I am so angry at my surgeon for never explaining any of this to me. They have ruined my ability to walk. I’m a 33 year old active healthy athlete and I’m afraid I’ll never be the same. No one ever mentioned this was possible or I never would have done the surgery.
My surgeon never explained this to me either. Also, you never explained to me with my ankle being fused that I would have a harder time with my recovery including flexion. I go between 100 and 110 and I'm 5 months out. This is very depressing😢 I hope you get this. I'd like to know how you're doing now.
NOW I truly understand what is happening inside my knee after total knee! replacement! Why is this information so hard to find? You hear "exercise to prevent scar tissue" but that is as much info that is presented. This video is both enlightening and frightening. It certainly is motivating to be diligent for me to do my exercises consistently with full knowledge of the consequences of slacking off. I suggest giving this video a new title to make it more available to the average person who is considering or had had a TKR, such as ""Avoid scar tissue after knee replacement: the whole story"
@@mr-engin3er you should get an arthroscopic arthrolysis surgery. It is a minor surgery, minimally invasive. It has shown great results in getting back range of motion. Hope it helps.
I could listen to this lady talk all day. So soothing! I had ACL reconstruction and meniscus trim 8 weeks so. I feel an odd catch right where they trimmed the meniscus. It’s like a pressure build feeling. I can usually push through and continue my range of motion. It feels like something is in there trying to poke out. I was told it’s probably scar tissue. I hate pushing through that feeling when no one is actually sure of what it is. Trying to find similar experiences, but not having much luck.
I feel similar, i cannot bend my knee completely after Acl and meniscus repair 9 years ago. It is roughly at 100 degrees and no matter how hard I push it wont go farther than that.
I almost cried listening to this video. I'm 10 months post-op from an ACL repair and I'm knee has been a trainwreck for months - lack of full extension, quad atrophy, pain, etc. I feel deep down I have arthrofibrosis but I don't have confidence in my current team. Going to get a second opinion soon. Thank you.
I feel your pain 😔 I also had acl and lateral meniscus repair 8 months ago from tearing it playing soccer . I have ok leg extensions I can run jump and do squats only thing is , I can’t fully flex my knee cuz I’m in so much pain. I know forsure I have arthrofibrosis and I think is from starting physical therapy too late and scar tissue just built up and my knee became to stiff and became hard to break scar tissue early on . Anyways I’m having another surgery this upcoming Wednesday to remove scar tissue and hopefully that works on getting my full flexion back . Also goodluck on your recovery and hope you get better soon
Clear helpful explanation of what I am suffering. I worked so hard on my physio but progress slowed and stopped at 6-8 weeks. MUA done far too late at 22 weeks, and now 11 months after TKR it gets worse and worse. My pain and stiffness are so much worse than before the TKR. I'm waiting for open arthrolysis, due to happen next month. I want my life back!
@@bertrinamitchell5423I would like the answer also. I find that sometimes they don't get the alert that they have someone asking them a question. That's why we never get an answer. I'm so curious how she is doing.
I just went through this in October. It was the most painful recovery. Literally tied a rope around my foot to get my knee to bend. I just had a revision to a total knee two weeks ago. They said they had never seen so much dense scar tissue. They cut out 3 peices of it. Thank you for this video now i understand what happened and hopefully i can prevent it from happening again.
I am 4 months out from RTKR, I had early onset of knee lock up below 90 F and 5 Ext. PY, just seemed each time to make it worse and as you said they were frustrated. Went back to surgeon, he took the approach of a MUA, and stated he got 110 F and 0Ext. But the next day at the PT I was at 85 and 5 once again, they tried even harder to break my knee lose and blamed it on my very large muscular legs. So went back to surgeon and he put me on light duty and no work. but I needed to work so we agreed to 4 hours a day. Been 3 weeks and atleast I have not lost ground and seem to be stable (depending on the day) around 90 F and I do believe I have personally seen over 90. but the constant pain in both knees, (yes the stiffness is in the left knee as well?) I see the Dr. again in a month and am afraid of what will be suggested next. But right now, no one is going to touch the other knee until I know why, how, etc. etc; thanks for your video
This was incredibly helpful. Physical therapists were not good at explaining this, burden of knowledge, I have to pull teeth to get answers and do a lot of research to know what questions to ask. Currently recovering from a MACI procedure cartilage transplant in the knee (kneecap and trochlea on femur cartilage grafts), scar tissue has had one month to harden because of how disgustingly slow Cartlidge takes to bone. The rehab protocol moves very slowly. Restrictions are lifted very slowly, this whole horrible recovery process is 18 months long, before one can do things like dead lift and squat significant weight again, back to the same pre-surgery abilities. This video explains why bending the knee and getting back full range of motion is absolute hell. This has helped me understand how far I can push it and also helped with drawing the line for how far is too far. Pain is an unfortunate side effect in this process, my physical therapists keep saying it’s normal, I ask what level of pain do people report for this, then they say pain is relative which it is. So how do I knoif I’m going too far when I’m already at a 7 out of 10 on the Likert Pain Scale stretching at PT? This has helped me figure out where to draw that line and how to ask PTs what is going on when they can't think for me, their typical clueless patient. Thanks, KneeGuru!
Very nicely explained! I'm recovering from a patelar tendon rupture and getting range of motion back is a big challenge and with only 1-2 25 min phyiso sessions per week, I need to take self responsibility for the rehab and youtube hase been such a huge help.
You know it's so funny because I've read mostly all of these comments and all I can do is smh because I myself never realized how hard it was to learn how to walk all over again I use to say to myself it can't be all that hard for some who's been walking and or running their entire life to learn how to walk again but boy was I completely wrong about that😲
This is a very well phrased and meticulously explained video on scar tissue in the knee. I learned so much that was never mentioned to me by my knee replacement team
As soon as you come out of surgery MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE your knee do not be scared to moveit & if you already have this after a while you gotta start slow and gradually get more aggressive they try to treat this with surgery but its stupid SURGERY IS WHAT CAUSES IT to begin with.....you gotta work with someone who knows wtf they are doing and i know it’s painful but squats are your best friend THEY BREAK THAT SHIT SLOWLY BUT SURELY but squats will Help you massively
Hey I just read your comment , have you experienced this? I'm going through this now because I just got over an injury and trying to gain my mobility back
I personally had a meniscus repair 6 months ago and now there is arthrofibrosis. I have popping in my knee but no pain. The range of motion in my knee is almost the same as in the healthy knee.
@@bowler8 one thing that helped with me is that i put a wooden stick behind/under my kneecaps when squatting/trying to squat. it hurts but it breaks and softens the tissue from behind the knee. 2x1 minutes per day.
My story is long so I will try to make it brief. 1. Had a right total knee replacement, 2, twisted knee sharply after day four of surgery in nursing home as I slipped while squatting over the toilet . fell sideways on the low toilet. 3 went to hospital, took exrays saw nothing meanwhile no therapy for 2 or more days , My leg was very red and shiny and hot and ambulance man when picking me up from nursing home to take me to hospital said it looks like you have cellulits. 4 it was not diagnosed (cellulitus)till in a different nursing home about 6 or seven days after surgery. put on augmenten, 5. nurseing home therapy went bad right away, couldn't bend my knee much no matter what, also had siatica pain and told them that. 6. went home after two weeks and therapy at home for 1 week then started therapy at doctors place of work. They were very aggressive with me and had me screaming and crying many times. I actually almost passed out. 7, Found out I had kidney infection from two big stones in kidney, had to keep taking anitbiotics till he could plan surgery. 8, Had a manipulation from knee doctor at 8 weeks after surgery, Didn't do much if anything. more therapy. 9 kidney surgery where they went through my back to get the two stones out. Missed therapy for two weeks. By the way my knee never went down all this time in swelling and was always hot to warm to the touch. back to therapy. 10, doc discontinued therapy to give me a break and it wasn't helping anyhow, other doctor said I should have another manipulation, he said no. 11. he has me get an mri for my sciatica pain, showed some dic bulging in very lower back and arthritis. Noting done for it. 12, he finally said I did have scaring and that I needed surgery. 13, Got the surgery to clean scar tissue out by another doctor. He said it was very extensive and that he did the best he could to clean it out.Also did a knee manipulation right after the surgery, Saw about 15 degree difference where it was about 70 percent bend before, 14, more therapy and very much pushing on my knee causeing a lot of pain and again I was hurting very badly with no pain meds . 15. Doc ordered me a knee therapy brace called Jaz. I wore that different times and more therapy. Nothing was helping. 16, No more therapy, he said he did all he can do for the right knee, he set up for me to get shots for pain in my back and my left knee is kneeding total knee replacement and he wanted to set up for surgery and I said how would I be able to get around when this right knee cannot bend over 70 degrees. My original doctor that did the knee surgery thinks I should get a knee revision. I am in so much pain , my back hurts badly and both knees hurt. Can you please offer me any advice? I am seriously thinking of contacting a lawyer. Please let me know if you think a knee revision is the best option. Thank-you! Kathy
I also have a long story and recently had the scar removal surgery (with good pain medication). I’m at the point wear I’m working hard to gain the ability to walk again. My knee has been frozen at 30 degrees. I must get my knee to straighten. The surgery has helped, now it’s up to intense PT. I feel your struggle. Best wishes.
