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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

@gator1965

I was given prophylactic antibiotics (teicoplanin) prior to the arthroscopic lysis and debridment of left knee. Thankfully I did not get an infection post operatively.

Jump to this post

I forgot to say pain wise, I have found amitriptyline at night and baclofen three times a day very beneficial, along with regular paracetamol, brufen twice a day. Immediately after surgery I was topping up with oramorph as needed

REPLY
@babette

@kimbies1204 If I surgeon told me what yours told you about "what your body does with implants is out of my hands" I'd be calling an attorney. I've never heard anything so untrue and so irresponsible. You are his patient. His job is do, first, do not harm, and then do everything in his power to heal you. Is there another Kaiser hospital you can go to?

Jump to this post

Kinbies, Isn't it time to talk to an INSURANCE COMMISSIONER in your state? Right now is open enrollment - Time to Switch?

REPLY
@gator1965

I was given prophylactic antibiotics (teicoplanin) prior to the arthroscopic lysis and debridment of left knee. Thankfully I did not get an infection post operatively.

Jump to this post

For 1 week prior to my TKR I had to rub some stuff from a tube around my nostrils. Night b4, take a shower w some HydrClens ? Then the next morning Take Another Shower w ?hyClens, In hospital, nurse gave me large ?wipes - 1 for 1 arm, toss it. 1 for left arm, toss it; 1 for 1 leg, toss it. 1 for left left, toss it. She washed my back, toss wipe. etc. Hospital has THE BEST rating for NO INFECTIONS! IN CA.

REPLY
@mari

For 1 week prior to my TKR I had to rub some stuff from a tube around my nostrils. Night b4, take a shower w some HydrClens ? Then the next morning Take Another Shower w ?hyClens, In hospital, nurse gave me large ?wipes - 1 for 1 arm, toss it. 1 for left arm, toss it; 1 for 1 leg, toss it. 1 for left left, toss it. She washed my back, toss wipe. etc. Hospital has THE BEST rating for NO INFECTIONS! IN CA.

Jump to this post

@mari What hospital is this ,sounds caring .

REPLY
@mari

Kinbies, Isn't it time to talk to an INSURANCE COMMISSIONER in your state? Right now is open enrollment - Time to Switch?

Jump to this post

I’ve contemplated contacting the Insurance Division and definitely going to look deeper into new insurance. Only problem is my location is a remote mountain area, with fewer and fewer healthcare options.

REPLY
@mari

For 1 week prior to my TKR I had to rub some stuff from a tube around my nostrils. Night b4, take a shower w some HydrClens ? Then the next morning Take Another Shower w ?hyClens, In hospital, nurse gave me large ?wipes - 1 for 1 arm, toss it. 1 for left arm, toss it; 1 for 1 leg, toss it. 1 for left left, toss it. She washed my back, toss wipe. etc. Hospital has THE BEST rating for NO INFECTIONS! IN CA.

Jump to this post

I had to shower twice daily in hibiscrub and apply bactoban to both nostrils 3 times a day for 5 days before my total knee replacement in April. This was given as prophylaxis for MRSA.

Today I have finally been discharged from physiotherapy at the operating hospital, where I had both the TKR and more recently the arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment of my knee. My knee bend today is 120 degrees. I certainly would not have got to this point without the arthroscopic surgery and an astitute physio who correctly diagnosed neuropathic pain.

REPLY

St. Johns, Santa Monica CA// there is a chart -with All Ca hospitals and the records of the ones that don't have patients getting infection. St. Johns is the only one w dots in column with None or the Least infections for hospital stays. I wish u well.

REPLY
@mari

St. Johns, Santa Monica CA// there is a chart -with All Ca hospitals and the records of the ones that don't have patients getting infection. St. Johns is the only one w dots in column with None or the Least infections for hospital stays. I wish u well.

