Scar tissue after knee replacement

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.

@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.

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?

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?

@katp First of all I would *definitely* ask for meds for depression. I'm a therapist, so I know both from my clients' and my own experiences that they can make a huge difference. And get in the water! There's nothing I want to do more!

The short version of my story is that I had my initial R TKR in July 2018. I didn't really pay any attention to the first 3 months as I expected those to be rough. However, when my surgeon told me at 6 months that all was OK I knew it was time to get another opinion. Here in Boston there are no surgeons who will make a second opinion on a TKR until you are one year out. So I suffered with terrible pain in and around my knee. I rode a stationary bike daily - no pain doing that - and did some at home PT, some outpatient PT but the pain just got too terrible. I've also had terrible scar problems: I didn't wear pants, tights, etc. for at least 8 months. Couldn't have a sheet against my knee, etc. So I'm wondering if a plastic surgeon might be worth talking to.

Fast forward and at the one-year mark I saw a terrific surgeon who confirmed that I would need a total revision: he said my femur is misaligned, my patella is off-center and something is wrong with a ligament - don't remember the details of that. He referred me to a colleague who he said he would send any loved one to for a revision like mine. He told me that in his 30 years of practice he's only seen one other surgeon as gifted as the one I'm seeing tomorrow! So, even though I was crushed when I was told I needed another revision, I'm going in with eyes open, the right questions, and lots of hope.

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?

@kibe75,

I had a right TKR in 2006. My recovery was awful. It was a combination of many factors: I wasn't aggressive enough on my rehab, the pain was intense and made rehab difficult, and I had really aggressive scar tissue growth. I ended up having to have two manipulations because my range-of-motion post replacement was a dismal 15-60 or so. Eventually I "popped" the scar tissue loose on my own, on accident, and my range-of-motion has been 0-105/110 ever since.

I learned then, and especially now on these threads, that we are all so much different. We heal differently, we react to medications differently, our bodies grow scar tissue at different rates. All I can say for certain is stick with it and keep pushing yourself. Try not to get too discouraged and quit. In total, my recovery was well over a year, but I got there. I have had no setbacks and virtually no pain in my right knee for the past 12 years.

@kibe75, how is your mobility on the knee? Are you able to use a stationary bike?

My ROM is about 60. I cannot use a stationery bike and have trouble going up stairs. How did you pop your knee? Can you explain? I am so distressed as my knee is making my job impossible. I am waiting for a second opinion.

@donheads, how long ago was your replacement? Mine "popped" as an accident when I was playing catch football with a couple of friends. I jumped for a ball, landed, heard/felt a pop and over the following days it slowly loosened. I had to continue my PT, but eventually was able to get to 105ish bend. In total, it was probably a good 12-18 months after the initial surgery.

@donheads, how long ago was your replacement? Mine "popped" as an accident when I was playing catch football with a couple of friends. I jumped for a ball, landed, heard/felt a pop and over the following days it slowly loosened. I had to continue my PT, but eventually was able to get to 105ish bend. In total, it was probably a good 12-18 months after the initial surgery.