*What is arthrofibrosis?* Arthrofibrosis is a complication of knee injury or surgery, where scar tissue locks up movement in the knee. This video explains how the problem occurs and what can be done about it.
I had an email from Sue Barber Westin who works with Dr Frank Noyes (neither are active on G+ at the moment) - I quote - "It is very good Shelia - perhaps you should also mention Dr. Noyes' tutorial on your site for the listener to view? The other point I would make is that arthrofibrosis, if treated early, can be successfully resolved. And even in cases where surgery is required, significant gains in knee motion and function are still possible - leave a little more optimism - that if managed by an experienced team, patients can get better (but may never have a completely normal knee). After surgery, you probably know we use a partial continuous epidural for 3 days so that the patient can actively perform ROM exercises - we prefer this to a CPM machine. Also important to stress that strengthening exercises must also be done because so many of these patients have terrible quad/hamstring strength. Rehab must be multi-factorial and usually also includes (as strength and ROM improves) gait retraining and neuromuscular/balance retraining." Here is the link Sue is referring to -www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/courses/arthrofibrosis-12-part-course-frank-noyes-md
i broke my femur which broke into the knee area and broke my hip, I was left 3 days in a hospital bed within PT. I wasnt told I would experience a stiff knee, so prevention was never available. 6 months later, after MUA and further surgery, I still doent have full flexion even after using a CPM machine
Thank you for making this video you have informed me more than my physical therapist and my doctor combined I am being tortured at the moment , I already went through manipulation and have not been able to take any pain meds. I know know the therapy is too aggressive and I need to calm down I've been pushing my therapist to hurt me thinking I would make faster gains , if he knows the information you just told me then he's a sick bastard like they're just hurt people and see them cry.
im going through the same im now 4 months post op , only difference is im still not walking amd getting more frustrated by the day. especially as i have a 3 year old to look after. please let me know how its going for you? (i have a MAU soon. but my initial surgery was a more complicated than what they normally performe on patients. due to bone deformity / excess bone etc and mfl reconstruction along with another part they had to sort to avoid knee dislocations again) all the best to you!. I hope its getting there.
@@GW-Leah unfortunately doctors and physical therapists both were offended when I brought this to light .so I had to take it on my own ,to do it at my own pace. I found that doing strenuous activities that I usually enjoy are what help get my muscles moving in the right direction again. they couldn't even get me to walk normal, I have made more sustainable gains and movement and strength without unnecessary , unbearable pain. it really sucks but you can't make your body heal faster, so just work with it, treat it good and it should treat you good back. it will tell you what it needs .I hope this helps. good luck to you and your family.
@@rorysmith2614 Thank you for responding back so quick! im glad you are getting there, sucks it has to be so slow and without the support needed, thanks again and all the best!
I would love to know when and where I can get this done had a knee replacement in March still not able to bend my knee had a MUA in May and still can’t bend my knee would love to find out more on this please
I needed an MUA after I wsa not able to get past 91 degrees in knee flexion. My doctor said it might be due to scar tissur forming there. He was able to get me to 140 degrees during the MUA, which sounds almost unbelieveable to me. When I was released form PT, I was at 121 degrees, so surprised because I was staying at only 115 for many weeks. Howevery, I thinkI am much less today, maybe back at 115 degrees, because the knee is swollen if I walk too much during the day.
Truly a guru. Thank you. My surgeon and physio have not explained this science to me. Now I fully understand the benefits of deep massage above knee cap, and bending movement to break up the scar and sticky tissue.
I hate that I even have to look this up, if my parents would’ve taken me seriously when I said I was in pain this would have been a lot easier on me now I have to do extremely painful exercises and I just want to be like other kids my age and live but I can barely walk because my knees don’t work I feel extremely miserable about it (if you read this, thank you I can’t afford a phycologist haha)
I’m sorry you went through this. My child is experiencing the same thing and it was her doctor that caused her Anthrofibrosis. He waited 2 weeks to remove her stitches and scheduled her for therapy late.
I am 9 weeks post op for a TKR. At 6 days in I sent the doctor pictures of what I thought was excessive swelling and they said it was fine without a visit. 4 days later we called as no response was given and they said it was fine. I could not bend it one inch till probably 8 days later. At two weeks when getting the staples out I said it felt locked and so tight with barely 50 degrees of flexion. I no have exact what your video shows. Doctor says I am now stuck with a leg that hardly bends. I started physio the day after my staples were out. Very crushing! Your video is excellent.
Almost two years later, that surgery changed my life, I’m part of a dance crew , I didn’t know I liked dancing this much until I was able to do it pain free
@@gatorsgymcanada644 you should consider getting an arthroscopic arthrolysis surgery. It is minimally invasive and has shown great results in getting back ROM.
Ive had 8 knee surgeries because of arthrofibrosis on the same knee and im only 28. It originally stemmed from an Acl and menisci tear. My first surgery was the day my daughter turned 9 months and i havent been able to play or take care of her since.
This video does make a difference. The whole explanation is lucid and really enlightening. Much needed for patients around the whole world. P.s. I will undergo a artholysis of my left knee to release adhesions after a injury to my left knee involving Tibial Plateau fracture, partial ACL tear, Meniscus tear and chondromalacia patella.
I don’t know if anyone comes back to check for comments. I had TKR 3 yrs ago and have developed arthrofibrosis. My knee surgeon is supposed to be the best in my area and he wants to do a total revision on my knee even though it seems fine. I really need arthrolysis but can’t seem to find a surgeon. I would really like some help or information. I live in Tidewater area of VA, USA
I had total knee replacement 5 weeks ago and feel like I am dealing with what you explained in the video. I struggle to reach over 90 degrees flexion and I definitely have scar tissue building up above the knee cap. It is also very sore to the touch all around my knee and still very warm in that same area. I am doing therapy 2x a week at a location and also do it 4x a week at home. I guess my question is, should I be patient and just keep working through it or take it easy and let time heal it with lighter therapy. I also have a strain in my IT band as well
I've had a very bad case of arthrofibrosis for about a year and a half now, after arthroscopic surgery done on my left knee for a torn meniscus in August 2014 was followed by substantial internal bleeding into my knee joint (due to a hereditary bleeding condition I have-Von Wilebrand's disease, to be precise-and a faulty prescription of the wrong anti-bleeding medication by the hematologist I consulted before the operation). Once the bleeding was gotten under control, there was substantial scar tissue buildup and hardening of my quad muscles and tendon that a couple of months of physical therapy failed to remedy. I underwent two more surgeries in December 2014 and January 2015 to excise the scar tissue from my knee joint, and the doctors also performed a quadricepsplasty to release quadriceps muscle adhesions, but neither of those operations nor the physical therapy and continuous passive motion (CPM) machine use that followed each procedure restored my range of motion, which had been restricted to -10 degrees extension and no more than 40 degrees of flexion. After a year's wait, I've just undergone a total knee replacement 2 weeks ago, and I'm still in the hospital undergoing therapy. My knee joint capsule and lower thigh are still swollen to around twice their normal size, and the quad muscles above the knee remain rock-hard and relatively inflexible. What realistic options do I have for getting as close as possible to 90 degrees flexion from this point onward?
