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Scar tissue after knee replacement

Posted by leithlane @leithlane, Jan 31, 2017

I had knee replacement surgery 6 weeks ago . Through PT I have been working on breaking up the scar tissue only for it to regrow by the time I get back to PT two days later. I have been massaging at home, using a hand held massager and roller. It is painful and swollen. I am getting very disheartened. Any suggestions as to what else I can do. Has anyone had laser treatments to break up scar tissue? Were they effective?

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bisutton | @bisutton | Nov 7, 2017
In reply to @rmeddings "I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As..." + (show)
@rmeddings

I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As my joints look perfect on X-ray. I suppose I just keep hanging on to the hope that there is someone out there that will have the knowledge to help me. As I sit and write this at 4:00 am , I wonder if my Dr's even have any idea, or really believe what an ordeal this has been , or what it's like to go to bed each night, and wake each morning, with the same old pain !!
I really hate that anyone else is going thru this, but at he same time, it strengths me know that there is someone else in the world that does understand my pain.. I have the gabapentin route, I was on Percocet for nine months ( as you say it only dulls the pain) I have tried nerve blocks,also. All to to avail..
I'm still holding on to the hope that someday this nightmare will end for me, and all of you ,who are going thru this.

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Since your problems are so similar to mine, I’m wondering if you have more pain when you exercise more? I really had pain when I tried warm water pool therapy. I still have the tightness around the joint, which seems to get worse. I’m just picturing scar tissue around my knee joint. I’m also wondering about laser treatments.

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1 reply
rayreich3 | @rayreich3 | Nov 7, 2017
In reply to @rmeddings "I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As..." + (show)
@rmeddings

I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As my joints look perfect on X-ray. I suppose I just keep hanging on to the hope that there is someone out there that will have the knowledge to help me. As I sit and write this at 4:00 am , I wonder if my Dr's even have any idea, or really believe what an ordeal this has been , or what it's like to go to bed each night, and wake each morning, with the same old pain !!
I really hate that anyone else is going thru this, but at he same time, it strengths me know that there is someone else in the world that does understand my pain.. I have the gabapentin route, I was on Percocet for nine months ( as you say it only dulls the pain) I have tried nerve blocks,also. All to to avail..
I'm still holding on to the hope that someday this nightmare will end for me, and all of you ,who are going thru this.

Jump to this post

I have pain if I use the stationary bike more than 20 minutes then I have to ice it As of yesterday I’m wearing a Velcro knee brace 20 minutes per day 4 times a day and I think it’s starting to help extend my knee so I’m hoping that this brace therapy will help I’ll keep you posted sorry for your pain

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Rosie | @rhepler74 | Nov 7, 2017
In reply to @rmeddings "I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As..." + (show)
@rmeddings

I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As my joints look perfect on X-ray. I suppose I just keep hanging on to the hope that there is someone out there that will have the knowledge to help me. As I sit and write this at 4:00 am , I wonder if my Dr's even have any idea, or really believe what an ordeal this has been , or what it's like to go to bed each night, and wake each morning, with the same old pain !!
I really hate that anyone else is going thru this, but at he same time, it strengths me know that there is someone else in the world that does understand my pain.. I have the gabapentin route, I was on Percocet for nine months ( as you say it only dulls the pain) I have tried nerve blocks,also. All to to avail..
I'm still holding on to the hope that someday this nightmare will end for me, and all of you ,who are going thru this.

Jump to this post

No clue about this

REPLY
Rosie | @rhepler74 | Nov 7, 2017
In reply to @rmeddings "I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As..." + (show)
@rmeddings

I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As my joints look perfect on X-ray. I suppose I just keep hanging on to the hope that there is someone out there that will have the knowledge to help me. As I sit and write this at 4:00 am , I wonder if my Dr's even have any idea, or really believe what an ordeal this has been , or what it's like to go to bed each night, and wake each morning, with the same old pain !!
I really hate that anyone else is going thru this, but at he same time, it strengths me know that there is someone else in the world that does understand my pain.. I have the gabapentin route, I was on Percocet for nine months ( as you say it only dulls the pain) I have tried nerve blocks,also. All to to avail..
I'm still holding on to the hope that someday this nightmare will end for me, and all of you ,who are going thru this.

