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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JK, Alumna Mentor
@contentandwell
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Hi Doodles…My PT, who is excellent, and has been working with me for the last 5 months. Also, other Pt's who I know and trust their opinion, have agreed as well as my extemely knowledgeable IMed doc. For movement, I walk, stretch, use the weight machines doing the strenth training my PT gives me, accupunture (really helped with the painful bands), I do the recumbant bike (warm up on Airodyne first), water exercises and continue to push my knee for full ROM. For pain, Tylenol 500 (two) every 6 hrs as needed, Skelaxin (muscle relaxant) for spasms and for extreme pain Vicodin 5/325, one to two tablets. Also, I ice, ice ice and go to accupunture for management of pain. Honestly, knowing my body very well, having a very high pain threshold and having excellent mobility, I try to remain hopeful, yet I am going for second opinion and think I will need a replacement again. Also, because I am petite, the implant is huge compared to my right knee, and since my surgeon said he lets the rep chose the size implant for his pts, I'm wondering if the rep just stocked med, lge and extra large! Hope this helps. Good luck to you.
@killerbees I am glad you are going for a second opinion if your implant "is huge compared to my right knee", this just does not sound right to me. It seems more and more TKR patients have been fitted with a knee that is not the correct size. As I have said before on this forum, I had a custom made knee, Conformis, which is made to replicate your natural knee in size. I highly recommend that to anyone considering a knee replacement.
I hope you get some good input from the second opinion doctor. Please post what he/she says. There seem to be so many people with this type of problem it's good to know the causes.
JK
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babette
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Hi everyone – I'm another one with a prolonged recovery. I'm coming up on one year and still cannot walk stairs properly, especially going down. I have to echo what others have said about more "passive" PT. I've had the greatest relief from a talented PT who does myfascial release, massage, and cupping. She has her own office with a heated bed and the whole experience is very nurturing, a far cry from a room full of machines! I ride my stationary bike, too. Still, pain and problems with endurance continue.
I'm getting my second opinion next month because surgeons won't provide them until one year out. So I will post in July, if not sooner, when I've heard with the famous surgeon in Boston has to say!
Hi everyone – I'm another one with a prolonged recovery. I'm coming up on one year and still cannot walk stairs properly, especially going down. I have to echo what others have said about more "passive" PT. I've had the greatest relief from a talented PT who does myfascial release, massage, and cupping. She has her own office with a heated bed and the whole experience is very nurturing, a far cry from a room full of machines! I ride my stationary bike, too. Still, pain and problems with endurance continue.
I'm getting my second opinion next month because surgeons won't provide them until one year out. So I will post in July, if not sooner, when I've heard with the famous surgeon in Boston has to say!
Hi Babette, my surgery was in 10/18 and manual manipulation in 12/18. Stairs are difficult and goin down is much harder than going up, so I’m thinking it’s normal what your experiencing. Even while we are hiking terrain going up is easier than downhill. My mother has had both knees replaced 10 years ago + and she tells me what I’m experiencing, what your feeling is pretty normal. I am curious as to what your dr says in July and can’t wait to hear. I didn’t expect to be living like this at 55.
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babette
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@sdhkkjmz I can really relate to the shock of this disability at a young age. I consider myself young, having had this done when I was 60. My parents lived to be nearly 90 and my dad had 2 knee replacements. They were both fully active and functional in all ways until just before their respective deaths. I find it *very* hard to accept that if I live to my late 80s that so many things I love (skiing, hiking, etc.) are OVER.
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doodles418
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Hi everyone – I'm another one with a prolonged recovery. I'm coming up on one year and still cannot walk stairs properly, especially going down. I have to echo what others have said about more "passive" PT. I've had the greatest relief from a talented PT who does myfascial release, massage, and cupping. She has her own office with a heated bed and the whole experience is very nurturing, a far cry from a room full of machines! I ride my stationary bike, too. Still, pain and problems with endurance continue.
I'm getting my second opinion next month because surgeons won't provide them until one year out. So I will post in July, if not sooner, when I've heard with the famous surgeon in Boston has to say!
@babette I'm glad you are getting that 2nd opinion. At 4 months I kept telling Dr and PT's that something isn't right. My newer PT that is private has done wonders with myofascial release and massage for me too. At 6 months I was able to see a Dr that specializes in revisions and failed implants. He reviewed xrays and determined both (I had bilateral) knees were too large for my small frame. Good luck, I'll be waiting to see what your 2 nd opinion is.
