oohheykate's MPFL reconstruction on 4/14/2011 (LOA & MUA on 6/21/2011)

[oohheykate]

I got my MRI results and there’s nothing wrong with my knee. Counting this, I’ve had five negative MRIs yet I know for a fact there is something wrong with my knee. I know there are cases where things don’t show up on MRIs so maybe that’s what is happening here. Who knows. I just really want to know why my knee was doing amazing then, all of the sudden, it became constantly swollen, it clicks/pops, and I don’t have full ROM. It’s good that I don’t have something like an ACL tear like the tests indicated but, at the same time, I wish there was something that explained the pain.

I guess I’ll find out what my OS thinks on May 29th.

Question: Does anyone have a guess as to what the “metallic susceptibility artifact” is? The screw was biocomposite so I'm assuming it's not that. Maybe the permanent sutures? I'll definitely ask my OS when I see him.

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Well MRI can be wrong I had one that said I had a meniscus tear ,but once the doc got in, there was not one.  Just fibrillated kneecap.  So....hope the OS can get this figured out for you.

Milly

[Runner1993]

That is such a bummer! That is very interesting about the metallic artifact...This may be a dumb question, but do all bio-composite screws dissolve?

I just pulled out my MRI write-up to see if I had any similar wording to mine. Here is the line that mentions the screw "there is thickening of the medical retinaculum adjacent to fixation screw in the medial patella." So, I am guessing my screw is still there and does not dissolve.

Was there any mention of your cartilage? How is your cartilage?

I am very surprised by your MRI...not even a sprain! Maybe you'll OS will look at the images and see something though. So, fingers crossed that he can figure it out for you.

Getting excited for college!? Start making those shopping lists ; )

[oohheykate]

Not a dumb question, at all. I was/still am under the impression that they dissolved and that's why OS used them. The screws go away so they don't cause irritation and don't have to be removed. That's what my OS told me. He said mine would be gone in six months. Maybe it doesn't go away completely? I'll definitely ask my doctor about this!

There was no mention of my cartilage. The picture I posted was the entire MRI. The last time my OS was in there, he said it was a little banged up but nothing too major.

Me too, Runner! I didn't expect nothing to show up with how my knee has been feeling. Since I got the results, I've been telling myself nothing is wrong so I'm trying to walk around normally but that isn't really working. It's weird that my knee moved so much during the exam. I could actually feel my bones separating.

*sigh* Not really...I mean, I'm excited to start a new chapter and all. I love the school I picked but I absolutely adore my high school and my teachers and classmates. I'm really going to miss it.

[oohheykate]

Post-op day 401 from MPFLr; Post-op day 333 from LOA & MUA.

Yesterday was my senior prom. I had the time of my life. I honestly didn't expect it to be that fun but it was. I didn't want the night to end. This makes me not want to graduate even more. I love my class so much.

My left (operative) knee was pretty swollen the whole time, still is. It's pretty much swollen all the time now. I see my knee OS on May 29th to talk about it. The pain wasn't too bad though and I was focused on dancing the whole time. My right hip is super sore. It hurts to move it! I see my hip OS on Wednesday to schedule my hip surgery. My right knee held up pretty well. It hurt but, like I said, I wasn't letting anything stop me from having fun.

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Glad you had such a good time at prom.  Lovely dresses you ladies are wearing!  Give the knees and hip a bit of a rest.

Milly

[Runner1993]

I wasn't sure if there was a difference between biocomposite and biodegradable!. Haha how sad is it that I don't even know if I have the plastic screw in my knee anymore. Let me know if you ever get the answer!

I really enjoyed high school, too, even if most of my classmates were saying how they couldn't wait to get out of my town. My college is in a city, and my hometown is rural, so it was a big change. It was hard at first, but it really grew on me, and I really love my college, too.

Ditto everything Milly said! Good luck Wed. and on the 29th.

[oohheykate]

Thank you, Milly and Runner!!

Haha. Runner, my OS told me I had a biocomposite screw and that it would dissolve. Do they make biodegradable screws?

A lot of my classmates say that too but then we have school events like prom or our senior trip then they don't want to graduate anymore. I haven't been wanting to graduate since sophomore year. And now everyone is counting down the days which makes it worse. I actually got my cap & gown and yearbook on Friday. It's so surreal.

I'll update again on Wednesday!

