hi I had a THR 7 weeks ago. I have got a heaviness around the scar esp. when I lie down and the area around the scar is hard. I have been massaging bio oil in the area. But still concerned everything is normal as I can't find any discussions related to this problem.
i see my consultant next week for 8 weeks check. Hope he might sign me off but still got this scar issue.
any advise please
This is a very deep scar. The scar tissue is right the way down, not on the surface as you will be used to. So it takes a long time to completely resolve. The truck is to break down the keloid tissue, and this means massaging ACROSS the scar, not along or around it. You need to put a fair amount of pressure onto the area as you move across the scar - not enough to hurt, but enough to get the pressure down the layers to the foot of the scar. Seven weeks is no time at all, and you should still be massaging it good and proper months later. I'm at four months, and although no real issues now, still massaging it across the scar to ensure the break up of remaining scar tissue.
Yes this lasts for months . It can sting and throb too if you overdo it. At 6 months mine just about getting there and I can prod it now but it takes ages to go . Sorry ...
Thanks Beth, I will try massaging across instead of down etc,,,any infomation is useful. I was just concerned as I could not find any posts on here about scars and issues. Hope you are doing well. Thanks again
Hi Michelle
I'm nearly 5 weeks post op and I have the same symptoms, there's some significant bumps/lumps around the scar and can experience like a burning /stinging sensation, scar looks normal,iv been rubbing raw coconut oil into it and massaging arnica oil over the hard areas.Thats good advice from Beth, I didn't realise you had to massage over the scar,iv just been doing it down the sides,hopefully this will help. I guess it takes quite some time to heal,hope it improves and you get the all clear from the consultant.
Nicky
I've got the sa me problem. Besides massaging with a suitable cream, I'm applying plasters for scars that help soften it. These plasters are expensive, but they do work.
I was told by my doctor it may take up to one year for the scar to take its definite texture...
Hi Beth
I am 6 days post op from having my right hip replaced. Although my staples have not been removed yet I would like to be prepared for when they are. Did you or do you use any type of oil while massaging your scar?
Thank-you,
Carrie 😊
I'm 4 weeks post thr and have been wondering the same thing. Thx for asking! The scar itself is well healed and dark purple. I think it has stretched a bit, as in it's a wider line, in last week or so and I wondered if putting steristrips on again would help it not to stretch. Mine is cold and hard to touch.
You must not massage until the scar is totally healed over. Wait until the scabs have gone. If you start before that you will dislodge the scabs and make the healing longer, plus risk infection. During this period yippy can use the silicon players or gel - as said, it is expensive, but if you can afford it then this is the only treatment where medical evidence exists to say it does reduce scarring. The gel in a tube goes a long way. You don't need to use very much at all. I got mine from Amazon.
After that, you can begin massage. There times a day is ideal, but definitely twice. Personally I don't think that bio oil is any better than a decent massage oil - I continued to use the gel in the morning, and then jojoba oil with vitamin e the rest of the time. I have almost no scarring now at four months post op - it's just about visible. But you need to take into account that no matter how assiduously you work at it and what you use, there are always differences between people and some will heal better than others. In the end, you are aiming for the skin to be lovely and flexible right the way down - not for a invisible scar. It adds character anyway!
Silicon plasters, not players.!
Just to add, don't use as arnica oil on skin that is broken or any wound that isn't entirely healed (i.e. Don't use it on scabs as it can get into the wound). You don't want it getting into a wound as it can sting and burn. The only time you should use it on broken skin is for bad insect bites, and even then there are better alternatives.
Hi
Many thanks for that,no I only use it around the scar, it's in a carrier oil but I do use coconut oil on scar,there are no open or scabs on it,it seems to be helping.no stinging or pain on application, thanks for the heads up,I didn't know that.
Nicky
Thanks Hazel, it is good to know I am not the only one with this issue. I thought I was a patient person until this operation... obviously not patient enough...
Hi Nicky, I thought Beth's advice about massaging across the scar was good. I was bought bio oil as people rave about it, but wasn't sure about using it as it has a base of petroleum... and think a natural vegetable oil is a better Carrier oil. I also took arnica tablets but haven't tried using it on scar in a carrier...everyone raves about coconut oil for everything. It is one of the current favorites. Not sure about it though. Think I will use jojoba carrier oil or even almond oil...hope your scar improves too.
i am waddling around the house now without a crutch , but need to walk a lot straighter before I do without the crutches... not sure how long this will take... everyone "says take it easy, you are doing really well" so let's hope we all are...
Hi minana, four weeks seems quite early for the scar to look better. Was your scar stitched or stapled? Mine was glued.. and as it is very long they must have used some really good medicinal glue...not sure about putting on steristrips...mine scar was hot and hard... but we are all so different and heal at different rates. Good luck with scar and recovery
I agree - a lot of "raving" goes on, but I do find that in practical application, providing you buy good quality, most oils are a matter of preference. Remember how everything was argan oil not so long ago. Coconut is the new fashion. Next year it will be something else. It's the quality of the product and your use of it that makes the biggest difference - in fact if you have bought decent quality, raising the kitchen cupboard will be fine! Olive oil had a lot of uses! The majority of the work is how toy massage the scar, not what you rub on. The oil is just to create the right gliding movement.
Hi Michelle. My scar has internal dissolving stitches and was well steri- stripped for a good 2 weeks. Was hot and hard. More cold and hard now. Size of hardness improved. I'm. Putting a little heat on it at times when I massage it to help blood flow to scar tissue. Not long but it seems to help. I heard rose hip oil is better than bio oil from a nurse friend. Good luck! M
Hi Beth. So I should use silicone players or gel.Just after the staples come out? But don't massage till all the scans are gone. I don't mind some scarring. I'm 44 and have had 3 children so I do have scars from that. Your right they do add character​...Lol Would be nice to have the least amount from this as possible. I have to get my next one replaced in 6 months so knowing the scarring will be minimal is a nice thought.
Thanks hon,
Carrie😊
normal - it'll get less - I'm assuming by ;heaviness' you mean the hard dense lumpiness that is associated with the area...mine persisted until very recently but is normalizing now (I'm 15 weeks post op)
Hi Michelle
Thanks, I am getting there,sounds like you are too,I'm on one crutch inside the house and have tried some waddling. Yes I use coconut oil in raw state for lots of things,I read the omega fatty oils help with scar healing.iv heard almond oil is good, vitamin e is supposed to be really good for scars,once healed,there's too much on the market, knowing which one to buy is difficult. I'm sure olive oil would do the trick! Anyhows thank-you for your kind words,wishing you a speedy recovery as much as it cam be.take care.
Nicky