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JK, Alumna Mentor
@contentandwell
@contentandwell
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Hi everyone – I'm another one with a prolonged recovery. I'm coming up on one year and still cannot walk stairs properly, especially going down. I have to echo what others have said about more "passive" PT. I've had the greatest relief from a talented PT who does myfascial release, massage, and cupping. She has her own office with a heated bed and the whole experience is very nurturing, a far cry from a room full of machines! I ride my stationary bike, too. Still, pain and problems with endurance continue.
I'm getting my second opinion next month because surgeons won't provide them until one year out. So I will post in July, if not sooner, when I've heard with the famous surgeon in Boston has to say!
@babette Your PT sounds great, I wish my therapist was as good as that, he was totally perplexed about doing "gentle" or passive PT. I will be looking forward to hearing what comes out of your July appointment.
@doodles418 that's great that you now have a reason for your pain. Will you go ahead and have the revision? I know you must dread another surgery but I'm sure it will be worth it if you do.
JK
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Oh Dear- There is quite a pattern of sad repetition here-Not for everyone but wow – I'm looking at a 2nd manipulation after a revision after… blah blah- Is there an answer? This is frightening, Expensive and painful- how long can you go on?
I had a manipulation done & it worked for 2 days. Surgeon won’t do another one. Still doing therapy.
Hi everyone – I'm another one with a prolonged recovery. I'm coming up on one year and still cannot walk stairs properly, especially going down. I have to echo what others have said about more "passive" PT. I've had the greatest relief from a talented PT who does myfascial release, massage, and cupping. She has her own office with a heated bed and the whole experience is very nurturing, a far cry from a room full of machines! I ride my stationary bike, too. Still, pain and problems with endurance continue.
I'm getting my second opinion next month because surgeons won't provide them until one year out. So I will post in July, if not sooner, when I've heard with the famous surgeon in Boston has to say!
My therapist tried to do the release on me but it didn’t work. I wish your therapist was in Kansas City!
@debbie64131 I hope you do go through with the scope, it can't hurt and it might shed some light on exactly what the problem is and what can be done to help with it.
If you do have I hope to hear the results.
JK
My surgeon has not given me the scope option. He keeps telling me it takes a year for the healing. I had a manipulation & the bands were gone for 2 days. They came back even tighter. Still doing therapy. I’m wanting to find out if acupuncture is affective.
rmeddings
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My surgeon has not given me the scope option. He keeps telling me it takes a year for the healing. I had a manipulation & the bands were gone for 2 days. They came back even tighter. Still doing therapy. I’m wanting to find out if acupuncture is affective.
What do you mean by bands ?
damewocane
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kneeproblem
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This is so sad to see the same stuff different day-Killerbeesknees – I am stuck, like you with wrong size knee stuff a load of bills and pain that is of the charts at night esp. Will you try to pursue legal benefits? It looks very daunting from here.
I am in the same boat as you guys are . A surgery that has gone bad after the replacement (partial),then injections, then a knee manipulation, then a scope and still no relief along with a surgeon who doesnt care at all sort of laughs when you tell him of the pain and how your life changed I don't believe there is any help
babette
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sandie2749
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Hi I had total knee replacement 10 months ago. Lots of swelling. Went to PT had deep tissue massage. VERY painful I felt like I had a very tight band around my knee making it hard to move.. I used a recumbent cross trainer which helped a lot. Getting into the pool and walking had an immediate effect on bringing down the swelling. After 3 months I did fairly well. I was bothered for a long time with sciatic pain making it hard to sit and ride in a car. I had second knee replaced 8 weeks ago. Almost no swelling very good range of motion right after the operation. Doing exercises twice a day and icing 3 time a day. This time around so much better. Some stiffness in knee but nothing compared to last time. My only problem is the hip/butt pain is back but not as bad. Has anyone else had this problem???
I too have developed sciatic pain after my knee replacement , My knee is doing good as it is only been five weeks however the pain in my butt and down my legs also makes it hard for me to sit for long times or stand for a long time. Going to therapy to see if there’s anything they can do for it to help me along
@exflyer
Thank you. It took about a year after my TKR surgery before the scar tissue started really limiting my range of motion. Others who have undergone the lysis procedure have reported that the scar tissue returned shortly after the surgery which has made me hesitant to undergo the procedure, but now I have tried everything else without any improvement and your results give me hope for a positive outcome!
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