Cheers. I was in PT yesterday, sitting next to a women who'd torn a shoulder muscle. She's an experienced, licensed masseuse, and she'd recommended a masseuse she'd been going to who is "very good with scar tissue." She said that becase she's a masseuse herself, she knows real massage therapy from bogus massage.
I'm three weeks to the day from TKR of my right knee, and while I'm progressing fairly well (-2/100), I thought I'd give this a try, but wanted to check with my forum buddies to see whether anyone has had good/bad experience with massage therapy for pain and/or scar tissue relief.
Hi, I'm 6 and a bit weeks tkr and use massage on the scar as per forum advice - use Bio Oil. Surgeon said don't do it until the scar is totally healed because of risk of infection, so that's when I started. Good luck!
I did the massage that my PT showed me for my knee surgery scar and it really worked well. Breaking down the adhesions.
My Best !
In my opinion I think it's too early to be having this.
Couldn't one just cover the scar with a long bandage? Or is this area part of what is needed to be massaged?
you must have gotten your surgery near mine, (on Aug 2). How deep is your flexion? Mine is only about 50. I suspect scar tissue as well.
Yep, August 2 it was. I'm really working hard on some of the exercises. I actually find the wall slide to be somewhat enjoyable. I know that I'm able to walk around better afterward, and I'm able to see my progress by how far down the wall I can go. That's where I really push. I want to see a 4-inch or more difference between my first stretch and my 10nth. Some of the little games I play to make it through this.
I'm at 100 flexion, I can walk without a cane (but carry it anyway), and am just starting to climb stairs normally (but holding onto railing the whole way).
I'm still about -2 or -3. Doing the straight-leg exercise kills me. Am hoping to start driving again next week (Surgery was on my right leg, which makes it a bigger challenge.)
Sorry if this sounds like bragging. I guess it is. But I attribute it to ommitting to the exercises the correct number of reps, the correct times,a dn the correct number of sets per day). I realized early on that there are no shortcuts. You've got to exercise to get rid of the scar tissue, ice to reduce swelling and pain, and elevate to reduce swelling. I'm very fortnate in that my business allows me to work from home, which I'm able to do about half time. Still on meds, which makes me a bit daffy, and I fatigue easily. Have a lot of trouble falling asleep, especially on active days, because my pain is so great.
I was four days without pain meds and thought I could say goodbye to them, but went back to therapy with a new therapist so back on them, using them as a tool to continue to push for greater ROM. You are right they make one loopy, AND tired. Don't worry about bragging, that progresss is due to your dedication. You diserve kuddos. I am happy to hear others doing well. I may just get there myself !
Thanks Lynn. What's your exercise regimen? How do you lkke your therapist?
The scar area and the scar itself is what you want to massage. That's why it needs to be completely healed. Usually after you have your stitches or staples out. As long as there is no seeping or oozing of anything, it should be OK to start massaging the area. Also moving the knee cap up, down, and side to side. Yes, it does move and moving it also helps break up any scar tissue.
Hi, I've seen it mentioned a few times about moving your knee cap .. I have never been told this and haven't ever had it touched or moved. I tried the other night to find it and couldn't I know by the xrays that it's as tiny as .. why are you recommended to move it .. seeing my pt tonight must remember to ask her about it!
My PT did it and then showed me how to move my knee cap. It does make a difference in how your knee feels. As long as everything is moving smoothly, the knee will heal and be able to move much better. After she (my PT) did this, my bend improved greatly!!!
If you lay your leg out on a bed and relax it...slowly feel around on top where you think the knee cap would be. It may look like a bump, Mine is about the size of a half dollar. It will move if you take your fingers and push gently on one side, then the other. It will move up and down too. It might be a bit uncomfortable at first because of scar tissue, but it sure feels good. At least it did for me. I know I had less pain after the first time my PT did it. Everything seemed to move much easier.
I spoke to my pt last night about and she had never heard of it being moved b4 and she's a rehab pt and does lots of pt on TKR she said that she'd never heard of it down here in Aus... she also said that she couldn't find mine due to excessive swelling and fluid .. I'm 10.5mth post op now. So after hearing her I'm not concerned about not having it moved.
I do like this therapist, who seems knowledgable and able to answer my questions. I'm not worried if some of the employees there were taken aback by my refusal to be worked on by the therapy assistant (not even licensed, just helps out) who felt making patients scream was acceptable. My surgeon was horrified to hear about her methods. I do the leg lifts, both straight and bent and then I use a strap to help pull the leg to a flexion position, then back to a minus extention with a roll under my heel - a technigue done sitting with legs flat out in front. Another way is sitting in a chair with wheels, and rolling back and forth to flex and unflex - much like the constant motion machine. The surgeon says more and more flextion can be gained even up to two years. He calmed my fear about scar tissue which the one individual used to gain cooperation. I'm betting she really loves hurting grown men in particular. I feel sorry for the therapy office having someone like her who has got to be driving away business, because in all other aspects they are good business and I'd taken my mom there multiple times. She sort of came right up to me as soon as I got back, to let me know and I quote "it won't be me from now on hurting you." Any future contact with her and I will ask her to run her techniques by the knee surgeons, so they know who she is. (haha) And I feel for anyone who has had some skewed perspective thrust on them as to what is involved in getting your knee functional. More I could comment on about that because I find odd personalities interesting, but it's off topic.
Hi rang my surgeon to query about moving the knee cap and he replied never .. he said with my parts it's never to be moved he said it was one of the newest ones out and he has never recommend anyone to move their new cap as it's not like your old bone one.
I told my PT about this, and she showed me how to do it. Creeped me out, frankly, and didn't really do much for me. 3-1/2 weeks out, BTW. I'll try it a few times before giving up.
Hello Again ,
So what creeped you out about this ? It does make a sort of popping noise or feeling. If done consistantly you will have a flat small scar . The other thing I was told to do is put sunscreen on the scar to keep it from turning dark .
Keep in touch.
It creeped me out too, but I kept at it. Since it's right under the incision, scar tissue will form there also. Anywhere there might be scar tissue, you want to work on and break it up. Three and a half weeks isn't a very long time, when you consider the total healing process will take up to a year!!!!
Both my Pt and my orthopedic surgeon said that since your 'real' knee cap moves, you want the 'new' one to move also. To each their own.
To each his own. Since your 'real' knee cap moves you want your 'fake' one to move also. Sometimes the surgeon will totally remove the real one but usually they just shave some bone and glue it to a bit of plastic and put it back. Mayve you have a 'totally fake' knee cap and that makes the difference.