Jump to this post

@mari Thank you for this information I live in Long Beach my Dr deals with Memorial here. Ive been fortunate I don't have to go to a hospital again.Be well Linda

REPLY
@sdhkkjmz

I’m interested in your overall outcome. I’m 2 weeks post op and in top of all the issues that follow that, have developed sciatica and find it uncomfortable to sit, stand, lay, everything! I’m miserable and doing 2 weeks of in home pt have brought me to the point of complete discouragement. I thought I hurt before the surgery- it’s nothing compared to after!. The pain meds help minimumally but they have never had the pain managed from the very beginning. I cry a lot and it seems no end in sight. I can’t use chiropractor until incision is healed enough to stand the laying in my stomach for adjustment, etc. I’m depressed and often wish I’d never done this but at 54 I’m active and want to be able to do things with my husband who has been a troooer helping me but I’m sick of Percocet being a daily pill and not working well!!!! Getting ready to begin outpatient pt at a facility. I get to choose that facility. Am interested in what kind of facility I should look for... one with hydrotherapy, one with the various types of therapy mentioned here. Scar tissue is building up and the pain is unbearable. I’m glad and saddened that I’m not alone in my journey.

Jump to this post

@sdhkkjmz New to group. Healing takes so much longer than we think it'll be. I did bilateral 8 mos.ago. I'm having intense tendon pain behind knee esp after exercise, if anyone has thoughts ... Anyway, for those with ROM issues , read below, there's a great - really great -- option to look into. Pain-killers: I needed for long time. Percocet was useless, get a stronger pain reliever, the strongest you can! But... you are ONLY 2 weeks post op ! You need a few months to evaluate how you are. I was lucky to get into rehab facility with good PT for 2 weeks ... but various levels of pain continued for a long while from multiple sources. Sleep was difficult (sleep aid is helping). I don't think your scar tissue is building up at this point. Here are a couple ideas. Water exercise (with lots of bending) has been good (it's a bit too early for you, due to wound). For you at this early point, I'd work on the ROM a lot now. And I used an amazing machine to help do that. X-10 machine. It's not a CPM, I found that horrible. The testimonials are true. It's not covered by insurance except in Michigan, and it's hard to get a machine (rent) bec there's so much demand, but it was worth every penny. You sit comfortably, it gently moves your leg; you control the slight increases (each day you improve); most people get to full ROM quickly. (My PT was so amazed at how I was doing that they totally slacked off with me - with bad consequences now). The say the best time to use X-10 is a week or 2 post op. Can't recommend it enough.

REPLY
@lkinny

@sdhkkjmz New to group. Healing takes so much longer than we think it'll be. I did bilateral 8 mos.ago. I'm having intense tendon pain behind knee esp after exercise, if anyone has thoughts ... Anyway, for those with ROM issues , read below, there's a great - really great -- option to look into. Pain-killers: I needed for long time. Percocet was useless, get a stronger pain reliever, the strongest you can! But... you are ONLY 2 weeks post op ! You need a few months to evaluate how you are. I was lucky to get into rehab facility with good PT for 2 weeks ... but various levels of pain continued for a long while from multiple sources. Sleep was difficult (sleep aid is helping). I don't think your scar tissue is building up at this point. Here are a couple ideas. Water exercise (with lots of bending) has been good (it's a bit too early for you, due to wound). For you at this early point, I'd work on the ROM a lot now. And I used an amazing machine to help do that. X-10 machine. It's not a CPM, I found that horrible. The testimonials are true. It's not covered by insurance except in Michigan, and it's hard to get a machine (rent) bec there's so much demand, but it was worth every penny. You sit comfortably, it gently moves your leg; you control the slight increases (each day you improve); most people get to full ROM quickly. (My PT was so amazed at how I was doing that they totally slacked off with me - with bad consequences now). The say the best time to use X-10 is a week or 2 post op. Can't recommend it enough.

Jump to this post

BTW, It looks like the above was posted under wrong name??? I probably messed up! Anyway I'm LKinNY

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.