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I received 2 hip replacements and then developed cobalt & chromium.
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jan 8 6:53pm | Replies (38)Comment receiving replies
Im 11 weeks post op TKR. I had an issue start at about 4 or 5 weeks post op. I started out patient PT at 2 weeks post op.
The entire upper portion of my knee halfway of the knee cap up to the end of my incision, became sore and started getting puffy red purple and felt like a blister all the time. A bit more swelling from that point up as well. I have mentioned to my surgeon my PT and they all said this can happen. I have done as instructed, message several times a day. I have zero problems with the joint. However the bend is restricted by this incision issue, when I bend my knee the puffy incision restricts with great tightness in the skin across the entire knee mid way up. In the evening the incision has fluid pockets below the surface. By morning this has dissipated. After I ice and get up to move around its not 10 min I feel slight discomfort and swelling in the upper knee.
I have researched and I have concluded this is hypertrophic scarring (my take). Ive read this can be caused by a few things. I also read a dermatologist has several methods of resolving the issue.
I plan to call my dermatologist tomorrow Monday and see if she will see me on this issue (with my only being 11 or 12 weeks post op I dont know if she will).
Any thoughts or knowledge on this matter will be so appreciated.
Photos are P.M. and 1 A.M. the ones showing fluid pockets are p.m. and all but 1 the last one is a.m.
Replies to "Im 11 weeks post op TKR. I had an issue start at about 4 or 5..."
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@suziet Did your surgeon advise you to wait longer until more healing of the incision has occurred before doing treatment? I have been through spinal fusion surgery on my neck, and incisions create scar tissue as you know, and also scar tissue in the fascial layers. I had to wait until 3 months before I could do physical therapy on my spine surgery scar, and that was also waiting for the fusion process to begin so it would not be disturbed. Sometimes healing is a long process and we just have to be patient.
Myofascial release can help treat scar tissue. My guess is right now, you have so much fluid in the tissue that it is being forced into your scar. As you heal further, hopefully the tissue fluids will lessen. Here is our discussion. MFR has helped me quite a bit and it can reduce tightness and get the body moving better. The first pages of the discussion have a lot of links.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
Have you heard of MFR before? Does it sound like something you may want to try?