LR on knee 5 wks ago. Problem now, advice please

[Sore knee]

Thanks so much everyone, so much appreciated today. I see so many of you have had loads of ops, this is only my 2nd ever tomorrow and I am so nervous again. I so hope he finds something to fix or at least a cause of all this, that way we know how to fix it.

I will get on when I can and let you know how tomorrow goes. Grateful thanks to everyone for all their support and encouragement  ((((HUGS))))))

[*Margaret]

good luck tomorrow joanne. you will be fine and do great. let us know when you can

[plantgeek58]

Even those of us with loads of ops under our belt get nervous, Joanne. I was terrified before my first one, and I hadn't ever been under the knife before either. You could tell how scared I was, because my BP was up around 140 or so and it's usually 110. I'm not afraid anymore, but I do still get butterflies the day before. You'll do fine, sweetie. Just focus on the fact that tomorrow is when you'll finally get some answers and start down the road to a good recovery. Good luck. Hugs.
Terre

[kc1124]

Hi Joanne

Just wanted to jump on and wish you much luck tomorrow.  You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Take care,
Kat

[cmarnix]

Guys hi,

I am new to this site.I hav read all your post, some are familiar to mine, I am post opt 40days to be exact. I was operated at july 13. my operation was lateral releae medial plication on my left knee. Right now I am 5weeks on my therapy, I am still having a hard time with my ROM , I can only do 75 deg with my ROM. My OS told me when i started my p.t. that within 2 weeks i hav to get to 90 with my ROM. My quads are doing a bit ok, but still lacks in diameter compared to my other knee. I can walk without crutches but a bit limping. my knee is still swelling, and just below my kneecap, i feel there is a hard feeling just beneath the incision (maybe its scar tissueor adhesion). Right now the OS advice the pt to force the range of motion to 90. I amreally in pain when we are forcing it to 90. when we do that, we only get 3-5 deg. While walking, i don't feel any sore or pain in my knees. Should i be concerned with my present condition? right now, i just wanted to increase my ROM. 

Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Thanks ...

[plantgeek58]

Hi cmarnix,
I'm not really sure what to tell you about your ROM. I've also just had an LR, on July 17th, so we're at about the same stage of recovery. I didn't have the medial plication, though and I was never put on crutches. My OS believes you heal faster if you get walking on it right away. I did cheat and use one for the first couple of days, however, because it was so sore! My ROM came back within a couple of weeks, but that's normal for me. Like you, though, I'm still limping a bit, especially if I've been on my feet for more than an hour.
It's normal to have a lump under any surgical incisions, even just the little scope holes. That won't go away for months. If the incision you're talking about is from an open procedure, you may get scar tissue under it and may want to talk to your PT about doing compressive massage to break it up.
Without really knowing your situation it's hard to make any suggestions, but I'm wondering if you might be having some scar tissue problems. Check out the arthrofibrosis board here and try reading up on it on the kneeguru's website. From some of the posts I've read, it sounds like this might be the issue. Good luck and let us know how things are progressing.

Joanne,
I hope your procedure went well and you're not in too much pain. Just wanted to let you know I'm still thinking about you. Hugs.
Terre

[cmarnix]

plantgeek58 ,

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I had an athroscopic surgery, But have a scar about 1.5inches long above the kneecap. I think its scar tissue or fibrosis, coz i fell wen im touching it, its kinda hard around the knee. My P.T. is doing some massage around the knee area. a little painful when they massages it. Thanks again for the reply.

[Sore knee]

Hi guys thanks for all your kind messages, you are the best !!!!!!!!

Well I went in and was nervous but ok, because last time I had a hard time waking up from the anaesthetic ( was in recovery for 4 hours last time as I wasn't coming round) they decided to use a different one this time. It didn't make a huge difference as the op was not long, they washed the knee out and I think they done a chondroplasty  - not quite sure what that is but I will find out more when I see the OS a week tomorrow. I struggled to come round and eventually they gave me a drug that reverses anesthetic completely but it reversed the local in my knee as well so they they then had to dose me on pain meds. I was so sleepy much to the surprise of the OS that they ended up admitting me. When I eventually did wake up I was sick everywhere.

