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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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damewocane | @damewocane | Jul 10, 2019

My new revision surgeon confirmed that the wrong size was inserted thus I couldn't get the bend but Now, after 7 weeks-am told, there was probably Never nothing wrong with your knee-You kneed a hip replacement-ASAP (sufftering tremendous pain) Two weeks away -It's daunting. Can I consider Malpractice against the original surgeon now???

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2 replies
bonzobear72 | @bonzobear72 | Jul 10, 2019
In reply to @damewocane "My new revision surgeon confirmed that the wrong size was inserted thus I couldn't get the..." + (show)
@damewocane

My new revision surgeon confirmed that the wrong size was inserted thus I couldn't get the bend but Now, after 7 weeks-am told, there was probably Never nothing wrong with your knee-You kneed a hip replacement-ASAP (sufftering tremendous pain) Two weeks away -It's daunting. Can I consider Malpractice against the original surgeon now???

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You can always consult an attorney. I would obtain copies of all your medical records pertaining to your knee and review them. It is very difficult to claim malpractice. You must prove your current outcome would have been different before the care. A friend of mine tore his quad muscle after his second knee replacement. Put the cast on over a small opening with drainage and never tested that drainage. To shorten this year-long story, after multiple surgeries, the Dr. not removing his prosthetic when there was an active infection and saying "I thought it would be OK left in", multiple debridements and ultimately an amputation, he still is fighting his case. Now, if he pursued it he would lose his disability for his seizure disorder and all insurances associated with it because his income bracket would be too high. How is that fair? What is your bend? My ortho says 90 degrees is what they want for success and anything higher is a bonus. The release you sign before surgery saying you understand any and all risks makes them safe from malpractice.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jul 10, 2019
In reply to @damewocane "My new revision surgeon confirmed that the wrong size was inserted thus I couldn't get the..." + (show)
@damewocane

My new revision surgeon confirmed that the wrong size was inserted thus I couldn't get the bend but Now, after 7 weeks-am told, there was probably Never nothing wrong with your knee-You kneed a hip replacement-ASAP (sufftering tremendous pain) Two weeks away -It's daunting. Can I consider Malpractice against the original surgeon now???

Jump to this post

@damewocane As @bonzobear72 said, it is very hard to sue for malpractice. The doctor really has to be proven negligent, and generally, they want other doctors to testify against the doctor being sued, and often doctors stick together, except in rare cases when the doctor being sued has really botched things a lot. That happened here with a woman ob/gyn doctor. She is no longer allowed to practice that specialty but can practice general medicine. Actually I don't think she was being sued by a patient but the other doctors pushed to get her out of the department and succeeded.
JK

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damewocane | @damewocane | Jul 11, 2019
In reply to @bonzobear72 "You can always consult an attorney. I would obtain copies of all your medical records pertaining..." + (show)
@bonzobear72

You can always consult an attorney. I would obtain copies of all your medical records pertaining to your knee and review them. It is very difficult to claim malpractice. You must prove your current outcome would have been different before the care. A friend of mine tore his quad muscle after his second knee replacement. Put the cast on over a small opening with drainage and never tested that drainage. To shorten this year-long story, after multiple surgeries, the Dr. not removing his prosthetic when there was an active infection and saying "I thought it would be OK left in", multiple debridements and ultimately an amputation, he still is fighting his case. Now, if he pursued it he would lose his disability for his seizure disorder and all insurances associated with it because his income bracket would be too high. How is that fair? What is your bend? My ortho says 90 degrees is what they want for success and anything higher is a bonus. The release you sign before surgery saying you understand any and all risks makes them safe from malpractice.

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Wow what a sad story, Thats insane. Thanks for your input. I have all my med records for the knee and an attorney friend says that I must wait until after the hip surgery and pt to see how much I have improved before any law firm will consider my case- the thing is-When is that? How do you know When you will be as good as it gets? I can't get a bend of more than 80 degrees and i'm in big pain but off the opioids as I will need them for recovering the hip...

