broken kneecap

[Rhonda1952]

Im 6 months now out of surgery for shattered kneecap, had the surgery with pins and wires. The doc says the kneecap is mended but I cant seem to get any strength back and am very unsteady when walking, would prefer my brace, it seems to give me more balance...anyone with similiar problems....also very glad to find this site, I was beginning to think I was alone with this problem.
Rhonda1952

[lizl]

Hi, Rhonda!

You are not alone! There are several of us here who are going through the broken kneecap thing. You'll be glad to know that there are several success stories among the posters.

I'm about 10 or 11 weeks out from surgery, and I am still using the brace and crutches. Sometimes one or the other, sometimes both. I waddle A LOT when I walk, with or without the brace, if I am not using the crutches, so I kind of thought the crutches would be the last to go. I can certainly sympathize with you.

Did you have physical therapy at all to help with your strength, flexion, and gait?  My physical therapist and his assistant both lend a critical eye to the way I walk. The PT said he would rather see me on crutches and working on proper gait than off of the crutches.

It seems to me that if your patella is healed, your remaining concerns should be dealt with in physical therapy. If you haven't started yet, your OS has to write the prescription for the sessions. If you have been in PT all along, maybe the doctor and PT need to reassess your course of treatment there. I'm sure hoping your stability and strength will be addressed, because nobody wants to fall again! It's certainly my greatest fear. . .

[Rhonda1952]

thanks for answering liz, and yes im in therapy but go very little, I wasnt seeing any results(youve gotta understand my limited services in this 1 horse town....so I bought an excercise bike and a stair stepper and joined the gym. My doc recommended swimming but I have to drive so far to have access to that, guess Ill just keep plugging along, but I never seem to gain any strength regardless how hard I try. Good luck to you.
By the way I also fell on a wet floor(in my kitchen)...kinda strange but I never gave much thought to a knee cap till this, my mother had knee replacement and gets around much better than I !!
thanks

[lizl]

Rhonda,

One other thought . . .

Have you tried going without the brace while walking around in the house (of course, your kitchen floor is the enemy, isn't it)?  I have been more willing to experiment while in my own house, though I'm very dependent on the crutches and brace anytime I go out. I leave the brace off almost all the time I'm in the house. I can even walk stiff-legged for limited distances without the brace. Though the PT and Dr. both say not to do that, it sure comes in handy to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night! I've been sleeping without the brace since about week seven or eight.

BTW, I fell in a public building, so home seems pretty safe--especially when I'm on carpet. I'm so sorry to hear that PT resources are limited in your town. I'm really counting on my PT to help me in my comeback, and I am seeing steady improvement with his help. I do "homework," but the guided work with the therapist is the thing that really makes a difference.  Sometimes I think I've been doing an exercise right, and he makes a correction. He also has the means to measure my progress, and that is encouraging.

Even if there is not another facility in your town, can you change PTs?  A change might be the thing you need to break through the plateau you are on.

LizL

[Kathy G]

Hi, Rhonda. I am glad to hear you are going to the pool - I think that will help you more than anything. Though I haven't broken my kneecap, my injury is in my knee joint as well, so I am having a slow go at recovery, but it is coming along. I am also seeking some sessions with a water therapist - get your swimming pool staff to recommend one. I found that the qualities of the water are the best environment to encourage increased flexibility and strength.

All the best to you in your recovery!!

PS: I too felt unsteady at first without some sort of aid, so I purchased one of those ACE bandage knee braces, which I wore when I went out in public. However, I was told by one of the lifeguards at the pool it could cause muscle weaknesses. It was after I did research that I found out that is only true with long-term use. So around the house, I try to get by without the brace - and even the last couple of days I've gone out without it. The stronger your muscles get, the less you will depend on the brace. I am down to one crutch now, and I can even walk some tentative steps without it, but I limp badly. Hope this helps!  

[Rhonda]

OH my God- Another Rhonda with a broken kneecap.. I hope we're not setting a trend here!

It is a hard recovery, but you'll get there.  Since you still feel unsteady walking braceless I would suggest, you start walking on the treadmill at the gym without the brace  as much as possible.  Even if you start out only five - ten minutes at a time and increase. Walking does help!  When I first ditched my brace, I felt unsteady, too, but the more I walked, the better I felt.  And you'll feel safer on the treadmill, initially, with your brace sitting right next to it.  
I have to walk a half mile each way to and from the train every day to go to work ( so I get a mile of forced walking in five days a week) and I think that's part of what helped me get rid of my limp..   At this point, the only time I limp is when trying  to run fast (hopefully, I'll be able to run limp free  after I get my metal out and strengthen a little more)  Also, try the elliptical trainer at the gym, without holding on to the rails, if possible.  The first time I tried that, I thought I'd fall on my face, but after a few times, it was easy, and I think that was another key factor in the quest to lose the limp.  
These things will help you get those stabilizer muscles back in shape and get your balance back.  

