Scar tissue after knee replacement

I had total knee replacement October 2025, I have developed scar tissue under my knee cap, currently doing physical therapy is there anybody else have the same issue

@bisutton I just walk around the house and yard and elsewhere. I bend my knee while I am walking around.

I had surgery 8 weeks ago. My knee is swollen, tight and feels like I have a golf ball in the back of my knee. The doctor has mentioned doing a MUA to break the scar tissue. PT has been doing the normal exercises but adding massages to the knee. The massage seems to be helping.
I have decided to go to a medical massage therapist for extra work on the knee. (First visit is next week). I am frustrated too. Thought I would be back to doing some of my normal activities by now!

@repsher
I always felt that one of the most impactful things for me in PT was the therapist's massage of my quad area.

@steveinarizona
This week I felt a difference with the "ball" feeling missing from the back of my knee.

@twilli2822 I also had knee replacement in October 2025 and was doing great until about 3 weeks ago. Turned my knee and heard a loud pop and crack and was extremely painful. I couldn't see dr until a week later and by that time it had settled down but kept my appt. Dr. said it was scar tissue getting caught in the hinge of the implant and eventually it (scar tissue) would shrink but would take about a year. It wasn't hurting at the time but slight cracking when I straightened it. It has gotten progressively worse and now I have to ease my leg straight or a horrible cracking sound, somewhat painful, will occur. I feel like I am doing damage to my knee but I was pretty much dismissed by the dr, he said he would see me when the year was up. I am not happy, it took 5 months for this to show up, I was much better at 4 months, no pain. Is this similar to you and what kind of physical therapy are you getting?

@lindielulu I had my left knee total knee replacement, it took about 3 months for the what I call crunchy to show up. I went through physical therapy for about 6 weeks, they were trying to help with my pain and crunching. My crunching (scar tissue) is under my knee cap, they said it should go away in about a year I am 6 months out and have appointment with my Dr Thursday what physical therapy taught me is using Cup therapy , I have been using it for about two months and seam to help, I get session after a session using. The dr said give it a year and we will see I will attach a photo of the cupping kit and if you have time watch some videos on cupping therapy

@twilli2822 My story is exactly like yours, minus the cupping. Dr said wait 1 year, it's been 6 months and started at 5 months. I thought scar tissue only applied to the one you could see and it is great but apparently the unseen scar tissue is the problem, also under the knee cap. My dr also said to use recumbent bike 2x day which I don't have. I did somewhat extensive walking yesterday before I went to PT to have him reassure me about my kneecap and wouldn't you know, my knee didn't crack and pop as much when he examined it. His advice, join a gym. I don't have a pool near me and would have to drive through a lot of traffic about 15 miles one way to get to one. Thank you for the picture of the kit, I will check that out for sure, youtube has been my best friend lately. I hope we can keep in touch as we have such a similar situation.

@twilli2822 I looked up the set you have and there are so many. How many of the cups did you get? I have no idea what is sufficient. Thanks!

@lindielulu just watch some videos on u tube it’s helpful