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Wife's replacement knee has gone sour.

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honestgeorge
honestgeorge

Three years ago my wife had her knee totally replaced. She had good motion and pain-free service for about a year. Then she developed pain and the doctor xrayed and said that she had formed scar tissue within the incision - it was visible as a darkened spot on the xray. She has been using an anagelsic cream for about a year but the pain is very severe at times. What is a solution? We have tried massage etc.

0 likes, 46 replies

46 Replies

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  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 honestgeorge

    Posted

    5th surgery NOT 555th. (although some times it feels like it). I'm sure others will have some good ideas and another thought, hydrotherapy if you have access to a pool. Make sure the heat I previously told you about is moist heat as well.
    • honestgeorge
      honestgeorge Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      We do have a hot tub but that doesn't provide too much exercise! We will try the moist heat, however. Thanks again.
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 honestgeorge

      Posted

      Hot tub isnt the answer as you need depth and the ability to hold on to the side as you go through a set of controlled excercises that are under the direction of a physical therapist. Just sitting in water with the water circulating around you won't help.
    • honestgeorge
      honestgeorge Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      I have a correction also - 2-3 miles per WEEK not daily. We walk the dog and neither the critter or I want to tackle that much daily anymore!
  • irish_linda
    irish_linda honestgeorge

    Posted

    hi honestgeorge welcome !!   i have to agree with OFG here ,he has been through much more than i have ,though ive been through the mill with tkr and have had one of my knees totally opened up 3times and a few small ops inbetween ,it takes its toll on your body and your mind there were times i was really losing my mind , but thank god i was stronger than id ever believe so i suprised myself and like OFG its all about fightening back and making it happen . its great you are there for her my husband has kept me going when ive hit the floor sometimes choice words ! but i forgive him ha!! but seriously the scar tissue is a problem most of us deal with in some way or other deep massaging is very important and keep excersising im using bio oil but i think il get vitiman E oil ,as ive used it awhile back and it is great so i would go down that road .  severe pain i get that sometimes im afraid you just have to keep pushing on with excersises gym might help also get a rehab program but make sure the gym you choose are good at rehab and that they will support your wife through it ,ive found a gym whch have really supported me and are always keeping an eye on my progress and encourage me to go and ask for help anytime its been great for my self confidence good luck to you and your wife
    • honestgeorge
      honestgeorge irish_linda

      Posted

      Thank you for the response and information. What type of exercises were/do you do? My wife has been through the therapy offered but I'm sure that she would rather do them at home now. 
  • lesa70198
    lesa70198 honestgeorge

    Posted

    Good information to know. I wouldn't have realized either that the scar tissue could develop after a year. Good reason to keep up with exercises and massaging with Vit. E oil. Thanks.
    • lyndawcanada59
      lyndawcanada59 lesa70198

      Posted

      I didn't realize it either. That explains the tightness I still feel (11 months post op).

      I also didn't realize that using vit e oil would still help so I had stopped using it. Guess I will restart!

    • lesa70198
      lesa70198 lyndawcanada59

      Posted

      ....and I will continue using it and massaging. I thought of it as something to be used "now" as I'm healing and to help the scar's appearance. So good to know. I found it helpful to know.
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda lyndawcanada59

      Posted

      im 16mths post revision and i still use oil maybe because im not the perfect revision or tkr for that matter  more a work in progress !!!!! but when i get there i will continue with it for sometime my other knee was a sucess and i use it on that one too
    • honestgeorge
      honestgeorge irish_linda

      Posted

      I'm definitely going to purchase the oil and massage the knee. What is your (and others) opinion on the 'walking on the knee' method?

      The idea of using one's body to break up scar tissue sounds reasonable - but it's not MY knee.

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • deb56781
      deb56781 irish_linda

      Posted

      I've heard several people talk about "revision" - what exactly is that?

