NOTES - Surgical Procedures :

removing screw - - Posted by Lauren (Lauren), 12 November 2004

I had a proximal/ distal relignment about 18 months ago. Saw the doc yesterday said i was doing well but he wanted to remove the screw in the next few months and remove the scar tissue. My question is are you nonweight baring for any time after the screws are removed? Anyother information welcome.
Posted by hmaxwell (Heather M.), 12 November 2004

I think the scar tissue removal is going to have a lot bigger impact on your recovery than the screw coming out.  I was non-weight-bearing for 10 full days following my last scope to remove scar tissue.  Others have done varying lengths of time NWB following this procedure, which is called arthroscopic lysis of adhesions.  The rehab protocol is pretty exacting and specific, and in my case called for very gentle, passive PT work with no weight-bearing.  Efforts were focused on getting full range of motion--bending and straightening--back as quickly as possible, and doing everything to keep the irritation and inflammation in the knee to the barest minimum.  I was in a CPM machine 18-20 hours/day, which also wasn't a lot of fun...watched tons of TV, did formal PT twice a day for a week, then daily for 6 months...but again, I had a very specific and exacting rehab protocol because my arthrofibrosis (excessive scar tissue formation) is really out of control--my body does not know when to shut off the scarring process.

You may want to go to the soft tissue healing problems section and look up the 'scar tissue surgery' posts or the 'lysis of adhesions' threads--that being the official name for scar tissue removal surgery.

Good luck!

Heather

PS How is your TTT otherwise?  Are you fully recovered, or has the scar tissue been holding you back?
Posted by Lauren (Lauren), 14 November 2004

The actual surgey recovery is doing well. No pain or anything like before surgery. Quad srength in operative side is at 67% and ham is at 89% so i still have to do some work there. The only thing that bothers me is now the grinding in my knee is getting worse since befoe surgery.

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