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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@dduke

I also had similar problems. I had the arthroscopic surgery and it made a big difference. After the surgery, I biked for eight minutes and did lunges every three hours ( even through the night). I did not want to allow scar tissue to form again after the Dr. cut it out. I have much better ROM now, can go down the stairs, etc. Still a little stiff, but working much better.

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Hi
Just wondering if u still have good range or scar tissue came back?

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@mylynn

Hi
Just wondering if u still have good range or scar tissue came back?

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I have a much better range of motion. Still a little scar tissue, but I can do about everything now. I would not have gotten this far without the arthroscopic surgery.

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@dduke

I have a much better range of motion. Still a little scar tissue, but I can do about everything now. I would not have gotten this far without the arthroscopic surgery.

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I have had two Aystm Therapy sessions along with icing my entire leg 4 to 5 times a day and it appears to be working on my scar tissue so there is another option. My doctor thinks I will require 11 to 13 sessions to be rid of all my scar tissue. It is too early in the process to know how many sessions are necessary but I will report in again with progress. You can watch on You Tube - they show the therapy. Just put in Astym Therapy in the search.

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@dduke

I have a much better range of motion. Still a little scar tissue, but I can do about everything now. I would not have gotten this far without the arthroscopic surgery.

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Me neither, range of movement under anaesthetic 0-70 degrees pre arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment of scar tissue 4 weeks on +3-105 degrees. I am now looking forward to returning back to work in 2 weeks time.

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@mylynn

So u have had arthroscopic surgery?
Are u ok and what does a good pt person do differently?
I had the mri , called MARS metal, artifact reduction system
Saw doc today and he said yes scar tissue there, he recommends arthroscopic surgery and manipulation while I’m under
Then 2 weeks of pt
He said there is no guarantee scar tissue won’t come back, some do ,others not
And there is a higher risk of infection when u have a replaced knee, ie foreign object. Which would be really bad.
I’m leaning towards having this done as my quality of life is worth the gamble

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It has worked for me.i can now resume my career as a nurse in full clinical capacity. I read my operation notes and it was not a pretty read. In 4 weeks following arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment of left knee I feel fabulous. Yes I still have pain (Neuropathic pain)but better than I have done

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I wish I could get this done but I dont know why but all my doctor says about removing all the scar tissue is that he will reopen the knee and remove it that way which I do not want to go though all of that again I am 6 1/2 months out of partial knee replacement and still cant walk on it

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@kneeproblem

I wish I could get this done but I dont know why but all my doctor says about removing all the scar tissue is that he will reopen the knee and remove it that way which I do not want to go though all of that again I am 6 1/2 months out of partial knee replacement and still cant walk on it

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I suppose it depends on the location of the scar tissue. I was fortunate and like you I was around 6 months post TKR and could not walk.i can walk better now but still have a bit of a limp.

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Hi. I am stuck at 90 degrees 6 months after knee replacement. Had an x-ray 2 days ago and the radiologist said there is evidence of heterotopic ossification, or bone growth where it's not supposed to happen. Surgeon said it was significant scarring and that I might need a revision with surgical removal of scars. Has anyone else had this happen to them post-knee replacement? I am wondering about options. While I can at least sit with much less pain, all the things I used to enjoy doing are now impossible (cycling, hiking).

Here's the backstory. I had a TKR in April at Mayo. Surgery went well and minimal post-surgical complications other than pain, stiffness and a large hematoma in the knee capsule. ROM was never more than 60 degrees flexion and 12 degrees extension. Had 2 manipulations under anesthesia and while they each increased flexion, the knee has remained stiff with a max flexion of 90 degrees when not under anesthesia. Have been going to PT since release from hospital after surgery. The PT started with brute force, bending the knee until I yelled. Not much success there. Now we are doing a lot of massage on quads and hamstrings to loosen the muscles, which has been much more successful.

Thanks in advance!

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Hi...I’m 14 months post-op, bilateral tkr. I have good ROM, but I still have stiff knees, cement block like heaviness, nerve pain, etc. I can’t stand or walk for more than about 15-30 minutes. It feels like someone put in volleyball knee pads, made of setting concrete and soaked in acid. Did MUA, acupuncture, massage, genicular nerve ablation, laser therapy, cryotherapy, you name it. I swear, I’m losing my mind. My surgeon says nothing is wrong. Please, if anyone has any advice, thoughts, direction...I’ll do anything. Thank you.

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kimbies1204 Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry you're going through all of this! First of all if your surgeon says nothing's wrong, start shopping! Do you live near a teaching/research hospital? I guess that's my only advice. I feel powerless to help given all that you've tried. : (

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