Jump to this post

No clue about this☺️

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mari | @mari | Nov 7, 2017
In reply to @rmeddings "I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As..." + (show)
@rmeddings

I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As my joints look perfect on X-ray. I suppose I just keep hanging on to the hope that there is someone out there that will have the knowledge to help me. As I sit and write this at 4:00 am , I wonder if my Dr's even have any idea, or really believe what an ordeal this has been , or what it's like to go to bed each night, and wake each morning, with the same old pain !!
I really hate that anyone else is going thru this, but at he same time, it strengths me know that there is someone else in the world that does understand my pain.. I have the gabapentin route, I was on Percocet for nine months ( as you say it only dulls the pain) I have tried nerve blocks,also. All to to avail..
I'm still holding on to the hope that someday this nightmare will end for me, and all of you ,who are going thru this.

Jump to this post

What about the metal and velcro brace. I'm even allowed to play beach v-bal with it on. Very lite weight. Great, but after this either another chick shot but, prefer Stem Cells.

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winning | @winning | Nov 7, 2017
In reply to @rmeddings "I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As..." + (show)
@rmeddings

I'm afraid a second opinion will only lead to the same results for me also. As my joints look perfect on X-ray. I suppose I just keep hanging on to the hope that there is someone out there that will have the knowledge to help me. As I sit and write this at 4:00 am , I wonder if my Dr's even have any idea, or really believe what an ordeal this has been , or what it's like to go to bed each night, and wake each morning, with the same old pain !!
I really hate that anyone else is going thru this, but at he same time, it strengths me know that there is someone else in the world that does understand my pain.. I have the gabapentin route, I was on Percocet for nine months ( as you say it only dulls the pain) I have tried nerve blocks,also. All to to avail..
I'm still holding on to the hope that someday this nightmare will end for me, and all of you ,who are going thru this.

Jump to this post

Stem cell knee brace is great. Wear mine golfing, biking, gardening etc. stabilizes the whole knee.

REPLY
maggiet | @maggiet | Nov 8, 2017

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.

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5 replies
Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Nov 8, 2017
In reply to @maggiet "I had a total knee replacement 8 months ago it it has been hell. I have..." + (show)
@maggiet

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.

Jump to this post

Hello @maggiet, and welcome to Connect.

I can understand your frustrations and concerns as I have experienced all of what you are experiencing now. I had my right knee replaced at age 19 because of a genetic disability that left my right knee with end-stage arthritis beginning at the age of 9. I had a horrid recovery and also had two manipulations because my scar tissue growth was so aggressive. My range-of-motion was 10-40 degrees for the better part of the first year.

I kept with my rehab and stayed active, and eventually I felt a "pop" in my knee and over the next few days I went to 0-100 degree flexion and extension. This all developed 1.5-2 years after my initial replacement. I can say 11 years later, my knee has not degraded at all and my quality of life is so much better. Stick with it, it will come, even if it takes longer than what others maybe expected. Stick with the PT & keep your spirits up.

@maggiet, how are your exercises going? I admit that I did not push myself hard enough because of the pain and that hindered my progress. How is your pain?

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1 reply
hospdoc | @hospdoc | Nov 8, 2017
In reply to @maggiet "I had a total knee replacement 8 months ago it it has been hell. I have..." + (show)
@maggiet

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.

Jump to this post

This is the first time I have ever joined a discussion group for medical issue or anything else for that matter. I had a left TKR on 9/6/17. In 2015 I tore my left meniscus and had surgery done. Since that arthroscopic repair I had a chronic flexion contraction; my left leg was permanently bent at 15 degrees unable to straighten of fully bend the leg. I walked with a chronic limp. I still managed to stay very active; running, hiking, biking. The arthritis continued to get worse and the limping was affecting my hip and back. A total knee replacement was my only option. I bit the bullet and found a surgeon. I was able to straighten my knee but not bend it; the best I have gotten is 85 degrees. I had a manipulation done on Halloween but despite doing aggressive physical therapy the stiffness returned and my knee is just the same as it was before. I had a follow up yesterday with my surgeon and they say there is not much more that can be done. They are going to put me in a dynasplint and see how that works.
I cried all the way home and at work today wondering how am I going to function like this. I have to walk with a walker and can basically do nothing; not even walk my dog. I am so overwhelmed by this. I am only 46 and cannot think that this is how it is going to be the rest of my life. This sucks to say the least.
I got a call from a friend who is an orthopedic surgeon and does sports medicine. He told me about a therapy called Astym therapy. He said that it has been used for people who developed arthrofibrosis following knee replacement and they had a fairly good result with it. I will be looking into this for myself but you can find a lot more info on the internet about this. I found a research paper that looked at 16 patients who had good outcomes with this. It is noninvasive so it wouldn't hurt to at least try this. I hope this information helps.

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2 replies
rayreich3 | @rayreich3 | Nov 9, 2017

Hi I feel your pain. my surgeon recommended arthroscopic surgery within the next six months if my scar tissue doesn’t heal he has never used the laser so i would like to hear about it if you use it

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