Nick's Medial Plica Excision & Fat Pad!

[Clarkey]

Hi All,

This week it has been damp and cold on the golf course and now feeling it in my right knee. Been drizzle in the air all day today and is something I have to accept as it is normal to get knee pain on the operated knee when it damp and cold outside. Could it be the start of arthritus in the knee or just some scar tissue left in the knee around the portal areas.

I will be coming up to 2 years post op on 16/11/11 and have already written my 2 years post op diary which I will post on my 2nd anniversary that is next week Wednesday.

Diane, thanks for posting on my thread and so sorry you are still having problems with your knees. Glad you managed a round of golf while the weather was still good.

Nick {2011}

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

A little ibuprofin may help the pain on those damp days.  Sometimes just a neoprene sleeve will help as it keeps the knee warmer.

Milly

[Clarkey]

Two Years Post Op:

Two years post op was on Wednesday 16th November and this time last year I never thought I be able to run again. Milly the knee pain is not bad enough that I would resort to ibuprofin, more discomfort with moderate pain at times.

My right knee is more and less how it was before my fall onto pavement while jogging on October 19th 2007. I go for a run 3 times a week and the route I take is 5 miles long and can do it within 30 minutes. I am happy with the pace I am going and think 6 minutes a mile is very good for someone that got back into running in May 2011 after not being able to run for 3 and a half years.

I will be joining a local running club in spring 2012 as I feel ready to join a club as I am good enough to become a member. It wil bel a great way to make new friends by joining a club I would have a better chance of competing in half and full marathons across the UK by being a club member.

When I do go for a run I sometimes feel a little pain and discomfort in both knees which is nothing to be concerned about as most runners will feel a little bit of knee pain from running on a hard surface. My right knee that was operated on swells up a little after a run with some pain at the bottom of my kneecap by the portal areas and could be caused by some scar tissue left after my scope. My left knee has maltraking problems and has always been a problem since I was a child. I sometimes get pain at the bottom of my kneecap and also sometimes click’s. Russ my PT did mention to me that I may have problems with my left knee in the future if I do a lot of long distance running on it.

Now that we have reached the winter months I am now feeling more pain in both knees. I may have early signs or arthritis as I have been working outdoors for over 12 years in cold damp condition that cannot be good for the knees. I mainly feel pain around the portals in my right knee and think it could be a bit of scar tissue causing the pain with maybe slight arthritis kicking in. I have more maltracking problems in my left knee and sometimes feel pain when it is cold and damp and again could be early signs or arthritis. I am not too concerned about it at this present time and may not even be arthritis as most people get knee pain on and off. I would now say my knee is from 85% perfect to 60% that is still a good percentage after knee surgery.

Who knows I may be posting again on KG in the future about my knees as I know that jogging on a hard surface is bad for your knees and will gradually wear them out. I am willing to risk wearing out my knees as I enjoy jogging too much to give it up completely and will worry about it when my knees start to give me problems again. Until then I shall carry on enjoying my long distance running as I am good at it and too young to start worrying about future knee problems.

I hope what I have written about my right knee over the passed 2 years in my post diary will be helpful for other members on KG that you can overcome your knee problems and there is light at the end of the tunnel after all. I would like to thank Mr Marcus Green for doing a successful scope and Dr Grahame Brown for the IMS sessions that got me back to running again and finally to the Bulletin Board Members that have supported me through my knee problems and to Dr Sheila Strover who established and runs such an excellent website.

Nick  {2011}

[Clarkey]

New Years Update 2012:

I have not posted for a while on my diary and as it is the start of 2012 would be nice to let you all know how my right knee is doing. 2012 is the 1st full year since 2006 that I am able to run again and really pleased about it as I nearly gave up hope that I would be able to run again when my knee did not improve after Mr Green scoped my knee in November 2009.

I am still running 3 times a week and do about 15 miles a week and do have some pain and swelling around the portals after running and think one has to expext some pain and discomfort after having knee surgery and will never be 100% again. I will be joining a running club in March when the daylight is longer and temperatures are warmer. I will work more on my quads to get them large again as it still smaller then my left quad. It is nice not having to go to the Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic Hospital this year and liked going there as the staff are fantastic but also good that I no longer need any treatment.

I hope to train up to do a half marathon this summer and a full one would be my main goal but in no rush as I do not want to put too much strain on my knees.

nickwclarke2012@BhamUK

[Clarkey]

I am back again on my post op diary again as my right knee is becoming painful again and I know its nothing too major and think I need to see Dr Brown again for more IMS sessions. The knee is back to how it was before my IMS sessions with pain and swelling around the portals. When I kneel and squat I feel pain and pressure at the bottom of my knee. I have been doing a lot of running and use my knee alot at work so not at all surprised the pain has returned again. I know that IMS will benefit me once again as I only needed 3 sessions and it was a success. I can feel my back muscles tensed up while running so need some needles stuck into my back and leg muscles.