I really shattered my kneecap, too.  I remember asking multple times "How many pieces?" and they would never give me a straight answer, except to say "A LOT!"

Good Luck!

[RhondaR]

Hi Rhonda! I am Rhonda too! I fell and broke my right knee on 7/7/02. It was separated 3/8 of an inch. I kept walking around I didn't know it was broke. I woke up 3AM next morning and could'nt walk. About 10 days later I under went surgery. I have 2 pins and figure 8 wire in my knee now. It has been total HELL. Pardon my language please. I went thru about 13 weeks of physical therapy (only 3 weeks of formal PT) I did 700 leg lift with 5 lbs ankle weights every day. I have full range of motion back. I can sit Indian style on the floor. After my fall but before my surgery my orthopedic surgeon had me doing 500 leg lift a day in my immobilizer and if I didnt do them he would let me have it. We had a love/hate relationship. My knee is numb (I cant stand to shave it) and it still hurts. When the weather changes it feels like I have a vice grip on my knee. I have'nt regained my strength back. I had pretty good thigh muscles. I have'nt regained my muscle mass in my right thigh. That really bothers me. But all in all I think I have done better than most. This is the first bone I have ever broke. Really first injury I guess. I am 38 years old so I guess I am pretty lucky. I want to get the hardware out. I told my husband 3 months ago that I thought it would feel better if I could just get the pins and wire out. He said its the only thing holding my knee together. But I know it isn't. (MEN) Anyway please let me know how it goes with you. I am so glad to have found this site. It has been a long and hard winter for me. I have been having plenty of pity parties for myself. Sorry if I'm talking your ear off.

[xj]

Wow, three Rhondas with broken knee caps - that is really amazing!

To Rhonda1952, even though I'm not a Rhonda, this has also happened to me. Actually, Liz and I are only 6 days behind eachother with our surgery dates. My advise is to stick with your exercises.....I do them quite often (at first, 6x/day, but now about 4x/day) and I am finding that it really helps. I have to admit, I don't do 700 leg lifts/day with 5 lbs of my leg like Ms.RShadygurl (oh my goodness, that seems nuts), but I work pretty consistently on it. Leg lifts do hurt me after many reps across the fracture site, but  I do contract my quad anytime I can (the OS also suggested this). I would agree with Kathy about the pool: it really helped me get my strength back, even though I am still on crutches too (almost 3 months post-op). Since you now have an exercise bike, that is also very good for ROM. Keep lowering the seat as your knee allows and that will also help get your ROM back. I had a period of about one month that I saw NO improvement to the ROM even though I was working just as hard. I now I am off that
ugly plateau.

Hello to the Rhonda that goes by "RShadygurl," your surgeon sounds like a maniac, but it seems like it has paid off. I couldn't (my brain would not send that signal) lift my leg for about 1 month after my accident. Couldn't contract my quad/calf either....I tried and I was only contracting my butt, much to my surprise. I can't wait until I can sit Indian style again and I am looking forward to touching my butt with my foot.  Also, I like your idea about having "pitty parties." I guess you have your guests bring their own everything, right?

Now, for the Rhonda that lost to the tree  , I really gotta get myself on an elliptical trainer...sounds like that would also help and provide some variety to the somewhat boring stationary bike.

XJ

[Pat_A.E.]

Can't believe there are three Rhonda's with broken patellas!  
Rshadygurl - yes it really does feel  better without the hardware.  After the bone heals it really serves no purpose.
Also interesting to read that I wasn't the only one to wait almost two weeks to have surgery.  I fell in Italy and the surgeon wanted to operate.  Since my husband & I don't speak Italian and the hospital was in a rural area where only the surgeon spoke a little English, we opted to return to the states.  When I saw the OS here he and his associates all said no surgery because the bones had seperated.  Well, of course, the following week's x-rays showed the bones had moved.  They think the swelling that resulted from the long trip home was keeping the bones together.  That delay was very depressing at the time because I keep thinking every day was a day closer to recovery
Sounds like Spring is helping everyone's outlook.  Stay positive!

[RhondaR]

Hi Pat! Yes I thought my OS was crazy. So did everyone else. My last visit with him I apologized for being a bad patient. He almost teared up and so did I. He said it was sort of a tough love thing but he knew that it had been very hard on me.

I cant run yet. I really want to be able to run again with confidence. I also want to be able to get on my knees again. I cant do that either.

I had to wait 10 days for surgery because I had abrasions on my knee were I hit the concrete. They had to heal completely b4 surgery for risk of infection.

