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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@pschoettle

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. My husband had three TKR Revisions over 8 years due to Aseptic loosening. Unfortunately, during recovery from the last surgery he developed a staff infection. Been in antibiotics now for 8 months and we're just waiting for the loosening his surgeon expects will occur this time because of infection. Only options are yet another revision or above the knee amputation. My husband was an avid hiker and very active. May get another opinion but he has a well-respected Revision specialist do not sure whether it will be useful.

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I understand what your going through all to well. Going in for another bone scan and a allergy test. Maybe these tests were not done correctly or things have changed to reveal the problem. Pain is still there after the last surgery and instability is always there. I find myself worrying about when the knee will finally give out. I have had bad dreams about it. Sleeping at night is always a challenge. To much nerve pain. I wish you all the best, stay strong and keep in touch.

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Yes, these failed knee replacements do take an emotional toll as well as physical. My husband hasn't had allergy testing but he's never been sensitive to metals. Might be another thing to try. Good luck to you and thanks for your support.

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@charliez22

Hello all, I had a TKR of my left knee 4 months ago. I am stuck at about 95 degrees flexion. I have very sharp pain behind the knee when trying to bend past that. The MRI shows a very swollen Popiteal muscle, but my doctor says this is unusual and isn't quite sure what is causing this sharp pain. I was taken out of p.t. and just resumed it again. The pain sometimes is on the outer side of the knee as well. Has anyone experienced this sharp pain behind the Knee? This is really prohibiting the ability to bend the stupid knee! I have crazy tightness across the knee as well. I'm guessing scar tissue is the cause? Unfortunately, I have a bad ankle/foot on the opposite side too, it makes walking a challenge. I knew the recovery would be harder due to my limitations, I'm just frustrated, upset and hoping for a positive turn around. This site is great, the info I've read from everyone is so helpful. So, anyone with this behind the knee pain PLEASE...id love any info you have. Thank you

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You might want to look into the possibility of a bakers cyst behind the knee. I developed one and had to massage and keep pushing on it to get rid of it or make it smaller. Painful to push on it but can dissolve over time with massaging.

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@sallyweise

You might want to look into the possibility of a bakers cyst behind the knee. I developed one and had to massage and keep pushing on it to get rid of it or make it smaller. Painful to push on it but can dissolve over time with massaging.

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Good afternoon @sallyweise. Welcome to Connect. This group of folks believes that by sharing with each other, we will learn more about our condition and how to manage it. We just might even meet a few friends.

You are asking if the other member might have a Baker cyst. I feel bad that you had to go through discomfort to get rid of yours. My surgeon withdrew the fluid from my left knee right in his office. Just took a few minutes.

Perhaps that is another way we can be our own advocate.

May you be happy and whole.
Chris

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@rizwil

I just saw your posts on Mayo Clinic Connect. I am 5 wks posts TKR surgery and my surgeon prescribed Lyrica for my continued nerve pain. I am also experiencing sciatica, which stretching exercises and NSAIDs have not helped. My ROM for flexion is at 95, but my extension is at 8 degrees. Is any of this very common among TKR recipients? Thank you.

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Hello, I am 3 weeks post sit. My surgeon said that if you get the extension to 0 first, the flexion will follow. He does not want me to sleep with my knee bent. Sit on a firm chair, put a pillow under your foot and prop it onto a coffee table. Do not support your knee . Watch a short tv program in this position. You can apply an ice pack to your knee while you are doing this. The weight of the ice will push down on your leg, and help increase the extension. When laying down, keep your leg straight and have your toes pointed upward. I put pillows on both sides of my foot to hold it in position. When elevating your leg put the pillow behind your ankle and calf. Do not put the pillow under your knee. All of these things I do and have an extension of 0 since week 1. I hope it helps you also. Best wishes!

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@dar23

Hello, I am 3 weeks post sit. My surgeon said that if you get the extension to 0 first, the flexion will follow. He does not want me to sleep with my knee bent. Sit on a firm chair, put a pillow under your foot and prop it onto a coffee table. Do not support your knee . Watch a short tv program in this position. You can apply an ice pack to your knee while you are doing this. The weight of the ice will push down on your leg, and help increase the extension. When laying down, keep your leg straight and have your toes pointed upward. I put pillows on both sides of my foot to hold it in position. When elevating your leg put the pillow behind your ankle and calf. Do not put the pillow under your knee. All of these things I do and have an extension of 0 since week 1. I hope it helps you also. Best wishes!

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Thanks, @dar23 for your thorough response. The only thing I would add is an ice machine to control any swelling. Ice and the elevation positions you described can be very helpful.
An extension of “0” is the goal. How are you doing with your ROM (range of motion)?

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

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@artscaping

Thanks, @dar23 for your thorough response. The only thing I would add is an ice machine to control any swelling. Ice and the elevation positions you described can be very helpful.
An extension of “0” is the goal. How are you doing with your ROM (range of motion)?

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

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Yes, Chris, I did elevate with ice and I have a ice machine also. My flexion is at 115.
Our weather has been going up and down. When the weather changes, I have had a tremendous amount of pain in my bones. My bones feel cold like they are freezing. I can’t get warm. The pain gets very intense, a 10.
My therapist put a heating pad on my upper body the last time I was there. This seemed to help me get warm. I am ordering a heated throw to help me stay warm. After surgery I was told I was anemic and I needed to go get tested and get it treated. The day I saw my GP the person was not there to draw blood. The go told me to wait until I have recovered from surgery more. I may have to get in before that. I have a post op appointment this next week with my orthopedic surgeon. I was doing really good until I started this cold bones stuff. I pray it goes away completely. Thank you !

