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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

bamasaban3601 | @bamasaban3601 | Jul 24, 2019

Hi, I have had 2 knee replacements one back in 1992, another 1996. I have had 24 knee operations due to football. 6 or 7 were scopes. When I had my first knee replacement I Tons of scar tissue like you went to PT and did nothing to remove scar tissue. Both my knees had a full range of motion. Had 2nd Knee replacement same problem. I had shoulder surgery Doc tried to do manipulation on both my knees while I was out for my shoulder surgery. He could not get them to move at all. Both knees are almost completely frozen now with 10 deg range of motion. My scar tissue just grows so fast. I'm in a lot of pain due to my scar tissue. Knee replacements are solid and are not lose. I tried to get into to see many doctors and they would not touch my knees. It really sucks.!!!!!!!!!!!!

REPLY
2 replies
dduke | @dduke | Jul 24, 2019
In reply to @katp "Wow. All I can say is wow. Why can’t they find a drug to stop the..." + (show)
@katp

Wow. All I can say is wow. Why can’t they find a drug to stop the scar tissue. Dumb question. I know I can’t break thru mine. It feels like metal guitar strings wrapped all around my knee, in all directions. It feels like it’s beneath the skin, not in the joint cavity like some of the videos I watched on the internet. So I assume it was a closed procedure. I’ve read about the open one. Just awful. How did you make it all these days with no progress? I’m going crazy. One day at a time. I know patience. So you had a stationary bike? Guess I should look into one. I can’t make it around yet. I thank you so much. You have given me hope.

Jump to this post

It was a closed procedure. You can convert an existing street bike with a $50 stand on Amazon or build one with 2 x 4's. It really helps to have the bike. Whenever I feel it tight, I can bike for 15 minutes.

REPLY
1 reply
Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Jul 25, 2019
In reply to @bamasaban3601 "Hi, I have had 2 knee replacements one back in 1992, another 1996. I have had..." + (show)
@bamasaban3601

Hi, I have had 2 knee replacements one back in 1992, another 1996. I have had 24 knee operations due to football. 6 or 7 were scopes. When I had my first knee replacement I Tons of scar tissue like you went to PT and did nothing to remove scar tissue. Both my knees had a full range of motion. Had 2nd Knee replacement same problem. I had shoulder surgery Doc tried to do manipulation on both my knees while I was out for my shoulder surgery. He could not get them to move at all. Both knees are almost completely frozen now with 10 deg range of motion. My scar tissue just grows so fast. I'm in a lot of pain due to my scar tissue. Knee replacements are solid and are not lose. I tried to get into to see many doctors and they would not touch my knees. It really sucks.!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jump to this post

Wow.. @bamasaban3601 - I am so sorry to hear about your limited range of motion. I know that must be so discouraging. I had two TKR's and thankfully did not have the issues of scar tissue, but even without that, the recovery was challenging enough. I can't imagine just 10 degrees of flexion. Are the doctors giving you any recommendations - surgery, PT?

REPLY
1 reply
katp | @katp | Jul 25, 2019
In reply to @bamasaban3601 "Hi, I have had 2 knee replacements one back in 1992, another 1996. I have had..." + (show)
@bamasaban3601

Hi, I have had 2 knee replacements one back in 1992, another 1996. I have had 24 knee operations due to football. 6 or 7 were scopes. When I had my first knee replacement I Tons of scar tissue like you went to PT and did nothing to remove scar tissue. Both my knees had a full range of motion. Had 2nd Knee replacement same problem. I had shoulder surgery Doc tried to do manipulation on both my knees while I was out for my shoulder surgery. He could not get them to move at all. Both knees are almost completely frozen now with 10 deg range of motion. My scar tissue just grows so fast. I'm in a lot of pain due to my scar tissue. Knee replacements are solid and are not lose. I tried to get into to see many doctors and they would not touch my knees. It really sucks.!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jump to this post

Oh my, I am so sorry to hear of so many surgeries and pain. Scar tissue is like being taken over by aliens. It seems the more pt tries to work it out, the angrier it gets. I hope you can find relief somehow. God bless you.

REPLY
katp | @katp | Jul 25, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "Wow.. @bamasaban3601 - I am so sorry to hear about your limited range of motion. I..." + (show)
@debbraw

Wow.. @bamasaban3601 - I am so sorry to hear about your limited range of motion. I know that must be so discouraging. I had two TKR's and thankfully did not have the issues of scar tissue, but even without that, the recovery was challenging enough. I can't imagine just 10 degrees of flexion. Are the doctors giving you any recommendations - surgery, PT?

