Barbara's arthrofibrosis story

Note from the IAA: For privacy reasons, the name Barbara used in this story is a pseudonym.

I am a 74-year-old woman from Kentucky (USA), and before my total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, I was highly active, maintaining a disciplined exercise routine for over 40 years. When it came time for surgery, I sought out the highest-rated surgeon in my area, encouraged by numerous success stories from former patients. However, after the TKR, I experienced a medical emergency that led to a week-long hospitalization, where I received non-aggressive physical therapy.

Upon my release, I continued with physical therapy, but my knee flexion was only about 50 degrees, and trying to bend my knee was excruciating. My therapist didn’t fully recognize the severity of the scar tissue, and despite being very pain-tolerant, there was simply no way I could “force” flexion through such intense pain, even while regularly taking opioids. After eight weeks of physical therapy, three times a week, I was still only at about 75 degrees of flexion, so it was recommended that I undergo manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA).

After the MUA, I couldn’t put weight on my operative leg, which had clearly suffered significant trauma from the surgeon bending my knee to 125 degrees through the scar tissue. This trauma led to a quadriceps hematoma caused by bleeding from blood vessels. As a result, I had to endure non-aggressive flexion therapy and almost constant immobilization.

When I was finally able, I began physical therapy to rebuild muscle strength in my calf and leg muscles, attending sessions three times a week and diligently following up with daily exercises. Now, 11 weeks post-MUA, my flexion is at 76 degrees. Surgery to remove scar tissue is being recommended in five months.

Throughout this ordeal, my faith has been the only thing sustaining me, helping me find perseverance, acceptance, and a new way of life.