+Akil Alleyne You story is heartbreaking. I am so very sorry to hear about all that you have gone through. You would really need to talk to an expert like those on this list - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/whos-who-knee-surgery/whos-who-arthrofibrosis-surgery but with the quads and capsule so involved I suspect that you would be doing well to achieve 90 degrees. However, it is only two weeks since your op, so you would need to see how rehab progresses...
+Akil Alleyne You might also speak to the people at Graston (www.grastontechnique.com/) and see if there is a certified practitioner near you, because that may be useful.
3 months post TNR. Best days have 12° and 2° . Can't tell if I over did it after surgery or starting PT 6 days post was the problem. Still swollen and painful, even now to the back of leg muscle cramps. I think my surgeon is waiting for 6th month to do anything now.
Watching this video, just makes me feel very sad, because presently I have almost all the symptoms of arthrofibrosis, I can't bend by knee beyond 45°, i can't fully strengthen the knee, can't put my weight on the knee without pains.
What if you don't have a bend but experienced everything else described about arthrofibrosis? I had both knees totally replaced and had a completely different experience in both. The left knee NEVER had a bend to straighten out. It was zero on day 1 and had massive muscle spasms for months that made me unstable as the spasms would kick my leg out. This forced me on a walker for about 6 months. It's been almost 2 years and the left side of my left knee seems to lock up or freeze up, especially noticeable when I stumble and I have constant pain, I can feel the movement is different and can feel the restriction in my movement. Is arthrofibrosis a slow acting condition, I feel like it's been getting worse as I am also having shin splint pain too. I need help and my doctor only shrug their shoulders when they see that my leg bends and flex.
Thank you for this very informative video Dr. Strover. I am a patient with a connective tissue disorder (Stickler Syndrome) 7 weeks post TKA. My ROM is currently 93 degrees flexion and -8 degrees extension. Since I’m struggling to reach my surgeon’s goals of 120 degrees flexion and 0 degrees extension it is recommended that I undergo a MUA. My knee is swollen and painful for 1-2 days follow PT or riding a stationary bike making rehab challenging. My surgeon has only mentioned that patients with connective tissue disorders have increased pain. Can you tell me if my syndrome is one of the genetic conditions that complicates recovery? Thank you for any information or resources you may be able to provide.
Did anyone ever reply to you? How are you now? I had TKR on May 2, 2022 and MUA on June 16, 2022 - I am 9 months out and still have problems with healing of my scar tissue, wondering if this is what I have. In July 2022 my doctor said see you in a year.
OK, so now that I have this problem, I'm told there is not much that can be done except going in for surgery. My doctor is going in to clean out my bi lateral knee replacements but say's there isn't any guarantee that it won't grow back. I'm sorry I had knee replacements!!
I'm going for MUA tomorrow and very worried, had my knee replacement 6 months ago. I should have attended to this much earlier, I have been making excuses and putting it off until now.
lauraangulo1970 just wondering how your doing after MUA? I am 9 weeks post op tkr left knee. Right now the flex ion is 100 with force the extension is -5 to 0. I am worried about the MUA can you tell me what you were at when your Dr decided to do the MUA? I’m in physio just one day a week now, my strength and balance is good. The physiotherapist said if it wasn’t for the flexion she would have discharged me. She thinks it’s all muscle tension so she is taking a different approach with massage and boy does that hurt! I’ll see her tomorrow afternoon to see if I’ve made any progress at all on my own. Thanks for any information 😊
Hello, ive had an ACL reconstruction done on the 16th of January this year, along with meniscus repair. There was immense stiffness, but the doctors said it was normal. I also had fever everyday for the last 4weeks. Upon taking a contrast MRI, it was revealed that ive developed infection and would have to undergo surgery again. So ive now had shaving of the fibres done as on 2nd March and the recently constructed ACL got dissolved due to the infection. So the docs say i should attempt another ACL surgery only after 8months. Ive been discharged from the hospital 3days ago. My worry is that my range of motion is exactly that what it was prior to the 2nd surgery. Has not exceeded 50 degrees. No full extension obtained yet. Im so happy to see this video as i can really relate to it. Please advise wat do i do next, or if you'd like more details of the injury/surgery.
Hello Dr Sheila Strover. Your video was really informative.I had an ACL and meniscus operation before seven years. I 've had all the issues that you just described but after 7 months I had another arthroscopy and I managed to gain almost full extension. However i still feel extremely stiff my knee having difficulties in every day life activities. I meet at this time doctors to manage my issues but they don't really seem to know what to do really.An arthroscopy would be helpful after all these years?
There are very few orthopaedic surgeons who have expertise in the management of established arthrofibrosis. That is a sad reality. Even those with the surgical knowledge and skill may not have the team approach or expertise, with total involvement of the anaesthetists, pain specialists, and physiotherapists. Seven years is a long time. I would not think that you could benefit now from just physiotherapy, as the tissue scarring would be mature. It does not mean that you cannot benefit, but my understanding is that you would need good competent evaluation to check if there is a focal problem that might require only limited surgery (eg posterior capsulotomy). If you scroll down this page you can find further information from other conversations. In particular I recommend the Facebook Group.
I found extremely tensed my patella tendon and I have a constant anterior pain below my patella. Even simple movements of the joint stress a lot the anterior structures. In the MRI scan is the scar tissue visuable? Thanks a lot for your time. I am medicine student too. I hope this knowledge will help me to prevent other patients from the mistakes I suffered. Thank you again and excuse me for my bad English.
It would be helpful for you to read up about 'anterior interval' arthrofibrosis and the surgical procedure of 'anterior interval release'. I will add some links for you here shortly.
Amputation below knee,n femur plated,8months back bt my knee bend is 30 degree,I need full flexion to walk n climb stairs by prosthesis leg,plz suggest me
I had an arthroscopic lateral release, shaving and meniscus repair on June 19th. My physiotherapist told me three days ago that he doesn't see any more progress and wants to stop. I don't feel like my initial OS really cares about his patients so I saw another. I was diagnosed (after a lateral x-ray) with patella infera, though he said that I should NOT worry about arthrofibrosis. My knee however feels like it is packed with cement and I cannot bend more than 90° and extend < 10°. Since my surgery was about 2,5 months ago and I highly suspect some scarring in my knee: am I still in that tiny time frame, where it can get better with proper treatment? Passive movement is horrible, because the patella clunks when I flex my knee > 50°..
+freischwimmerin Apologies, but I did not see your question, and now more time has passed. Your options now would likely include lysis of adhesions and anterior interval release, ie surgical options - but you need expert help. Here is a free coupon for you to attend my full arthrofibrosis course for free, where these procedures are discussed - www.udemy.com/the-stiff-knee-after-injury-or-surgery/?couponCode=freischwimmerin_0
+freischwimmerin Apologies, but I did not see your question, and now more time has passed. Your options now would likely include lysis of adhesions and anterior interval release, ie surgical options - but you need expert help. Here is a free coupon for you to attend my full arthrofibrosis course for free, where these procedures are discussed - www.udemy.com/the-stiff-knee-after-injury-or-surgery/?couponCode=freischwimmerin_0
+treehuggermc1 Thanks for drawing attention to this. I made two coupons (see my reply to +freischwimmerin - feel free to use the second one (but be quick because someone else may take it).
I had ACL reconstruction 6weeks ago and haven’t started physical therapy. Now cause my knee is so stiff my doctor is giving me 2 weeks to see if I improve if not he’s taking me back into the operating room. Ive been doing extension exercises and flexion exercises on my own but man is so painful I can’t seem to get passed 90 degrees bend and I can’t quite fully extend my knee. Any advice? I would like to avoid another surgery but If that’s the only thing that can help me then I guess.