       

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 deb56781

      Posted

      Replacing the prosthesis. Basically the same as a tkr with a little less chisling and chipping of the bone. Various reasons: 1st one was done incorrectly, the original just wore out. In my case the original tumor that caused my problem came back and eroded the bone and the hardware games loose and was moving around. The rehab is pretty much the same as the original. Dr's tell you the prosthesis is good for 10-15 years and then has to be replaced through a revision. I'm sure others will elaborate on my explanation.
    • deb56781
      deb56781 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      OMGosh! Horrible! I hope I don't have to EVER indure that pain EVER again. You have replied with great advice to me before, thanks! I go to my Dr on Friday and have a few concerns. I am just starting (partial done on my left inner knee on Sep 8th) to go down the stairs but have been going up for a while. Still have tightness and pain when I lift my leg up (legs stretched out straight and then lift straight up). Have a small bakers cyst behind my knee which Dr said can go away by itself. This weekend while out with my hubby I could barely walk - it's like I am going backwards. And then today (I work full time) I was walking pretty great. Just want to feel painfree...

       

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 honestgeorge

      Posted

      My therapist has always tutored me to walk BUT to slow down. Stand up straight, take a normal step hitting 1st on heel then the ball of the foot, up to the toe then bend the leg as much As possible. Do this with both legs so as not to develop a limp or some kind of pace that makes walking awkward. She my even have to use a cane for awhile. It will look a little goofy for

    • irish_linda
      irish_linda deb56781

      Posted

      hi deb revision is when your first TKR either has not worked /is un stable/infected or wornout .then they have to get a new one thats a revision the first TKR is called a primary knee .  mine was a result of surgeon breaking my sin bone putting in one of my knees during a bi lateral and a few months later having broken cement removed .the knee never bent beond 70-75 deg and i was in severe pain .not pleasent i can tell you
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Continuing......some time but at this point you aren't looking for style points anyway. I think most people who go through this try and go at an unrealistic speed then they get to leaning forward and creating a limp with in turn creates back problem and more pain. A couple of my friends give me a bad time about how slow I walk and i tell them it works well for me as I use it as a cover up for just being naturally lazy. Just keep telling her its not a military hut, hut, hut but an upright Sunday a troll in the park.
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda honestgeorge

      Posted

      not quiet sure of your meaning i take it you mean actualy walking on your knee ouch !! ive not tried ive both knees done and im thinking how id even go about it as it stands im not able to get on the ground !! though i do agree to push your comfort boundery but only when your knee is done a few months no point in causing damage to the healing thats going on .as you say its not your knee i wonder if you would consider it if it were ?? ha !! sometimes i think id try anything to get rid of that tightness ,im just back from the gym and im trying to push myself more to strenghten the leg and hope in the proscess that it loosens the knee ive found that ive minded the knee too much at times so im making sure to push through when walking i think my leg is lazy because of this if i had a lazy eye id put a patch on it to strenghtenit but unfortunatly i cant keep up the good leg to work the other more .im determined to lean on it more and make it work that is my plan for 2016
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      yes OFG  you are so right about people trying to walk too fast too soon and end up limping and going down to one side at the same time not a good look and it will give you sooo much more problems .since ive had my revision 16mths ago im very proud of the fact that  i walk with a very slight limp (but working on that ) im very straight i dont lean forward when walking or stoop ,like you its a matter of slowing down and lean through the foot   ,for awhile i felt that i was slapping the foot to the ground which i knew was cheating and that i was carrying it abit so ive made sure i dont carry it .its hard work i supose its like learning to walk all over again , thank god we have had a break for the last few days from rain and im out walking and really leaning through my step and at the same time building up more muscle
    • honestgeorge
      honestgeorge lesa70198

