Good morning exflyer, bisutton, and all -

Exflyer - I'm sorry to hear about your continuing struggles. I am also a "three plus year guy". My left hip is becomming problematic because of the continuing oproblems with my right knee. I'm not sure there is a good way to avoid this, because if you are walking
or standing much at all... you can not keep from placing additional strain on other weight bearing joints... and like an established
"wear pattern" on a misaligned tire - problems are likely to accelerate.

Yes, "arthrofibrosis" (the fibrotic knee joint explanation). Surgeons are good at describing this, but not at either preventing this
outcome or treating it - once it has already happened. My understanding is that this doesn't "go away on its own" and from my
previous experience, I just expect as more scar tissue accumulates (what would stop it), the flexion and extension to be further
reduced (which means more inflammation, pain, a further "affected gait" - and more problems with other weight bearing joints).
At least your surgeon is "afraid for you" (which speaks well for him). Most will jump at the chance to do a revision surgery first -
and then worry (if ever) about the health consequences for the patient.

I also would be interested in anyone who found ANY kind of relief (other than strictly by accident - like that story about taking
a fall which "ripped the scar tissue loose"... and then it got better), 'Doesn't really matter how far fetched - Ideas ???

Exflyer (and all) - Sorry to hear of your experiences with laser treatments - and thank you for sharing that ! Better for all of us
to hear about what DOESN'T work... and just FYI to all (if I didn't make this clear previously) I had PRP injections (which of
course insurance did not cover) and was thinking of stem cells (but was told in no uncertain language by two people I know
well - that this flatly doesn't work on a replaced joint inflammation situation... although of course you'll find "injection specialists"
who will take your money to "try" this). When this was suggested to me by the guy who did the PRP injections, I had already
talked to those two other people - and so asked this doctor "Have you EVER had stem cell injection therapy produce positive
results in the case of persistant inflammation/arthro-fibrosis with a post TKR knee ?" His response: "Well.. specifically, NO...but
then that's the nature of an experimental therapeutic technique - it might work in any future case, but we can't know for sure
unless we try it. Translated - That means: He is more than willing to experiment with your money and your body - although there
is exactly ZERO scientific evidence that this even could... help you at all. For the person who was asking about "Where is the
FDA to protect us from this sort of thing ?" - Nowhere in sight... and I guess an even better question is where is the AMA - who
is supposed to be at least sort of "watching over" the standards by which medicine is practiced. Bottom line: They don't.

As long term disabled and chronic pain sufferers - we are all... ESPECIALLY at risk for anyone out there "practicing at medicine"
by whatever means (approved therapies - or not). We are literally desperate for a solution and are likely to try anything - as long
as what remains of our health... and our finances... holds out.

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New question - Anyone out there had any kind of "nerve ablation" (aka "nerve burning") that at least provided some relief from
the pain ? I am considering this (which insurance does cover) - and the story I am being told is: If the nerve block you probably
received prior to surgery provided significant relief (temporarily), then - maybe this will also provide some relief. If you have experience
with this (or have a friiend that did), I am interested in what happened. Please let me know - along with any other ideas.

Thanks - John

PS - Exflyer (and all). You probably already know this, but scar tissue does not show up on xrays.

PPS - Exflyer. None of my business, but by "Exflyer" do you mean pilot - or Philly ?