Hey how did it go I am going through same thing, my dr gave me 2 weeks yesterday. Did u get surgery done? If so was it painful and when did u start bending again after surgery?
It may be that a surgeon expert in arthrofibrosis could help - possibly a posterior capsulotomy might release tight capsule tissue at the back of the knee? eg www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/primers/whos-who-knee-surgery/whos-who-arthrofibrosis-surgery
I have got tibia surgery & steel plate embedded but know more than 50 days I unable to bend knee more than 100 degree angle can I get help from your side As my physotheriest is casual & I not getting some good one
You do not say what exactly the surgery was for? It would be good for you to speak again to the surgeon, who might consider intervening with a manipulation. Meanwhile you could try lying wall slides - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/knee-rehabilitation-principles-exercises/z-exercises/lying-wall-slides or using equipment like a flexionator to help - kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/blogs/missmyknee/2007/need-flexion-get-ermi
There is a free ebook here that you can download with details of further flexion exercises www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/ebooks/cornerstones-early-knee-rehabilitation
It's been 8 weeks since my knee surgery. And I only have 110% ROM. My surgeon said I have to be at 125 ROM by the next 6 weeks. I'm afraid I can get this. What should I do should I tell my surgeon to consider extra help because so far I only go once a week to my physical therapist and I only get 30 min with her. I try to do my exercises at home but it's far too painful. Help me!
Red Wolf You are at an important stage in rehabilitation. Now that you have watched this video and understand many of the issues, you will know that adhesions can still be broken down but it requires that the physiotherapy progresses with a focus on gentle sustained stretches and patellar mobilisation exercises. Here is a link to a paper on how to mobilise the patella - this is still relevant to your daily at home work, and you can do it yourself if you have to - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/courses/arthrofibrosis-rehab-tutorials-dirk-kokmeyer-pt-scs-comt/patellar-mobilisation-part-2-set You may try lying wall slides - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/exercises/z-exercises/lying-wall-slides - using the weight of your leg to help to gentle assist flexion, and facilitating it with the other leg. You may try prone rope stretches - www.spineandsportspt.org/web_images/dsc_0129a.jpg - focusing on slow but prolonged stretching.
This is only valid until the end of June 2015, but Udemy are offering our Knee Stiffness course on sale if you feel that you would like to get more in-depth information - www.udemy.com/courses/search/?q=knee
Get it asap... It's been 4 months and I'm still only at 90° surgeon is expecting 120 .... I was avoiding exercises at home only becoz of that terrible and horrible pain I had to tolerate... But now it's stiff as hell... And I have to tolerate even more pain coz scare tissue is almost set and has messed with my range of motion... I'm a BMX stunter ... And you can imagine how upsetting it is to see the knee only at 90°>>>> so I'll say No pain no gain... Your scar tissue shouldn't have matured by now... The pain you feel now will be multiples by 50 times if it's matured...
I am so sorry to hear that. But if you learn all about it now and get some advice from others, you should be able to know what the next steps are to trying to improve things.
Its been 5weeks since total knee replacement but I can bend my 112 but it constantly stiffening up and I have keep exercising and icing it but after its stiffen up again
I tore my acl, mcl, plc. it happen June 26 but I had to surgeries and I cannot bend on my own. on a machine I'm getting better almost 76 degrees but I see small improvements. The doctor said while I'm under surgery he bend it 140 but awoke I can't do that this whole video explain my pain. I'm going to therapy but it's killing me at times and I have a lot of scar tussie.
That is a very severe injury. So sorry to hear that you are still struggling. Follow some of the links further down the page here to get more advice and help because you still have a long way to go.
hello de.Sheila,m'y husband had an acl reconstruction three Monty ago,and till now he canot bend or extend his leg!!!!his doctor forms an manipulation under anesthesia yesterday,and a another doctor told him about scar tissue and wishes to do arthroscopic surgery,is it dangerous or painful?is he going to take to recover and to gain wide range mouvement?please answer me!because he's feeling so depressed.please!
After three months it is hard to say. This is one of the higher-risk procedures for internal scarring and there are sometimes other factors to take into consideration - like the positioning of the graft, and the width of the notch through which the reconstruction was passed. If he has regained some range of motion with the manipulation, then it is important that he keeps on with any rehabilitation programme, and carefully monitors his progress. It may indeed be necessary to remove scar tissue, but the surgeon needs still to monitor the rehabilitation closely.
Dr kept me in brace for 6weeks with really no bend , now can only get a 70 degree bend. Im really worried!! I had acl and lateral,medial meniscus and a thigh graft above my knee. Help i really dont want to have surgery again. I can straighten my knee fine. Just no bend further 70
It will get better just keep doing the physio therapy and use a heat pack before you sleep and rub it down with massage oil. Franch oil is a good choice
Dallas Nelson If you click this link, Dallas, I have set up a free coupon to our course which may help you - just click the link and then the blue button - it is only valid for you - www.udemy.com/the-stiff-knee-after-injury-or-surgery/?couponCode=DallasNelson_0
Dallas Nelson Hi, I see you already found this video, which I had suggested to you via a different post. I saw from your other post that you had a fracture with screws. It is often problematic to rehab if the fracture went through the jointline itself or if you were immobilised for a long time. What is important is to try and get some expert help. It may be that you have internal adhesions, or that the fracture reduction is not perfect, but it does not mean that nothing can be done. We maintain a list of surgeons who are expert in managing complications such as arthrofibrosis, and it may be worth your making contact via phone or email to ask for advice - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/whos-who-knee-surgery/whos-who-arthrofibrosis-surgery
I tore my acl, mcl, plc. it happen June 26 but I had to surgeries and I cannot bend on my own. on a machine I'm getting better almost 76 degrees but I see small improvements. The doctor said while I'm under surgery he bend it 140 but awoke I can't do that this whole video explain my pain. I'm going to therapy but it's killing me at times and I have a lot of scar tussie.
I am so angry at my surgeon for never explaining any of this to me. They have ruined my ability to walk. I’m a 33 year old active healthy athlete and I’m afraid I’ll never be the same. No one ever mentioned this was possible or I never would have done the surgery.
Hello how about your knee flexion now
@@ibrahimali6609I'm curious also.
My surgeon never explained this to me either. Also, you never explained to me with my ankle being fused that I would have a harder time with my recovery including flexion. I go between 100 and 110 and I'm 5 months out. This is very depressing😢 I hope you get this. I'd like to know how you're doing now.
NOW I truly understand what is happening inside my knee after total knee! replacement! Why is this information so hard to find? You hear "exercise to prevent scar tissue" but that is as much info that is presented. This video is both enlightening and frightening. It certainly is motivating to be diligent for me to do my exercises consistently with full knowledge of the consequences of slacking off. I suggest giving this video a new title to make it more available to the average person who is considering or had had a TKR, such as ""Avoid scar tissue after knee replacement: the whole story"
I have the same problem. What should I do now. I'm on bed since last 2 years because of this. Please help me.
@@mr-engin3er you should get an arthroscopic arthrolysis surgery. It is a minor surgery, minimally invasive. It has shown great results in getting back range of motion. Hope it helps.
I agree 100%. I wish I had seen this video before my TKR.
I could listen to this lady talk all day. So soothing! I had ACL reconstruction and meniscus trim 8 weeks so. I feel an odd catch right where they trimmed the meniscus. It’s like a pressure build feeling. I can usually push through and continue my range of motion. It feels like something is in there trying to poke out. I was told it’s probably scar tissue. I hate pushing through that feeling when no one is actually sure of what it is. Trying to find similar experiences, but not having much luck.
I feel similar, i cannot bend my knee completely after Acl and meniscus repair 9 years ago. It is roughly at 100 degrees and no matter how hard I push it wont go farther than that.
I almost cried listening to this video. I'm 10 months post-op from an ACL repair and I'm knee has been a trainwreck for months - lack of full extension, quad atrophy, pain, etc. I feel deep down I have arthrofibrosis but I don't have confidence in my current team. Going to get a second opinion soon. Thank you.
