Patella subluxation

ozfan79

Yes, going back to your doctor would be a good idea. Are you still doing the exercises that they showed you at PT?

Ashleyj9222

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?

katlin09

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.

Ashleyj9222

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?

katlin09

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.

Ashleyj9222

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.

katlin09

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.

Ashleyj9222

Could the knee problem problem be patella sublixation even if when the knee dislocated it goes inward, not out?

ozfan79

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.

Ashleyj9222

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!

katlin09

Ashley,

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.

Kat

Ashleyj9222

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.

Ashleyj9222

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?

katlin09

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.

Good luck and let me konw what you decide to do.