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

[kc1124]

Hi Joanne,

Glad to see things are going well for you.  Your knee will probably be sore for quite some time.  You did have a lot done, and it was in bad shape prior.  I would give it a good 2 months to start feeling better.  Try and be patient (I know that is a lot easier said than done).

The long stringy stuff under the knee cap is cartilage.  I have had mine removed at every surgery and, as the surgeon says, “trimmed to a nice stable rim” many times.  All of that stuff hanging there is part of the crunching sound you heard all of the time. 

I hope things keep progressing for you.  I have been thinking about you, and although I have not been posting, I have been reading your thread to keep up with how you are doing.  Sorry that it has taken a while to get back on here for you.

I am hanging in there.  I finally kicked myself in the a$$ and got out of the rut I was in.  I just got hit with so many things at one time.  I have the severe arthritis in both knees, and have been recently diagnosed with it in my right hip, right hand, both SI joints, and now I go for an MRI on the lower spine Tuesday night – they think it is full of arthritis.  I am having a block of the SI Joints done Oct. 8 and I see my OS on Oct. 9 to schedule surgery for my right knee.  It has just been appointment after appointment with the OS, Rheumatologist, Physical Medicine, Pain Management, and whatever other doctor I see, bloodwork, x-rays, MRI’s…………………It just got to me.

Anyway, enough complaining.  I know you are going to do great this time.  Just remember to be patient and that the pain will eventually go away.  PT will be tough, but it is worth it.  You will be back to your normal self before you know it.

Take care and I hope to catch you online on day or night to chat.

Kat

[Judey]

Hi all,
I havent posted on this thread before, and I hope that some one can help with some words of encouragement, wisdom or support.
I am 13 days post op after lateral release surgery, with microfracture and chondroplasty. The microfracture apparently was not to regenerate but to unload the bone. The lateral release was a surprise, and I was only informed post op.
My O/S (who by the way is excellent) intended to do a MPFL construction using the hamstring tendon as my patella was matracking. However, an MRI showed some cartillage tears etc. and he wanted to deal with these seperately before doing the MPFL recon.

I have had dvt in the past, and was given anticoagulant shots pre and post op. Before leaving hospital I had a large bleed from the lateral release port. I came home in a full splint and crutches.

Two days later, the site strated to bleed again, and continued for another couple of days. I went back to see my O/S who told me to cancel the rest of the anticagulant jabs, and the bleeding subsided.

The knee has felt good although very very swollen. I have had no pain so to speak, and able to gain full extension, and found the physio relatively easy, straight leg lifts being no problem. The ham string curls were a bit more difficult due to the swelling.

Anyhow, last night after completing my physio, I found myself literally pouring with what I initially thought was blood, all over the floor. I was leaving a trail as I walked. It wasnt blood, but fluid, and it was pouring from the site of the lateral release port, although this was not gaping,and did in fact look healed, the fluid was seeping from the very edge.
I went to A&E who confirmed that it was fluid, and it was not pus or anything nasty. They dressed my knee.

My knee feels different inside, sort of a bit looser, almost as though I want to "click" it. Prior to this I was walking quite comfortably albeit with crutches.
My husband thinks this may be due to the fact that there is much less fluid and more room for movement. Im really worried that I have done some awful damage, or even torn the tissue at the site of the L.R. I think Im panicking, but Im imagining my knee dangling about loose inside.
Can anyone throw any light on this. I know my best option is to try and see my consultant but any advice in the interim would be much appreciated.
Thanks Judey

[Sore knee]

Judey

Hope you are ok. I was always told losing fluid provided just clear was fine and would help reduce the swelling. I said I felt as if it wanted to click too but they told me with all the fluid the different parts of your knee are swollen with all the fluid and as you lose it the patella etc falls back down to sit where it should...thus you may feel that sensation.

I am no expert here and many may be able to help you more but I do remember that feeling. If you can do straight leg lifts etc you are in much better shape than I was at your stage.... and even now !

Good luck

[Judey]

Hi Joanne
Thank you very much for your reply and support.
I have now been to see my physio, who is also excellent, and he has reassured me and confirmed what you said. He also said in a way I was quite fortunate to have got rid of a lot of fluid so quickly (better out than in). I think I lost about half a pint. Though there's still plenty more.

The knee also probably feels strange because at last now the patella is no longer maltracking, and isn't accustomed to being in the correct place.

Anyhow, I hope that things go well for you, and thank you again for your advice. If you dont mind Ill keep watching this thread and contribute when I can.
Jude

[Sore knee]

You are very welcome Judy, join in any time. I have found the support here invaluable and so many people have helped me through the worrying times and the times you get frustrated. They are great !