Let me know how it goes.
I feel your pain 😔 I also had acl and lateral meniscus repair 8 months ago from tearing it playing soccer . I have ok leg extensions I can run jump and do squats only thing is , I can’t fully flex my knee cuz I’m in so much pain. I know forsure I have arthrofibrosis and I think is from starting physical therapy too late and scar tissue just built up and my knee became to stiff and became hard to break scar tissue early on . Anyways I’m having another surgery this upcoming Wednesday to remove scar tissue and hopefully that works on getting my full flexion back . Also goodluck on your recovery and hope you get better soon
@@andyjosue7216did surgery help?
Did the surgery help with range of motion?@@andyjosue7216
I have the same issues after ACL reconstruction.
Clear helpful explanation of what I am suffering. I worked so hard on my physio but progress slowed and stopped at 6-8 weeks. MUA done far too late at 22 weeks, and now 11 months after TKR it gets worse and worse. My pain and stiffness are so much worse than before the TKR. I'm waiting for open arthrolysis, due to happen next month. I want my life back!
Hello did u get help how is your recovery now
@@bertrinamitchell5423 unfortunatly he passed away duo to the amount of knee pain he had
@@bertrinamitchell5423I would like the answer also. I find that sometimes they don't get the alert that they have someone asking them a question. That's why we never get an answer. I'm so curious how she is doing.
I just went through this in October. It was the most painful recovery. Literally tied a rope around my foot to get my knee to bend. I just had a revision to a total knee two weeks ago. They said they had never seen so much dense scar tissue. They cut out 3 peices of it. Thank you for this video now i understand what happened and hopefully i can prevent it from happening again.
i am still waiting after 9 months doe the tisue to be broken or taken through surgery :(
I am 4 months out from RTKR, I had early onset of knee lock up below 90 F and 5 Ext. PY, just seemed each time to make it worse and as you said they were frustrated. Went back to surgeon, he took the approach of a MUA, and stated he got 110 F and 0Ext. But the next day at the PT I was at 85 and 5 once again, they tried even harder to break my knee lose and blamed it on my very large muscular legs. So went back to surgeon and he put me on light duty and no work. but I needed to work so we agreed to 4 hours a day. Been 3 weeks and atleast I have not lost ground and seem to be stable (depending on the day) around 90 F and I do believe I have personally seen over 90. but the constant pain in both knees, (yes the stiffness is in the left knee as well?) I see the Dr. again in a month and am afraid of what will be suggested next. But right now, no one is going to touch the other knee until I know why, how, etc. etc; thanks for your video
This was incredibly helpful. Physical therapists were not good at explaining this, burden of knowledge, I have to pull teeth to get answers and do a lot of research to know what questions to ask. Currently recovering from a MACI procedure cartilage transplant in the knee (kneecap and trochlea on femur cartilage grafts), scar tissue has had one month to harden because of how disgustingly slow Cartlidge takes to bone. The rehab protocol moves very slowly. Restrictions are lifted very slowly, this whole horrible recovery process is 18 months long, before one can do things like dead lift and squat significant weight again, back to the same pre-surgery abilities. This video explains why bending the knee and getting back full range of motion is absolute hell. This has helped me understand how far I can push it and also helped with drawing the line for how far is too far. Pain is an unfortunate side effect in this process, my physical therapists keep saying it’s normal, I ask what level of pain do people report for this, then they say pain is relative which it is. So how do I knoif I’m going too far when I’m already at a 7 out of 10 on the Likert Pain Scale stretching at PT? This has helped me figure out where to draw that line and how to ask PTs what is going on when they can't think for me, their typical clueless patient. Thanks, KneeGuru!
Very nicely explained! I'm recovering from a patelar tendon rupture and getting range of motion back is a big challenge and with only 1-2 25 min phyiso sessions per week, I need to take self responsibility for the rehab and youtube hase been such a huge help.
You know it's so funny because I've read mostly all of these comments and all I can do is smh because I myself never realized how hard it was to learn how to walk all over again I use to say to myself it can't be all that hard for some who's been walking and or running their entire life to learn how to walk again but boy was I completely wrong about that😲
Excellent video, spot on description of what I have experienced
This is a very well phrased and meticulously explained video on scar tissue in the knee. I learned so much that was never mentioned to me by my knee replacement team
Lol
Thanks for this video. Currently facing MUA soon after meniscus surgery. ACL is gone but hope I get past the mua and able to walk normally
As soon as you come out of surgery MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE your knee do not be scared to moveit & if you already have this after a while you gotta start slow and gradually get more aggressive they try to treat this with surgery but its stupid SURGERY IS WHAT CAUSES IT to begin with.....you gotta work with someone who knows wtf they are doing and i know it’s painful but squats are your best friend THEY BREAK THAT SHIT SLOWLY BUT SURELY but squats will Help you massively
Hey I just read your comment , have you experienced this? I'm going through this now because I just got over an injury and trying to gain my mobility back
@@onnamachelle9087 hi!!! Same here ! What happend with you after 1 year ?
I personally had a meniscus repair 6 months ago and now there is arthrofibrosis. I have popping in my knee but no pain. The range of motion in my knee is almost the same as in the healthy knee.
cant get flexion to do squats
@@bowler8 one thing that helped with me is that i put a wooden stick behind/under my kneecaps when squatting/trying to squat. it hurts but it breaks and softens the tissue from behind the knee. 2x1 minutes per day.
My story is long so I will try to make it brief. 1. Had a right total knee replacement, 2, twisted knee sharply after day four of surgery in nursing home as I slipped while squatting over the toilet . fell sideways on the low toilet. 3 went to hospital, took exrays saw nothing meanwhile no therapy for 2 or more days , My leg was very red and shiny and hot and ambulance man when picking me up from nursing home to take me to hospital said it looks like you have cellulits. 4 it was not diagnosed (cellulitus)till in a different nursing home about 6 or seven days after surgery. put on augmenten, 5. nurseing home therapy went bad right away, couldn't bend my knee much no matter what, also had siatica pain and told them that. 6. went home after two weeks and therapy at home for 1 week then started therapy at doctors place of work. They were very aggressive with me and had me screaming and crying many times. I actually almost passed out. 7, Found out I had kidney infection from two big stones in kidney, had to keep taking anitbiotics till he could plan surgery. 8, Had a manipulation from knee doctor at 8 weeks after surgery, Didn't do much if anything. more therapy. 9 kidney surgery where they went through my back to get the two stones out. Missed therapy for two weeks. By the way my knee never went down all this time in swelling and was always hot to warm to the touch. back to therapy. 10, doc discontinued therapy to give me a break and it wasn't helping anyhow, other doctor said I should have another manipulation, he said no. 11. he has me get an mri for my sciatica pain, showed some dic bulging in very lower back and arthritis. Noting done for it. 12, he finally said I did have scaring and that I needed surgery. 13, Got the surgery to clean scar tissue out by another doctor. He said it was very extensive and that he did the best he could to clean it out.Also did a knee manipulation right after the surgery, Saw about 15 degree difference where it was about 70 percent bend before, 14, more therapy and very much pushing on my knee causeing a lot of pain and again I was hurting very badly with no pain meds . 15. Doc ordered me a knee therapy brace called Jaz. I wore that different times and more therapy. Nothing was helping. 16, No more therapy, he said he did all he can do for the right knee, he set up for me to get shots for pain in my back and my left knee is kneeding total knee replacement and he wanted to set up for surgery and I said how would I be able to get around when this right knee cannot bend over 70 degrees. My original doctor that did the knee surgery thinks I should get a knee revision. I am in so much pain , my back hurts badly and both knees hurt. Can you please offer me any advice? I am seriously thinking of contacting a lawyer. Please let me know if you think a knee revision is the best option. Thank-you! Kathy
Kathleen White You need a Dr that at least gives you proper pain relief!
