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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Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Jul 31, 2019

In reply to @sarastafford "I have wanted to ask about my situation for a long time . Thanks in advance..." + (show)

@sarastafford

I have wanted to ask about my situation for a long time . Thanks in advance for listening. Might want to get some popcorn and a lounge chair the story is amazing to me. In 2009 I got up from the couch and bumped my knee on the coffee table. After three days it was still bothering me so I went and had it looked at. The doctor told me I turn my meniscus as well as stage for arthritis on all sides of my knee. He suggested surgery to repair the meniscus which was performed two weeks after my initial visit. For some reason my knee didn’t respond and was still very very sore and very painful after the procedure. The doctor suggested total knee replacement after six weeks postop from the first procedure. This knee replacement resulted in a tremendous amount of pain difficulty in bending and the build up of excessive scar tissue. I decided to get a second opinion. This doctor was supposed to be the best in the state. After reviewing my case he said that the other doctor had given me a Volkswagen implant but he was going to give me a Cadillac. The results or more scar tissue and more pain. I go to physical therapy and it would be OK for a month or so and then slowly return to my inability to bend it or straighten it. Fast forward to today. Since 2009 I’ve had eight total knee replacements as well as over at least 10 manipulations. During that. On one occasion my knee became septic and the implant was removed while I sat in wheelchair for eight weeks with a pick line. I was also saying during that time a pain medicine physician taking a significant amount of medication. The last surgery performed was a hinged knee surgery. I have fallen numerous times including once where I broke my wrist in three places that required surgery. Currently my knee is worse than it is ever been I am unable to bend it at all I’m unable to get in and out of the vehicle and my quality-of-life is very poor. I can hardly lift my leg up off the floor to put it up on the couch. My knee pain seems to be centralized around my knee cap in the side of my knee I’m also experiencing What feels like electric charges shooting up my leg . Approximately a month and a half ago I want to see my pain management physician who is said the opiate laws have changed and you don’t have cancer so no you you no longer will get any pain medicine . So after seven years I’ve taking medication after two weeks of lowering it he no longer was willing to help me. He did say he would refer me to another pain medicine doctor however why would he give me pain medicine. What is the referral going to indicate that he no longer is willing to give me pain medicine but he would like him to that seem pretty ludicrous to me. So now I have no medicine I can’t walk and I can’t find any resources for help.The pain is excruciating and my surgeon says he no longer can help me. I wished he would’ve said that five surgeries ago. I participated in the program past all my urinalysis test did everything I was supposed to do and yet they claim the laws are preventing them from helping me. I don’t know what to do.
I don’t know how much longer I can deal with a situation without some kind of guidance help ideas or anything.I feel that they abandoned me I feel like they don’t care and it’s very frustrating.

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Hi @sarastafford - I'm glad you found Connect. And I'm very sorry to hear about all of the pain and difficulty you have had since your knee injury. In a way, our knee issues started in a similar way. It was December 2016, I sat down at my computer to do some paperwork, and when I got ready to get up, I literally couldn't walk. I had to wait for my husband to come home to go up to the attic and find some old crutches we had stored there. It was a torn meniscus. But nothing worked. 4 months later, I had a total knee replacement. I'm happy that mine worked out fine and after recovering, I don't have many problems other than a little loss of balance. But I can definitely feel for what you have been through. If I understand correctly, you surgery was in 2009, you are going to a pain clinic, and they are reducing or eliminating your pain medicine. Is that correct? Are they offering you any options for tapering off?

zakcat | @zakcat | Jul 31, 2019

In reply to @katp "Your story is awful. Don’t know where you live, but I would seek out THC/medical marijuana...." + (show)

THC is what I'd recommend, and I'm trying to encourage a friend in a situation like yours to try it. A friend with post cancer pain issues switched to it, and was able to get off her opioids. Shes so thrilled.

sarastafford | @sarastafford | Jul 31, 2019

In reply to @kibe75 "Has the pain management doctor said anything about a nerve ablation? I had knee replacement 1..." + (show)

This is my knee. It is twice the size of my other. And the hardware. Rods upper and lower leg.

sarastafford | @sarastafford | Jul 31, 2019

In reply to @debbraw "Hi @sarastafford - I'm glad you found Connect. And I'm very sorry to hear about all..." + (show)

Hi, my surgery started in 2009. I have had 8 total replacements and a infection and around 10 12 manipulations

sarastafford | @sarastafford | Jul 31, 2019

In reply to @debbraw "Hi @sarastafford - I'm glad you found Connect. And I'm very sorry to hear about all..." + (show)

No medicine no nothing

katp | @katp | Jul 31, 2019

In reply to @sarastafford "No medicine no nothing" + (show)

No words can express how sad I am for you. I don’t even know how to reply. Hope you get some relief.

katp | @katp | Jul 31, 2019

I am writing tonight because it feels like my adhesions are growing even more. At 12 weeks I have this weird net like feeling down into my calf, maybe it’s a kind of numbness, but it seems to be moving toward my ankle. Crazily it feels just like scar tissue. Does anyone else get this? My incision scar is especially tender, numb on both sides, and I can change the intensity of, or at least change the feeling of the adhesions. And even more weird is the feeling like my incision area is wet. Are there swear glands that become active? This is all so unnerving because no one can tell me what all these feelings mean. So here I am trying to fall asleep as usual. Just writing this helps me somehow.

babette | @babette | Aug 1, 2019

@sarastafford What am I seeing in the X-ray? Is that a revision or the result of multiple surgeries trying to get it right? I'm am SO sorry for all you've been through. Babette

sarastafford | @sarastafford | Aug 1, 2019

That is 7 total knee anthropastr

Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Aug 1, 2019

In reply to @sarastafford "No medicine no nothing" + (show)

@sarastafford - It sounds as if the pain management is probably your top priority right now. I believe you said that your pain management doctor said he could refer you to another pain clinic or specialist. I wonder if you might want to revisit that suggestion and accept his offer? Sometimes, for whatever reason, a doctor/patient relationship doesn't work out. It could be that you would have better success and find a better fit at another clinic. If you could manage the pain, it probably would make it easier to make the medical decisions you face with the orthopedic issues. Does it feel comfortable for you to call back and get a referral?

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