Knee Replacement long term scar issues

[NLK]

It has been almost two years since my TKR surgery. I'm pleased with the reduction in pain and the pain relief I have had in my other knee that was not replaced. A nagging concern I have is about my scar. It is very wide and is in no hurry to change from purple to white. I had an infection scare right after the surgery and some draining procedures were done for testing which I think explains why it is wider at the top. It just doesn't seem to be healed. As I said, it is purple. It burns sometimes right after standing up. I mentioned this to my surgeon at my 1 year visit. He seemed surprised it was still purple, but said it might take "a few more months." I've tried drug store scar treatments without change. I've read on this site about Aquaphor and I'm willing to give it a try, but I was wondering if others have had it take this long to heal.

 

[Josephine]

Sounds to me like you have a keloid or hypertrophic scar if it looks anything like this.



If it is, it may reduce in time but the only recourse may be some cosmetic surgery to remove the abnormal scar tissue. Of course, if you are prone to keloiding, there is always the chance it mau reoccur even if it is excised.

 

[NLK]

Dear Josephine,
Thank you for your reply!! I've read so many of your posts on this site and I can tell you know alot about TKR. I've read about keloids, but my scar isn't raised at all. It's just wide and purple. I'm probably being too concerned about it. After all, the surgery did make my life so much better as far as daily pain is concerned. I am glad I did it, even if it stays purple forever. I've just been annoyed by the stinging and burning and I've wondered for so long about what it could mean and if I should be doing something about it. Thanks again for your input. I wish I had known about this site when I was going through the surgery and post-op. So many people have the same concerns I had and it's nice to see they have someone to talk to about it. Doctors are "busy people" and I tried not to be a pain in his neck, but it would have helped to read about others. Thanks again.

 

[Simon]

NLK

I am at just starting month 8 and my scar is also wide and purplish as well. I am not worried as all my past surgeries went the same way and it took years till they turned white. It is not keloid as it is not raised just wide and kind of purplish and it just seems to be the way I heal. I don't worry about it as like you the lack of pain and everything is great I don't worry about the look.

Simon

 

[Josephine]

Keloids don't necessarily have to be raised but at the same time, it's not uncommon for wounds to be discoloured. Some settle, some don't. I would say that after two years, you're most likely stuck with the way it is.

 

[referee54]

I look at my two scars as badges of honor.

TSC

 

[Skeet]

I'm a year out from my TKR and the scar is light pink at times, but turns darker and purplish when I take my showers, stand for longer periods, etc. It burns at times or stings (not sure how to describe it). I figure if it isn't bleeding or infected, I'm good with it.

 

[Gretchendz]

I look at my two scars as badges of honor.

TSC

Me too

All my friends and co-workers are sick of me making them look at my scars! And my sister and I (who had BTKR about 18 months before me) are always competing over who has the best scars.

 

[Josephine]

Guess I've got that to look forward to with me and my sister! But she's got two!

 

[JenniferG]

I'm a year out from my TKR and the scar is light pink at times, but turns darker and purplish when I take my showers, stand for longer periods, etc. It burns at times or stings (not sure how to describe it). I figure if it isn't bleeding or infected, I'm good with it.

This is how mine is colored, at 9+months. Sometimes I get a wierd tingle, itch, prickle feeling, when I'm standing that I have to scratch. Subtly, but needs scratching none the less.

 

[JudyS]

Jo
Hope your body is happy with one!! Do you have a date yet?
Judy

 

[AlaskanTKR]

I watched my husband stare at my scar this past week and I told him to stop It made me think it was ugly. He was like - no..... it's quite lovely - and it was like he meant it..... (Somebody switched my husband since July... I am not sure who this one is but I reallllllly like him !!--- LOVE him!) Plus at PT its like you are part of a little club... A man came in today and looked over at me and whispered to the pt.... "she has the same scar as me!" I am extremely proud of belonging to this club!

Marianne
(and very happy my leg stopped turning colors)

 

[Doug]

I'm one year out from the TKR. Sometimes I can barely see the scar and other times it has that slight purple color.
On occasion, I have one spot that gets red and itches like crazy.
Like Ref. stated, I bear my scar with pride.. At my favorite hangout, Walmart, I've met a number of folks who have had TKR's. We immediately smile and bend the leg while we brag about ROM.
But then in Fla. we wear shorts 12 months of the year.

 

[beachcomber]

You just *had* to say that about the shorts.....

Last week I would have been sooo jealous of your weather. This week I am thrilled it is going to be 43 degrees today and I can't see any snow in my back yard. What a difference a week makes!

My scar is barely visible at one year. I'm lucky that way. My old knee scars are actually more visible than my new one, but none of them are very noticeable.

 

[Josephine]

I watched my husband stare at my scar this past week and I told him to stop It made me think it was ugly. He was like - no..... it's quite lovely - and it was like he meant it..... (Somebody switched my husband since July... I am not sure who this one is but I reallllllly like him !!--- LOVE him!) Plus at PT its like you are part of a little club... A man came in today and looked over at me and whispered to the pt.... "she has the same scar as me!" I am extremely proud of belonging to this club!

Marianne
(and very happy my leg stopped turning colors)

That is so funny! It's usually seen as a peculiarity of medical people when we say a wound or a scar 'looks beautiful'. The usual response from the patient is "I'm glad you think so" usually accompanied with a look of disdain or even disgust!

Jo
Hope your body is happy with one!! Do you have a date yet?
Judy

Thank you, Judy. But haven't even seen the surgeon yet. Hope to get that date very soon. And I'm hoping that since he knows me, he'll get me in within a few weeks instead of the usual 3-6 months. Eh! We Brits are famous for queueing, are we not!?

 

[JudyS]

OK Doug what advice do you have for us hippies in Walmart??? I am coming to florida after the back surgery is a little healed to visit family. I want to show my scar I am very proud of it.
Judy

 

[Laurie]

What is it about us and our scars? When I was getting checked by Dr. to go back to work, she was asking all about my surgery and I asked if she wanted to see my scar. She said yes if I didn't mind. Of course I didn't--it is my badge of honor. I have also not hesitated to show it to my female colleagues. Quite nice as scars go--and healing well at 4 months if I do say so myself. Just itches at bottom now and again.......LOL
Laurie

 

[Pa guy]

Well us hippies got it easy ... we just need to adjust the holes in our jeans to display our badges proudly lol.

 

[Laurie]

As a fellow hippy, hadn't thought of that! Am sure it will get some play in my very modest bathing suit next summer though.

 

[JudyS]

My pool friends this past summer got to see the real thing at 4 weeks!!!
Judy