I had a horrible experience with the anesthesiologist. He was suppose to give me a epideral and put me under as well. Well he didnt give me the epideral and 24 hours after surgery I had to be taken back to OR for epideral only then was the pain manageable. The first nite I slept with the CPM on all nite bending my leg. It was the only thing that relieved the pain. I lost about 12 hours of time because I was so out of it from pain. I would scream, pray, then pass out. (thought my hubby would die) It felt like the whole hospital room was resting on my knee. I hope I never have to go thru anything like that again. Wouldnt wish it on anyone.

I was in the hospital for 6 days. (was suppose to be 3) My OS said the epideral mis-hap set me back as far as recovery goes. The epideral guy came back to my room 4 days later and I threw him out! I couldnt believe I was acting like a maniac. But the pain was what was doing it to me. I was out of my mind.

I am going to call my OS to talk about hardware removal. He said he wouldnt take it out unless it gave me problems. It's not really giving me problems (only the vice grip feeling) but I cant help but feel it would be better if it were out.

I hope you are doing good! Yes spring is helping. You can bring anything you want to the pity party!!!!

I am sooo glad to have found this site. I cant believe people have the same issues as I do with my recovery. Like the numbness, it drives me nuts. Cant stand to shave that area.

[deew31]

Hi! I shattered my kneecap a little over 2 years ago.
I fell going down a slope in a hospital, u know waxed tile.. while on the job. So I would say I was in the right place if it was going to happen... and thank goodness for workers comp. I have never broke anything before this, I have recently broken my toe because of knee giving way. It has been a long road. I had my first surgery, for the fracture, 4 pieces, commuted. This OS used the wires, I breezed through fairly well the first PT visit was the worst, went thru 3 months Pt, Full Rom. Had wire removal 4 months out, this was a very big mistake!!! 3 Months after removal I started having problems Xrays showed what Os thought was arthritis. After a while he referred me to a OS that is the sports OS for a nearby large university. This was a blessing that I was sent to him. My left over fracture had seperated 3 inches. Non Union ( had healed with scar tissue) So back to surgery, This time Wire, Screws, and removed a tendon from inner thigh and wrapped my kneecap with it, and removed some bone from hip and put between break. This time around was so much worse for me, I was laid up a lot longer before I even started Pt, but when I did Rom came easy they did not force it at all, they had done this the first time. Weights were a nono for a good while.  It has been a year, I still have all hardware, it bothers me some, but OS and I both agree unless it is killing me it is best to leave it in, he does say at some point it will have to, but the longer I keep it the better.... He has told me Arthritis could become and issue, some signs of it now, and eventual knee replacement.My fall was at an impact equal to a head on car wreck. My knee at start was a mess the fracture, and all ligament and tendons. It is a long hard road, but to all of u guys now, it does pay off, and it does get better. I only still have problems with knee giving way, I am going now to be fitted with a brace for activities like yard work, rollerblading, and other things, just so I can stop falling before I break my kneck or something!!!! Good Luck to you all!!!

[Pat_A.E.]

Rshadygurl - Even without the hardware it still feels like a vise grip alot of the time.  I wish someone could tell me what that's all about.  Also can not kneel.  I can get up and down from kneeling but it hurts to be on that knee.  I've tried using thick mats during exercise, but it didn't help at all so now I do exercises that are ususally done on your knees by using a thera-ball.  Still trying to figure out the best way to work in my garden and avoid kneeling.  
deew31 - Oh my gosh, I've never heard of your situation after the hardware removal.  Was it possible that the bones were not fully fused?  Otherwise, I've been told that the formally fractured patella is no more suseptible to fracture then the good one.  Thanks for the encouragement.

[Ross]

Three Rhondas with busted knees!  When Rhonda the "tree person" and I first met about a year ago we were the only folk on the board with busted kneecaps.  The Rhonda and Ross act, now they're coming by the truckload (three Rhondas and a Ross no less!)

God bless you all and give you His healing, pray for Ellen who really needs all our support.

[Rhonda]

I think we could get signed as as act.. "Ross and the Rhondas"  ...

We could go on David Letterman and show off our scars on a "Stupid Human Tricks" episode....

I think part of my therapy should be going back to Killington with a chainsaw and tracking down that damn tree!

[jab105]

Rhonda-

My best suggestion is to try to get away from the brace as soon as possible, at this point, it's just going to hold you back...I started by walking around my neighborhood at about 9 weeks post brace (1 week after the dr. said that I could bend my knee again), with the help of the hubby by my side for support, after about a half mile of walking (boy was I tired!!), I felt like my balance was ok...from then on I didn't use the brace any more...I took it slow, and gained more and more confidence...by 6-7 weeks after I started bending again, I even did a 15K walk (which I PAID for for the next week, and got yelled at by my PT!)...

For exercises, I'd say straight leg raises all over the place...and then when you are ready, do squats (while holding onto the wall for support)...when you can do the bike, do it as much as possible (and yes, you will need some ice after that!!)...and you can also see the main knee guru baord for more exercise suggestions:)

GOOD LUCK!!
Tonya