has anyone heard of special tools to break up scar tissue? I just heard of this today, and I'm taking a proactive approach to healing. Did some research but haven't seen anything that is on point. Anybody?
No i have not.
Scar tissue responds to massage and movement/bending the knee to more than 90 degrees. Or it did for me. It felt weird when it tore! Kind of like a zipper! I am not familiar with any device to remove scar tissue other than lasers perhaps. There are machines like passive movement devices but I have been fortunate and after 8 months don't appear to have any scar tissue, after bilateral tkr's in March 2016. Ask your physiotherapist perhaps. Good luck to you.
Hi Judy, on my hip, PT used a tool similar to a rolling pin. I bought one on Amazon. Since my knee is bonier, my new PT is using a tool that looks like a cable with a needle-like end that has a variable electric current. Have no idea of the tools name and I'm not sure I described it very well.
For over the knee cap and around the scar itself, I had a therapist use something that looked like an ulu knife, but it was dull, and they scraped away from the scar forcefully in all directions. I think it helped my knee cap to be able to move some. Also any bumps just under the skin get ironed out. I do this now with the back of my thumb nail. Some people kneel on it. FOr bending past the resistance, I used hot water in the tub with the sprayer over my knee and it helped with the pain.
I have used hard foam roller but the best thing is an 18 or 24" roller. I bought one from Amazon for under $20 and use it a couple of times a day. You have to start slowly and lightly because it hurts like He'll by gradually it willloosen things up. I fell the day after my revision and twisted the the femur into at a 20° angle break outside to inside. I had to have a hip to knee plate inserted and held in place with 4 screws that went all the way through the bone and 4 two inch screws that's t went into the femur at the knee. That was in for 10 months and had to be removed because of irritation of the skin on the knee. I had a 3" incision at the hip and 2" incisions 1/2 way. between knee and hip and at the knee. Terrible scar tissue as the leg was immobilized for 6 weeks. The roll has cleaned up 80% of it. Again......be very careful with the pressure. I don't want you at my door in The middle of the night with a baseball bat looking for revenge