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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Gee. I wish you well. I feel so badly when I read your efforts and sounds like you are almost guiding your surgeon. My best wishes TO GET THIS RESOLVED. I thought medicine in the U.S. is supposed to be amazing.....but sounds like they have more work to do to realize the amazement!
My gallbladder surgeon always says "You're fine". I find that to be such a meaningless and unsophisticated statement when noone can solve my situation.
Namaste!

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@libertyusa

Gee. I wish you well. I feel so badly when I read your efforts and sounds like you are almost guiding your surgeon. My best wishes TO GET THIS RESOLVED. I thought medicine in the U.S. is supposed to be amazing.....but sounds like they have more work to do to realize the amazement!
My gallbladder surgeon always says "You're fine". I find that to be such a meaningless and unsophisticated statement when noone can solve my situation.
Namaste!

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Interesting, I just had a second doctor who would not look at my knee for a second opinion until my one year anniversary! So patients are forced to return to the initial surgeon when things go wrong, when there is tremendous pain. Only the initial surgeon can request a second opinion with another physician. This is very disappointing. Anyone have a better experience? Worse?

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@katp

Interesting, I just had a second doctor who would not look at my knee for a second opinion until my one year anniversary! So patients are forced to return to the initial surgeon when things go wrong, when there is tremendous pain. Only the initial surgeon can request a second opinion with another physician. This is very disappointing. Anyone have a better experience? Worse?

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@katp I have never been in the position of needing a second opinion after surgery but this just does not seem right to me. It must be a courtesy between doctors, but not fair to the patient.
JK

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@contentandwell

@katp I have never been in the position of needing a second opinion after surgery but this just does not seem right to me. It must be a courtesy between doctors, but not fair to the patient.
JK

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I was told the reason for not seeing a patient until after a year is because you are still healing for a year.

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@kibe75

I was told the reason for not seeing a patient until after a year is because you are still healing for a year.

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@kibe75 Ahhh, maybe that’s why then, although I think there is a certain level of pain that exceeds what is within range of healing pain.
JK

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I am so very sorry for what you are going through. Had TKR almost 7 mths ago. Problems too, but I work the heck out of it to keep from getting scar tissue. Its still swollen and feels like it moves the wrong direction and a doc here said he thought the implant was to large as I am petite. I think he is right. My surgeon keeps saying "Its fine" so I have seen two others for second opinons. One doc on a recent trip to Mayo....but I had to fight to get to see the ortho I wanted and that will be the one who does my other knee....not staying in my state and letting them screw up the other knee! I had a surgeon friend tell me the "won't see you for a year, its still healing" line is because most states have 1 year statute of limitations if the patient has to have other surgeries due to first not being done correctly. I talk to many others who have had TKR and are back out playing tennis in 6 mths and others who tell me horror stories. It all comes down to you, the patient, not accepting their excuses and being a tenacious advocate for yourself. I would not be walking today, if I hadn't refused the 15 surgeons excuses, "Oh you are in pieces after your surgery and none of us know how to put you back together again. Sorry but you will have to live in a wheelchair." My response was, "oh no I won't because I'm going to find a surgeon who knows how to put the pieces back together again!" And, thank the Lord I did find two ortho trauma surgeons at Mayo who had ideas of how to do it and, even tho the said the odds were stacked against me, they agreed to give me a chance to get my life back again. We had many hurdles to climb, but I refused to give up because I knew I would walk, hike, swim, travel and take care of myself again. Don't give up, keep researching to find a doc who might have other ideas and can help you. Good luck friend.

