[Arthrofibrosis} Arthrofibrosis post knee revision

[Chefrich]

Hello,
I am looking for feedback from fellow patients and professionals who suffer from Arthofibrosis post TKA and or Revision surgery. I am a disabled chef who thru the years has had 9 right knee surgeries consisting of many scopes,a high tibial osteotomy and Oats procedure and a knee replacement in 2016 and revision in 2018. Since my revision I've worked very hard to get back in shape! Still I've had major issues with hot knee, swelling, fluid buildup and pain.
I've had every test to exclude infection, Lyme's disease, RA, etc.... all coming out negative. My OS sent me to get special MRI. The findings were moderate dense scar formation posterior to the polyethylene post on the tibial tray extending close to the posterior capsule as well as extending from the inferior margin of the patella to the top of the tibia tray and scarring of the gutters. Has anyone had this scar tissue issue and was surgery successful in removal?

 

[sistersinhim]

Welcome to Bonesmart. Please tell us your knee surgical history dates so we can add it to your signature. Knowing these will help us to advise you better. The infamous scar tissue (which is more correctly called adhesions) is very rare, and one of the easiest ways to develop it is to work your knee too hard. Over-worked knees get inflamed and hot, and hot tissues become drier than normal and more likely to stick together and form adhesions.

This article explains the difference between scar tissue and adhesions:
MUA (Manipulation under Anaesthetic) and Adhesions
You need normal scar tissue. That's what holds your incision together, and it's part of the normal healing process. Without it, you'd always have an open wound.

The following are our basic guidelines and should help get you started. As you read more on other members recovery threads, you’ll get a better perspective of what to expect and what not to do, especially regarding PT.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now; they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:

rest
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)
don't overwork.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

the BoneSmart view on exercise
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. Here is a week-by-week guide for Activity progression for TKRs


The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?

Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key

Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly

Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[Pumpkin]

@Chefrich
Welcome to BoneSmart, glad you joined us!
You will notice I split your post into two paragraphs, it makes it easier for members and staff to read.

For arthrofibrosis you will need to find someone that has a lot of experience with arthrofibrosis.
Here is a link to a list of surgeons in the US with an interest in arthrofibrosis.
Arthrofibrosis: Names of US surgeons with experience in arthrofibrosis

If you do a search in the search box at the top of the page a list of posts that mention arthrofibrosis will come up, you may find helpful information in some of the posts.