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Scar tissue after knee replacement

Joint Replacements | Last Active: Oct 10 8:31am | Replies (1550)

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@melcpa86

I’ve posted on this forum off and on over the past two years or so. I wanted to give an update on what looks like a definitive answer as to the multitude of issues with the replacement that I have been facing.

Short synopsis is that at 53 I had a torn meniscus at the root from a running injury. That was almost immediately turned into I had arthritis bad enough that I needed a partial knee replacement.

The physicians office forgot to order the replacement parts the day of the surgery and on the day of the rescheduled surgery, I fell in the parking lot. I woke up from what should have been a partial knee replacement with a total knee replacement, a very swollen knee and swollen ankle.

Two months after the surgery, I still could not stand or walk without pain and my ROM was less than 110. I was diagnosed with arthofibrosis and had another surgery to remove scar tissue. Significant pain and PT later I was able to get my knee bending more, but still could not stand or walk.

Multiple other doctors and 18 months later, I was diagnosed with a broken foot and shredded tendon from the parking lot fall from the original surgery. A bone fragment in my foot from the fall shredded the tendon. However, I still can not stand or walk without significant pain. At 56 now, I went from running and cross-fit to being able to walk less than 5,000 steps a day.

More doctors, tests and appointments later, the doctors are thinking I have a stress reaction or stress fracture in my tibia. I then found a doctor who deals with periprothetic fractures. He took a bunch of X-rays with my knee in positions I never had before. He then told me what you never want to hear after this surgery...

My implant is crooked. It’s not loose. It’s cemented in good - but at the wrong angle. It was installed crooked to the tune of slightly more than 5 degrees. The forces on my tibia and ankle are too much. My pain will never go away until it comes out and by the way, your good side hip is now a mess because your standing on one leg.

I told the doctor I’m only 56 and what happens at 66 when the revision wears out. He told me to go home and think if I wanted the revision. I sent him a follow up question in the portal asking the same thing a week ago and haven’t heard back. But I think I know the answer - it can’t be done.

So for those of you who have been following this story along and are still struggling with the pain - you now know one way this story ends.

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Replies to "I’ve posted on this forum off and on over the past two years or so. I..."

Hi it's been a while since I've posted, but after reading your post I wonder if I am going through the same thing. I had a TKR back in January of 2019, a MUA in February, a revision in May to put a smaller cushion & in November arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue. I've had home & out patient therapy, nothing seems to help. I'm on a cane my knee hurts to touch. I can barely bend it & it hurts to walk. Sometimes my whole left leg hurts. I've had several xrays they always say everything is going well. I even had a second opinion to Gainesville (Shands) they too say things are going according. The doctor say my severe pain could be due to all of the surgeries I've had right behind the other. I go to pain management, but I'm tired of taking pills they only put me to sleep & when I wake up the pain is still there.

My take is to do the revision so you can maintain your mobility. Technology is moving ahead rapidly. For mine, I find KT tape helps somewhat, but mine is more of an issue with hypermobility and bad alignment of hip/knee/ankle. I certainly empathize with your misery.