Scar tissue after knee replacement

Posted by leithlane @leithlane, Jan 31, 2017

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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@dismaydee

I am 4 months post op and had MUA 6 weeks ago. Last achieved 110 degree flexion. Stiff very quickly even after Physio. Why?

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I had the same experience. Therapist says partially due to Some scar tissue and layers of fascia that “fuse” together. My therapist has utilized MFR techniques. Cupping, other suction type devices, and finally just digging in with “scraping” tools. I’m also utilizing my stationary bike 40 minutes per day along with my therapy homework. Keep at it, I’m 7 weeks MUA and just reaching 120 on my own. Still have stiff feeling but starting to break up. I finally feel like I’m turning the corner in a positive direction just this past week. Hang in there. The hard work will pay off.

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@montem

I had the same experience. Therapist says partially due to Some scar tissue and layers of fascia that “fuse” together. My therapist has utilized MFR techniques. Cupping, other suction type devices, and finally just digging in with “scraping” tools. I’m also utilizing my stationary bike 40 minutes per day along with my therapy homework. Keep at it, I’m 7 weeks MUA and just reaching 120 on my own. Still have stiff feeling but starting to break up. I finally feel like I’m turning the corner in a positive direction just this past week. Hang in there. The hard work will pay off.

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Good evening @montem, and I think it is time for Happy New Year. I want to congratulate you on doing the "hard work" after your surgery. You are so right.....the hard work will pay off. Yes, the scar tissue has layers of fascia that become restricted. MFR techniques....remove the restrictions. Keep up the good work and please post so that others can benefit from your experience. 120 is a good ROM and the stiffness will go away when you continue the exercises for post-surgery.

What is your next recovery goal?

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

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Happy new year all …. Well I have had a set back have not been able to go to pt or mfr massage for 3 weeks …..we had covid in our house i thank god light cases by all …. Weird my daughter had over month ago no one else got it …. My grandson brings home from school the rest of us got it this time ….. no rhyme or reason to it. I have been taking steroids for the headaches but making my knee so tight ….I have been keeping up with exercises at home and doing massage also icing but not much help…. Just hopefully when steroids out of my system won’t be as painful….I go back to pt and mfr this week looking forward to it…..it is strange I took Med-dose pack first it took swelling down and pain away ….but than they gave me prednisone that helped my headache but that caused all the pain and stiffness swelling…I did read steroids can make swelling and pain come back even worse than before….has anyone ever experienced taking steroids this happening if so can you tell me how long it will last ..,,

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@montem

I had the same experience. Therapist says partially due to Some scar tissue and layers of fascia that “fuse” together. My therapist has utilized MFR techniques. Cupping, other suction type devices, and finally just digging in with “scraping” tools. I’m also utilizing my stationary bike 40 minutes per day along with my therapy homework. Keep at it, I’m 7 weeks MUA and just reaching 120 on my own. Still have stiff feeling but starting to break up. I finally feel like I’m turning the corner in a positive direction just this past week. Hang in there. The hard work will pay off.

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Thanks for sharing and your encouragement. What is the MFR technique?

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Hi all I had a right knee total replacement this past Dec 2nd, 2021, it is now Jan 29th and the past two weeks I have had a lot of issues with burning sensations around my knee on the sides I called my surgeons off and was told this is normal unless it is constant to take Tylenol has anyone else experienced this burning and if so what has worked for you to stop or control it. This is an awful feeling thank you any help is appreciated

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@ellie125

Hi all I had a right knee total replacement this past Dec 2nd, 2021, it is now Jan 29th and the past two weeks I have had a lot of issues with burning sensations around my knee on the sides I called my surgeons off and was told this is normal unless it is constant to take Tylenol has anyone else experienced this burning and if so what has worked for you to stop or control it. This is an awful feeling thank you any help is appreciated

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I had my first tkr done on 4/1/21 to my right knee my second one on 11/10/21 to my left knee and I still get burning sometimes in both. I have mentioned it to my surgeon, his PA and my PT and they all have said it can take up to a year to 18 months for pain to go away. I do notice that the burning is more prevalent after overdoing it in my exercises or activities or conversely if I haven’t done any exercises for two or more days.

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@ellie125

Hi all I had a right knee total replacement this past Dec 2nd, 2021, it is now Jan 29th and the past two weeks I have had a lot of issues with burning sensations around my knee on the sides I called my surgeons off and was told this is normal unless it is constant to take Tylenol has anyone else experienced this burning and if so what has worked for you to stop or control it. This is an awful feeling thank you any help is appreciated

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It is quite possible this pain is from the nerves healing and regenerating, especially if it seems to "move around" from day to day.
Nerves heal very slowly. When I had MCL/ACL surgery after a traumatic injury, it took over a year for all the feelings to go away.
Sue

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@dismaydee

Thanks for sharing and your encouragement. What is the MFR technique?

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Mayofacial release it helps break up scar tissue…..this has help me so much in my recovery

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My husband is having the same problem. He had a TKR on Nov.29th only to have scar tissue turn into cement. After a long painful wait & seeing what happens, the doctor finally decided to do a manipulation under anesthesia on Jan. 18th. Although there has been a tiny bit of improvement with bending the knee with physical therapy & using a CPM machine 4 hours a day, the knee continues to stiffen up in between the CPM sessions. He is in constant pain which has not improved since the original surgery in November. The pain meds barely give him any relief. The pain and stiffness get worse at night, therefore he is getting little sleep as he has to constantly massage the knee along with icing or heat to try to get some relief. This whole ordeal has caused him great stress, depression, and frustration as there seems to be no answers or solutions to fix the problem. The doctors keep telling him it's part of the process and that his body keeps fighting him and is being stubborn...Wow! not a lot of consolation when you are going through a living hell every day. He was told that a second manipulation can be done or after a year they can go into the knee and cut the scar tissue but they prefer not to do that. I truly hope that you have better luck than what we are having as it truly has been and continues to be a living daily nightmare.

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