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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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zakcat | @zakcat | Jul 20, 2019

I go to a really good chiropractor for back and sciatic pain. But you must find a very good one; some are NOT good. Ask around and don't go until three people tell you the one is good. Sciatic pain comes from the lower spine/sacrum.

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katp | @katp | Jul 21, 2019

Hi, I am 9 weeks from left tkr and have had little to no flexion (maybe got to 60 once forced by pt). My leg is virtually stick straight. Doc says arthrofibrosis and I must wait for 6 months post op for scar tissue removal. I can feel the tight bands, tight wires, and nets around my knee and down into my calf. Sometimes the scar tissue feels like it could tighten hard enough to turn my leg in the other direction. I have so much pain. This is so long to be inactive. My quads will be lost. I’m losing hope. Can aggressive scar tissue formation be linked to autoimmune disorders? I have diagnosed Sjögren’s syndrome by the antibodies, fibromyalgia, and always elevated esr. If so many of us get this aggressive scar tissue there must be some reason for it and then some hope. I keep scouring the Internet. Please keep fighting.

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3 replies
katp | @katp | Jul 21, 2019

Not that I wish you more scar tissue, but I’m amazed that someone else can feel the scar tissue grow that quickly! Some days I can feel it increase in the course of a day. My tkr leg feels like an alien is growing right under the skin. It is painful at times. I have never heard of laser treatments for it. Can you tell me more? Very interested. A web link? Thanks.

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2 replies
dduke | @dduke | Jul 22, 2019
In reply to @katp "Not that I wish you more scar tissue, but I’m amazed that someone else can feel..." + (show)
@katp

Not that I wish you more scar tissue, but I’m amazed that someone else can feel the scar tissue grow that quickly! Some days I can feel it increase in the course of a day. My tkr leg feels like an alien is growing right under the skin. It is painful at times. I have never heard of laser treatments for it. Can you tell me more? Very interested. A web link? Thanks.

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I also had scar tissue problems. Had the lysis procedure after six months, which helped quite a bit. Some scar tissue has come back. I have a keloid issue, is that prevalent with yours?

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jul 22, 2019
In reply to @katp "Hi, I am 9 weeks from left tkr and have had little to no flexion (maybe..." + (show)
@katp

Hi, I am 9 weeks from left tkr and have had little to no flexion (maybe got to 60 once forced by pt). My leg is virtually stick straight. Doc says arthrofibrosis and I must wait for 6 months post op for scar tissue removal. I can feel the tight bands, tight wires, and nets around my knee and down into my calf. Sometimes the scar tissue feels like it could tighten hard enough to turn my leg in the other direction. I have so much pain. This is so long to be inactive. My quads will be lost. I’m losing hope. Can aggressive scar tissue formation be linked to autoimmune disorders? I have diagnosed Sjögren’s syndrome by the antibodies, fibromyalgia, and always elevated esr. If so many of us get this aggressive scar tissue there must be some reason for it and then some hope. I keep scouring the Internet. Please keep fighting.

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Hi @katp and welcome to Connect.
I’m sorry to hear about the pain you are in from scar tissue. I have had two TKRs and did not experience this. I may have some scar tissue, my flex never reached the desired number, but it has not been painful.
It must be discouraging to have to wait six months before you can get some relief. I hope when that does happen that you will get the relief that you need. I have no idea if this can be linked to autoimmune conditions.
JK

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Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Jul 22, 2019
In reply to @katp "Hi, I am 9 weeks from left tkr and have had little to no flexion (maybe..." + (show)
@katp

Hi, I am 9 weeks from left tkr and have had little to no flexion (maybe got to 60 once forced by pt). My leg is virtually stick straight. Doc says arthrofibrosis and I must wait for 6 months post op for scar tissue removal. I can feel the tight bands, tight wires, and nets around my knee and down into my calf. Sometimes the scar tissue feels like it could tighten hard enough to turn my leg in the other direction. I have so much pain. This is so long to be inactive. My quads will be lost. I’m losing hope. Can aggressive scar tissue formation be linked to autoimmune disorders? I have diagnosed Sjögren’s syndrome by the antibodies, fibromyalgia, and always elevated esr. If so many of us get this aggressive scar tissue there must be some reason for it and then some hope. I keep scouring the Internet. Please keep fighting.

