Hi! I went to the doctor about 3 months ago because my knee cap dislocated 3 times. I was told that I have a sublixting patella and to do PT. I did the PT for about 1 1/2 months. I had no problems, but now the pain has come back severely and my knew feels weak and it has almost dislocated again. Should I go back to the doctor and seek other treatment? Thank you!
Last edited by HBMod07; 10-06-2008 at 10:40 AM.
Reason: indicating certain ages is not permitted. thank you for understanding
I've been really bad about doing the phsical therapy exercises, but I haven't lost the muscle because I'm a basketball player at my high school. My knee has become more painful every day and I'm now to the point where I have trouble walking. Could this mean that I have done something new to it?
You really need to get your parents to take you to the doc. for a check up. and doing the PT excercises are very important, just because you are active doesn't mean the same thing for your knee.
Thank you for the response! I'm going to a new doctor in a few days as soon as we figure out the insurance stuff. The doctor I origionaly went to was some person's assistant that my pediatrician told us to go to. Im going to start doing the exercises again though. But If physical therapy doesn't work, then what? Also, if I am in a lot of pain, should I be using crutches?
Are you using any type of brace on it? And if so, does it help with the pain? Also are you icing it regularly? If none of these help and it's really painful to walk on, it's your call whether or not to use crutches, ortho docs don't normally reccomend them that often except for after surgery. It doesn't sound like the last doc you seen was an Orthopedic/Orthopedic Surgeon, that is definitely the type of doctor you need to see.
I am using a brace on it, icing it, and elevating it. The brace helps a little bit with the pain. When I ice it, it helps with the pain for like 15-20 minutes. the doctor I went to was an orthopedic guy but I don't think he knew much about what he was talking about. And for the crutches, I'll probably only use them if it's really painful to walk.
Sounds like you are doing everything you can do, add OTC pain meds, like ibuprofen every 4 hrs., and just get into see an Ortho. as soon as you can. Do your PT and good luck.
Yes. Knee subluxation means that a bone slips out of its normal alignment. Your kneecap can sublux in either direction. It is just more common for it to slip out to the outside part of your knee.
I saw an orthopedic doctor and he wants to do surgery on my knee for patella subluxation. He wants to release the lateral, break and realign the bones and put a screw in, and fix a ligament. I have done physical therapy before, and since then there has been a big amount of pain. I now have the choice to either go back and try physical theraphy again, or go ahead with the surgery. Does that kind of surgery require a lot of recovery time?Does anyone have any advice on what to do? Thank you so much!
Last edited by Ashleyj9222; 10-03-2008 at 07:27 PM.
Reason: Typo
Yes I've had that kind of sugery, and it is a long recovery, 2 months in an immobilizing brace and on crutches. 6 months to a point of semi-normal activiy, 1 year full recovery. PT, 2 times a week for 2-3 months, and it is very painful...sorry for the grim picture, but wanted to give you the "true" picture. Good luck with whichever way you decide to go.
Wow. Thank you for being honest, though! Do you think that I would be able to heal quicker at a younger age because I'm only 14? I think I'm going to have to go through with it becuase my doctor says if I don't do it now, I'll be in a knee brace for the rest of my life and I could damage it even more in my older years. What I really need to know, is if it was really worth it in the end.
Last edited by Ashleyj9222; 10-04-2008 at 10:43 AM.
I have done physical therapy before, and my problems came back worst afterwards. Is it a bad idea to go back to PT and try again? It's either that, or go straight to surgery. Any advice?
Generally as a rule, the younger you are the more energy your body has to help rebuild your strengh and muscle tone, unless you're morbidly obese. I healed quicker when I was 18 and had knee surgeries as to being 39 and having them now. As for the PT, that is really up to your doc to decide. I can't imagine he'd be sending you back to something that would further injure you. What you could do is go to one PT appt. and just ask the therapist if there is any point in doing the PT or should you just do the surgery and do the PT aftereard...that would be the only thing I'd know to advise you. Everyone is different when it comes to PT.
