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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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bizzarebird1 | @bizzarebird1 | Oct 6, 2018

i had my TKR 15 weeks ago and still only getting 80 degree bend. 10 degree off straight, so frustrating. My quads have only just activated at the knee. Mass area still numb (whole left side of scar). Discharged from physio now nothing more they can do, he believes it’s a problem with my knee cap!

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bizzarebird1 | @bizzarebird1 | Oct 6, 2018
In reply to @gator1965 "I had a knee replacement in April 2018 too, developed too much scar tissue despite intensive..." + (show)
@gator1965

I had a knee replacement in April 2018 too, developed too much scar tissue despite intensive physiotherapy, had a manipulation at the end of June. The scar tissue reaccumulated again and I had an arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment on 29th September2018. Just wondering if your scar tissue has started to reaccumulate since your arthroscopic surgery

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worried my knee won’t bend past 80 due to a mass of scar tissue under knee cap. 15 weeks post op now, i see surgeon on thursday to book manipulation. Really rubbish as l am having my other knee replaced when this one is finalised but getting nowhere fast. scar tissue has always been an issue in other surgery sites so wonder if it’s genetic x

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gator1965 | @gator1965 | Oct 6, 2018
In reply to @ellerbracke "If I understand correctly, you had arthroscopy, not TKR, right? Where does one get daily therapy..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

If I understand correctly, you had arthroscopy, not TKR, right? Where does one get daily therapy for a few weeks? I had TKR, home PT 3 times first week at home, now outpatient PT. Twice so far, 7 day intervals, now scheduled for every 10 days. Practically all exercises/rehab at home on my own. Not saying that’s necessarily bad, I’m motivated enough, but between your intense schedule and my loosely supervised recovery there’s a huge difference! Prior to replacement I had arthroscopy on the same knee as well, and I used one of those exercise rubber bands to force knee to bend. Also got to 135 within about 8 weeks. Unfortunately, more arthritis as well as bone spurs developed, and now I have rehab deja vue!

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I had total left knee replacement in April 2018, manipulation under anaesthetic for arthrofibrosis. Despite intensive physiotherapy for 6 weeks before and after manipulation I needed arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment last Saturday

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bevinauburn | @bevinauburn | Oct 7, 2018
In reply to @gator1965 "I had a knee replacement in April 2018 too, developed too much scar tissue despite intensive..." + (show)
@gator1965

I had a knee replacement in April 2018 too, developed too much scar tissue despite intensive physiotherapy, had a manipulation at the end of June. The scar tissue reaccumulated again and I had an arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment on 29th September2018. Just wondering if your scar tissue has started to reaccumulate since your arthroscopic surgery

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I am interested in knowing if the arthroscopic procedure helped you, like range of motion? I was scheduled for that procedure next week but canceled because I felt my doctor wasn’t giving me much hope that I wouldn’t go back to where I am.

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1 reply
gator1965 | @gator1965 | Oct 7, 2018
In reply to @bevinauburn "I am interested in knowing if the arthroscopic procedure helped you, like range of motion? I..." + (show)
@bevinauburn

I am interested in knowing if the arthroscopic procedure helped you, like range of motion? I was scheduled for that procedure next week but canceled because I felt my doctor wasn’t giving me much hope that I wouldn’t go back to where I am.

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It is only 8 days following the arthroscopic knee surgery, so early days. It involved an overnight hospital stay, being on a CPM machine for as long as I could tolerate. The day after surgery I was in the hydrotherapy pool, it felt great,however by Thursday the knee would not bend, it feels like a tight Velcro band around the knee.
My surgeon has been fabulous, gave me 3 options although surgery was the only viable option to get me back to work. I am relatively young at the age of 52 and need to work. He has diagnosed arthrofibrosis, he may need to complete further surgery or as a last resort revision surgery. I am not sure whether anyone knows how long this will take to resolve.

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1 reply
kneeproblem | @kneeproblem | Oct 7, 2018

My doctor is saying the same thing but I am not going to do it yet. The recovery is all the same as orginal surgery

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bevinauburn | @bevinauburn | Oct 7, 2018
In reply to @gator1965 "It is only 8 days following the arthroscopic knee surgery, so early days. It involved an..." + (show)
@gator1965

It is only 8 days following the arthroscopic knee surgery, so early days. It involved an overnight hospital stay, being on a CPM machine for as long as I could tolerate. The day after surgery I was in the hydrotherapy pool, it felt great,however by Thursday the knee would not bend, it feels like a tight Velcro band around the knee.
My surgeon has been fabulous, gave me 3 options although surgery was the only viable option to get me back to work. I am relatively young at the age of 52 and need to work. He has diagnosed arthrofibrosis, he may need to complete further surgery or as a last resort revision surgery. I am not sure whether anyone knows how long this will take to resolve.

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I hope you will post your progress as I am trying to get a second opinion so I won’t be making a decision for awhile. All the best

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1 reply
kneeproblem | @kneeproblem | Oct 7, 2018

I also am trying to get a second opinion

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gator1965 | @gator1965 | Oct 8, 2018
In reply to @bevinauburn "I hope you will post your progress as I am trying to get a second opinion..." + (show)
@bevinauburn

I hope you will post your progress as I am trying to get a second opinion so I won’t be making a decision for awhile. All the best

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I will of course update you, it is my first physiotherapy session at the operating hospital tomorrow afternoon. Fingers crossed for a positive appointment!

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dmcdon16 | @dmcdon16 | Oct 10, 2018

I had a total knee replacement 8 weeks ago and have the same problem – scar tissue that limits bending my knee. Plus it is getting worse. PT is extremely painful and not working. I went to a dermatologist who told me to consider Astym, which I am looking into. Google it to learn about it. Hope this helps. Once I start I will let you know how it goes.

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