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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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dickiedo | @dickiedo | Oct 16, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "@babette and @katp - I understand what you are saying. Before my first knee surgery, I..." + (show)
@debbraw

@babette and @katp - I understand what you are saying. Before my first knee surgery, I was crutches - after years of taking a 3 mile walk every morning. I can remember seeing people walking around and really feeling jealous and angry as I thought "That person doesn't know how lucky she is to be walking. She doesn't even know to be grateful. I hate her." Really - and I'm not a hateful person. Pain and immobility can really alter one's perspective. Babette - I'm wishing you the best tomorrow as you see your surgeon and hoping this one is the one that turns things around. And @katp, I don't have a magic mix either. Wish I did. I hope you get some relief.

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Read your post. Enjoy.
Having arthroscopic on 24th. Scar tissue causing patella clunk. Back to OS on nov. 8th. Range of motion 118 and -4. After tissue removal how long is PT usually if range is good.

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2 replies
rayreich3 | @rayreich3 | Oct 16, 2019
In reply to @dickiedo "Read your post. Enjoy. Having arthroscopic on 24th. Scar tissue causing patella clunk. Back to OS..." + (show)
@dickiedo

Read your post. Enjoy.
Having arthroscopic on 24th. Scar tissue causing patella clunk. Back to OS on nov. 8th. Range of motion 118 and -4. After tissue removal how long is PT usually if range is good.

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Mine is on going very slow progression my physical therapist wants me to do 30 minutes a day at home and it’s frustrating and sometimes I don’t do it we’re all different you might recover very quickly

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2 replies
dickiedo | @dickiedo | Oct 17, 2019
In reply to @rayreich3 "Mine is on going very slow progression my physical therapist wants me to do 30 minutes..." + (show)
@rayreich3

Mine is on going very slow progression my physical therapist wants me to do 30 minutes a day at home and it’s frustrating and sometimes I don’t do it we’re all different you might recover very quickly

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What exactly is it you are to do 30 min a day.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Oct 17, 2019
In reply to @rayreich3 "Mine is on going very slow progression my physical therapist wants me to do 30 minutes..." + (show)
@rayreich3

Mine is on going very slow progression my physical therapist wants me to do 30 minutes a day at home and it’s frustrating and sometimes I don’t do it we’re all different you might recover very quickly

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@rayreich3 @dickiedo it’s amazing how differently we all react to TKRs. I suspect for people with scar tissue that really being faithful to PT is the only possible remedy, if there is any. I’ve come to realize how fortunate I have been to not have had these problems after either of my TKRs.
I think a successful TKR requires a great surgeon but even the best possible surgeon can’t do anything about a person whose body generates scar tissue.
I hope you both have some success in defeating this problem. If you do please keep us updated, there are so many with this or similar problems.
JK

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rayreich3 | @rayreich3 | Oct 17, 2019
In reply to @dickiedo "What exactly is it you are to do 30 min a day." + (show)
@dickiedo

What exactly is it you are to do 30 min a day.

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Stretching hamstring mostly in my case and all other related muscles from waist down

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JK | @contentandwell | Oct 17, 2019
In reply to @dickiedo "Read your post. Enjoy. Having arthroscopic on 24th. Scar tissue causing patella clunk. Back to OS..." + (show)
@dickiedo

Read your post. Enjoy.
Having arthroscopic on 24th. Scar tissue causing patella clunk. Back to OS on nov. 8th. Range of motion 118 and -4. After tissue removal how long is PT usually if range is good.

Jump to this post

@dickiedo I have no idea if there is a set amount of time. In my experience, it's been determined by the particular needs of the patient how well that patient is doing, and if more PT would benefit him/her.
JK

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bengalady | @bengalady | Oct 18, 2019
In reply to @bisutton "I had tkr 11/16/2015, and like you, I’m still suffering. I wish I could help you...." + (show)
@bisutton

I had tkr 11/16/2015, and like you, I’m still suffering. I wish I could help you. I can just tell you, you’re not alone. I’ve had manipulation 4 months after surgery, which didn’t help. I had the nerve blocks done, and they didn’t help. I know my problem is scar tissue and nerve entrapment (my own diagnosis). I’ve had 2 second opinions, and both said my joint looks fine. I take 700 mg. of gabapenten every day, and 3 5/325 mg hydro codone. It just dulls the pain. I don’t know where to turn either. My surgeon said he could do arthroscopic surgery and try to remove the scar tissue, but I don’t trust him anymore. I hope you can find a solution.

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I am losing faith in the medical profession right now, just how I feel. I am going through the same thing, had my TKR in 2016. I have been complaining ever since then, bends at about 100, stiff like a board and swelling ….all the time. By the evening, I can hardly walk. Plus, I'm bone on bone on my other knee, so I'm scared to land up in a wheelchair !!! My original surgeon said everything is good, and I shouldn't think about my knee. Moved to another state, so followed up with another surgeon, took xrays, says the same thing.
Because of Insurance, had to see another Ortho, and, well, of course, he said the same thing. The only difference is that he said I'm having pain. DDDUUUhhh. I'm suppose to see a pain MD after the week end. Reading here, I'm not so sure I want to. I had PT about 3-4 times. I mentioned to this last Ortho about maybe it is scar tissue, and he said no. He said he can't do a revision if he doesn't know the cause of the pain. I'm not asking for a revision, unless necessary.....but why can't they tell me the cause then ?
How do they conclude it's scar tissue, can anyone tell me that ? Is it determined by the symptoms alone ?
I'm ready to take a hammer to it myself ! (Don't worry, I won't)

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1 reply
bengalady | @bengalady | Oct 18, 2019
In reply to @babette "@katp First of all I would *definitely* ask for meds for depression. I'm a therapist, so..." + (show)
@babette

@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.

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Best of luck to you !! Can you please tell me how this surgeon determined what was wrong ? Without going to a lot of details, I had my surgery TKR 3 years ago, and suffering still. Seen numerous surgeons. Partially because moved out of state, partially because of insurance. However, mostly because I know something is wrong, I shouldn't feel like this. Everyone takes x-rays, and then says it looks good, nothing to worry about. So, did you have more in depth tests ? Bone scan ? MRI, ect.?

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rayreich3 | @rayreich3 | Oct 18, 2019

My doctor took MRI saw the scar and went in arthroscopic removed it and it grew back I am going to live with it unless they can figure something out lousy for sure

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