Stiffness w/ Surgery Two ACL scar tissue

by Jeremy
(Minnesota)

I am a 29 year old male. I am very competitive and active. This summer June 14th I tore my ACL, meniscus damage, & and impact fracture when my tibia busted through the cartilidge surrounding my femur. (Bone to Bone impact)
I had to be on crutches to let the bone bruising heal. I had 90 degrees ROM going into surgery as they thought cartilidge may have been in the way. I had surgery on August 10th. My ROM and extension never really came around. I was around 90 for ROM and my leg would not straighten.
I had a second surgery to remove scar tissue on Sept.28th. I am 3 weeks out and my leg can straighten however my ROM is only at 90 degrees and super stiff. After talking with a physical therapist not even 3 weeks out he thinks my scarring has formed again. Wondering if anyone else is or has been in the same predicament? I have been going to PT 5 days a week and rehabbing on my own. I have been extremely frustrated and mentally tired.
Any success stories pertaining to this? At first I wanted to get back and play at a high level. Now I just want to walk normally and be able to run after my 2 year old daughter.
Thanks!
Jeremy

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Stiffness w/ Surgery Two ACL scar tissue

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Oct 27, 2009
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Scar tissue Problems
by: Allison

Hello Jeremy. I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with scar tissue. I've also had problems in that area and hope to be a success story. It's been a long road that isn't over. I'm a 44 year old female firefighter, mountain biker, runner, adventure racer (so as you can see I rely on my legs for everything).
I tore my ACL on March 28th, 2009. I had my first surgery on April 14th to reconstruct my ACL using my patellar tendon and to clean up meniscus damage. After doing a lot of therapy, my progress stalled. I was having a lot of pain so I asked for an MRI. It showed a lot of scar tissue within and around my knee. I had a second surgery on July 7th to remove this scar tissue. I felt good afterwards but a few weeks later I was feeling that familiar tightness and pain again. My flexion is around 150 degrees after alot of stretching. Extension is just a few degrees short of my good knee but I believe that is what is limiting me the most. It's a problem when I try to run or hike. I just had another MRI which showed more scar tissue. My choices are "wait and see" if the tissue loosens over time (my doctor thinks it will) or another surgery with no guarantees that scar tissue will not come back. As you can imagine, I do not want another surgery but I am not happy with the way my knee is now. I want to get back to work and all my activities just like you do. So right now I'm taking the wait and see approach while I continue to rehab and ride my bike (thank goodness that doesn't bother me).
There are some good sites online explaining scar tissue problems and what can be done after surgery to prevent its regrowth. I don't have the info with me but I'll get back to you later. In the mean time search arthrofibrosis. There are some doctors in NJ and Pennsylvania that specialize with that problem.
Good luck to you (and me). Let me know how this turns out for you.
Allison
P.S. If you want to contact directly, my e-mail is alifontana@bellsouth.net

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Oct 27, 2009
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Submitted by: Allison

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Hello Jeremy. I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with scar tissue. I've also had problems in that area and hope to be a success story. It's been a long road that isn't over. I'm a 44 year old female firefighter, mountain biker, runner, adventure racer (so as you can see I rely on my legs for everything). I tore my ACL on March 28th, 2009. I had my first surgery on April 14th to reconstruct my ACL using my patellar tendon and to clean up meniscus damage. After doing a lot of therapy, my progress stalled. I was having a lot of pain so I asked for an MRI. It showed a lot of scar tissue within and around my knee. I had a second surgery on July 7th to remove this scar tissue. I felt good afterwards but a few weeks later I was feeling that familiar tightness and pain again. My flexion is around 150 degrees after alot of stretching. Extension is just a few degrees short of my good knee but I believe that is what is limiting me the most. It's a problem when I try to run or hike. I just had another MRI which showed more scar tissue. My choices are "wait and see" if the tissue loosens over time (my doctor thinks it will) or another surgery with no guarantees that scar tissue will not come back. As you can imagine, I do not want another surgery but I am not happy with the way my knee is now. I want to get back to work and all my activities just like you do. So right now I'm taking the wait and see approach while I continue to rehab and ride my bike (thank goodness that doesn't bother me). There are some good sites online explaining scar tissue problems and what can be done after surgery to prevent its regrowth. I don't have the info with me but I'll get back to you later. In the mean time search arthrofibrosis. There are some doctors in NJ and Pennsylvania that specialize with that problem. Good luck to you (and me). Let me know how this turns out for you. Allison P.S. If you want to contact directly, my e-mail is alifontana@bellsouth.net

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Mar 05, 2010
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Same Story
by: Anonymous

Your story is almost identical to mine! I'm hear looking for advice as well. My arthroscopic "buff and polish" to remover scar tissue was less than 3 weeks ago and I've been spending lots of time on a stationary bike and am hoping for the best in getting my full extension back soon!