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Scar tissue after tkr

Posted , 6 users are following.

tracy2364
tracy2364

Hi I have been told that I have scar tissue over some of my knee after TKR 7 weeks ago. Stings when I try to bend it further than normal. If I keep stretching it will the stinging pain get less.

2 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • suki51
    suki51 tracy2364

    Posted

    Sorry to hear that, have no knowledge of how to treat this, it's sad we have so little post op guidance. I would call your surgery and speak to your Dr, have you been offered physiotherapy, they should know more than most....good luck
  • sue37592
    sue37592 tracy2364

    Posted

    Hi Tracy, I found that too and was told it is part of healing and is perfectly safe to stretch it slightly further but just don't overdo it or push too hard also don't stop exercising either unless really painful as it can cause it to be harder to break the scar tissue up. And keep icing it and elevating it after. I'm 10 weeks and still feel it when I know gone bit further. If it gets worse contact dr. Take care x
  • darcy055
    darcy055 tracy2364

    Posted

    HI Tracy, I am going on 9 weeks post TKR,and have the same problems with the scar tissue. I was told by a few people on here; and also confirmed this with my surgeon case manager and my physiotherapist . They told me to get Vitamin E oil, or Bio oil. Rub this in 3 to 4 times a day. Massage your knee and your incision. Drink LOTS if water during the day.

    Reading  other peoples' posts and replies on here has helped me immensely. 

    Good luck with the healing .. 

  • pyesangel
    pyesangel tracy2364

    Posted

    Hi Tracy, You need to break up the scar tissue, otherwise you won't be able to bend your knee properly. It will cause it to be stiff. Get some Bio oil, Vitamin E oil, Palmers Skin Therapy Oil...some kind of oil and massage, massage, massage. Several times a day. Use your thumbs and do little circles, up, down, round and round. I did this about 3X's a day for at least 10 minutes. It will be uncomfortable at first but this will go away the more you massage it. You can also move the knee cap up and down and side to side. Yes, your knee cap will move!! This sounds awful but it needs to move also. Don't forget to ice your knee too. It is still your friend. Seven weeks is still early in the recovery process. Hope this helps. I was doing this a little over a year ago, when I had my TKR. Doing fine now, so there is an end to all this.
    • darcy055
      darcy055 pyesangel

      Posted

      I got Vitamin E oil and have put it on over my scar. The problem  that I have with the oil, is that it stays on the surface of the knee all day. Do you wipe the residual off after a certain amount of time ? How is your knee now? Do you still have numbness anywhere? Does it still get swollen ? 
    • sue37592
      sue37592 darcy055

      Posted

      Hi Darcy, I massage the oil in well to my knee it takes a good 5-10 mins but apparently massaging for a while is good. I still have numbness on lhs of my left knee. My consultant said it may always be like that due to pulling, cutting of nerves

      He said massaging it will help but may always stay that way. As fir swelling yes i do too still swell if i am on feet too long or do too much, just have to rest ice and elevate it again.

    • pyesangel
      pyesangel darcy055

      Posted

      Hi again darcy,

      I used Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil, cocoa butter formula. I believe it is also available in the UK. At least that's what the bottle says. This is non oily, non staining. It feels oily but rubs in. I did my knee on my bed, with a towel under my knee, just in case. If after 10 minutes, you still have oil on your knee, I'd wipe it off. It doesn't take much of any type of oil though. I had numbness for about 6 months. The nerves are the last to heal, though some people will have permanent numbness. Most don't. My TKR was done a little over a year and it will get stiff, espcially if I sit too long. The numbness has gone. PS: I still massage my knee every now and then, when I've gone for too long of a walk or done something requiring me to knee on it. Kneeling is still a problem, which I think is a trade off, of having this surgery. I make sure I have a thick soft pad to kneel on.  Everyone is different and each of us has our own 'problems' if that's what you want to call them. The thing is, without the surgery, the knee would have gotten a lot worse, and never better.

      Right now for you your best friends are Ice, Massage, and PT!!! Don't forget to drink a lot of fluids too...water mostly...wink 

       

    • darcy055
      darcy055 pyesangel

      Posted

      thank you so very much for the info, pyesangel.   I will look for the Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil, in my hometown , Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.

      I was also told by my PT about the numbness and swelling in the knee.

      I agree with you totally about each and every one of us having our own unique and different poblems. That is what is fantastic about this site.

      I went camping in the foothills this weekend with my fiance, and her brother and sister in law. We hiked around on many beautful scenic trails , which did have some steep grades to them. Thank God for my best friends ICE, ADVIL and ELEVATE. It was well worth the lttle pain and swelling. I wish  we could post photos on here, on the tthat I am on;you would see why.

      MY most major problem is that  I am lucky to maybe drink 2 glasses of water, or less a day. I need to make i a priority to drink at least  8 glasses a day.

      Thank you again for your valuable input.

      I am now at 10 weeks p/o TKR..

       

    • pyesangel
      pyesangel darcy055

      Posted

      You're entirely welcome. This is a wonderful site for those of us that have already had or are having TKR, or partials or both knees at once. I don't know how some have both knees done at once. 

      I happened on it out of the blue when I had my TKR. It was truly a lifesaver. I was beginning to think I was going out of my mind, what with the sleeplessness, pain, depression, frustration, etc... Ice, Advil, elevate and massage sure came through for me.

      At 10 weeks you sound like you're coming along just fine!!  I don't think I would have been ready to go camping at 10 weeks...though I was driving, so maybe....

      I have a reuseable water bottle, I take with me everywhere, that way I always have water handy. If I happen to leave it someplace and I'm in the kitchen or bathroom, I grab a drink there. I ususally put a splash of lemon or vinegar in my ice water, because the water here tastes so awful...I don't taste the lemon or vinegar, but it makes it taste better... Our water comes from Lake Erie and there's so much chlorine in it...blak...

      Take care and keep checking in on this site.

       

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