      Posted

      Yes, the formation of the scar tissue was an unpleasant surprise. We were informed that between 5% and 10% of people have a tendency to form excessive deep scar tissue following surgeries - and the wife made the 'cut' it appears. Disappointing result because she finished and maintained at least a 105+ ROM even now at three years from her TKR. She doesn't limp and handles stairs and has even knelt on a couple occasions - but the knee pains her constantly. I'm hoping that the deep massages with Vit E oil will help.
    • honestgeorge
      honestgeorge irish_linda

      Posted

      'Walking on the knee'  was described in a link (that wasn't suitable for this forum) as basically kneeling on a pad placed on the floor alongside a bed. After a few sessions and as your knees become accustomed to acting as a weight-bearing member, then cautiously move around on your knees on the carpet/floor. This, it is said, will tend to break the scar tissue in much the same way as deep friction massage does. WE HAVE NOT TRIED THIS YET. I'm just reporting what I read. It sounds reasonable. Any opinions out there?
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda honestgeorge

      Posted

      the problem i would have is that its not recomended to kneel on the replacements i do know where your coming from i think i know that link some guru guy but for me.  i am not afraid of trying anything once but because of both knees done i would be nervous of it ,but i would keep an open mind on it  dose this link say it has been done for tkr ??
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 honestgeorge

      Posted

      This goes against everything I've been told by Ortho oncologists, orthos and PT's/sports medicine guys that treat professional jocks. Personally, I am leery of the guy with the revolutionary new treatment. I'd rather see a 5-10 year history. Just the coward in me maybe.
    • honestgeorge
      honestgeorge irish_linda

      Posted

      The wife's orthopedic surgeon is the surgeon for many of the athletes for Washington State University at Pullman and I really don't know what his take would be on the 'knee walking' idea - probably would be against it but he did encourage the wife that she should be able to kneel (to follow her strong gardening instinct.). And she has! I modified a garden kneeling bench (Like an inverted squat h-shaped bench) by adding padding to it. It allows her to kneel and then provides hand and arm support which she can raise herself to her feet. I'm not so sure that I would want her to continue if/when she has the other knee replaced.
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda honestgeorge

      Posted

      that is great for her i wish i coud kneel .  sometimes when i want to clean out presses ,its much harder because i cant kneel .luckily my hips are good and im able to bend down without a problem .   its amazing that surgeons differ ,mine and most here in ireland say not to kneel ,america is probably way ahead of us though which ever way be carefull and good luck to you both
    • honestgeorge
      honestgeorge Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Yes, this 'knee walking' seems a bit extreme to me also. In fact, I marvel at the wife's willingness and ability to even accomplish her garden kneeling. She even put herself on the floor the other day in order to play with the great grandchildren. - however I did help her to rise when she was done. But now her non-operative knee is troubling her greatly and will need replacement soon. The knee steroid shots are still helping her to put a TKR off awhile longer but if and/or when it is done she might then have an entirely new viewpoint as to attempting further kneeling.
    • deb56781
      deb56781

      Posted

      Well, after my last post above, my WORST NIGHTMARE is upon me! My doctor told me I need a revision due to my tendon rubbing on the bottom part of my partial. Needs to remove the bottom part and replace with a smaller part and also remove the plate (NOT sure I am using the correct language - do undertand what needs to be done, just not how to describe it). I was DEVASTED - spent the entire Friday crying! Surgery schedule for Feb 8th and still can't believe I have to go through ALL OF THIS AGAIN!!! AND, dependig on what happens in the surgery may wake up with a TKR! Please if you can, say a little prayer for me!

       

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 deb56781

      Posted

      You just went to the top of the list..... The revision is difficult and yes, you'll have to go through the process but knowing what you are faced with actually can make it easier in the long run. Just remember to stay with the program and not get ahead of yourself. That's what happened to me. I thought I knew the routine and tried to do to much. That's why and fell and twisted my femur into and resulted in so many of my additional problems. You'll know much more of what's expected and what's unusual. Stay strong and well all be here for you.
    • lesa70198
      lesa70198 deb56781

      Posted

      Sorry to hear this, Deb. Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way. You'll be fine.
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