Jump to this post

Surgery mentioned, arthrolysis, in October or so. Waiting this out is insanity. Most days are just passing time. This is not a way to live, but when there is no other choice, you do it.

REPLY
katp | @katp | Jul 25, 2019
In reply to @dduke "It was a closed procedure. You can convert an existing street bike with a $50 stand..." + (show)
@dduke

It was a closed procedure. You can convert an existing street bike with a $50 stand on Amazon or build one with 2 x 4's. It really helps to have the bike. Whenever I feel it tight, I can bike for 15 minutes.

Jump to this post

I just got a small used stationary bike on Facebook marketplace for $40. I can’t use it yet, but after my arthroscopy I plan on doing just what you did, every 3 hours, 10 minutes, round the clock. When you’ve walked thru hell, there’s no reason to walk thru it again!

REPLY
1 reply
exflyer | @exflyer | Jul 26, 2019
In reply to @dduke "I had to wait six months before arthrolysis. My DR. was concerned about infection. Outpatient, lasted..." + (show)
@dduke

I had to wait six months before arthrolysis. My DR. was concerned about infection. Outpatient, lasted about two hours because there was so much scar tissue. Aggressive PT (I even used my exercise bike for 10 minutes every three hours, set the alarm during the night). I had an MUA scheduled, Dr. wanted to scope me and if he found a lot of scar tissue he would perform lysis. Well, he found a lot of scar tissue and told my wife, while I was still under, that there was no way I would have broken through all that myself. Got 110 right away, had to work hard to get to 120. Some of the scar tissue has come back after a year.

Jump to this post

Are you happy with the results of your arthrolysis procedure? I too am severely impacted by excessive scar tissue in both knees three years post TKR. I have tried laser treatments with no relief and have revisited PT twice after my initial recovery, but the scar tissue comes back stronger and tighter than ever. I just consulted with an Orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treating failed knee replacements but after he reviewed my history and examined my knees he said that he did not recommend undergoing lysis because everything in my knees was normal except for the scar tissue and undergoing lysis increased the risk of infection and the fact that the scar tissue would probably return following a lysis procedure. My scar tissue has severely limited my range of motion and causes constant pain, so I really don’t want to accept my current condition as the best I can hope for!

REPLY
1 reply
dduke | @dduke | Jul 26, 2019
In reply to @exflyer "Are you happy with the results of your arthrolysis procedure? I too am severely impacted by..." + (show)
@exflyer

Are you happy with the results of your arthrolysis procedure? I too am severely impacted by excessive scar tissue in both knees three years post TKR. I have tried laser treatments with no relief and have revisited PT twice after my initial recovery, but the scar tissue comes back stronger and tighter than ever. I just consulted with an Orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treating failed knee replacements but after he reviewed my history and examined my knees he said that he did not recommend undergoing lysis because everything in my knees was normal except for the scar tissue and undergoing lysis increased the risk of infection and the fact that the scar tissue would probably return following a lysis procedure. My scar tissue has severely limited my range of motion and causes constant pain, so I really don’t want to accept my current condition as the best I can hope for!

Jump to this post

Arthroscopic lysis minimizes the chance of infection. How else are you going to get rid of the scar tissue? The only cases I have heard of is when someone fell and had a traumatic injury which broke the scar tissue. Constant personal and professional PT is crucial to making it work.

REPLY
1 reply
sparky233 | @sparky233 | Jul 26, 2019
In reply to @amberpep "Hi there .... yes, I've had scar tissue develop also. It developed slowly over time, but..." + (show)
@amberpep

Hi there .... yes, I've had scar tissue develop also. It developed slowly over time, but by the time I hit the 1 year mark, my surgeon went in - arthroscopically - and cleaned it up. But, it never was right, and in another year I had to have a revision - a totally new replacement. Since then, my knee could not be any better. I don't know why this happens to some and not to others ... but after several other options had been tried, including the arthroscopic surgery, I opted to just do the revision .... I'm glad I did.
abby

Jump to this post

What is a revision and what do they do?

REPLY
sparky233 | @sparky233 | Jul 26, 2019

Has anyone had or tried Ashtyn treatment? I read it’s highly effective. I had replacement surgery March 15 and scar tissue formed. Had manual manipulation May 23 and scar tissue came back even worse. Waiting to see surgeon again August 29th to see what we do now. Need this to stop! Hurts all the time, disrupts sleep and range of motion is getting worse! Saddest time of my whole life!

REPLY
2 replies
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.