Scar tissue after knee replacement

I’m 3 weeks out from knee replacement and have experienced the same issues you have with the scar tissue. It is very painful and nobody told me about this part of the process. I began outpatient therapy yesterday with a new therapist. She elevated my feet out the e-stem machine on the 4 corners of the knee, avoiding the incision. She then out cold packs right out of the freezer in it and set it for 15 minutes as high as I could tolerate the electric stimulus. At first it seemed comfortable but the last about 4-5 minutes is almost more than I could handle. Next time I’ll ask that she not out the ice packs directly on skin as it burns. Afterward I had leased pain and could move the knee a little more.

I think if I were you, have dr write a script for an at home tens unit and try to duplicate something like this at home. My insurance bobs did pay for it 100% - maybe your wil to. If the dr is aware of your situation see if you can get therapy 5 days a week for awhile. The pt I go to is also going to use hydro therapy in the pool once my incision is completely healed in about a month. Said it would help in movement but also in breaking scar tissue. Maybe find someplace near you with a pt with a pool- they are out there and I can’t wait to get started in moving again.

Until then I feel your pain and nobody that hasn’t experienced this cannot imagine the intense pain that comes with it. I’m sick of the almost constant pain and discomfort. Hang in there, I know it’s hard. Find a way. Rad about therapies online and ask a lot of questions and don’t take no for an answer!

My physio at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, advises that they put patients straight in the hydrotherapy pool following a TKR, certainly I would have benefited from this in my case. They simply apply a waterproof dressing. They advised me that there is little chance of infection as the water is highly chlorinated. After my arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment of the knee I was in the pool within 36 hours of the surgery.

Like you I did not like icing my knee as it caused a burning type of pain, and still does 7 months following my TKR. I prefer a gel heat pad, it provides pain relief for me.

It has worked for me.i can now resume my career as a nurse in full clinical capacity. I read my operation notes and it was not a pretty read. In 4 weeks following arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment of left knee I feel fabulous. Yes I still have pain (Neuropathic pain)but better than I have done

There is something wrong. Arthrofibrosis. You have massive scar tissue surrounding your knee. You need arthroscopic lysis. I had the procedure as did several on this site. It made all the difference.
Arthrofibrosis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arthrofibrosis (from Greek: arthro- joint, fibr- fibrous and -osis abnormality) is a complication of injury or trauma where an excessive scar tissue response leads to painful restriction of joint motion, with scar tissue forming within the joint and surrounding soft tissue spaces and persisting despite rehabilitation exercises and stretches. Scarring adhesions has been described in most major joints, including knees, shoulders, hips, ankles, and wrists as well as spinal vertebrae.[1][2]
Arthrofibrosis of the knee[edit]
Arthrofibrosis of the knee has been one of the more studied joints as a result of its frequency of occurrence.[3][4] Beyond origins such as knee injury and trauma, arthrofibrosis of the knee has been associated with degenerative arthritis.[5] Scar tissues can cause structures of the knee to become contracted, restricting normal motion. Depending on the site of scarring, knee cap mobility and/or joint range of motion (i.e. flexion, extension, or both) may be affected.[6] Symptoms experienced as a result of arthrofibrosis of the knee include stiffness, pain, limping, heat, swelling, crepitus, and/or weakness.[4] Clinical diagnosis may also include the use of magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) to visualize the knee compartments affected.[7]
The consequent pain may lead to the cascade of quadriceps weakness, patellar tendon adaptive shortening and scarring in the tissues around the knee cap—with an end stage of permanent patella infera—where the knee cap is pulled down into an abnormal position where it becomes vulnerable to joint surface damage.[8]
Patients who are recognized as developing arthrofibrosis may improve motion with appropriately directed physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and cryotherapy. In many instances, however, as fibrosis has set in, surgical intervention is necessary.
Specialized arthroscopic lysis of adhesions knee procedures such as anterior interval releases may be indicated and utilized to great success, in the hands of an appropriately trained specialist.[5]

This is very helpful information. I have wondered how much and location of my scar tissue. This was not an option offered to me. Was this office visit with a new doctor? I am trying to get an appointment with two doctors that were highly recommended to me. I have been working on this for two weeks and am still waiting for a call back to book appointment. I believe I need to be more aggressive instead of waiting for a call back. They have my referral from my GP. Dry frustrating.

@kibe75,

I had a right TKR in 2006. My recovery was awful. It was a combination of many factors: I wasn't aggressive enough on my rehab, the pain was intense and made rehab difficult, and I had really aggressive scar tissue growth. I ended up having to have two manipulations because my range-of-motion post replacement was a dismal 15-60 or so. Eventually I "popped" the scar tissue loose on my own, on accident, and my range-of-motion has been 0-105/110 ever since.

I learned then, and especially now on these threads, that we are all so much different. We heal differently, we react to medications differently, our bodies grow scar tissue at different rates. All I can say for certain is stick with it and keep pushing yourself. Try not to get too discouraged and quit. In total, my recovery was well over a year, but I got there. I have had no setbacks and virtually no pain in my right knee for the past 12 years.

@kibe75, how is your mobility on the knee? Are you able to use a stationary bike?

As I wrote to gator 1965, 2 orthopedic surgeons suggested I have this surgery to remove scar tissue. They have had success with this, but not always, my original doc, who did the replacement does not do this procedure as he feels u run the risk of getting more scar tissue. Anyone have any data or thoughts on this ? Thanx!!!

As I wrote to gator 1965, 2 orthopedic surgeons suggested I have this surgery to remove scar tissue. They have had success with this, but not always, my original doc, who did the replacement does not do this procedure as he feels u run the risk of getting more scar tissue. Anyone have any data or thoughts on this ? Thanx!!!