scarring in joint. I believe that the use of continuous passive motion machines should be brought back into use for the arthrofibrosis patients post remedial surgeries.
I guess barring any medical breakthroughs in treating this problem, we, the unlucky, just have to continue our feeble and painful attempts to maintain and/or regain better flexion😕

Hi there .... yes, I've had scar tissue develop also. It developed slowly over time, but by the time I hit the 1 year mark, my surgeon went in - arthroscopically - and cleaned it up. But, it never was right, and in another year I had to have a revision - a totally new replacement. Since then, my knee could not be any better. I don't know why this happens to some and not to others ... but after several other options had been tried, including the arthroscopic surgery, I opted to just do the revision .... I'm glad I did.
abby