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@dar23

Yes, Chris, I did elevate with ice and I have a ice machine also. My flexion is at 115.
Our weather has been going up and down. When the weather changes, I have had a tremendous amount of pain in my bones. My bones feel cold like they are freezing. I can’t get warm. The pain gets very intense, a 10.
My therapist put a heating pad on my upper body the last time I was there. This seemed to help me get warm. I am ordering a heated throw to help me stay warm. After surgery I was told I was anemic and I needed to go get tested and get it treated. The day I saw my GP the person was not there to draw blood. The go told me to wait until I have recovered from surgery more. I may have to get in before that. I have a post op appointment this next week with my orthopedic surgeon. I was doing really good until I started this cold bones stuff. I pray it goes away completely. Thank you !

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You my dear are doing very well. Yes, the weather can strongly affect your pain level. The lower the Barometric Pressure, the worse it will be. Anything above 30.00 will ensure a pain reduction. Unfortunately, some of the most unwanted pain is when the weather is changing and the Barometric Pressure is either going up or down.

The "freezing" bones is also an issue I deal with. To me, it feels like my feet, hands, etc are frozen. My feet can turn purple. And my MFR therapists become concerned and proceed to attempt to raise the temperature. My life partner never thinks my feet and hands are as cold as I do. Sometimes I even think he is teasing me.

Continue to be observant about your recovery and let me know about the anemic tests. My mother was anemic her entire life. That's why I hate calf liver. We had to eat it every week for her diet.

I am very interested in hearing about your post-surgery progress. Stay warm.

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

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Joining in here as I am in the same boat : ( I'm 56 years old and got to the point that I couldn't walk more than a block on my left knee (at age 54). Life was kind of over - no food shopping, cleaning, cooking (my passion), dancing, sex, or traveling. Arthritis, a torn meniscus, and a root tear from dancing in 2019 started the downhill trajectory. Dancing! I called it exercising. Anyway, after several shots of hyaluronic acid in my knee that eventually stopped helping the pain, I had to beg for a TKR at 55. Finally, was granted it at 56. They told me I was too young and should wait. How old do you have to be to live? I'm a young 56. Had my TKR this past April and they were only able to get me to 80 degrees. THey did an MUA in July which hurt like hell and they got me to 88 degrees. I'm laughing as it'd crazy what my body doesn't want to do. My right knee bends to 125 degrees easily. Just had the scar tissue removed last week and over it : ( This has been my year. I need to get back to work and get my life back. I am hoping the scar tissue removal will do it. I can get to 88 degrees after a week so that is good. I'd settle for anything past 90 degrees. My pain levels have gone down since the TKR which is great. I can walk more. It still hurts, I just figure over time it will keep getting better I hope. I am sending good healing thoughts to all. We should all be up and walking/hiking. I also take a sleep aid at night - a sleepy gummy or chocolate. sometimes tylenol drowsy works too. I need my rest to work and live. Glad to find this forum and to know I am not alone.

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@gizelle

Joining in here as I am in the same boat : ( I'm 56 years old and got to the point that I couldn't walk more than a block on my left knee (at age 54). Life was kind of over - no food shopping, cleaning, cooking (my passion), dancing, sex, or traveling. Arthritis, a torn meniscus, and a root tear from dancing in 2019 started the downhill trajectory. Dancing! I called it exercising. Anyway, after several shots of hyaluronic acid in my knee that eventually stopped helping the pain, I had to beg for a TKR at 55. Finally, was granted it at 56. They told me I was too young and should wait. How old do you have to be to live? I'm a young 56. Had my TKR this past April and they were only able to get me to 80 degrees. THey did an MUA in July which hurt like hell and they got me to 88 degrees. I'm laughing as it'd crazy what my body doesn't want to do. My right knee bends to 125 degrees easily. Just had the scar tissue removed last week and over it : ( This has been my year. I need to get back to work and get my life back. I am hoping the scar tissue removal will do it. I can get to 88 degrees after a week so that is good. I'd settle for anything past 90 degrees. My pain levels have gone down since the TKR which is great. I can walk more. It still hurts, I just figure over time it will keep getting better I hope. I am sending good healing thoughts to all. We should all be up and walking/hiking. I also take a sleep aid at night - a sleepy gummy or chocolate. sometimes tylenol drowsy works too. I need my rest to work and live. Glad to find this forum and to know I am not alone.

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Good evening @gizelle and welcome to Connect. After my first TKR, I did quite well until the scar tissue build-up became irritating. That was when my first experience with MFR showed up to take care of the post-surgery issue. Myofascial Release is a hands on treatment that breaks up all of the connective tissue left in the post-surgical area. After several weeks, I could move my knee and walk on it without discomfort.

Like you, although considerably older, I then had to focus on the other knee. It began to demonstrate a need for TKR. I was amazed at how technology had stepped up in the interim between the two surgeries. Nerve blockage......robotic surgery......better material and immediate post-surgery PT were all new to me two years ago. Also, at this time, my PT and MFR therapist collaborated to ensure that I was progressing well.

You are definitely not alone. I will look forward to having a meet-up with you whenever you have something to share. How long have you been using Medical Cannabis?

May you be safe, protected and free from inner and outer harm.
Chris

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