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@killerbees

I am so very sorry for what you are going through. Had TKR almost 7 mths ago. Problems too, but I work the heck out of it to keep from getting scar tissue. Its still swollen and feels like it moves the wrong direction and a doc here said he thought the implant was to large as I am petite. I think he is right. My surgeon keeps saying "Its fine" so I have seen two others for second opinons. One doc on a recent trip to Mayo....but I had to fight to get to see the ortho I wanted and that will be the one who does my other knee....not staying in my state and letting them screw up the other knee! I had a surgeon friend tell me the "won't see you for a year, its still healing" line is because most states have 1 year statute of limitations if the patient has to have other surgeries due to first not being done correctly. I talk to many others who have had TKR and are back out playing tennis in 6 mths and others who tell me horror stories. It all comes down to you, the patient, not accepting their excuses and being a tenacious advocate for yourself. I would not be walking today, if I hadn't refused the 15 surgeons excuses, "Oh you are in pieces after your surgery and none of us know how to put you back together again. Sorry but you will have to live in a wheelchair." My response was, "oh no I won't because I'm going to find a surgeon who knows how to put the pieces back together again!" And, thank the Lord I did find two ortho trauma surgeons at Mayo who had ideas of how to do it and, even tho the said the odds were stacked against me, they agreed to give me a chance to get my life back again. We had many hurdles to climb, but I refused to give up because I knew I would walk, hike, swim, travel and take care of myself again. Don't give up, keep researching to find a doc who might have other ideas and can help you. Good luck friend.

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This morning, 12 days until my arthroscopic surgery, I don’t have the stamina or fight that you have. I thank you, sincerely, for sharing it. I know what I need to do, but right now, in pain, I don’t have a fight in me. For every strong person like you there are multiple people like me. I will reread your post often. Blessings, k

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@killerbees

I am so very sorry for what you are going through. Had TKR almost 7 mths ago. Problems too, but I work the heck out of it to keep from getting scar tissue. Its still swollen and feels like it moves the wrong direction and a doc here said he thought the implant was to large as I am petite. I think he is right. My surgeon keeps saying "Its fine" so I have seen two others for second opinons. One doc on a recent trip to Mayo....but I had to fight to get to see the ortho I wanted and that will be the one who does my other knee....not staying in my state and letting them screw up the other knee! I had a surgeon friend tell me the "won't see you for a year, its still healing" line is because most states have 1 year statute of limitations if the patient has to have other surgeries due to first not being done correctly. I talk to many others who have had TKR and are back out playing tennis in 6 mths and others who tell me horror stories. It all comes down to you, the patient, not accepting their excuses and being a tenacious advocate for yourself. I would not be walking today, if I hadn't refused the 15 surgeons excuses, "Oh you are in pieces after your surgery and none of us know how to put you back together again. Sorry but you will have to live in a wheelchair." My response was, "oh no I won't because I'm going to find a surgeon who knows how to put the pieces back together again!" And, thank the Lord I did find two ortho trauma surgeons at Mayo who had ideas of how to do it and, even tho the said the odds were stacked against me, they agreed to give me a chance to get my life back again. We had many hurdles to climb, but I refused to give up because I knew I would walk, hike, swim, travel and take care of myself again. Don't give up, keep researching to find a doc who might have other ideas and can help you. Good luck friend.

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You're right. A friends son was a competitive skier, and had 14 surgeries on his injured knee. No help. Finally went to big city hospital in Philadelphia, and doctor told him they hadn't fixed to problem. He did surgery, and the don is now fine. Scary, isn't it!

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@katp

Interesting, I just had a second doctor who would not look at my knee for a second opinion until my one year anniversary! So patients are forced to return to the initial surgeon when things go wrong, when there is tremendous pain. Only the initial surgeon can request a second opinion with another physician. This is very disappointing. Anyone have a better experience? Worse?

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That is not the case in my state( Fl.)-after being failed miserably by original ortho surgeon- I received and paid dearly for two other opinions from other surgeons, Chose one- finally went thru revision and ultimately hip replacement as well- a long painful healing but I would Never let original incompetent Dr. touch me again!

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@damewocane I'm sorry you had to go through that; I'm right behind you! Can you speak a bit to what the recovery from the revision was like? I'm just dreading the recovery, fearing it will be as bad as it was with the original knee replacement.

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