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?

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JK | @contentandwell | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @katp "Hi folks, I’ve been off the board for a few weeks. I was scheduled yesterday for..." + (show)
@katp

Hi folks, I’ve been off the board for a few weeks. I was scheduled yesterday for arthroscopy to remove scar tissue after May 17th left tkr. Yesterday was a Monday. The Friday before, my surgery was cancelled after a conflicting consult. I was devastated. I have no flexion, burning pain, and just a ruined existence. It has been incredibly difficult to accept that every 2 weeks I must return to these physicians who, it feels like, sentence me to days and nights of torture. I know I sound overly dramatic. I realize that I don’t have cancer. I can drive short distances, do small grocery trips, bathe myself, do my own laundry.

I think the rationale is that at 4 months post op I still have inflammation. Inflammation means more scar tissue will regrow if it is aggravated by surgery. I take tramadol, about 2 a day, if I get to a place of desperation. It seems to not do much. I take a few Tylenol, like maybe 6 per day. Someone suggested bromelain, but I can’t tolerate too many. It upsets my stomach. Waiting is a difficult job. Waiting in pain is exhausting. Does anyone have a ‘magic mix’ of supplement and otc?

Jump to this post

@katp. I am still having a lot of pain from my femur fracture. I have a small, non-renewable prescription for tramadol and I can take a very limited amount of Tylenol - 3, 650mg a day. I am in a lot of discomfort in the morning in particular. If I take one tramadol and one Tylenol it does help to dull the pain a bit. The tramadol won’t last much longer though and due to the extreme caution of doctors these days I doubt it will be renewed.
JK

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @babette "@katp "a ruined existence" is the perfect phrase for us in chronic big pain. I'm so..." + (show)
@babette

@katp "a ruined existence" is the perfect phrase for us in chronic big pain. I'm so sorry to hear about what you're going through and I'm walking the same path. It's such a shock to become disabled, isn't it? I see people walking past my house and just want to shout "you can walk! Without any difficulty!" Ditto when I see people doing other everyday things.

I had my TKR over a year ago and it needs to be completely revised. I'm seeing my new surgeon tomorrow about the details. When I first heard about the revision I was shocked into such a depression. The first year+ has been hell and now I need to do it AGAIN?! I'm getting a better perspective but am still really angry. As for the "at least I don't have cancer" thought, I understand what you're saying however that doesn't negate or invalidate the pain we DO have!

I don't have an OTC formula to share. I wish I had magic.

Jump to this post

@babette You have been dealing with this for a while now. I sincerely hope the upcoming surgery will have you up and about, and pain-free in a reasonable amount of time. I am sorry that your original surgeon was not more help.
JK

REPLY
1 reply
ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@katp. I am still having a lot of pain from my femur fracture. I have a..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@katp. I am still having a lot of pain from my femur fracture. I have a small, non-renewable prescription for tramadol and I can take a very limited amount of Tylenol - 3, 650mg a day. I am in a lot of discomfort in the morning in particular. If I take one tramadol and one Tylenol it does help to dull the pain a bit. The tramadol won’t last much longer though and due to the extreme caution of doctors these days I doubt it will be renewed.
JK

Jump to this post

JK: Hope you can convince one of your physicians to prescribe more pain meds. With your track record, going back years, if you’d be a candidate for addiction, you’d already be hooked. Between shoulder surgeries, knee surgeries, and involved dental procedures I have been prescribed Oxycodone or Percocet on 6 different occasions, never got dependent, never needed (chose to) take all the was given. Still going to the wedding?

REPLY
2 replies
katp | @katp | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "JK: Hope you can convince one of your physicians to prescribe more pain meds. With your..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

JK: Hope you can convince one of your physicians to prescribe more pain meds. With your track record, going back years, if you’d be a candidate for addiction, you’d already be hooked. Between shoulder surgeries, knee surgeries, and involved dental procedures I have been prescribed Oxycodone or Percocet on 6 different occasions, never got dependent, never needed (chose to) take all the was given. Still going to the wedding?

Jump to this post

Thanks for asking! Yup! I’ve decided I will drive the golf carts around, taking others who can’t take the walking, and live it up as best as I can. And I will ask for pain meds as I need refills.

REPLY
katp | @katp | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@babette You have been dealing with this for a while now. I sincerely hope the upcoming..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@babette You have been dealing with this for a while now. I sincerely hope the upcoming surgery will have you up and about, and pain-free in a reasonable amount of time. I am sorry that your original surgeon was not more help.
JK

Jump to this post

So far my docs have not denied pain meds. I looked up tramadol and it is classified as an opioid. It does not really stop the pain, you are right. Sometimes I just need something to calm me down and make me a little. This is a sad way to live. But it’s not cancer. My dearest cousin and a close friend are struggling with that. Now, there is something to struggle with.