I have booked an appointment with my GP who has no appointments till Monday 5th March as I only wanted to see him as he knows about my knee history. I can wait a week longer to see him as it is none urgent and wont have a problem seeing Dr Brown again for more IMS sessions. I know my knee problems are nothing compared to other members on KG as I can run and do my job ok but if I can reduce the knee pain and IMS worked for me last time then why not have more again in future as it free on the NHS and do pay into National Insurance so might as well make use of the NHS as you got to look after the knees and make sure they are ok. Last IMS session was back in July 2011 and will be 8 months in March so have done well for my right knee not to cause any problems

nickwclarke2012@BhamUK 



 

 

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

You are probably getting the same tenseness in the muscles you had before.  Hope your GP can get you into Dr. Brown and can clear this up right away.

Milly

[Clarkey]

I saw my GP yesterday evening at 7:35pm and was the only patient left in the surgery waiting room and was called through by intercom by my GP at 7:30pm so just as well I arrrived in good time and maybe he wanted to get back home and was his last patient of the day.

I told my GP that I starting to feel pain in my right knee while at work as I have to do a lot of squatting and kneeling and also like to go for a run 3 times a week and the pain has increased and is hindering me at work. I asked if I could have some more IMS sessions with Dr Brown as the last sessions really helped reduce the knee pain. My GP did not ask me any questions and said he would write a referral letter to Dr Brown and was in the room for around 2 minutes that I did not mind as he was happy for me to receive some more IMS sessions with Dr Brown and could see straight away on his computer screen my knee history and problems I have had over the last couple of years so knows that my knees have been a problem for a while and need to have my right knee checked over by Dr Brown.

I was working yesterday around the Clubhouse and putting green clearing and weeding the flowerbeds and was plodding away and could feel some pain and discomfort in my right knee. The bucket I was using to put the leaves and weeds in had to be emptied when it got full and had to walk a few yards to empty the bucket and on the way back was limping as the pain was fairly intense at the bottom of my right knee that's not happened for some time and will happen again with the job I do.

I am now pleased that I will be seeing Dr Brown again as I am not wasting his time or the NHS's money as I do need some more IMS sessions and at the same time he can examine my knees properly. Who knows how long I will have to wait to see him as it is the NHS we are talking about and are known to be slow with appointments and have improved more over the last couple of years but still not great and maybe never will be as Birmingham is the 2nd largest City in the UK and think there over 1 million people living inthe City so going to have to wait a while for a hospital appointment with such a large population!

nickwclarke2012@BhamUK

[Clarkey]

Got a letter from the Hospital today and seeing Dr Brown on Wednesday 11th April @17:00. My right knee feels ok again to be honest but would benefit from having more IMS sessions as it still sore and swollen around the portals.

nickwclarke2012@BhamUK

[Clarkey]

Hi All,

I had a successful appointment with Dr Brown yesterday afternoon and was seen straight away as Dr Brown had just arrived at the outpatients department as I came in and said I could see him straight away and was before 5pm which was very kind of him as I would have had to pay £3 parking if I spent more then 20 minutes at the department. I last went in July 2011 and never had to pay for parking and the old entrance had a barrier across the car park for staff parking only so had to ask one of the nurses how to get to the main outpatients department and she did not know so had to ask one of the staff in a office and she gave me the right directions as they now have a new entrance to the hospital. I finally arrived at the reception area and had to book myself in on a touch screen and as I was doing it Dr Brown came in and said he could see me straight away and gave up booking myself in as they asked you too many questions and did not want Dr Brown to wait.

He found a trigger point in my back muscle that was a bit sore when he touched it and the same on my right quad found a trigger point where I was feeling pain. He stuck a few needles in my back and above my knee and did feel some pain and discomfort so knew it was working ok. He did try to find a trigger point on my left quad but could not find one so did not stick needles in it.

Once again have to say how good Dr Brown is with his patients and glad I went to see him for more IMS sessions that was well overdue as the last one was nearly one year ago in May 2011. I was not sure at 1st if I really needed more IMS sessions and now glad I did as it helped straight away with less pain again in my right knee. I am booked in to see him again for another IMS session on June 20th and might be the last one till next year.