Hope you continue to make progress

[Sore knee]

Knee has been sore but good  ..... but on Monday I had my 3yr old and she slipped on gravel , pulled me and I kind of slipped and jarred my leg it was straight then slightly bent and then sort of slammed straight again. Anyway I felt something in my knee pop out of place and then back in again. I am not sure if it dislocated  - if it did it went back in again but it was very sore. It was swollen that night and hot but I managed to get the swelling down a bit  so it can't be too serious. Now I used to get this prior to the LR sometimes, not often but it felt a bit like that. Back then I was not educated in what it was as my knee education was not great....hadn't found here then and I only wish now I could have explained to the doctor that was happening in case it would have had any bearing.

Now I feel my kneecap tracking properly I think most of the time ( to be honest I don't know if it tracked incorrectly before, I assume with a tilt requiring a LR it may have, but if it did I never felt it or I assumed what I was feeling was normal) , but now sometimes I feel it rub on bone (I'm assuming thats what it is) and I can now definitely feel the catch or rub, yet when I am at the docs or physio and they hold my knee and feel the kneecap or watch it  - it always behaves beautifully. In the last op there were rough areas which they trimmed away and smoothed so I assume something must have been rubbing. My Q is this, is this because its all smooth now could it be the knee cap is roaming around slipping  at times or is it because of the muscle weakness.

Underneath the kneecap feels bruised is the best way I can put it....its not agony but its not pleasant either. Is this all normal ? I didn't rush back to see my PT as they have made a joke of me having a LR and ending up back in surgery where all they could find was under the kneecap being roughened in places and the rest of my knee looked fine.....although everyone thought there must be 'mischief' going on in my knee as the consultant put it right prior to me going into theatre.  SO I don't want to rush back and annoy them but my knee can't do these things for no reason.

Thanks goodness I have you guys to ask

[trainwreck]

girl if you annoy them tough noogies. that is what they are there for.  it doesn't sound like  you did any major damage but if you are unsure or it doesn't feel bad get your hind end in there. if they are annoyed so be it.  you can't walk thru life trying not to annoy people.  you are worth a lot more than you give yourself credit for.
i hope you knee feels better soon and if it doesn't go in please.

[Sore knee]

After a few days euphoria thinking this was me on the last lap and at the end of my knee story the pain creeps back in. I don't think I done any damage last week and my knee was starting to look normal after months and months of forgetting it could look this way. Its just so blinking sore

I thought it should get easier....if I have nothing serious wrong with my knee now why oh why does the pain persist. SOmetimes I convince myself I must be imagining it or have a low pain thresh hold....which I then go on to argue with anyone as I will spare the details but if I can get through a difficult child birth with absolutely nothing (not that I wanted it that way, I would have taken pain relief) I must have a reasonable ability to handle pain. I know in my heart I am not imagining this pain, it just gnaws and throbs and yet I find no reason for it to be there......my PT just keeps saying ignore the pain Joanne, work through it. Eh yeah....easy for you to say pal !

Anyone else left with pain after the apparent problem is solved /repaired ??

[trainwreck]

go see your doc!!!!  pt's are great but they are just that and not md's.  i always have some level of pain the only thing that ever changes is the level of pain.  you know somthing isn't right so do somthing about it.  you can't always approach it with the "work thru the pain" mentality.  if it hurts while you do somthing and then goes away that fine but if it hurts and doesn't go away or creates more swelling somthing is amiss.  you know your knee and know somthing isn't right. i am sure your pain tolerance is plenty high and you need to listen to your body.  wouldn't it be great if you went in and they said you were fine?   i don't think that's what will happen but let your md make that call.
please quit being stubborn and get looked at.  what is the worst thing that could happen?  it can't be any worse than what you are experiencing or fretting could be wrong.  it is human nature but the truth is never as bad as the unknown.

[Sore knee]

was at physio today. Can bend it more although still can't do a straight leg lift. It is more swollen than last week but hje says progress sometimes comes at a price....I know that much from the pain. He says it is probably still maltracking slightly as the lateral structures are still tight....the LR has just allowed us the opportunity to stretch them. SO I have to do some stretches of that and I asked him when do w eknow the maltracking has been corrected - he said the pain will stop in the knee. I said I wasn't always in pain 100% of the time pre- LR so whats the difference going to be ? He just said that function will improve as swelling will be less and the pain will lessen also.

Not entirely convincing as I didn't realise I had a problem with tracking until I was referred to the OS in April and the symptoms I had was after sport or wearing high shoes or being on my feet for a prolonged period my knee ached terribly....but not all the time.

Aaaahhh my knee doesn not seem to fit in stereotypical symtpoms, how I wish I had found here first. I just don't quite know where its all going but onwards and upwards and lets hope the PT is right

How are you all doing ?  Any updates