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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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@cheris I find it encouraging that your second TKR went better. My first knee recovery has been terrible with pain and tightness. Lots of sitting pain too. Had to have a L5/S1 micro decompression which has helped some but after 15 months, buttock and knee pain still an issue. And, my body mechanics change contributed to a avulsion fracture of my heel where my Achilles inserts. But, I have no choice but to have second knee replaced. Very valgus knees and first TKR made opposite knee even worse. Any pre-surgery advice is welcome. I try to keep moving, but back surgery has limited me for now. Six week post op tomorrow. Just ready to get it done so I can start recovery! Thanks.
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1 ReactionHi there @amcit340. I just read your post......before turning in for the night. Everyone has some scar tissue.....it is part of the healing process. The only way I got rid of it was MFR, myofascial release therapy. Because the tissue is wrapped in layers of fascia and the fascia becomes restrictive, it can be quite annoying and even painful.
I am going to ask @jenniferhunter to come over to say hello to you and explain just how this works. In the meantime, here is a video that will show you how the fascia moves within your body. When you watch it you will understand how it can build up in a restrictive way around the scar tissue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW0lvOVKDxE&t=86s. You can skip the Ad im the beginning.
Let me know what you think.
Chris
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1 Reaction@amcit340 Thanks, Chris, for inviting me to this discussion. I think it would be worthwhile to try myofascial release as Chris suggests. The patella is the only bone in the body embedded inside a tendon which connects to muscle. All of that is connective tissue. When connective tissue which includes fascia has scar tissue and gets too tight, it pulls the body out of alignment which can cause pain or extra wear and tear on something. With a knee, there is also the possibility that there could be an alignment problem in the pelvis or the foot/ankle than can affect the knee alignment or put stress on it. Even though the knee has been replaced, the patella is still functioning independently. It's like a system of pulleys and levers from the spine through the pelvis and down the leg, so if any of that is "off" it can change the dynamics.
MFR works by stretching out the kinks in the overly tight fascia and lets the body move normally again, or closer to normal. When tissue stops moving correctly, it gets compressed and dehydrated. Tight fascia can also restrict the muscles too because they are encased in it and it weaves through them. That can cause muscles to shorten and pull harder on something causing pain. The key to success is finding the right therapist who has been trained in the John Barnes methods of MFR. There is a provider search at http://mfrtherapists.com/
You can find a lot of information in this discussion on MFR, and the beginning pages have lots of links and information.
Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
I and Chris have both had good results with MFR. Do you think you would like to try it?
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4 ReactionsThanks anyway.
In a message dated 7/6/2022 1:37:20 AM Eastern Standard Time,
I requested knee motion machine from my surgeon and he would not prescribe or recommend it. Have had replacement a month and after therapy it swells so bad it takes majorly of time between there and next therapy to reduce swelling. Range of motion at therapy is 110% with very painful force. I try my best to exercise and stretch at home but cannot get that degree of motion without extreme pain, any thoughts?
Hi @bill5, I see in your earlier post you mentioned you had your knee replacement done on 6/7/2022. I think it's still early in your recovery process for the TKR. I did all of my recovery at home with the walking, knee exercises and stretches along with the 2 most important things my surgeon told me to focus on - icing and elevating the leg to control the swelling. I found out at my 1 month or so followup with the surgeon that I was not elevating my leg enough. I was doing it after the exercises several times a day while icing it. My surgeon told me I should be elevating the leg when I was not doing exercises or walking. He basically wanted me to keep the leg elevated as much as possible.
I think the swelling comes with the exercises while your knee and leg are recovering. The exercises probably add to it a little which is why the icing and elevating are so important. Are you doing a lot of icing and elevating?
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2 ReactionsI was just told yesterday I would be sent this to use to help straighten my leg and help my bend. I had tkr 5 months ago. Had manipulation June 17th it did not help. I have been in agony. I have had home health for 3 weeks and go back to outpatient thearpy next week. Now I am dealing with back pain from so much working on my knee. Wow. I have had 2 back surgeries. I hope this machine works. I am - 15 on straighten leg. I can't walk good at all. I use a cane.
that was lame
Hi, I am in the same spot you are. 3 surgeries on my right knee, been dealing with since 2018
1st... Meniscus Repair.... found out after the fact that it was an "experimental" surgery. Spring 2019 2nd... PKR Spring 2020
3rd... TKR Oct 2021
Now I have large thick scar tissue... that my surgeon is going to do a 4th surgery to take out.
I am scheduled for him to reassess Sept 7, 2022. If inflammation has "settled down" he will schedule to take out the scar tissues. Not arthroscopically he is going to open my knee back up.
He says it is too large that it would take too long to do arthroscopic surgery. I am hopeful.
I have bee so frustrated and depressed. I am a strong woman and want to push through this but I am growing very weary.
Has anyone ever had scar tissue removed other than arthroscopically?
Good evening @krenn. It is great to be able to welcome you to Connect. Our purpose here is to help each other by sharing. And to support that mission, I will now cut to the chase about scar tissue post-TKR. I have had two of those surgeries. After the first one, I developed excessive scar tissue and all my great exercise and strengthening efforts went right out the window.
Imagine how thrilled I was to be introduced to MFR, Myofascial Release Therapy. It took about six weeks to get the restrictive fascia and scar tissue released and then it was over.
And then came TKR #2 and I was ready. My PT, worked closely with my MFR therapist from day one after the surgery. The result.........this time I did not have scar tissue build up. It didn't have a chance with those two ladies being on top of it.
Are you familiar with MFR? Here are two links to get you started. One explains what fascia does and how it can become restrictive. The second one is written by a fellow mentor @jenniferhunter. She and I are both huge supporters of MFR and this is an introduction.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW0lvOVKDxE&t=86s
Would you be willing to try MFR?
Chris
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