Okay, based on the way the ligaments are described, it doesn't sound bad enough for surgery, really. Doing surgery on a minor ligament injury doesn't usually help.
Still, you have quite a bit of pain here, and it's not going away. See what the ortho thinks when he's actually seen your films.
In the meanwhile, did the physio try bracing or taping the kneecap into place? It can be very helpful for some people.
The Following User Says Thank You to janewhite1 For This Useful Post: FurryPaws2011 (07-20-2011)
Thanks for posting back Jane, I really appreciate your input.
The physio talked about taping it on the 2nd visit but it never happened.. would that be a permanent thing? Or what would it do? Keep the kneecap in place while I work on strengthening the muscles around it?
I just feel at a loss as I have been doing the exercises and the static bike and nothing is getting better, the muscles or the pain.
When I was at PT, my knee was taped a few times. Just a kind of strong medical tape stuck on my knee, like a band-aid, only very snug. I left it on for a few days, then it peeled off. It seemed to help significantly, at least in the short term.
The Following User Says Thank You to janewhite1 For This Useful Post: FurryPaws2011 (07-20-2011)
Thanks, I'll mention it when I next see her. She actually didn't want me paying to go back now as she can't do much else in way of physio.. put she has listened, understood and explained things in a way doctors haven't so I'll go back once more to see about taping.
Based on what you have described in your posts, I think you need to have arthroscopy done (no matter what the doctors say). I had patella tracking problems in both knees several years ago. I had a scope and an open lateral release (at the same time) on each knee. My left knee was operated on in 2008, and my right knee was fixed in 2009. I have not had any tracking issues since the surgeries. I am very surprised that the doctors are saying that surgery won't help.
Hope you're all in relatively good spirits, if not in good health!
I thought I'd give an update in my circumstances..
I was discharged after I had the MRI back in July without explanation and GP was sent a letter recommending more physio (at that stage I'd had a year of it already which wasn't helping).
So, I went back to the GP and asked to be re-referred back to consultant. Again I was sent to ICATS which is not an orthopedic consultant but an intermediary like a physio or GP specialising in kness. I had the appointment about 2 weeks ago and the ICATS person was a physio.
They explained in more detail what is going on with my knee (multiple issues) and also examined it themselves. The things I knew already from the MRI was that the ACL, MCL and cartilidge is/was damaged. I also knew the patella wasn't tracking.
The ICATS physio told me that although it isn't it the MRI report that my kneecap, from her examination, is slightly rotated and it is kind of bouncing of a fat pad underneath the knee which is why it feels unstable and is hypermobile.
She did a test to prove it by pressing her thumbs either side, just under my knee. It was excruciating. I hadn't had anyone do this test before! So this is called Hoffa's syndrome, along with all the other injuries.
So I'm going back in January to have injections into the knee and then taping. She told me exercise to build the muscle hasn't worked so far because the kneecap is so out of place and it can only work if it is taped... However, I am concerned that if conservative treatment doesn't work I will be left with this problem eternally as she said it wouldn't be a case for surgery. Surely after 18 months of pain, swelling, physio and not even able to walk far is reason enough to at least try?
I don't mind trying injections and taping first though I was told by a friend who works in muscle therapies that the injections are short term and can cause more problems with the 'junk' they leave in the joint area...
I don't really know what to do anymore! Passed from pillar to post with no resolution, all I seem to be offered are short term anecdotes..
The Following User Says Thank You to FurryPaws2011 For This Useful Post: LLites (10-09-2012)
PT for my Rt. knee
Knee taped
Third injection today (and last)
They told me in PT that my upper thigh muscle wasn't responding properly to strength training because my knee cap kept leaning off to the right...thus the taping....
(I really liked the taping btw and kept it on for like 5 days I think, now my knee seems to stay better for now)
I had fallen and caused a divot in the cartilage under the knee cap, like a pot hole, thus the injections, to fill the gap?
I asked the PT about the shots and she said they go well for mild to moderate cases. For persons not candidates for surgical routes.
We will see. I really want to resume my elliptical usage! The ortho doc said I must wait a week from today.
Also, they ordered a stretchy small knee brace for when I do resume more activity to keep my knee cap tame until my muscles start kicking in better!
As for pain, I was getting clicking, swelling from it, ie - the pain. Before was throbbing at night. Now there is nothing to speak of hardly. Sometimes an ache that is passing. Lol...maybe that's just cause I just had the shot today!
Anyways, I was glad to get your update and I wanted to share. Please feel free to ask me anything in addition to what I mentioned that may concern you. Take care.
Less Stress 38.... I wish u all the best. I am also facing similar. 2ys post accident. Bakers that has grown from 3cm at 1month post accident to 8cm in June of this yr. I am going to ask about the test you had. How are you doing now? <3
The Following User Says Thank You to LLites For This Useful Post: LessStress38 (10-13-2012)
(and last)
