Question - Knee Injury and Stiffness After Arthroscopy

by Steven Kembery
(Bath, England)

10 months ago I injured my knee playing football. 5 months later I had an arthroscopy. Unfortunately I am no closer to returning to playing competitive sports because I feel I have lost quite a bit of range and my knee sometimes feels locked - is this normal?

My knee tends to get very stiff after sport (which is light jogging at the moment) and it still feels like I have some fluid on the knee joint (on the outside) - is this normal too? Does it sound like another operation is needed or can I restore to full fitness from the exercises you have detailed from your very helpful website? Its worth noting that at present I have very stiff hamstrings because I never used to stretch them much and this might have had something to do with the injury.

Your advice would be greatly received.

Many Thanks
Steve

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Question - Knee Injury and Stiffness After Arthroscopy

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Nov 19, 2007
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Stiffness is very common...
by: Bart - SII

Stiffness after knee surgery is very common. What kind of surgery did you have. Did they remove part of the meniscus, or did you have articular cartilage damage? How long were you on crutches, and what kind of rehabilitation did you do following surgery? Did you ever regain full motion after surgery? A little more information will help to get a better picture of what might be going on.

Most of the time stiffness after knee surgery is caused by swelling initially, and then either adhesions within the tissues, contractures of the muscles, or a loss of normal arthrokinematic motions.

Scar tissue formation and contractures of the muscles can usually be self treated with range of motion activities and friction massage. Arthrokinematic motions must be restored with joint mobilizations and this is done by a PT or ATC.

Feelings of stiffness after activities may be due to some swelling. If you are having episodes of locking, you may have something else going on inside of your knee.

5 months out from surgery is usually enough time to recover, depending on what was done inside your knee...however, everyone heals differently. Often, it just takes time to regain motion and function. I would encourage you to talk with your physician if you are concerned about your progress.

Great questions!

Nov 30, 2007
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question r/t acl reconstruction
by: connie

Hi Steve,

I'm getting ready to do this surgery, so I'm checking out others' experiences with it. Found your blog after I found a scientific report on it, so thought I'd try to share what I learned.

The recovery depends on where the donor ligament came from. Since you're talking about fluid and instability at 10 months I'm wondering if yours came from your hamstring? The report I found talked about the hamstring tendon having to "mature" and that instability was noted between 4 months and 2 years postop. Seems odd it doesn't show in months 0-4 postop, but apparently it doesn't.

I don't know about the "locked" part, except that I've experiences that presurgery from a torn meniscus. Don't know if that helps, or not.

Best of luck with your recovery.

Feb 20, 2008
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Update after 9 months post op (Knee)
by: Steven Kembery

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me with your comments. I am now 9 months past op and just wanted to give an update, particulary as I am still pretty worried about the rehabilitation of my knee, although I am actually travelling at the moment, so seeing a Doctor or a Physio is a bit difficult.

I can now walk and jog ok, but I have lost a lot of pace due to the fact that my injured leg has lost alot of range. When I try and sprint, friends tell me it is very noticeable that I am carrying this injury. In some ways it does still feel locked.

Should I continue with the range exercises? Will this resolve the problem? And will this get better with time?

Do you think I should go back to the Physio when I return home to the UK, because it doesnt sound right?

Do you think I should have another MRI scan? Its just I don't understand what the restriction is because the operation should have cleared any cartiliage blocking my knee.

Your comments would be gratefully received.

Kind Regards
Steven Kembery

Feb 20, 2008
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I would return to your physio
by: Bart - SII

Continuing the range of motion exercises won't hurt anything, but at 9 months out from surgery, you probably have restrictions that cannot be treated with just these exercises.

There could be any number of things causing your restrictions. You could have some scarring around the joint capsule that has tightened the knee down and won't let it move fully. You could have lost some of the normal accessory motions in the knee.(when you bend and extend the femur has to roll and glide on the tibia. If these accessory motions are restricted, it gets locked up)

Time will continue to help - but I would talk to your physio or doctor when you can.

Thanks for your update...keep us posted on how things progress.

Aug 10, 2009
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Knee injury and stiffness
by: Anonymous

Like to know if you had just 30 degrees of ROM after post-operative about 9 months what advice do you have for me?