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Hi @katp - I'm sorry to hear about your scar tissue. It must be terribly discouraging. Although I had 2 TKRs, I'm thankful I didn't have the issue of scar tissue. Do you know why you have to wait 6 months? Also, I'm curious about what procedure they are going to use to remove the scar tissue. Have you already had a manipulation under anesthesia?

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1 reply
sandie2749 | @sandie2749 | Jul 22, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "Thanks, @sandie2749 I think sciatica is basically a pinched nerve (feel free to correct me on..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Thanks, @sandie2749 I think sciatica is basically a pinched nerve (feel free to correct me on that if I am wrong) so if it came after the TKR it is probably an indirect result of it, perhaps due to sitting a certain way or favoring that leg. That would seem especially possible if it didn’t start until two weeks after the surgery.
No matter the cause, it is darned painful. My pain varies but at times it is extreme. I suspect that sitting on my computer chair may be making it worse so I am trying to do more on my iPod. I much prefer the desktop though.
I didn’t know that they give cortisone shots for it but now I hope that the ortho will do that for me.
I never had tingling or numbness after either of my TKRs but it seems to be a fairly common problem. I hope you find some relief soon. Please let me know if the cortisone shot does help. Of course cortisone shots sometimes miss the mark, and then they are not helpful and I believe they cannot repeat them for a few months. I have had cortisone shots for my persistent bursitis numerous times and many have missed so this time I am going to a doctor in Boston who always seems to succeed. I decided it’s worth the extra time to drive there.
JK

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Hi JK Thanks for the info, I’m going for my shots and the 30th I will let you know how they work. If not I have a nephew in Boston who is a podiatrist however his dad was an orthopedic, if that doctor works for you please let me know

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JK | @contentandwell | Jul 22, 2019

@sandie2749 I was so desperate from pain that I moved it up to tomorrow. To do that I have to see the PA, not the doctor but she can give cortisone shots. I am wondering if my bursitis could possibly be the cause of all the pain because I read a test for sciatica on a couple of sites and when I do that I don’t seem to have the pain that would indicate sciatica. I hope I do get some answers and some relief. Today it does feel less like sciatica so probably it is just bursitis.
JK

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zakcat | @zakcat | Jul 23, 2019
In reply to @katp "Hi, I am 9 weeks from left tkr and have had little to no flexion (maybe..." + (show)
@katp

Hi, I am 9 weeks from left tkr and have had little to no flexion (maybe got to 60 once forced by pt). My leg is virtually stick straight. Doc says arthrofibrosis and I must wait for 6 months post op for scar tissue removal. I can feel the tight bands, tight wires, and nets around my knee and down into my calf. Sometimes the scar tissue feels like it could tighten hard enough to turn my leg in the other direction. I have so much pain. This is so long to be inactive. My quads will be lost. I’m losing hope. Can aggressive scar tissue formation be linked to autoimmune disorders? I have diagnosed Sjögren’s syndrome by the antibodies, fibromyalgia, and always elevated esr. If so many of us get this aggressive scar tissue there must be some reason for it and then some hope. I keep scouring the Internet. Please keep fighting.

Jump to this post

Do you have a good Rheumatologist treating you now? If not, get one!

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Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Jul 23, 2019
In reply to @katp "Not that I wish you more scar tissue, but I’m amazed that someone else can feel..." + (show)
@katp

Not that I wish you more scar tissue, but I’m amazed that someone else can feel the scar tissue grow that quickly! Some days I can feel it increase in the course of a day. My tkr leg feels like an alien is growing right under the skin. It is painful at times. I have never heard of laser treatments for it. Can you tell me more? Very interested. A web link? Thanks.

Jump to this post

@katp, I also had very aggressive scar tissue. I had my done when I was 19 so I also believe my immune system and body was at its peak for internal strength which could also explain why I formed scar tissue so fast. I was also battling years and years of tendon/muscle atrophy to start so rehab was difficult. Has your surgeon discussed manipulation with you before opening your knee back up? I had two manipulations done to break up scar tissue. The second one helped some, but ultimately I ended up breaking the scar tissue loose on my own accidentally. All said and done, I had the replacement, two manipulations, a leg cast with cranks built in to it to turn to try to slowly bend my knee. It all took well over a year, but I am now 0-105 or so. Not as much as I had hoped for, but better than the initial 15-45 I was stuck at right after the replacement.

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