This site has been wonderful, I am so glad I found it. It's 3 am in
UK and as lots of you state sleep is a nightmare. I still take tramadol at night but manage thru the day.
One of my concerns is how tight my scar is? It healed well and
I'm using bio oil twice a day to massage the scar but it feels so
tight as if I haven't enough 'give'. It is one of the reasons I'm not
sleeping and any advice would be great.
Hi Lynne. I am 3 weeks post TKR and.my physical therapist just started massaging my scar. I have been rubbing Vit E oil on it but it was amazing how deep she pressed when she did it. Now I'm doing it and I can actually feel "pops" as I move through tight scar tissue. Not only does it feel better but the scar is much flatter and less puckered. Are you still going to physio? Maybe they or your doctor could show you how to do it. Best of luck with it.
Hi Lynne I feel ya..I'm 9 weeks out and my scar acts the same way..between it being itchy and sore I'm going crazy..sleep my dear what is that lol I massage anything and everything I can for relief.
I even pay my son lol to itch it for me..it's worth it he has the magic touch..I don't see much about angry tight ichy scars on here so I'm hoping someone responds that has a trick that works..for both of us..I'm in California and I dread the notes cuz they seem longer then the days ..wishing you good luck with your recovery know your not alone..I love this forum it has helped so much..sorry I didn't solve anything for you and I piggybacked on your comment.
sometimes you gotta vent..thanks take care Kim
Oh yes, the tightness of the scar! For me, the bottom half isn't too bad, but the upper half is puckered and tight. I also massage it with vitamin e oil, but not nearly as deep as they do in PT. That always brings me to tears.
I know this all takes time, but yes, it can drive one nuts!
Grateful for this forum to know I am not alone.
Thanks Kim, it just makes me feel less isolated or weak knowing others feel the same. I do try and massage deeply but as Debz says not like the physios!
Thanks I am trying to do it deeply, I had no idea how long the recovery would be. Seeing consultant Monday so I hope he has some ideas.x
Lynne52040
I'm 20 days PO and slthough behind your stage, my scar although healing nicely, feels very tight also. I shall wait till 4 wks PO before I start massaging oil/cream into knee. Without doubt I can now manage during the daytime better with just paracetamol, but the early morning hours are still brutal. The burning,stabbing and shooting pains begin around midnight and continue for 4-5 hours, it's unbearable. Paracetamol just doesn't even tough it. I intend to get meds for nerve pain when my gp reopens on Monday. I hope your incision eases up soon. Regards Msrgsret
Good morning.
The reason your scar is tight is down to the scar UNDER your scar. When they sew you up they do it in layers. To get through the pain you must keep bend your knee; as far back as you can bear and hold, release and stretch your leg out and hold, all the while tightening your muscles. Give yourself a count to 10 and start again. (two exercises in one) Keep massaging as it also helps calm the nerves that are also healing and although you may not realise it, are also causing your discomfort. It may well be the nerves and not the scar that is causing the itching. Lying in bed id a great place to do this exercise. Try sliding your foot towards you backside and hold, then slide back towards the bottom of your bed, stretching your muscles.
One last idea. Sitting on a chair (say at breakfast/lunch etc) pull your operated leg under the chair and hold it in place with your good leg. You should be able to push back and release as needed and may progress even further than you think. So long as your stretch your leg out, you can do it til you get bored (Just dont go gung ho)
Thanks, will try this
I ended up sleeping with a pillow underneath my knee and also putting a cold flannell on it when I woke in the night.
I had always been such a good sleeper and problems with sleeping was something I simply did not anticipate. Maybe I should have done.
Even now 3 years later I still do not sleep as well as I did before I had my knee replacement. It just seems to have changed my pattern of sleep.
Though I do not actually wake up in pain anymore.
I think it is just something we have to deal with.
Hope this helps
Sarah xxx
Thanks Sarah x
Have you tried putting a pillow under your mattress
I have tried so many times to put a pillow under my knee or between my knees, without success. I have always been a left side sleeper and my left knee had the TKR. I end up having to sleep (hahaha) on my back, propped up about 40 degrees.
Massage, massage, massage!!! You can also move your knee cap up and down and from side to side. The scar tissue affects this too. I thought my PT was nuts when she started doing this but surprise, surprise, it felt good, and also helped with bending and that tight feeling. I am 22 weeks PO and still do this. Not so much with the knee cap, since it moves quite well on its own. I have continued to massage my leg and knee, as it still gets stiff and sore at times. This TKR is a b-tch of a surgery and the recoup time is forever. At least it feels that way. Somehow we manage to get through the pain, the sleeplessness, and all the other stuff they didn't tell us about. Hang in there, things will get better.
I know everyone on this site says ice, ice, ice, but have you tried using a wheatie bag. Popped into the microwave and then on your knee. The heat is soothing (more so if it has lavender spritzed on it), it moulds to the contours of your knee so you can lay on your side or back, with just a small amount of pressure but not uncomfortable
Use a wheaie bag, you don't have to have it heated (it can be cold too), but is stays in place. You can also get one with cherry pips, am told it is very beneficial
Thanks, your adv is very welcome
saw consultant today who said bend was as good as it gets but that scar had to be managed by massage until Xmas!
Wheatie bag??
Wouldn't the heat be bad for swelling?
Yes, you're right. Heat is not good for swelling. You want to ice it to bring the swelling down. That's what my surgeon and PT both said.
Hi Margaret, Did you get some nerve meds from yr Dr? A couple of weeks ago my GP gave me some Valium (just 14 / 2mg tabs) but on a really bad night they help a lot, along with more pain meds. I only use them sparingly but they have been a good help. During the day I usually manage unless I do too much, then I just take mild tabs, but at night I still use Tramadol.
I saw my consultant yesterday,he said it was still acceptable to still need pain meds.
I did ask him why he hadn't told me how bad it was going to be and he laughed and said he hadn't told me it was an easy op! He said my knee bend was practically at the 130 degree that the new joint would allow. The scar he said would be better by Xmas but may always be a bit troublesome. It's a good job I really respect him as a surgeon! So scar massage and physio continue.
It has been such a help to find this forum, recovery would have been a lonely experience without all the lovely people who " talk" on here.
good luck with your journey x