1. < Joint Replacements

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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JK | @contentandwell | Jun 16, 2019
In reply to @exflyer "Killerbees: I had bilateral TKR three years ago and experienced problems with scar tissue from the..." + (show)
@exflyer

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.

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@exflyer that’s a huge loss of ROM. if you do go ahead with lysis I will be very interested in hearing about. I have discussed this with my doctor but decided it was not worth it for me. My flex is @115.
JK

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1 reply
debbie64131 | @debbie64131 | Jun 18, 2019

My knee replacement was in January. I’m still having issues with scar tissue. I had a total manipulation done & that helped for only 2 days. I’ve been going thru months of therapy. Looking for suggestions or input from others.

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3 replies
Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Jun 18, 2019

Hi @debbie64131 - Welcome to Connect! You found a good thread here with lots of people who have experienced issues similar to what you mention with scar tissue. I also had a TKR in January and thankfully, my recovery was pretty smooth with no scar tissue issues. Even with that said, I did really benefit from acupuncture and I have loved being able to get in the pool and do my exercises there. So much easier. I'm going to tag a few people who may be able to share some of their insights with TKR recovery and scar tissue - @babette, @gator1965 and @ellerbracke. Meantime, have you tried acupuncture, water therapy or any of the "alternative" therapies?

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debbie64131 | @debbie64131 | Jun 18, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "Hi @debbie64131 - Welcome to Connect! You found a good thread here with lots of people..." + (show)
@debbraw

Hi @debbie64131 - Welcome to Connect! You found a good thread here with lots of people who have experienced issues similar to what you mention with scar tissue. I also had a TKR in January and thankfully, my recovery was pretty smooth with no scar tissue issues. Even with that said, I did really benefit from acupuncture and I have loved being able to get in the pool and do my exercises there. So much easier. I'm going to tag a few people who may be able to share some of their insights with TKR recovery and scar tissue - @babette, @gator1965 and @ellerbracke. Meantime, have you tried acupuncture, water therapy or any of the "alternative" therapies?

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Thanks so much for reaching out to me. I have done water therapy & it works great while I’m in the pool but it doesn’t take long after I go home for the bands to come back. I’ve had months of therapy but I haven’t tried acupuncture.

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1 reply
kneeproblem | @kneeproblem | Jun 18, 2019
In reply to @debbie64131 "My knee replacement was in January. I’m still having issues with scar tissue. I had a..." + (show)
@debbie64131

My knee replacement was in January. I’m still having issues with scar tissue. I had a total manipulation done & that helped for only 2 days. I’ve been going thru months of therapy. Looking for suggestions or input from others.

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I also have had months of therapy, acupuncture knee manipulation cortisone shots water therapy nothing g is helping me either I am suppose to get a knee scope done tomorrow but unsure if I want to

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1 reply
exflyer | @exflyer | Jun 18, 2019

I have tried everything to break up the scar tissue, including 25 laser treatments, but nothing has worked. I am meeting with a surgeon in a few weeks to see about undergoing a lysis procedure.

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1 reply
exflyer | @exflyer | Jun 18, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@exflyer that’s a huge loss of ROM. if you do go ahead with lysis I will..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@exflyer that’s a huge loss of ROM. if you do go ahead with lysis I will be very interested in hearing about. I have discussed this with my doctor but decided it was not worth it for me. My flex is @115.
JK

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If I was at 115 degrees I would also not consider undergoing a lysis procedure, but my ROM is bad and getting worse, and lysis is about my last option.

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debbie64131 | @debbie64131 | Jun 18, 2019

Does acupuncture help? If so, can someone recommend a clinic in Kansas City?

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1 reply
dduke | @dduke | Jun 18, 2019
In reply to @exflyer "I have tried everything to break up the scar tissue, including 25 laser treatments, but nothing..." + (show)
@exflyer

I have tried everything to break up the scar tissue, including 25 laser treatments, but nothing has worked. I am meeting with a surgeon in a few weeks to see about undergoing a lysis procedure.

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I had lysis and it helped quite a bit. I still have to exercise all the time, but I can do about anything I want now.

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2 replies
debbie64131 | @debbie64131 | Jun 18, 2019
In reply to @dduke "I had lysis and it helped quite a bit. I still have to exercise all the..." + (show)
@dduke

I had lysis and it helped quite a bit. I still have to exercise all the time, but I can do about anything I want now.

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What is lysis?

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