REPLY
1 reply
katp | @katp | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @zakcat "You're closer to only 3 months post OP. I hear that its normal to wait 6..." + (show)
@zakcat

You're closer to only 3 months post OP. I hear that its normal to wait 6 months before doing that scar removal surgery. The key to recovery is not to avoid scar tissue-thats impossible- but to make the scar tissue fibers develop straight, instead of all tangled. Keep pushing, icing and resting! You will recover. May take a year.

Jump to this post

Thanks, got it. No one ever put it that way, about developing straight. It’s just the pain that’s so hard to live with.

REPLY
1 reply
katp | @katp | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @babette "@katp "a ruined existence" is the perfect phrase for us in chronic big pain. I'm so..." + (show)
@babette

@katp "a ruined existence" is the perfect phrase for us in chronic big pain. I'm so sorry to hear about what you're going through and I'm walking the same path. It's such a shock to become disabled, isn't it? I see people walking past my house and just want to shout "you can walk! Without any difficulty!" Ditto when I see people doing other everyday things.

I had my TKR over a year ago and it needs to be completely revised. I'm seeing my new surgeon tomorrow about the details. When I first heard about the revision I was shocked into such a depression. The first year+ has been hell and now I need to do it AGAIN?! I'm getting a better perspective but am still really angry. As for the "at least I don't have cancer" thought, I understand what you're saying however that doesn't negate or invalidate the pain we DO have!

I don't have an OTC formula to share. I wish I had magic.

Jump to this post

Awww, you are so sweet. Will you share why you need a revision? I am shaking my head at your story. It does create depression. I may give this another week or so and ask my gp for an antidepressant. I’m crying a lot and life just is no fun. I am going for my first aquatic exercise hour on Thursday, though. I hope that may bring me some giggles.

REPLY
1 reply
zakcat | @zakcat | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @katp "Hi folks, I’ve been off the board for a few weeks. I was scheduled yesterday for..." + (show)
@katp

Hi folks, I’ve been off the board for a few weeks. I was scheduled yesterday for arthroscopy to remove scar tissue after May 17th left tkr. Yesterday was a Monday. The Friday before, my surgery was cancelled after a conflicting consult. I was devastated. I have no flexion, burning pain, and just a ruined existence. It has been incredibly difficult to accept that every 2 weeks I must return to these physicians who, it feels like, sentence me to days and nights of torture. I know I sound overly dramatic. I realize that I don’t have cancer. I can drive short distances, do small grocery trips, bathe myself, do my own laundry.

I think the rationale is that at 4 months post op I still have inflammation. Inflammation means more scar tissue will regrow if it is aggravated by surgery. I take tramadol, about 2 a day, if I get to a place of desperation. It seems to not do much. I take a few Tylenol, like maybe 6 per day. Someone suggested bromelain, but I can’t tolerate too many. It upsets my stomach. Waiting is a difficult job. Waiting in pain is exhausting. Does anyone have a ‘magic mix’ of supplement and otc?

Jump to this post

Maybe try medical marijuana. Or, a nurse friend tried capsules of the over the counter version, and said it helps greatly. Had three letters; not THC, something else. Does anyone know?

REPLY
2 replies
zakcat | @zakcat | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @katp "So far my docs have not denied pain meds. I looked up tramadol and it is..." + (show)
@katp

So far my docs have not denied pain meds. I looked up tramadol and it is classified as an opioid. It does not really stop the pain, you are right. Sometimes I just need something to calm me down and make me a little. This is a sad way to live. But it’s not cancer. My dearest cousin and a close friend are struggling with that. Now, there is something to struggle with.

Jump to this post

Tramadol lasts me exactly 2.5 hours. Can take every 4. It's the least potent opioid drug, people often use it as a maintenance drug. Not likely to get addicted. Toradol works better, a nurse told me, but there's some chance of hematoma forming.

REPLY
zakcat | @zakcat | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @katp "Thanks, got it. No one ever put it that way, about developing straight. It’s just the..." + (show)
@katp

Thanks, got it. No one ever put it that way, about developing straight. It’s just the pain that’s so hard to live with.

Jump to this post

We should look into medical marijuana. And I hear that the hemp oil capsules really work. A nurse friend is using it after her second TKR is causing much more pain than her first one did.

REPLY
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