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Scar tissue after knee replacement
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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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.
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2 ReactionsI had both knees replaced. First one 11/99 second 2/20. Knees always hurtful and tight, still to this day. If I stand too long, my knees stiffen up and hurts to bend them. I had one manipulated 2 month ago which was about a year after replacement but didn't help although the dr got it to 120 degrees, I can barely get them to 90 degrees. Trying to live the rest of my life this way is going to be difficult. 2 different top notch doctors did my knees and said the knee is done well and correct size. Im considering the Iovera treatment to get nerves froze the see how much that may help. Most of the day I sit with vibrators on both knees alternating to help them loosen up and less uncomfortable. Went to therapy to the point of no improvement past the point I should have been better. Im 62. 1/2 now and on disability and hating life frankly
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
@anniesnaps Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.
"Don't give up,' that's such a great message. It sounds like you have been through the ringer. May I ask how you might have approached this situation differently, knowing what you know now? What can others take away from your experience?
I had both knees replaced. First one 11/99 second 2/20. Knees always hurtful and tight, still to this day. If I stand too long, my knees stiffen up and hurts to bend them. I had one manipulated 2 month ago which was about a year after replacement but didn't help although the dr got it to 120 degrees, I can barely get them to 90 degrees. Trying to live the rest of my life this way is going to be difficult. 2 different top notch doctors did my knees and said the knee is done well and correct size. One said I need to learn to live with it. Easy to say when gis knees are fine not living in my shoes.
Im considering the Iovera treatment to get nerves froze the see how much that may help. Most of the day I sit with vibrators on both knees alternating to help them loosen up and less uncomfortable. Went to therapy to the point of no improvement past the point I should have been better. Im 62. 1/2 now and on disability and hating life frankly
@erikas I wrote a very long answer to your question, but then I thought about it more and didn’t post it because I realized I could not possibly have done anything differently. I think that I did all that I could.
Unfortunately, I felt like I was really at the mercy of the surgeon, and he is the kind of doctor that does one knee surgery after another. If you don’t fit into his cookie cutter mold as a patient he doesn’t care or respond. I tried to get appointments with other orthopedists recommended by my PCP, but none would see me because I had already had a TKA by my surgeon. (That made me really want to give up, but I didn’t. I think my anger fueled my will to keep going.)
On all the nights that I couldn’t sleep due to pain I researched everything I could find and understand about my symptoms. I tried to find the answer myself because the surgeon was done with me. I tried alternate therapies like acupuncture and other manual modalities done by doctors at the same university as the surgeon. One of them contacted my surgeon several
times about my case, and the surgeon wouldn’t even respond to him. That doctor finally sent me to pain management where I am now, getting physical therapy from a PT who understands the problem and treats it appropriately.
During this ongoing journey I discovered that I am not alone. There are so many people out there “like us,” and I take comfort in that. There is not yet an end in sight for me, but I am not ruined. I learned to listen to myself and to not give my power away.
So I would tell people in my situation:
1. Doctors are not gods.
2. You are not a victim.
3. Educate yourself as much as you can.
4. Advocate for yourself. If you reach one dead end, keep searching for alternate ways. Think outside the box.
5. Find and reach out to others who are in similar situations.
6. Follow your gut. (When my original PT pushed me to the breaking point and caused more damage, I should have sought out a different one. I didn’t listen to myself.)
7. Find one medical professional who is willing to be in your corner and help advocate for you or at least journey with you. My PCP has not given up on me, so I can’t give up on me.
8. Be mindful of your thoughts. I catastrophized and, especially in the middle of sleepless nights, I pictured my pain never ending and my life being over because of it. Doing that just caused more suffering.
9. Take things one step at a time (pun intended!) Don’t get ahead of yourself.
10. Be gentle with yourself. This is not your fault. You are not a lost cause. You are not your pain.
I hope this helps someone.
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3 ReactionsYou have written my story. I too have finally found a caring, knowledgeable PT. I have been given hope that with hard work I can turn this knee around. This will not be a short journey. But to have answers and hope is so wonderful.
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1 ReactionI think hope is the most important thing... and also knowing we are not alone!! ❤️
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1 ReactionThank you for these important lessons. We often feel powerless in the hands of practitioners. One of my primary purposes for being a mentor on Mayo Connect is to help empower people to take charge of their own care.
To this list I would add (after my own journey with multiple hip replacement surgeries)
11. CHOOSE YOUR SURGEON WITH THE SAME CARE AND RESEARCH AS YOU WOULD USE TO BUY A HOME OR CHOOSE A COLLEGE. I called a respected group practice and accepted the first surgeon they offered. Later I learned that I should have gone to a PT I respected and asked for a recommendation.
12. Choose a surgeon whose bio says they do revisions as well as replacements. Then you know you have someone who understands not everything goes perfectly every time.
Sue
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2 ReactionsWow! Thanks . I feel so alone and I’m shocked to know that I’m not and how many of us are suffering . I had my left knee TkR in December and I went through the same stuff including the part about my therapist hurt me . I have no therapy visits left for the year to go anywhere else plus my right knee needs replaced . I’m terrified at that thought and the pain is bad and my surgical knee bends 105 . I’m so tired from lack of sleep . I’m reading too and looking up information to help myself . I’m trying things for self help . I’m pretty frustrated at this point . I thought the knee replacement was going to give me a piece of my life back not take it away . I’m trying . Thanks for sharing .
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