I don’t know what’s up with my left knee as I did not need IMS on it and was hurting today at work and was told by Russ my PT that I have maltracking in my left knee more then my right. Would a knee support help as I do not ever want to have LR on it unless it got really bad, Russ did warn me could be a problem I the future if I run a lot which I will be doing when I join a running club as it something I enjoy doing and good at it and will worry about my left and right knee when it becomes more of a problem in the future and hope it is going to be a long time into the future!

nickwclarke2012@BhamUK

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Ask about a knee support at your next appt.  You could try an OTC one from the phamacy.  If there is maltracking there are braces for that, but they tend to cost more and it may be something you can get on NHS rather than pay out of pocket.  Those are usually prescribed by an OS or PT.  Glad the sessions are helping.  Trigger points cause lots of referred pain.  Your left kneecap may be irritated if you have maltracking.

Milly

[arkitect06]

Hey Nick!!!  It has been a while! 

As for your knee question, it sounds like you have patellar subluxation!  That's what caused me to have my Fulkerson Osteotomy (TTT) on both knees!  Hopefully it's not that bad, but getting just a lateral release isn't a good idea.  I did a lot of research about it before my Fulkerson.  I had a lateral release along with the osteotomy which is a good combination. 

As for a brace, Milly was right about a brace for keeping your patella in place. I have several braces that keep mine in place....I have this one for both knees: http://www.betterbraces.com/donjoy-tru-pull-lite

Good luck!!! 

Farrah

[Clarkey]

Hi All,

I have been on sick leave from work since Tuesday as I can no longer stand being near my Boss and got to a stage where I start to have heart palpitations and tightening of the chest and start shaking so no longer good for my health and well being as the bullying has got a lot worse and can no longer take anymore of it.

I saw my GP on Tuesday and she had singed me off sick till May 22nd but will get another sick note as she weighed me and have nearly lost 2 stone and now weight just under 10stone and use to weigh nearly 12 stone so is now effecting me physically as well as mentally.

I no longer want to be a Greenkeeper and have worked for nearly 13 years at the same golf club so should be proud to hold a full time job for so long with my Aspergers. I have decided already what my next job going to be, I want to become a support worker for adults on the Autistic spectrum and already been helping out a local man with Aspergers and met his support worker and said the organization he works for needs people like me on the Autistic spectrum to help and support people with my condition as I understand more what they are going through.

I am feeling a lot more relaxed and now have time to work on my book about how I cope and live with asperger syndrome and hope it gets published as a book. I need to hand in my resignation letter soon as I cannot do any voluntary or part time work while off sick. I have been told just to take it easy the next few weeks.

I really want start running once again and been told it best not too for the time being as I lost a lot of weight. I really love going for a run and cannot be without it so going to go out for a run once again on Monday.

Thanks Milly & Farrah, and may start to wear a brace on my left knee while running and I know for certain it is maltracking as I been told by a few PT’s that the kneecap is more loose then my right knee.

nickwclarke2012@BhamUK

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

If work is causing such physical symptioms then yes you need to look elsewhere.  You may need to take something else if you cannot find something right away in the field you want.  I think you did well to stay on so long especially with the hostile environment.

Relax, work on your book and take it easy.  Good luck to you.

Milly

[Clarkey]

Hi All,

Handed in my letter of resignation to the General Manager on Thursday at mid day and handed in the keys and went really well and thanked me for my time and commitment to the Golf Club and will get full pay till the end of June with 1 weeks holiday pay on top.

I have been running 3 times a week only for half an hour each day around my region and still getting pain in my right knee and did have IMS on it in April it hurts at the start of my run and afterwards and fine during my running.

Also my left knee seems to be hurting more then usual and was told have tracking problems more in my left knee then my right and might be a problem in the future if I run a lot. Is there a way to prevent patellar subluxation that might become a potential problem as I will not be giving up running just yet as I am enjoying it too much!

Seeing Dr Brown in June, is it worth having my left knee checked over properly as it only been my right knee so far that’s been treated.

nickwclarke2012@BhamUK

[Clarkey]

Hi All,

Been a while since I last posted about a knee problem and do not think I have to worry too much about my latest problems and did post about it in the general knee section with no replys back.

I am on Holiday with my Mum in the Yorkshire Dales and using my iPhone that I only got on thursday and we went for a long walk yesterday and was running up a very steep road and felt pain and discomfort in both knees and lifted my trousers and have some bruising above the knee on top if the kneecaps.

What could be causing this sudden bruising as both knees felt fine with no bruises before the walk. This morning the bruising is less visable. It just seem to come on all of a sudden and will be seeing Dr Brown in 9 days time and maybe could asked him what it could be.

My right knee in particular is more sore and swollen then usual and painful to kneel and squat. Maybe some more IMS sessions will help ease the pain again. I do still go running 3 times a week so do put my knees under stress. I think my knees will never be 100% again and have to accept that they cause problems in the future. Will worry about it when it happens till then I will carry on doing my running.

nickwclarke2012@BhamUK