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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@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.

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Hello @hospdoc, and welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your story with the other members of this group and discussion.

I also had a bad recovery from a total knee replacement in 2006. I had to have two manipulations, and when that didn't work I did a full leg cast with cranks at the knee joint that I would turn to manually apply pressure to bend my knee. That still didn't work. One day, about a year and a half after my surgery I popped the knee loose on my own on accident and I now have 0-100.

From one TKR to another, all I can say is keep pushing and keeping seeking answers, it can get better, even if it takes more time than you originally thought. I'd be interested to hear more about your astym treatment if you don't mind sharing with the group.

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Thank you so much for your message it give me hope and I feel a kinship with with people like you

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @leithlane, welcome to Connect.

This is an experience very close to my own. I had my right knee replaced in 2006. I also had aggressive scar tissue immediately after my knee replacement. Ultimately, I had to have two post-surgery knee manipulations where they put me back under and broke the scar tissue up by bending my knee manually. Even after those two manipulations I still had issues with scar tissue. It took almost a full year and a half until I ended up breaking the scar tissue loose on my own when I jumped and landed awkwardly. Although it may be frustrating, sticking with your PT is a must.

I would like to invite @mnpat, @basa, @winning, @joanney, @emme, @kerri123, @gailfaith, @cautiousoptimism, @cheris, @ronnie3716, and @amberpep, to this discussion as they have all had knee replacements and may be able to provide some thoughts on their experiences with scar tissue after surgery.

@leithlane, have you heard of or tried a brace with hand cranks on it that you use to help with straightening and bending your knee? What does your therapist/surgeon say about your scar tissue problems?

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I had scar tissue after hip replacement. I have a massage therapist who does mayo facial release. It took care of the scar tissue, IT band tightness, and other muscle imbalances from walking funny.

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@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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I have had an awful experience following my knee surgeries. I had done I suppose you can call a partial knee replacement, for osteochondritis dissicans. I had my first surgery in August, physical therapy was and has been rough, the pain meds I was prescribed might as well have been candies for all they did. I was first prescribed hydrocodone, oxycodone, and when I wasn't getting much ROM (averaging 90 at PT and screaming the place down) I was referred to pain management by my ortho. after my second surgery to remove scar tissue. (October 30th) Pain management then prescribed me dilaudid, which surprise, did nothing for pain. His only answer was increasing the dosage, at one point I was taking my whole days dosage (3 2mg pills) just to go to physical therapy. This did nothing for the pain. I have finally seen a different pain management doc who has put me on muscle relaxers as well as a 24 hour alleve. These still have no effect on the pain. I am in tears every day from the pain, and here I am thinking I'm a tough girl. I am stuck in the same place I was following my first surgery, I'm thinking I went through all this extra pain for no reason. I'm losing more ROM everyday with the pain, which is not changing/ subsiding at all. Just hoping someone has some miracle answer for me, or perhaps a similar experience and any advice. I should mention I just turned 22 last month.

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Hi my sympathies I have similar issues my surgery was June still have scar tissue, although getting better, My doctor says if it’s not healed by next May he’s going to do arthroscopic surgery to remove any scar tissue, it is a slow process I’m hanging in there I wish you the best don’t know anything about laser

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@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.

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I am in the same spot as you, I had my first surgery in August. I am in severe pain, had arthroscopy to remove dense scar tissue the day before Halloween. Despite different pain management doctors prescribing nearly everything under the sun, I've had no improvement to the pain. I was getting 110-105 the first few weeks, but this past Friday only achieved 96 degrees, all while screaming in tears with pts physically pushing me.

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I had my TKR 7 weeks ago...going in this week to try to break the scar tissue...they are putting me out. Haven't slept well since the surgery...great deal of pain. Biggest issue is Range of Motion...only at 95 degrees. I want to remain active, but I'm getting nervous. Surgeons did not recommend Physical Therapy initially, but now they want me to start. I'm confused about that as well...I've worked it hard at home.

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@rjmurray41

I had my TKR 7 weeks ago...going in this week to try to break the scar tissue...they are putting me out. Haven't slept well since the surgery...great deal of pain. Biggest issue is Range of Motion...only at 95 degrees. I want to remain active, but I'm getting nervous. Surgeons did not recommend Physical Therapy initially, but now they want me to start. I'm confused about that as well...I've worked it hard at home.

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Hello @rjmurray41, welcome to Connect.

If you are only at 7 weeks, try to not get discouraged just yet. It took me well over a year to find my new norm. Like you, I struggled with extreme scar tissue formation. I also had to have two manipulations where they put me back under to break the scar tissue. I had a horrible recovery, but I was also battling 12 years of right leg muscle atrophy and joint flexion, so I was trying to reverse a decades worth of not having my leg straight or bent properly. In the end, I ended up getting to 0-105 degrees or so of flexion.

I also did not do physical therapy except for what they gave me to do at home. Looking back, I was not nearly as disciplined as I should have been to combat the scar tissue. Pain can be debilitating, especially when trying to rehab.

@rjmurray41, if you don't mind sharing, are you concerned about the procedure to break up the scar tissue? How are you currently managing your pain? I also had a lot of pain after the replacement, but it does get progressively better (and so does the sleep, I became a major insomniac for the first few months).

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@rjmurray41

I had my TKR 7 weeks ago...going in this week to try to break the scar tissue...they are putting me out. Haven't slept well since the surgery...great deal of pain. Biggest issue is Range of Motion...only at 95 degrees. I want to remain active, but I'm getting nervous. Surgeons did not recommend Physical Therapy initially, but now they want me to start. I'm confused about that as well...I've worked it hard at home.

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As Justin said .... with only 7 weeks behind you, you just can't expect it to look very good. I had my original TKR 4 years ago, and a revision to that one a year afterwards ..... that was almost 3 years ago. I still have quite a scar on my knee and I suspect I always will. I consider it my "badge of courage" ..... I have many friends who are too afraid to have a TKR .... not me, get er' done is my philosophy. I'm not sure what is meant by breaking it up. I just rubbed coconut oil (the solid) on it for a year with no results. Please don't misinterpret this as discouraging you .... I'm not doing that intentionally, but some things may have to be lived with.
abby

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