Patellar tendonitis surgery

[knee2no]

I was directing comments to ALRUNNER who mentioned surgery for patellar tendonitis.  I was not aware of a surgery that specifically addresses "PATELLAR TENDONITIS" only.

 
Original poster who posted in 2005 is long gone,  stated he had his surgery that year and hasnt posted since. Sounds like he had a good result otherwise we would be hearing from him. 

[aaa]

YB

Who stated that a lateral release is a treatment for patellar tendonitis?

Nobody on this thread.  Although some surgeons will try to link weakness of quadriceps due to possible maltracking of the kneecap. i.e. if you can't use the knee properly, the quads will weaken. Weakness of quads can then lead to the tendinitis.

An LR does little to 'wake up' the quads, it usually has the opposite affect in a lot of cases.

[captainruss]

The list of conditions a LR is appropriate for is probably shorter and easier to list than the list of complications the Lateral Release causes when used for the wrong condition or as an incorrect diagnosis.  As a less intrusive surgery the Lateral Release seems like it is recommended quite a bit.  I was almost in agreement with having one recommended for my daughter.  It was not the correct diagnosis and could have been a very serious mistake.

Russ

[allyd]

How is it that any thread with the term "patella" turns into a "Don't get a Lateral Release!!!" thread?

[captainruss]

The original post in 2005 was talking about his OS not recommending a LR for PT and maltracking issues. 

[ALRunner]

I used to be located in Alabama...

I think of all the things I could do before and the few things I had to give up.  Well, now I can't do anything but sit here with my legs numb with pain shooting up them typing because I can't walk on it anymore today.  Yes...volleyball is important to you...or running is important to you.  What about simply being able to go to work and support yourself?  More important or less important?  What about being able to simply walk with your kids...not run..just walk?  More important or less important.

Chances are you may have a very successful surgery.  Just make sure it is the first/best/only alternative.

Russ

This is absolute golden wisdom here and I mean it. It is the human condition to take for granted what we have. We always want more. And yet our lives are at all times a house of cards. My situation is not on the same level as yours, but my knee pain has taught me that the essential ability to be ambulatory without pain is something most people have and just don't appreciate. When my knee pain first came on I wanted to be able to run. And so I did, and it become a permanent condition. Now my only goal is to return back to what I used to have (no running, but no pain). That seems now a lofty goal. "You don't know what you got till you lose".

It seems dare I say hilariously stupid for a non-professional athlete to opt for a risky surgery merely so they can continue in whatever sport they happen to like. It shows an obvious excess in how vested they are in their activity and they've convinced themselves it's so damn important that without it they lose their sense of self and life will be worth less. And yet most people don't give a crap about volleyball, most don't care about running, etc. and still have meaningful lives.

It is sacrosanct and beyond doubt that if the only reason you're looking to get surgery is to continue in some sport you happen to like you need to stop the sport, not do the surgery.

It was not the correct diagnosis and could have been a very serious mistake.

Before I had the "wisdom" I have now I came very close to surgery. The surgeon I saw was pretty confident that my patella tendon pain was instead a satellite pain the result of a torn meniscus. A previous MRI had shown a partial tear of the meniscus and this surgeon had a previous patient with conditions similar to mine (also a runner) resolved with surgery. I thought what the heck let's do it. However, I thought why not get an MRI first, so that's what I asked for--me, not the surgeon--I got the MRI and then he changed his tune and became sure that the meniscus tear was not related (nor do I ever think it was in retrospect). I came very close to surgery to correct the wrong thing so that I could engage in an activity I now don't even care about.

[allyd]

It seems dare I say hilariously stupid for a non-professional athlete to opt for a risky surgery merely so they can continue in whatever sport they happen to like. It shows an obvious excess in how vested they are in their activity and they've convinced themselves it's so damn important that without it they lose their sense of self and life will be worth less. And yet most people don't give a crap about volleyball, most don't care about running, etc. and still have meaningful lives.

It is sacrosanct and beyond doubt that if the only reason you're looking to get surgery is to continue in some sport you happen to like you need to stop the sport, not do the surgery.

This may be a correct option for some depending on their condition and options. Definitely not an end all approach to knee issues. Just because we’re not all professional athletes doesn’t mean options aren’t worth pursuing to regain certain activities.

I am someone who opted for a major surgery to simply regain activities that I love. I’m not a professional athlete, and do not have visions of glory - but I wasn’t ready to quit. It was important to me. There are people out there who don’t give a crap about volleyball per se– but I do care, its that simple. My life won’t lose meaning without, but it was important that I try when given a viable option to correct. I struggle to understand why this is hilariously stupid.

Having realistic expectations/goals regarding a procedure and an understanding of the risks is important before pursuing – After that, we will all have different motivations that should not be questioned by our peers.

[ALRunner]

It seems dare I say hilariously stupid for a non-professional athlete to opt for a risky surgery merely so they can continue in whatever sport they happen to like. It shows an obvious excess in how vested they are in their activity and they've convinced themselves it's so damn important that without it they lose their sense of self and life will be worth less. And yet most people don't give a crap about volleyball, most don't care about running, etc. and still have meaningful lives.