Oct 23, 2009
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life after knee arthroscopy
by: Paula

6 weeks ago I had arthroscopic left knee surgery as I tore the meniscus. I am a young 67 and had my right hip totally replaced last November. I recovered great from the hip, went back to walking briskly 4 miles per day and then suddenly while walking down the steps heard a pop and the knee injury. My question is ..I am in much more pain, stiffness, and discomfort especially at night with this supposedly simple arthroscopic knee surgery. What's up? How long with this recovery take? My orthopedic Dr. says I am way ahead of the game. I am very frustrated. I do the daily exercises and have joined a pool and I am back selling houses but after sitting especially feel like I'm at least 100 when I stand up. Help!!!

Jun 08, 2010
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Five weeks post-op after meniscus surgery
by: Patti

I'm 57 and suffered a complex tear in my left meniscus. Had surgery 5 weeks ago. I certainly sympathize with everyone who still has pain and stiffness after the surgery. I do fine unless I've sat for a long time. Then the stiffness is so bad that I limp again. Also, after sleeping all night, it takes me about 2 hours each morning to finally get the leg going again so that I can bear full weight on it. Still can't do stairs well, but I'm riding my recumbent bike daily and doing all the therapy exercises. Can finally lock the leg back now which I really had a problem with. Lying on the bed on your stomach and letting your legs hang off and have gravity pull it toward the floor is the best exercise of all. I've really pushed it. My husband says I've tried to go too fast with the rehab, but I figure if you don't push and work through the pain, the longer it will take. Just hope I can do stairs comfortably soon!

Oct 18, 2010
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knee stiffness.
by: matthew slack

I had arthroscopic knee surgery on my left knee to re-align my knee cap on the 15th of September. however my knee got infected after surgery and I was re-admitted to hospital for 2 weeks. In those 2 week I had 3 procedures to remove the infection (two of which were done arthroscopic-ally, the 3rd procedure they had to make and incision on the medial side of my knee.
My knee was extremely stiff in my second week of hospital. I have been at home now for 2 weeks, doing the exercises to increase the range of flexion in my knee but it isn't much. It has improved since my second week in hospital but my knee still feels very stiff. The physios reckon my knee should be bending a lot more, but it literally feels like its impossible for my knee to bend any more. can you give me any advice as to why my knee is so stiff still?

Feb 06, 2011
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Stiff knee
by: Rachel

i was told by my surgeon that i needed to have a patella realignment op. due to the period of recovery time i asked him to perform an arthroscopy to see if there was anything else he could do. he performed the arthroscopy and tidied up my cartlidge and carried out a partial fat pad removal. i am now 4 weeks post op. swelling in my knee is still quite bad, and i seem to have lost around 80% of the original motion. i am ok straightening my knee but am unable to bend it more or less at all. i went back to see the surgeon who was stumped as to why i havent been able to bend it. he told me this has never happened to him before and has referred me for urgent physio. my knee feels stiff and like it has heavy strapping around it restricting the movement. it is also quite unstable and seems to lock out when i walk. i am hobbling along at the moment and getting quite worried that it will not bend again. any suggestions anyone?

Jun 15, 2011
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Muscle pain after arthroscopy
by: Rachel

I had an arthroscopy on my right leg 12 days ago and althought the knee freels reasonably stable and pain free my thigh muscles are very painful. I am hardly sleeping at night because I just cannot get comfortable. Even with Paracetamol and Ibuprofen I am in considerable pain. This pain came on slowly 3-4 days post operatively. The surgeon saw me at day 10 and told my to remove the pressure stockings to see it that helped but it hasn't. I am seeing the physio today for the first time....I just hope she can help. I have done all the normal first stge physio exercises several times a day but now I find the straight leg lift just too painful to do. Has anyone else had experience like this and do you have any suggestions? I would be grateful for advise. As in similar posts, sitting is uncomfortable.

Jun 15, 2011
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Arthroscopy Update
by: Rachel

i posted last in Feb when i was 4wks post op. I am now able to bend my knee though do not have full range of movement back 6 months on! i cannot kneel, sit cross legged, run, do squats or lunges. still struggle with stairs and still in pain. so in all the op hasnt helped me at all! back to the consultant in July so will see what he says, though i know he will suggest a lateral release, which i am reluctant to have as i have heard such horror stories!

