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Scar tissue after knee replacement

Joint Replacements | Last Active: Oct 10 8:31am | Replies (1550)

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@killerbees

Hi Cheris. I had my TKR 5 mths ago. Same results as you had...swelling, tight banding, stiffness and extreme locked spams of IT band, hip and SI joint in my butt. I've gone to PT for 5 mths now and I do the exercises on my own as well. I have had numerous "extreme" surgeries with instrumentation on my spine and rt. pelvis which went through total reconstruction at Mayo in 2003. I have never developed scar tissue and always diligently done my PT, and insisted on more to full range of motion was achieved. My knee surgery has also left me with a inbalanced state and I've fallen a number of times. I have a "popping' sound and feeling between my knee and my hip and it's constant when I take a walk. Knee and lower leg still very swollen and I ice 2-3 X day. Years ago, I locked my shoulder with a fall, and was scheduled to have the scar tissue broken by a surgeon. I was moving a very large painting and frame begain to twist and I couldn't just let it go so I held on. As my arm raised up and slightly back, I heard and felt a loud pop. That was it and I then had free range of movement in my shoulder again. I would do the same to break the scar tissue in my knee if I knew it would solve my full range of motion issue and was safe, but not certain how to accomplish. My surgeon is an older surgeon and he offers no advice on how to manage with the scar tissue and hasn't mentioned lazar treatments. Has anyone else experienced this and if so how did you rectify the situation and regain your full movement? Thank you for your suggestions....my life is on hold and I live alone and must manage caring for my home, dogs, property as well as my health. I'm very discouraged at this point and it only seems to be getting worse with the falls. I appreciate any advice. Thanks so much.

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Replies to "Hi Cheris. I had my TKR 5 mths ago. Same results as you had...swelling, tight banding,..."

Killerbees: I had bilateral TKR three years ago and experienced problems with scar tissue from the beginning. After undergoing manipulation under anesthesia six weeks after my TKRs I obtained ROM of 117 degrees in both knees by the end of my PT. After this initial success I have experienced an ongoing loss of ROM and now am down to 67 degrees on one knee and 80 degrees on the other. I did try a series of 25 laser treatments, but did not see any improvement. I am now considering s lysis procedure as a last resort.

Has your doctor offered to do a scar manipulation under anesthesia? (MUA)