I have had a Lysis of adhesions surgery back in 2016 following a different knee procedure. I rehabbed the way I was told with aggresive PT and CPM. I ended up having most of the scar tissue come back over the next year because I overdid the bending and exercise....all because I was told a myth that if I didn't, the scar tissue would return. Unfortunately, this bad advice allowed ALL the scar tissue to come back. A chronically inflamed knee is a hor knee. The heat dries out the soft tissues, allowing the tissues to stick together----THAT is an adhesion. When this keeps happening, it's arthrofibrosis.
Fast forward to 2019 when I had my TKR. My new surgeon is a reconstruction/revision specialist. He said the key with anyone who has/had arthrofibrosis is to do VERY gentle rehab/recovery with no pushing/forcing the knee, no CPM, and only 5 minutes of bending each day---any more than that keeps the knee angry and inflamed.
I had to find an open minded PT willing to take a less conventional approach, but it worked. My TKR recovery was longer than many people, and my range of motion came back very slowly, but the key controlling the swelling/inflammation and not adding to it each day. Even at 6 months post-op, my surgeon wants no more than 5 minutes a day of biking/bending, and other activities/exercise should NOT force more bending.
Personally, I suffered greatly from the "bend more" philosophy after Lysis of adhesions surgery and MUA in 2016. It only brought ALL the scar tissue back, forcing my TKR surgeon to spend loads of time removing it last May during the TKR. I have lived and learned! Mostly, I've learned a Revision& Reconstruction specialist knows more than any PT or other Orthopedic surgeon when arthrofibrosis is involved. We MUST be treated differently. [HASH=159]#arthrofibrosis[/HASH]
United States