I also have a long story and recently had the scar removal surgery (with good pain medication). I’m at the point wear I’m working hard to gain the ability to walk again. My knee has been frozen at 30 degrees. I must get my knee to straighten. The surgery has helped, now it’s up to intense PT. I feel your struggle. Best wishes.
Very good explanation,it now gives me a clear picture of the operation that I'am about to have for arthrofibrosis,after having tkr.David jones
Jean Jones how did your surgery go?
how is your knee now
*What is arthrofibrosis?*
Arthrofibrosis is a complication of knee injury or surgery, where scar tissue locks up movement in the knee. This video explains how the problem occurs and what can be done about it.
Thanks a lot. That's very useful.
Thank you Mikhail Parshin .
Thanks ***** .
Feel free to share it wherever you like Christine King .
I had an email from Sue Barber Westin who works with Dr Frank Noyes (neither are active on G+ at the moment) - I quote -
"It is very good Shelia - perhaps you should also mention Dr. Noyes' tutorial on your site for the listener to view? The other point I would make is that arthrofibrosis, if treated early, can be successfully resolved. And even in cases where surgery is required, significant gains in knee motion and function are still possible - leave a little more optimism - that if managed by an experienced team, patients can get better (but may never have a completely normal knee).
After surgery, you probably know we use a partial continuous epidural for 3 days so that the patient can actively perform ROM exercises - we prefer this to a CPM machine. Also important to stress that strengthening exercises must also be done because so many of these patients have terrible quad/hamstring strength. Rehab must be multi-factorial and usually also includes (as strength and ROM improves) gait retraining and neuromuscular/balance retraining."
Here is the link Sue is referring to -www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/courses/arthrofibrosis-12-part-course-frank-noyes-md
Wow. What a soothing voice.
i broke my femur which broke into the knee area and broke my hip, I was left 3 days in a hospital bed within PT. I wasnt told I would experience a stiff knee, so prevention was never available. 6 months later, after MUA and further surgery, I still doent have full flexion even after using a CPM machine
Thank you for making this video you have informed me more than my physical therapist and my doctor combined I am being tortured at the moment , I already went through manipulation and have not been able to take any pain meds. I know know the therapy is too aggressive and I need to calm down I've been pushing my therapist to hurt me thinking I would make faster gains , if he knows the information you just told me then he's a sick bastard like they're just hurt people and see them cry.
im going through the same im now 4 months post op , only difference is im still not walking amd getting more frustrated by the day. especially as i have a 3 year old to look after. please let me know how its going for you? (i have a MAU soon. but my initial surgery was a more complicated than what they normally performe on patients. due to bone deformity / excess bone etc and mfl reconstruction along with another part they had to sort to avoid knee dislocations again) all the best to you!. I hope its getting there.
@@GW-Leah unfortunately doctors and physical therapists both were offended when I brought this to light .so I had to take it on my own ,to do it at my own pace. I found that doing strenuous activities that I usually enjoy are what help get my muscles moving in the right direction again. they couldn't even get me to walk normal, I have made more sustainable gains and movement and strength without unnecessary , unbearable pain. it really sucks but you can't make your body heal faster, so just work with it, treat it good and it should treat you good back. it will tell you what it needs .I hope this helps. good luck to you and your family.
@@rorysmith2614 Thank you for responding back so quick! im glad you are getting there, sucks it has to be so slow and without the support needed, thanks again and all the best!
Fortunately now, k-lazer therapy can break up scar tissue instead of surgery 💙 I am doing it now and it has been a Godsend!
hi, Misty Weaver.does k lazer really help "burn" the scar tissue? how many session neede? please pleasw respond.thank you❤
@@asiandolce5057 did she ever respond? I would like to know this answer too.
I would love to know when and where I can get this done had a knee replacement in March still not able to bend my knee had a MUA in May and still can’t bend my knee would love to find out more on this please
I needed an MUA after I wsa not able to get past 91 degrees in knee flexion. My doctor said it might be due to scar tissur forming there. He was able to get me to 140 degrees during the MUA, which sounds almost unbelieveable to me. When I was released form PT, I was at 121 degrees, so surprised because I was staying at only 115 for many weeks. Howevery, I thinkI am much less today, maybe back at 115 degrees, because the knee is swollen if I walk too much during the day.
Good luck and God bless you! I may be on same path…..
Truly a guru. Thank you. My surgeon and physio have not explained this science to me. Now I fully understand the benefits of deep massage above knee cap, and bending movement to break up the scar and sticky tissue.
No
I hate that I even have to look this up, if my parents would’ve taken me seriously when I said I was in pain this would have been a lot easier on me now I have to do extremely painful exercises and I just want to be like other kids my age and live but I can barely walk because my knees don’t work I feel extremely miserable about it (if you read this, thank you I can’t afford a phycologist haha)
I’m sorry you went through this. My child is experiencing the same thing and it was her doctor that caused her Anthrofibrosis. He waited 2 weeks to remove her stitches and scheduled her for therapy late.
I am 9 weeks post op for a TKR. At 6 days in I sent the doctor pictures of what I thought was excessive swelling and they said it was fine without a visit. 4 days later we called as no response was given and they said it was fine. I could not bend it one inch till probably 8 days later. At two weeks when getting the staples out I said it felt locked and so tight with barely 50 degrees of flexion. I no have exact what your video shows. Doctor says I am now stuck with a leg that hardly bends. I started physio the day after my staples were out. Very crushing! Your video is excellent.
Almost two years later, that surgery changed my life, I’m part of a dance crew , I didn’t know I liked dancing this much until I was able to do it pain free
@@gatorsgymcanada644 you should consider getting an arthroscopic arthrolysis surgery. It is minimally invasive and has shown great results in getting back ROM.
Ive had 8 knee surgeries because of arthrofibrosis on the same knee and im only 28. It originally stemmed from an Acl and menisci tear. My first surgery was the day my daughter turned 9 months and i havent been able to play or take care of her since.
This video does make a difference. The whole explanation is lucid and really enlightening. Much needed for patients around the whole world.
P.s. I will undergo a artholysis of my left knee to release adhesions after a injury to my left knee involving Tibial Plateau fracture, partial ACL tear, Meniscus tear and chondromalacia patella.
I don’t know if anyone comes back to check for comments. I had TKR 3 yrs ago and have developed arthrofibrosis. My knee surgeon is supposed to be the best in my area and he wants to do a total revision on my knee even though it seems fine. I really need arthrolysis but can’t seem to find a surgeon. I would really like some help or information. I live in Tidewater area of VA, USA
I had total knee replacement 5 weeks ago and feel like I am dealing with what you explained in the video. I struggle to reach over 90 degrees flexion and I definitely have scar tissue building up above the knee cap. It is also very sore to the touch all around my knee and still very warm in that same area. I am doing therapy 2x a week at a location and also do it 4x a week at home. I guess my question is, should I be patient and just keep working through it or take it easy and let time heal it with lighter therapy. I also have a strain in my IT band as well
Damn wish i knew this immediately after the surgery. I would've been more proactive with avoiding scar tissue. Im 4 weeks into PT and no progress
I've had a very bad case of arthrofibrosis for about a year and a half now, after arthroscopic surgery done on my left knee for a torn meniscus in August 2014 was followed by substantial internal bleeding into my knee joint (due to a hereditary bleeding condition I have-Von Wilebrand's disease, to be precise-and a faulty prescription of the wrong anti-bleeding medication by the hematologist I consulted before the operation). Once the bleeding was gotten under control, there was substantial scar tissue buildup and hardening of my quad muscles and tendon that a couple of months of physical therapy failed to remedy.
I underwent two more surgeries in December 2014 and January 2015 to excise the scar tissue from my knee joint, and the doctors also performed a quadricepsplasty to release quadriceps muscle adhesions, but neither of those operations nor the physical therapy and continuous passive motion (CPM) machine use that followed each procedure restored my range of motion, which had been restricted to -10 degrees extension and no more than 40 degrees of flexion. After a year's wait, I've just undergone a total knee replacement 2 weeks ago, and I'm still in the hospital undergoing therapy. My knee joint capsule and lower thigh are still swollen to around twice their normal size, and the quad muscles above the knee remain rock-hard and relatively inflexible. What realistic options do I have for getting as close as possible to 90 degrees flexion from this point onward?