Aug 06, 2011
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4 months post op rt knee arthroscope
by: charlotte

I STILL HAVE PAIN WHEN I WALK, SINCE SURGERY,,,STILL HAVE KNEE STIFFNESS, ESPECIALLY AFTER SITTING TOO LONG...MY ORTHO DR. IS DISAPPOINTED,,,,SHE SAYS IT WILL GET BETTER,,I DID HAVE A TORN MINISCUS AND LOTS OF ARTHRITIS, THAT SHE HAD TO SCRAPE,,,,,NEED ENCOURAGEMENT,,,CHARLOTTE IN FLA.

Sep 13, 2011
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knee problem
by: Anonymous

Hi my name is Vonda On May 26 2011 I had a Arthroscopy I just recently went to thearpy. And my knee is still very stiff and she feeling inflamed. what should I do I purcahse a tens unit and it really helps. what else can i do.

Sep 27, 2011
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Meniscus Repair
by: Michelle

i sure feel better after reading ya'lls comments. i am 8 weeks post repair and still am stiff and feeling as if an invisible band is circulating my knee. what is weird is the more i move it about, the stiffer it gets! i have full ROM luckily but still unable to do individual stair stepping, especially downhill. i never thought it would take this long to be back to normal and feel better reading i am not the only one!

Sep 28, 2011
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post op arthroscopy and post 4 wks orthovisc injections
by: charlotte edwards

I AM BACK HERE AGAIN....I THINK MY RT KNEE IS BETTER, AFTER INJECTIONS,, BUT HAVE PAIN WALKING FROM PAIN IN BONE BELOW KNEE,,,,,I PLAN TO SEE SPORTS DOC ON FRIDAY,,,FOR THIS PROBLEM,,,WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED,,,BEEN LIMPING SINCE APRIL 2011,,,,FEELING FRUSTRATED,,,,LOTS OF LUCK TO YOU ALL,,,

Jan 07, 2012
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( 9 months and waiting to walk without limp NEW
by: kIMBLE

March 09, 2010, my meniscus tore and I underwent meniscus surgery on my left knee with arthritis scrapeing on April 01. The surgeon told me I doubt that you will be back to see me or need therapy.

Nine months later I am limping more . Ten weeks of physical therapy, the therapist told me I would not be back to normal at the close of therapy and suggested walking in water. Just completed 2 months of walking in heated saline pool.

Unable to walk through any kind of store, to go for a walk with the dog, to kneel, squat and even a little walking makes me tired. I go to a massage therapist once a month for trigger point release.

Am returning to the physical therapist for a complete evaluation and therapy again. Really mixed feelings about seeing the surgeon again. What would his suggestion be?--another surgery, a shot into my knee, another xray or mri? Have totally lost faith in this orthopedic surgeon. I should have had the surgeon who operated on his knee to operate on mine.

Feb 25, 2012
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Botched operation NEW
by: MJ

I had an arthroscopy in late September last year to repair a torn cartilage in the knee. After 10 weeks of twice weekly physio I still couldn't bend or straighten the knee or walk any distance and was in a lot of pain. I saw the surgeon 3 times after the operation and asked why I was in so much pain. His only answer was that I needed a knee replacment because of the level of arthritis in the knee and gave me a cortisone injection that I didn't want. The pain increased intensely after this and I was mostly housebound. I went to another surgeon for a second opinion and he said knee replacement wasn't needed and booked me in for a second arthroscopy to fix the mess the first surgeon had caused. Two weeks down the track I still can't walk any distance, have the same stiffness in the leg and I'm more frustrated. The intense pain however, is no longer there and there is more movement in the knee. I have more confidence in this new doctor but I'm so fed up with the enforced inactivity and inablity to do much of anything. I have been doing the recommended exercises at home but next week will go back to the physio and will have acupuncture as well. I just want to walk my dogs again. Can't understand how such a seemingly simple operation has caused more pain and damage than the original problem. Surgeon #1 has much to answer for.

May 13, 2012
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i had knee scope in jan 5th and still swelling limping and hurts is this normal? and what can i do? NEW
by: Anonymous

knee surgery knee scope jan 5th and here it is may is swelling limping and feels like a toothache is this normal? please is there anything i can do?

May 13, 2012
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