It is sacrosanct and beyond doubt that if the only reason you're looking to get surgery is to continue in some sport you happen to like you need to stop the sport, not do the surgery.

This may be a correct option for some depending on their condition and options. Definitely not an end all approach to knee issues. Just because we’re not all professional athletes doesn’t mean options aren’t worth pursuing to regain certain activities.

I am someone who opted for a major surgery to simply regain activities that I love. I’m not a professional athlete, and do not have visions of glory - but I wasn’t ready to quit. It was important to me. There are people out there who don’t give a crap about volleyball per se– but I do care, its that simple. My life won’t lose meaning without, but it was important that I try when given a viable option to correct. I struggle to understand why this is hilariously stupid.

Having realistic expectations/goals regarding a procedure and an understanding of the risks is important before pursuing – After that, we will all have different motivations that should not be questioned by our peers.

It's a bad idea because the realistic expectations would tell a realistic person not to undertake the risk. I think we should be questioned by peers because they challenge our reality. Perhaps a reasonable doubt we've been tucking away and trying to ignore is ripped wide open and we change our view.

I have just read of too many freaking people, myself included, who didn't stop when we should have. This is wisdom often imparted and often ignored. I pride myself on taking advice from people qualified to offer it, and in most of my life I do. I never stopped running even as I ran my tendon apart because virtually nobody told me to stop. When the pain came on early on in my endeavor I started researching it and talked to people about it as well. I then saw a doctor and even she never said "You know, you really should stop running for a while and truly respect this problem." I was never told that. I saw another doctor a year later and my symptoms were more severe and still he never urged this either.

You may wonder why I didn't just see the forest for the trees and stop myself. Well, I did to a degree, but still everything I read online spoke of my condition as something temporary. I never once thought, nor had even read of those who had created a permanent problem. Eventually I stumbled upon the correct search terms, found that my condition was a chronic one, and realized what I had done.

I often caution people severely against continuing to destroy their joints because I speak from some experience. It just isn't worth it. I loved running, loved competing in triathlons. I loved them far less than the idea of being able to sit in a chair for a few hours without knee pain, though.

Looking at your signature I dearly hope you've stopped any jumping sports, but it doesn't like you have. You will regret this when you're older. Long after the love of your sport has gone you'll be kept with the scars. What we do now impacts our future.

Most of us (regular people) will end up with some joint problems when we get old. I'm frankly hoping that if I have increased the likelihood of osteroarthritis (and I probably have given some new crepitus under my knee cap) that by the time I actually feel any pain from that, some years down the line, there are new treatments.

It is also difficult to admit that we are broken in some way, that what we want will never happen for us. You see a person going for a run on a nice day, you want to be there. It's just a hand we're dealt. For most of us it could be worse, even joint pain is better than a terminal illness, so when I focus on what I have, not what I don't, it helps show me how trivial a particular activity is really.

[allyd]

Orthopedics helps the casual athlete and weekend warriors all the time. And these people have as much a right to pursue their hobby as the professional athlete. I’ll say it again, it is not stupid in every situation – orthopedic surgery should not be reserved for the professional athlete, or just those looking to regain simple, daily tasks that the majority of us take for granted.

Our conditions, options, and goals vary from each individual.  What is right for one, may not be for another. I’ll agree it’s the responsibility of the OS to help assess the goals/options and help you understand what is a realistic outcome. It’s fair to question whether peers understand the risks, rewards, options, for surgery, but if they do – why they decide to move forward is an individual choice, and they need not be ridiculed as if they made a stupid decision.

No, I haven’t given up on jumping sports, because with my surgery – my knee is stable, stronger, and I no longer have to. We have different conditions, and my point which maybe wasn't clear is that there is not a catch-all decision making approach that covers each individual knee, condition and person. When things go wrong, (i.e. the person who should have quit while their ahead) hindsight is always better than foresight. Hindsight should not shape catch-all statements such as "It is sacrosanct and beyond doubt that if the only reason you're looking to get surgery is to continue in some sport you happen to like you need to stop the sport, not do the surgery."

[ALRunner]

OK maybe not QUITE sacrosanct

[socogirl76]

Here is my story... febuary 2011 I had a fulkerson done with a lateral release done.  Since then its been one big roller coaster.  I have such BAD tendonitus now its not even funny.  I have been going back to the dr every  2 weeks because its gotten that bad.  I started PT again and wearing a brace and have to walk with a cane again.  Pain patches have become part of my daily routine.  Anyone going through this or went through this? It gets to the point it hurts to walk. Any reccomend.  will be much appriciated.

[knee2no]

Did you have MRI confirmation of tendonitis and do you show a thickened patellar tendon?  Is your pain located at top of patellar tendon and bottom of kneecap?  Why did you have fulkerson?   Other than pain, do you have any restricted movement?

[socogirl76]

I havent had an MRI yet.  I had the fulkerson due to maltracking and dislocation also.  My kneecap was running more than 50% out of track.  My pain is located on the bottom of the kneecap on both sides also .  I also may have nerve damage now, I still havent gotten full feeling back in the area also.  Too boot I also had celulitus in this leg also before the removed the hardware...