+Akil Alleyne You story is heartbreaking. I am so very sorry to hear about all that you have gone through. You would really need to talk to an expert like those on this list - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/whos-who-knee-surgery/whos-who-arthrofibrosis-surgery
but with the quads and capsule so involved I suspect that you would be doing well to achieve 90 degrees. However, it is only two weeks since your op, so you would need to see how rehab progresses...
+Akil Alleyne You might also speak to the people at Graston (www.grastontechnique.com/) and see if there is a certified practitioner near you, because that may be useful.
+Sheila Strover Thanks very much for your reply and advice! I truly appreciate both :)
+Akil Alleyne This Facebook Group might be helpful to you also - facebook.com/groups/AFwhatsthat/
Ask Hanne about her use of anti-oxidants....
Thank you for the reply.
After watching this. I just realized that i am fucked... life as it goes on does not get any better
3 months post TNR. Best days have 12° and 2° . Can't tell if I over did it after surgery or starting PT 6 days post was the problem.
Still swollen and painful, even now to the back of leg muscle cramps. I think my surgeon is waiting for 6th month to do anything now.
Watching this video, just makes me feel very sad, because presently I have almost all the symptoms of arthrofibrosis, I can't bend by knee beyond 45°, i can't fully strengthen the knee, can't put my weight on the knee without pains.
What if you don't have a bend but experienced everything else described about arthrofibrosis? I had both knees totally replaced and had a completely different experience in both. The left knee NEVER had a bend to straighten out. It was zero on day 1 and had massive muscle spasms for months that made me unstable as the spasms would kick my leg out. This forced me on a walker for about 6 months. It's been almost 2 years and the left side of my left knee seems to lock up or freeze up, especially noticeable when I stumble and I have constant pain, I can feel the movement is different and can feel the restriction in my movement. Is arthrofibrosis a slow acting condition, I feel like it's been getting worse as I am also having shin splint pain too. I need help and my doctor only shrug their shoulders when they see that my leg bends and flex.
Thank you for this very informative video Dr. Strover. I am a patient with a connective tissue disorder (Stickler Syndrome) 7 weeks post TKA. My ROM is currently 93 degrees flexion and -8 degrees extension. Since I’m struggling to reach my surgeon’s goals of 120 degrees flexion and 0 degrees extension it is recommended that I undergo a MUA. My knee is swollen and painful for 1-2 days follow PT or riding a stationary bike making rehab challenging. My surgeon has only mentioned that patients with connective tissue disorders have increased pain. Can you tell me if my syndrome is one of the genetic conditions that complicates recovery?
Thank you for any information or resources you may be able to provide.
Did anyone ever reply to you? How are you now? I had TKR on May 2, 2022 and MUA on June 16, 2022 - I am 9 months out and still have problems with healing of my scar tissue, wondering if this is what I have. In July 2022 my doctor said see you in a year.
thanks for share...thanks so much
OK, so now that I have this problem, I'm told there is not much that can be done except going in for surgery. My doctor is going in to clean out my bi lateral knee replacements but say's there isn't any guarantee that it won't grow back.
I'm sorry I had knee replacements!!
What a pleasant Winnie The Pooh narration.....
Possible that the knee gets normal again? Sport possible??
I'm going for MUA tomorrow and very worried, had my knee replacement 6 months ago. I should have attended to this much earlier, I have been making excuses and putting it off until now.
Hi debbie Im getting MUA tomorrow as well. Can you tell me how it went after procedure and how are you doing now?
lauraangulo1970 just wondering how your doing after MUA? I am 9 weeks post op tkr left knee. Right now the flex ion is 100 with force the extension is -5 to 0. I am worried about the MUA can you tell me what you were at when your Dr decided to do the MUA? I’m in physio just one day a week now, my strength and balance is good. The physiotherapist said if it wasn’t for the flexion she would have discharged me. She thinks it’s all muscle tension so she is taking a different approach with massage and boy does that hurt! I’ll see her tomorrow afternoon to see if I’ve made any progress at all on my own. Thanks for any information 😊
@debraseguin18 did you still do the MUA? How was it? Any good progress in flexion? How was the walking after?
Hello, ive had an ACL reconstruction done on the 16th of January this year, along with meniscus repair.
There was immense stiffness, but the doctors said it was normal.
I also had fever everyday for the last 4weeks.
Upon taking a contrast MRI, it was revealed that ive developed infection and would have to undergo surgery again.
So ive now had shaving of the fibres done as on 2nd March and the recently constructed ACL got dissolved due to the infection.
So the docs say i should attempt another ACL surgery only after 8months.
Ive been discharged from the hospital 3days ago.
My worry is that my range of motion is exactly that what it was prior to the 2nd surgery.
Has not exceeded 50 degrees.
No full extension obtained yet.
Im so happy to see this video as i can really relate to it.
Please advise wat do i do next, or if you'd like more details of the injury/surgery.
Hello what happen now did u go for the 2nd acl surgery?
I have complete acl tear for 2.5 mos. now and bending s my huge probs...😭😭😭
Hello Dr Sheila Strover. Your video was really informative.I had an ACL and meniscus operation before seven years. I 've had all the issues that you just described but after 7 months I had another arthroscopy and I managed to gain almost full extension. However i still feel extremely stiff my knee having difficulties in every day life activities. I meet at this time doctors to manage my issues but they don't really seem to know what to do really.An arthroscopy would be helpful after all these years?
There are very few orthopaedic surgeons who have expertise in the management of established arthrofibrosis. That is a sad reality. Even those with the surgical knowledge and skill may not have the team approach or expertise, with total involvement of the anaesthetists, pain specialists, and physiotherapists.
Seven years is a long time. I would not think that you could benefit now from just physiotherapy, as the tissue scarring would be mature. It does not mean that you cannot benefit, but my understanding is that you would need good competent evaluation to check if there is a focal problem that might require only limited surgery (eg posterior capsulotomy). If you scroll down this page you can find further information from other conversations. In particular I recommend the Facebook Group.
I found extremely tensed my patella tendon and I have a constant anterior pain below my patella. Even simple movements of the joint stress a lot the anterior structures. In the MRI scan is the scar tissue visuable? Thanks a lot for your time. I am medicine student too. I hope this knowledge will help me to prevent other patients from the mistakes I suffered. Thank you again and excuse me for my bad English.
It would be helpful for you to read up about 'anterior interval' arthrofibrosis and the surgical procedure of 'anterior interval release'. I will add some links for you here shortly.
www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/knee-dictionary/anterior-interval-arthrofibrosis
www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/specialist-commentaries/dr-peter-j-millett/2006/anterior-interval-release-rationale-behind-surgical
Amputation below knee,n femur plated,8months back bt my knee bend is 30 degree,I need full flexion to walk n climb stairs by prosthesis leg,plz suggest me
I had an arthroscopic lateral release, shaving and meniscus repair on June 19th. My physiotherapist told me three days ago that he doesn't see any more progress and wants to stop. I don't feel like my initial OS really cares about his patients so I saw another. I was diagnosed (after a lateral x-ray) with patella infera, though he said that I should NOT worry about arthrofibrosis. My knee however feels like it is packed with cement and I cannot bend more than 90° and extend < 10°. Since my surgery was about 2,5 months ago and I highly suspect some scarring in my knee: am I still in that tiny time frame, where it can get better with proper treatment? Passive movement is horrible, because the patella clunks when I flex my knee > 50°..
Did you ever get an answer?