I was just like you - very young, having this exact same problem. Mine started at 10 jumping on a bed.
I have been to doctors for years doing physical therapy. It didn't help, because there was a deeper problem with my knee. Not only did I have "loose" ligaments, which make this type of thing more apt to happen, but the bone was deformed in some way, and it made my knee cap sit up, which made it more prone to slipping.
This may or may not be your problem. But you need to find out.
You need to have your parents take you to a good surgeon to get some MRIs (not just xrays) and really explore the problem and all solutions.
I was 33 and trying to lose some baby weight when it all came to a head. I had just lived with it. Despite exercising, it continued to pop out and it got weaker and weaker. You could see my knee looking stranger and stranger. I went to a good doctor who helped pinpoint my problems and I had surgery last Tuesday. He strenthened my ligaments and had to cut bone and insert pins to strengthen my knee. I will be in an immobilizer for six weeks, therapy after that, and yes, it will be a year until things are really okay. But anything has to better than the pain of dislocation. I am struggling not being able to help or play with my kids or do things around the house. I just hate to see you wait until you are my age and have to live with this. You can get this problem cared for over a summer break or something - it would suck, but the alternative is much worse to me. And it is only for a time.
I have a pretty extensive history of joint problems since the age of 8, but have only resorted to one arthroscopy on my left knee.
At the age of 14 I too was suffering patella sublaxation. My surgeon decided the best option was a very extensive re-build of my knee, similar to what you have been suggested. One of the outcomes of this sort of surgery is great -a fully functioning knee. However you may also end up with a knee which won't bend.
After much conversing between my physio and surgeon, I won the battle not to have this extensive operation, but instead to have an arthroscopy, and I believe this saved me lot of grief. They washed out my knee, removing all the debris and loose cartilage, and shaving down the rough areas.
I was on crutches full time for only 4 weeks post surgery (as opposed to 2+ months with the other surgery) and was able to begin exercise (albeit limited) after two months. My best advice to you would be to stay disciplined with the PT as it really is the best thing you can do for yourself. It can be scary having such bad joint problems at such a young age, but believe me when I say PT can save you a lot of grief. Also, look into chiropractic services. Within a few months of seeing a chiropracter my knees were a whole lot better than they had been since I could remember.
Avoid the surgery and keep up the PT. It may look like you still have muscle tone due to your basketball, but the great thing about PT is it works the intrinsic muscles that you can't necessarily see but are vital to support the joint. DO YOUR PHYSIO EXERCISES!!
This is a good post. I am glad you were able to avoid the surgery. It is not fun. I don't know if I had any other options. My doctor is pretty good - I think he would have helped me avoid surgery if it would have helped.
Quote:
Originally Posted by knee87
Hi there,
I have a pretty extensive history of joint problems since the age of 8, but have only resorted to one arthroscopy on my left knee.
At the age of 14 I too was suffering patella sublaxation. My surgeon decided the best option was a very extensive re-build of my knee, similar to what you have been suggested. One of the outcomes of this sort of surgery is great -a fully functioning knee. However you may also end up with a knee which won't bend.
After much conversing between my physio and surgeon, I won the battle not to have this extensive operation, but instead to have an arthroscopy, and I believe this saved me lot of grief. They washed out my knee, removing all the debris and loose cartilage, and shaving down the rough areas.
I was on crutches full time for only 4 weeks post surgery (as opposed to 2+ months with the other surgery) and was able to begin exercise (albeit limited) after two months. My best advice to you would be to stay disciplined with the PT as it really is the best thing you can do for yourself. It can be scary having such bad joint problems at such a young age, but believe me when I say PT can save you a lot of grief. Also, look into chiropractic services. Within a few months of seeing a chiropracter my knees were a whole lot better than they had been since I could remember.
Avoid the surgery and keep up the PT. It may look like you still have muscle tone due to your basketball, but the great thing about PT is it works the intrinsic muscles that you can't necessarily see but are vital to support the joint. DO YOUR PHYSIO EXERCISES!!
Re: Patella subluxation 