So anyway back home now, sore but not quite sure what was found as I have no recollection of speaking to the OS. I see my PT tomorrow and he will have my theatre notes so I will find out then.
On a positive note I have more ROM than I had before the op......don't know if he done that or its a result of the op.

So a proper update tomorrow.

Thanks so much for all your kind wishes, you are so supportive and I appreciate it.

[plantgeek58]

Hi Joanne,
sorry to hear you had such a tough time coming out of the op, but glad you're doing OK now. One of my close friends reacts that way to anesthesia also. It's scary. They've told her she should have a local whenever possible.
Well, at least it's over and you'll soon know what was wrong. Rest easy and I'll be looking forward to hearing from you.
Terre

[trainwreck]

What a nightmare for you sweet thang.  I am glad it is over and helps your situation.  Keep us posted.
Allison

[*Margaret]

what a time you have had, you poor thing. i hope you get a good report tomorrow, let us know how you are doing. did you happen to get my PM? i will talk to you soon. and here are some hugs

[kc1124]

Hi Joanne,

Just thinking about you.  Hope all is well.  I have not been around for a while.  Lot going on at home, and I am fighting some "demons" right now. 

Just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and am reading your thread.  I do hope this surgery was a success.

Will talk to you soon.

Kat

[Sore knee]

 

Kat, I hope you are coping ok. You know if you ever want to chat just PM me. I am always here for you.

I am ok, still sore and hoping that this has halped. The knee moves smoother and there is no catch now so fingers crossed. However its still swollen and very achy and I hope that appeases. I see the OS on Monday.

Margaret thanks for your PMs and hugs - much appreciated.

Everyone else, your support has been amazing, thanks for the encouragement.

[Sore knee]

Well I saw the OS today.

He said he washed and scrubbed every area of my knee and cleaned it out. He showed me film of the insude of my knee. Underneath my knee cap and at one side of it there was all this white stuff that looked like lots of threads floating about hanging down. He said it should be smooth so he cleared it all away.

I said to him, is this subsequent to my lateral release ? He said erm no I don't think so (he knows the original OS) and then said quickly I think the first time they thought that the LR would solve your problem and that the tilt of the knee  was the problem. He said my knee still sits slightly laterally and it would be better had it sat medially. He said he prefers sometimes to tighten the medial side rather than cut the lateral tissue but every surgeon has their own outlook. I said the only thing I still have is occasionally something feels as if it slips inside, he mentioned something about another operation but he said lets not even consider that just now. He said my knee glides much better now....it does its so smooth to bend inside and I no longer have to wait for the crunch.

Now just me or by his response and what I saw surely the first OS should have cleaned all that up during the LR ? Why wouldn't you do that ? I just think of all those weeks and money spent on PT and second op ....however hope this is it this time

That all said, it still hurts like hell. After the above should it still hurt so much or do you think the knee is just fed up of being tampered with ? Can you still have pain even after all the 'issues' have been resolved ?

Also in your experiences will this rough thread like stuff ( sorry forgot all the technical jargon here) come back ? Does history tend to repeat itself ?

Anyway I look forward to hearing how you all are. Thats my news and its back to PT for me....again

[plantgeek58]

Hi Joanne,
That white stuff under your kneecap is the cartilage, that got frayed because your knee wasn't tracking properly. Hopefully with the LR and the smoothing, you won't have that problem again.
Some surgeons like to smooth it out, figuring that it will be less likely to keep wearing away, but others prefer to leave it. Smoothing involves removing the damaged part, and it leaves you with a thinner cartilage layer. There's no definitive proof showing that either way is better, so basically, it depends on your surgeon's particular preference.
It sounds like your OS did a thorough job of cleaning your knee up. It will be sore for a few weeks, maybe even a few months. You've had a lot done, and it takes quite a while to heal. Plus, your knee has been inflamed for a long time. Have patience and take it one step at a time. Good luck with PT.
Terre