+freischwimmerin Apologies, but I did not see your question, and now more time has passed. Your options now would likely include lysis of adhesions and anterior interval release, ie surgical options - but you need expert help. Here is a free coupon for you to attend my full arthrofibrosis course for free, where these procedures are discussed - www.udemy.com/the-stiff-knee-after-injury-or-surgery/?couponCode=freischwimmerin_0
+freischwimmerin Apologies, but I did not see your question, and now more time has passed. Your options now would likely include lysis of adhesions and anterior interval release, ie surgical options - but you need expert help. Here is a free coupon for you to attend my full arthrofibrosis course for free, where these procedures are discussed - www.udemy.com/the-stiff-knee-after-injury-or-surgery/?couponCode=freischwimmerin_0
+treehuggermc1 Thanks for drawing attention to this. I made two coupons (see my reply to +freischwimmerin - feel free to use the second one (but be quick because someone else may take it).
Thank you Thank you so much !
This explains a lot...!
I had ACL reconstruction 6weeks ago and haven’t started physical therapy. Now cause my knee is so stiff my doctor is giving me 2 weeks to see if I improve if not he’s taking me back into the operating room. Ive been doing extension exercises and flexion exercises on my own but man is so painful I can’t seem to get passed 90 degrees bend and I can’t quite fully extend my knee. Any advice? I would like to avoid another surgery but If that’s the only thing that can help me then I guess.
Hey how did it go I am going through same thing, my dr gave me 2 weeks yesterday. Did u get surgery done? If so was it painful and when did u start bending again after surgery?
Any news? I’m in a similar situation
I have this right now from almost 1 1/2 year. I dont know what to do as my knee never straightens and i limp when i walk...
It may be that a surgeon expert in arthrofibrosis could help - possibly a posterior capsulotomy might release tight capsule tissue at the back of the knee? eg www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/primers/whos-who-knee-surgery/whos-who-arthrofibrosis-surgery
I have same problem
There have no any possibility to bend leg without surgery???? plz give me information??
No I have this condition I can't bend knee nor straighten my leg properly
I have this problem how to contact you ??
I have got tibia surgery & steel plate embedded but know more than 50 days I unable to bend knee more than 100 degree angle can I get help from your side As my physotheriest is casual & I not getting some good one
You do not say what exactly the surgery was for? It would be good for you to speak again to the surgeon, who might consider intervening with a manipulation. Meanwhile you could try lying wall slides - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/knee-rehabilitation-principles-exercises/z-exercises/lying-wall-slides or using equipment like a flexionator to help - kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/blogs/missmyknee/2007/need-flexion-get-ermi
There is a free ebook here that you can download with details of further flexion exercises www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/ebooks/cornerstones-early-knee-rehabilitation
It's been 8 weeks since my knee surgery. And I only have 110% ROM.
My surgeon said I have to be at 125 ROM by the next 6 weeks. I'm afraid I can get this. What should I do should I tell my surgeon to consider extra help because so far I only go once a week to my physical therapist and I only get 30 min with her. I try to do my exercises at home but it's far too painful. Help me!
Red Wolf You are at an important stage in rehabilitation. Now that you have watched this video and understand many of the issues, you will know that adhesions can still be broken down but it requires that the physiotherapy progresses with a focus on gentle sustained stretches and patellar mobilisation exercises. Here is a link to a paper on how to mobilise the patella - this is still relevant to your daily at home work, and you can do it yourself if you have to - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/courses/arthrofibrosis-rehab-tutorials-dirk-kokmeyer-pt-scs-comt/patellar-mobilisation-part-2-set
You may try lying wall slides - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/exercises/z-exercises/lying-wall-slides - using the weight of your leg to help to gentle assist flexion, and facilitating it with the other leg.
You may try prone rope stretches - www.spineandsportspt.org/web_images/dsc_0129a.jpg - focusing on slow but prolonged stretching.
This is only valid until the end of June 2015, but Udemy are offering our Knee Stiffness course on sale if you feel that you would like to get more in-depth information - www.udemy.com/courses/search/?q=knee
Get it asap... It's been 4 months and I'm still only at 90° surgeon is expecting 120 .... I was avoiding exercises at home only becoz of that terrible and horrible pain I had to tolerate... But now it's stiff as hell... And I have to tolerate even more pain coz scare tissue is almost set and has messed with my range of motion... I'm a BMX stunter ... And you can imagine how upsetting it is to see the knee only at 90°>>>> so I'll say No pain no gain... Your scar tissue shouldn't have matured by now... The pain you feel now will be multiples by 50 times if it's matured...
It would have made sense to have a speaker who didn't whisper.
its happening to me right now. . wow I'm so sad right now
I am so sorry to hear that. But if you learn all about it now and get some advice from others, you should be able to know what the next steps are to trying to improve things.
Its been 5weeks since total knee replacement but I can bend my 112 but it constantly stiffening up and I have keep exercising and icing it but after its stiffen up again
@@neechelethompson793 hi , Same here ! What happend with your knee?
My knee is infection there’s pus cells how can I treat
thank u
I tore my acl, mcl, plc. it happen June 26 but I had to surgeries and I cannot bend on my own. on a machine I'm getting better almost 76 degrees but I see small improvements. The doctor said while I'm under surgery he bend it 140 but awoke I can't do that this whole video explain my pain. I'm going to therapy but it's killing me at times and I have a lot of scar tussie.
That is a very severe injury. So sorry to hear that you are still struggling. Follow some of the links further down the page here to get more advice and help because you still have a long way to go.
I have the same problem. What should I do now. I'm on bed since last 2 years because of this. Please somebody suggest me.
hello de.Sheila,m'y husband had an acl reconstruction three Monty ago,and till now he canot bend or extend his leg!!!!his doctor forms an manipulation under anesthesia yesterday,and a another doctor told him about scar tissue and wishes to do arthroscopic surgery,is it dangerous or painful?is he going to take to recover and to gain wide range mouvement?please answer me!because he's feeling so depressed.please!
After three months it is hard to say. This is one of the higher-risk procedures for internal scarring and there are sometimes other factors to take into consideration - like the positioning of the graft, and the width of the notch through which the reconstruction was passed.
If he has regained some range of motion with the manipulation, then it is important that he keeps on with any rehabilitation programme, and carefully monitors his progress. It may indeed be necessary to remove scar tissue, but the surgeon needs still to monitor the rehabilitation closely.
Hi Edie I am in the same position now.. May i know your husbands status?
Dr kept me in brace for 6weeks with really no bend , now can only get a 70 degree bend. Im really worried!! I had acl and lateral,medial meniscus and a thigh graft above my knee. Help i really dont want to have surgery again. I can straighten my knee fine. Just no bend further 70
It will get better just keep doing the physio therapy and use a heat pack before you sleep and rub it down with massage oil. Franch oil is a good choice
Smh I went months without therapy I fill like I'm out of luck
Dallas Nelson If you click this link, Dallas, I have set up a free coupon to our course which may help you - just click the link and then the blue button - it is only valid for you - www.udemy.com/the-stiff-knee-after-injury-or-surgery/?couponCode=DallasNelson_0
Dallas Nelson Hi, I see you already found this video, which I had suggested to you via a different post.
I saw from your other post that you had a fracture with screws. It is often problematic to rehab if the fracture went through the jointline itself or if you were immobilised for a long time.
What is important is to try and get some expert help. It may be that you have internal adhesions, or that the fracture reduction is not perfect, but it does not mean that nothing can be done.
We maintain a list of surgeons who are expert in managing complications such as arthrofibrosis, and it may be worth your making contact via phone or email to ask for advice - www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/whos-who-knee-surgery/whos-who-arthrofibrosis-surgery
Was es ist weiß ich, nur helfen kann Keiner. Höre nur Vorträge die keine Info geben.
Very difficult very painful
Thank you so much for this.
it is to slow
I am sorry about that. Here are some shorter articles - ikneeguru.com/category/rehabilitation/rom/arthrofibrosis/
What happened to your voice.... did you argue with someone yesterday
I tore my acl, mcl, plc. it happen June 26 but I had to surgeries and I cannot bend on my own. on a machine I'm getting better almost 76 degrees but I see small improvements. The doctor said while I'm under surgery he bend it 140 but awoke I can't do that this whole video explain my pain. I'm going to therapy but it's killing me at times and I have a lot of scar tussie.