Scar tissue after knee replacement

Did you try the Astym therapy? Did it work?

Yes -Here I go again, while the hip is being replaced a MUA will be performed. I don't know when I will ever get out of ortho hell.

Sounds like a good plan. And, Hip replacement is Much easier to recover from than knees. You'll be happy.

@damewocane From what I have learned here, and in a Facebook group about knee replacements, one of the most important things when getting one is doing a lot of research on the doctor. I did not do enough on the doctor who did my first TKR. My knee is OK, but not nearly as good as my second one.
The second doctor is phenomenal. When I first went to him and he asked he which brand of knee I wanted -- he uses two -- he also said that he believes the outcome depends less on the brand of the knee than it does on the competence of the doctor. I believe him. I did choose the knee that he was a developer of, Conformis, simply because I had heard so much good about it. I have not regretted it at all.
I live in southern NH but go to Boston for most of my medical issues. There is a doctor up here who does zillions of TKRs but I think he does so many that they are all just done the same way without regard to the needs of different patients. People either love him or hate him.
JK

thanks for the insight; I did ask a doctor friend who was good, and she recommended my doctor highly. Who you chose really is important !

Acupuncture worked well for me as he was able to ease the spasms in my IT band, lower back and hip. Also strength training on the machines at fitness center, using exercises given to me by my PT have helped. I walk for at least 40 minutes 5 days a week to exercise my dog (and myself), but I have to take extra care to not fall as this whole experience has caused me to have balance issues, which is really frustrating. The tightness is still there and I can feel the popping in both the lateral portion of my knees and also in my sacrum and mid hip. No MD's here can agree on what is causing this.....I've seen 4 now with so many MRI's I probably paid for the machine by now!
I called Mayo Ortho and am seeing an MD that, hopefully, can tell identify the problem and "fix" it and (praying!) I can then solve my balance issue and resume my bucket list. I am petite and my implant is huge in comparison to my other knee. When I asked my surgeon "who choses the implant size?" He replied, "Oh the rep for the company is in the OR and chooses the right size"!!!! One of my doc's said the issue has to be that a nerve is impinged, most likely in the lateral area of the knee....I bet he is right. I will let you all know what the doc's at Mayo say and/or do. (Back in 2002, I needed a 2 level fusion of my lumbar spine and the surgeon in my city turned out to be on drugs and shattered my pelvis, literally in pieces and left me to die when he nicked my glutial artery and I began loosing alot of blood. My anesthesiologist and the hemotologist on call saved my life. Surgeon was gone in a flash never to return again. I went to 15 of our area's best spine surgeons said there wasn't any way to rebuild me and "you will live your life in a wheelchair". My reply was "Oh no I won't!" and I asked the good Lord to lead me or heal me. He led me to an incredible surgeon and his team at Mayo who gave me a chance to walk again, even tho they told me it was only an 8% one, and it was so invasive to the human body that I had a 50% risk of not surviving the surgery. I knew the Lord had chosen these doctors to heal me and He would work through their hands. I never doubted for a minute that I would walk again. It was a huge operation, and ended up being 4 operations as I wouldn't let them give up on me when a few " monkey wrenches" were thrown on our path. My Mayo surgeons and their team, who literally figured out a way to give me my life back were unbelievably talented, creative, determined and caring in successfully rebuilding my broken body. After 5 weeks, I was allowed to begin using my scooter, then onto a walker, then crutches and/or walker and finally after 3 more months, Dr H and his team met me in a room at St Mary's and he said, give me your crutches and walk across the room. No pain, no limping.....I was rebuilt just as God had made me. It had been a long journey, not so much for me, but for all my phenomenal, dedicated doc's and nurses as well. Dr H looked down at me, (he's very tall and I am short), and said "You know none of us thought you would ever walk again but you kept telling us "God won't leave me behind because he led me to you" and we should not give up either as he was working through our hands. Well, you have something to that God thing of yours as we all agreed if you did ever walk it would be a miracle"
So, don't ever give up. Keep searching for the answers, pray to your God asking to be put on the right path to find complete healing for yourself. Believe your knee will be restored and you will no longer have pain. For if we are not our own tenacious, advocate how can we find the healing we desperately need. We may have to have patience as it may or may not come right away, but with a strong postive spirit (which is hard when you hurt and can't do what you want to right now), I believe we can all be healed.

Hi @zakcat - If its any consolation, I think most of us still have pain - sometimes night and day - at 6 weeks. I've had 2 TKRs. On both, I found 8 weeks to be a real milestone. Lots of things like walking, being able to comfortably turn over in bed, and staying on top of my PT became much easier in the 3rd month. I know there are pros and cons to the CBD oil and there is no regulation of the stuff and there are snake oil salespeople out there. All that said, I've heard some pretty good things about it when people have found reliable sources. Good luck with your recovery. Is pain at night your worst problem or do you still have pain with PT?

Thanks for the encouragement ! My doctor wants to do a manipulation on Friday, but I reached a milestone today at PT (with much sweating and groaning!) and my PT said I really won't need it. I look forward to being done with this recovery period ! Nights are finally getting better. 3 am used to be my worst time of the day(and night ) Found a reliable source for CBD so I'll try it soon.

@zakcat - I am so happy to hear your good news. All of that sweating and groaning brings back memories. Good for you. Will you keep us posted?

sure, thanks. The support is welcome. I must have my other knee replaced, and soon. So not looking forward to it ! but at least I'll know the pitfalls, and what to do.