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Scar tissue after knee replacement
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Oct 10 8:31am | Replies (1550)Comment receiving replies
Hello everyone. My story is.like everyone else's. I had TKR going on 9 weeks and my knee is worse than before the surgery with scar tissue build up all around the knee that has limited my mobility. I'm at 88 degrees flex and 11 degrees straight. My PT can get it to 105 and 5 with me screaming in agony. I had a manipulation done going on 3 weeks ago and it did nothing. I've had 13 knee surgeries on this knee in my lifetime starting nwith an ACL replacement back when I was 18. I'm 46 now. O had an osteotomy with a left wedge 7 years ago. The other surgeries were scopes to clean up arthritis and torn meniscus.
Im.writing looking for help and advice. I still go to PT 3x/week. The 2 weeks just after the manipulation I went 5x/week. Other then stretching, what can I do to help combat this? I feel I'm capped with PT as I havent seen improvement there. I'm so nervous and losing faith that this TKR was the right decision.
Thank.you
Replies to "Hello everyone. My story is.like everyone else's. I had TKR going on 9 weeks and my..."
Hello, Most people that I’ve been reading about sound just like me and after having TKR in Aug. 2019. Started out ok going to PT, but by Nov. ‘19 one day couldn’t get a full rotation. well....after 6 doctors, 2 from Charlotte and 4 from NYC, it took me14 mos. and my shoulder surgeon (torn rotator cuff) due to using my arms to push up to get out of sofa or ANY sitting position to ....he sends me to ONE MORE KNEE SURGEON....HE SENT ME FOR ALLERGY TESTING. I’ve never had an allergy all through my 70 yrs. well I tested positive to two out of the 3 areas. He had me test for metals, glues and antibiotics.
Yup..I AM ALLERGIC TO THE ANTIBIOTIC AND...THIS IS THE WORST...THE GLUE THAT HOLDS YOUR KNEE STABLE WHILE YOUR BONE GROWS OVER THE PROSTHETIC, This glue is also used in tooth fillings.
So many drs. NEVER THINK OF ALLERGIC REACTION. So ask your dr. to find allergist that tests for metal, antibiotic, and glues.
Well, I’m sol ($#*$)' ———— out of luck because I tested positive for antibiotic neyomicin AND THE GLUE NAMED METHYL
METHACRYLATE !! and there isn’t any other glue that’s out there! And he used form of neomycin called gentamicin? I realize this doesn’t give you the answer your looking for or want....but at least I know exactly what’s 😑 happen with me and I’m not crazy! My knee surgeon didn’t want to be bothered. It’s still swollen, and painful. It wakes me every jnightAnd PT only helped slightly.
Good luck 🍀. Irish823
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Hi, I don’t know if someone mentioned this already, but if you are on Facebook there is a group called “Arthrofibrosis Support”. Members of the group share information about treatments for scar tissue and arthrofibrosis after knee surgery. The group is a great resource, and I’ve learned a lot.
I have been in PT on and off (mostly on!) for almost four years for three knee surgeries (including 2 TKA’s.) I’m a scar tissue generator. Despite my intense pain upon bending my left leg, swelling, burning, etc. my orthopedic surgeon kept telling me that my knee was fine. I was able to get into a Pain Management program at a local university. Due to allergies and drug interactions I’m not able to take any pain medication except Tylenol. It has been a very bad few years. I’m in PT once again getting ASTYM treatments and new strengthening exercises that don’t cause additional pain. My new physical therapist said that it’s not good for me to have more intense pain and inflammation because that causes additional problems. My surgeon previously said PT means Pain and Torture, and my old PT was extremely brutal. It just caused more scar tissue to form.
Please don’t give up. I am now 52 and have developed other health issues due to these four years of pain. Keep fighting for your health. It can be frustrating, depressing, and draining, but there is help. Try that FB group. It has given me hope and the reassurance that I’m not the only one. There are answers.