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1 reply
lizzyisme | @lizzyisme | Jul 12, 2019

At 6 weeks orthopedic doctor did a manual manipulation under anesthesia to break up tissue.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jul 13, 2019
In reply to @damewocane "Wow what a sad story, Thats insane. Thanks for your input. I have all my med..." + (show)
@damewocane

Wow what a sad story, Thats insane. Thanks for your input. I have all my med records for the knee and an attorney friend says that I must wait until after the hip surgery and pt to see how much I have improved before any law firm will consider my case- the thing is-When is that? How do you know When you will be as good as it gets? I can't get a bend of more than 80 degrees and i'm in big pain but off the opioids as I will need them for recovering the hip...

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@damewocane You sure have been through a lot with your knee. If you do get to the point of suing, I hope you are successful. If it was a case of negligence then the doctor should be sued. Does he have a good reputation, otherwise? I do think that negligence has to be proven because even doctors are human and just trying to do the best they can overall.
JK

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damewocane | @damewocane | Jul 14, 2019

Thanks- We'll see- by pure chance I was in a store last week and a young lady asked me what was wrong with my knee as she was in orthopedics- i told her the sad story- she asked,"Would you mind telling me who the surgeon was?" I did and she stated earnestly,"Oh wow this is the third botch I've heard about him lately."Random encounter, my stomach churns and my knee screams.

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1 reply
zakcat | @zakcat | Jul 14, 2019
In reply to @rmeddings "Almost two years after bilateral TK surgery, I still have constant burning pain, and sleepless nights...." + (show)
@rmeddings

Almost two years after bilateral TK surgery, I still have constant burning pain, and sleepless nights. I've tried every suggestion my surgeon, and pain Dr have suggested, to no avail. I would like to get a second opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon. However ,no one wants to see me. Anyone suggestions, as to how I might accompolished this ?? I am really desperate for help.

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how are you doing now? I hope you've found relief. I had my TKR 6 weeks ago, and I still have painful nights. I'm thinking of trying the new CBD oils that everyone talks about.

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zakcat | @zakcat | Jul 14, 2019
In reply to @killerbees "Hi Cheris. I had my TKR 5 mths ago. Same results as you had...swelling, tight banding,..." + (show)
@killerbees

Hi Cheris. I had my TKR 5 mths ago. Same results as you had...swelling, tight banding, stiffness and extreme locked spams of IT band, hip and SI joint in my butt. I've gone to PT for 5 mths now and I do the exercises on my own as well. I have had numerous "extreme" surgeries with instrumentation on my spine and rt. pelvis which went through total reconstruction at Mayo in 2003. I have never developed scar tissue and always diligently done my PT, and insisted on more to full range of motion was achieved. My knee surgery has also left me with a inbalanced state and I've fallen a number of times. I have a "popping' sound and feeling between my knee and my hip and it's constant when I take a walk. Knee and lower leg still very swollen and I ice 2-3 X day. Years ago, I locked my shoulder with a fall, and was scheduled to have the scar tissue broken by a surgeon. I was moving a very large painting and frame begain to twist and I couldn't just let it go so I held on. As my arm raised up and slightly back, I heard and felt a loud pop. That was it and I then had free range of movement in my shoulder again. I would do the same to break the scar tissue in my knee if I knew it would solve my full range of motion issue and was safe, but not certain how to accomplish. My surgeon is an older surgeon and he offers no advice on how to manage with the scar tissue and hasn't mentioned lazar treatments. Has anyone else experienced this and if so how did you rectify the situation and regain your full movement? Thank you for your suggestions....my life is on hold and I live alone and must manage caring for my home, dogs, property as well as my health. I'm very discouraged at this point and it only seems to be getting worse with the falls. I appreciate any advice. Thanks so much.

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Has your doctor offered to do a scar manipulation under anesthesia? (MUA)

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2 replies
zakcat | @zakcat | Jul 14, 2019
In reply to @killerbees "Hi Doodles...My PT, who is excellent, and has been working with me for the last 5..." + (show)
@killerbees

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.

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how frightening that the doctor lets the REP chose the knee hardware ! Yikes. Sounds incompetent !

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