Surgery for Medial Patella Dislocations

[Stacye]

Hi Mandy who is the other surgeon

[Silkncardcrafts]

Hi Mandy & Clare,

How are you both going ? I think of you from time to time and hope all is going well.

I was going well for about 2 months until I had a minor car accident. My left kneecap hit the dashboard and since then it's been horrible. Last week I had a full medial dislocation of my patella and has come out at least once a day this week. I am waiting on a new knee brace that's coming from the US, but still haven't got it yet. It's a new Donjoy brace that my knee surgeon saw at the conference in Florence in May.

In just under a week and a half I'm seeing a different knee surgeon for a second opinion. Then, at the end of October I'm seeing my own knee surgeon to see what exercises/sports are safe for me to do and to speak to him about what the knee surgeon I'm getting a second opinion from thinks. I just pray that something can be done.

On a good note I've started a new job which is going well and bought a new car I'm really happy with.

Love to hear what you've been up to. 

[Mandy]

Hey!!

Good hearing from ya kjwilkin!  I'm doing pretty well for the most part.  School is a little hectic with classes, plus I also started my clinical rotations for my athletic training major.  It's so much fun, just alot of time budgeting.

My knees are not liking all the walking around campus and such.  Plus, the weather is really changing so that just adds to the knee being crummy.  This past week I've been somewhat slacking too I guess you could say.  Really don't mean to complain, but I'm just getting so so SO tired of wearing that stupid unloader brace.  So I've been skipping wearing the brace.    I think I learned my lesson, and that the brace really does help take quite a bit of load of my medial compartment.  It'll just be easier to get through school and beyond once the knee is fixed so hopefully I don't have to mess around with the stupid brace!  My kneecap has it's own mind as well and I've had a few medial subluxations in the past few days, nothing too serious but still painful nonetheless!

It was great to hear from you!  Good luck on the second opinion and CONGRATS on the new job!!!!

~Mandy

[trainwreck]

Mandy,
Dr A would kill you if she found out you weren't wearing the brace.  Are you crazy girl?  Put it on please.
Allison

[Silkncardcrafts]

Hey Mandy,

Sounds like things are going reasonably well. What do your clinical rotations for your athletic training entail ? I'm a sports trainer for a football club in Melbourne and really enjoy it. I've learnt so much from the head physio of our football club. I have had to miss the past 2 matches because of my dislocation and subluxations this week, which I was disappointed about. But, it was more of a risk to work.

Don't blame you being sick of having to wear your brace. I am just so sick of having to be so careful of where I put my knee and the angle it's placed in. Just seems so sensitive since I had the accident.

Will let you know how I go with the second opinion.

Good luck with your study. It sounds really interesting. Currently I'm studying some anatomy and finding it really interesting. 

[Silkncardcrafts]

Hey Mandy,

How are you doing ? How's all the study going ? I've been studying some anatomy and finding it really interesting.

I ended up having the second opinion, but didn't like him much. Basically his view of my knee was 'put up with it'. I'm not going to do that as I have trouble walking and sleeping.

Anyway, I saw my knee surgeon back in October and wants me to give conservative treatment another 4 to 6 months. That will be up in mid February. I go back to see my knee surgeon on the 20th of February. So, will be interesting to see what he says. In the mean time I am continuing with conservative treatment and trying different things. I've tried some muscle stims which don't seem to be helping much. The next thing to try is a vibrating platform. Not sure how my knee is going to like it, but willing to give it a go.

Hope you're well !!! 

[Mandy]

Hello!

Wow sorry I didn't respond the last time you wrote!  My email has been acting soooooo strange lately.  Really thinking about switching over to a new program.  Studying is going pretty good.  It's actually finals week here right now and oddly enough I have my anatomy final in less than 2 hours!   I managed to get out of my one final that was supposed to be yesterday.  I scored high enough on the last regular exam that he excused me from taking the final....whew!!

Sorry to hear that your second opinion kind of stunk.     I'm planning on going back to my surgeon during my holiday break coming up.  This is just to check in with her.  Possibly decide if we are doing surgery this summer or whatever.  That's very interesting about the vibrating platform.  Don't think I've ever heard of that one.  Let me know if you try it and what it entails! 

Nothing else is new to really report.  Just getting very tired of wearing the stupid brace, but know how much I regret it when I don't wear it.  Times like these were I just have to suck it up and strap the thing onto me for the day, I guess.  It was so great to hear from you!  Keep in touch!!

~Mandy

[Silkncardcrafts]

Hi Mandy,

No worries, you've probably been really busy with all your studies. How did your exams go ? I didn't get any study done on my day off today as I had a lot of appointments to go to. My work office closes on Friday. So, will have Monday off and hope to get some more study done then. That's great you scored well enough on a regular test to miss the final exam for one of your classes.

I guess I always knew I'd stick with my current surgeon. He knows my knees really well and how I've responded to treatment over the years I've been seeing him. When do you go back to see your surgeon ?

On Saturday I'm going to try the vibrating platform. So, will be interesting to see how it goes and what it actually does. I think my knee is going to feel very unstable so not really sure about it. Going to give it a good go first.

I know what you mean about the brace. Am so sick of wearing my brace, but helps keep my knee cap in place. I can't walk without it at the moment. I've just come off crutches. Had to go back on them for two weeks as my kneecap was super unstable.

Over the last couple of days I've been planning a trip to Thailand or Malaysia. Looking to go away for 2 weeks at the beginning of March after I finish my current contract. It's something to look forward to if I need knee surgery in March or April.

Great hearing from you !! Stay in touch !!!