[oohheykate]

My hip scope is scheduled for Friday, July 6th (43 days!). That's after my college orientation so it won't interfere with anything. As of right now, it's a labral repair but it could turn into a debridement depending on what my OS finds when he gets in there. Although, the tear doesn't look too bad on the MRI. I should be on crutches between 4-6 weeks, TTWB. But, I'm the queen of complications so who knows! I'll also be in a brace for the same amount of time. You guys thought ROM braces were bad. Look at this thing!



I'll have to wear it 24/7 to prevent my hip from rolling and flexing which would re-tear my labrum.

All in all, it shouldn't be too bad. I've been through surgery plenty of times. It's just going to be weird having it on my hip instead of my knee. Speaking of, I hope it holds up and doesn't cause too much of a fuss while I'm on crutches and over compensating. It's been doing pretty well and been getting better since I hyperextended. Fingers crossed!

[Runner1993]

Wow that brace is good looking! The only clothes that would cover that thing up is a dress, but I wouldn't advise that on crutches much! I don't know what to do with my mast accumulation of braces. It seems like it would be such a waste to toss them in the garbage. My sister had to wear a ROM brace similar to mine when she broke her leg, but I have no idea what she did with that. We still have her walker though (which was very handy post-op for me at times!)

When do you move into college? Seems like you'll be cutting it close so let's hope everything goes as planned. When will you start pt?

Glad the knee is still getting better every day. Let's hope this is your last surgery ever, especially of the orthopedic variety!

[oohheykate]

Runner,

I'm not even going to try to cover up the brace. That thing is massive. Haha. Same with my braces. I just keep them under my bed. I have three immobilizers and one ROM brace. Today, my doctor's assistant (I think?) tried to give me a prescription for crutches...haha like I don't have a pair of them. I'll be donning my purple ones once again.

The move in date on my college's website is August 25th. However, we're supposed to have a freshmen week were there are only freshmen on campus so we're moving in sooner than everyone else. I guess we'll get the official dates at orientation, hopefully! And I totally forgot to ask about PT. My OS said last time that I would be in PT for at least four months...I think.

I like the positive thinking but I don't believe this will be my last surgery. My right knee is still all kinds of messed up but it'll get a break with this surgery! And, drum roll please, my right shoulder has been hurting constantly for the past three weeks. I can definitely feel a difference between that one and my left shoulder. It's bothered me on and off forever but as of late, it hasn't stopped hurting. I haven't been able to throw a ball in over six years because of it. In school, I'll hold onto the edge of a desk and lean back and my shoulder definitely feels like it comes out more than it should and it comes out more than my left does. I just don't know how to tell my OS about it. Hopefully it's nothing too serious though.

Oh the hypermobile life is such a joy!

[Silkncardcrafts]

Hi Kate,

I would suggest getting referred to a geneticist to see if you have EDS Hypermobility type. It can make all the difference getting a diagnosis,

Last year I was diagnosed with it and makes a lot of sense now. The key with EDS is to do gentle regular exercise and do no contact support.

Good luck with your hip surgery.

[oohheykate]

Thanks, Silkncardcrafts.

I've been told a million times that I'm really hypermobile but no one will even look into EDS. Last October, my OS sent me to a Rheumatologist because of all the joint pain I was having and she didn't event think twice about saying I don't have EDS because according to the Beighton scale, I wouldn't. But according to the Brighton scale, which is what is more widely accepted now, I do have it without a doubt. I'll definitely ask my OS tomorrow!

[oohheykate]

Post-op day 411 from MPFLr; Post-op day 343 from LOA & MUA.

I saw my knee OS for the last time for a while today. So sad. He's been a huge blessing. I wouldn't have gotten this far without him!

Nothing much really happened. He told me my MRI on my left (operative) knee came back clear and that my MPFL look great…which is fine because my knee has felt ten times better this past week. I have to continue to wear the knee brace on my right knee to keep my kneecap stable because there’s nothing he can do right now with my hip surgery coming up. And I brought up my shoulder…he examined it and felt definite looseness then said, “we’ll deal with it later.” Haha. There’s always something going on. I’m thinking there’s an MRI arthrogram in my shoulder’s future.

So I’m pretty much on my own with this stuff until I’m all healed from my hip surgery. I won’t be back to see him until I’m in college.


And I'm currently in the process of looking for a geneticist. Also, I totally forgot to ask about the metallic thing in my knee so I'll ask my hip OS if he can tell when I see him again. If not, I'll just call my knee OS.

[Silkncardcrafts]

Your GP should be able to refer to a geneticist. The fact that you are having issues with a lot of your joints is an indicator something isn't right.

By the way, MRIs don't show everything. Has your OS done any plan x-rays or CT scans? They are best for patella problems.