Comminuted fractures in both knees patella + femur fractures

[acg]

I went to PT today and the therapist said he was not sure I needed that, although it might help sometimes. I did my regular exercises and they added ultrasounds on my knees, since they suppressed the inflammatory meds. After that, he bended my right knee and was happy to see it was around 105º.

He then called the rehabilitation doctor and agreed no MUA was needed. So it seems no MUA for me (yet)

If it helps to others, my OS said when taking anticoagulant meds it might be not a good idea to do a MUA, since the internal bleeding might generate new scar tissues.

[Rollerblader]

Terrific!  It sounds like they are taking everything into account.  Your ROM is gaining also.  My PT's goal for my ROM was only 120...  I wanted to go farther and worked very hard at home, just pulling my leg towards me and I finally measured 133 at PT, but I can get about 145 at home in the mornings before any swelling.  Keep working hard!

Take care!

RB

[Suejs14]

Holy Cow RB - 145 degrees?  Unbelievable.  You are definitely inspiring. 

Sue JS

[Rollerblader]

I've been measuring with my iphone app.  It seems to work great!  It was only one degree off from my PT's measurement.  She was really impressed with the app.  She even called her boss over to look at it.  My knee has been catching when I fully extend or go from a bend to extend and it makes an awful sound.  My OS thinks its my hardware turnbuckle/crimp catching on the fig 8 wire as I bend.  It doesn't hurt, but it doesn't feel secure either.  I'm planning to have my hardware out in early feb, if I don't chicken out.  I'm a little nervous about the scar tissue...  Since I had it so bad before.  Weird, I didn't have scar tissue very bad in my elbow.  My elbow hardware will prob be the same long scar to get the plate out.  . Not looking forward to going back for surgery #3...I guess 3 times a charm!

Take Care Sue and enjoy your golf!

[acg]

This seems like the never-ending story...

The two extra-nails in my right patella started to hurt few days ago. It's a pain I already had for short periods (hours) in the last weeks. However, it seems now is permanent. My PT said that probably one of the nails touches a nerve and hurts A LOT. I can not even touch te area nor pull the hair there without an intense pain. I can neither wear the high stock I should be using due to the DVT, since it presses the area and hurts.

On Thursday, the doctor made me quit PT for 4 days, hoping it disappears. It's been 3 days and the pain is even worse. I can barely lay down with my knee in full extension and it hurts like hell if I move my leg in any direction. I am taking up to 6 metamizole 575mg per day and even tried acupuncture, but nothing seems to stop the pain.

The doctor who did the acupuncture is a family doctor and she suggested that my OS could take the nails out even with Sinthrome. Though, she suggested the best option was to go back to heparin, use some med to block its effect for the surgery and take it again just after.

I will be visiting my OS on Tuesday, but I am afraid he says nothing can be done without the vein doctor's approval. Does any one know how could they proceed, regarding I had a DVT on that leg and I am on Acenocoumarol since October?

Thanks for your help and support, folks

[Rollerblader]

gca, how did your last appointment go?  Wondering if you've gotten any pain relief?

Take care,

RB

[acg]

uh, completely forgot to update, sorry

The os said the patellas are already consolidated, but he said he could't take the wires out for safety until month 6. However, he said the 2 extra pins I have in the right knee could be released if they hurt, which apparently was the case. He even called another doctor used to work also on knees and he suggested the pins should never have been there and my pain is 100% sure from them.

I am visiting the vein doctor on January 2. If he agrees, the os will be taking out the pins with local anesthesia, sedation and a 1-inch incision on January 10. I hope this solve the pain, it is really killing me.

These days I've been home resting most of the time and I did't wear the high stock, so I am feeling better (but still some pain). I realized the pain gets stronger as soon as I wear the stock (I guess it pushes the pins and the patella and hurts), so I spend most of the time laying on the sofa and I don't have to wear it.

I'll try keep you updated if my memory doesn't fail
Thank you all for your support, it really helps to go through this

[debjoe74]

Hi Gca, I was feeling great and then after pt on Friday, during the evening, my knee started to hurt when I walked on it.  The sharp pain is right below the inner part of my right knee. It hasn't stopped either when I am on it. Could ths be a pin? I am four months post op and never had any problems. I am trying to walk around the house w/out crutches but I still use 1 when I go out. Now with this pain, I've been using 2 crutches again. I was just wondering where and how the knee hurts when a pin shifts. Anyone's experiences would be appreciated. Deb

[acg]

the promised update, i did not forget!

went to the vein doctor, he said my leg looked surprisingly good. he reduced the acenocoumarol dose and in a week he will make an Eco-Doppler to see the vein. If everything is fine (either the crop is not there or it is already integrated into the tissue), he would move me back to heparin and allow the os to remove the pins and make a MUA on my right leg

deb, in my case is not the pins shifted, in the rx they are still in the same place. the os said when the swelling around the knee goes away and you start bending over 90º, the hardware often hurts. is your knee still swollen? how is your rom? currently I am resting home (not going to PT) and the pain only appears when I use the compression stock.

[debjoe74]

Hi GCA, my rom was 121 last Tues and then on Fri the pt did intense strengthening. My hip hurt that night, but the next day I was moving around a bit more w/out the crutch and that's when my knee began to hurt and burn. It's my right knee just on the inside. I have wire and 2 pins. There's also a lot of cracking when I sit and stand. There is no swelling but it only hurts when I am standing on my leg. I am going to call the os tomorrow but I definitely do not want to do pt. I just saw the os last week and everything seemed fine. I am just 17 weeks today post op and was hoping to get to  6 mos for removal. I try not to be intimidated by the os, I am in my fifties, but these drs somehow make you feel like a wimp. I hope you're feeling better. Deb

[acg]

quick update with great news after the eco-doppler: no more crops in my leg, DVT is gone ^_^ anyway, i must stay with Synthrome for 2 or 3 more months :\

today my OS was supposed to talk to the vein doctor, so they agree how to proceed to remove the two pins that hurt, hope tomorrow I'll know something else.

btw, my PT assured a MUA was also waiting for me if I was going theatre. Do I have to stay in hospital for few days after that or can I go home the same day?

[acg]

Finally the pins are going out next Tuesday! Also they will totally bend my knee so I can go on faster on PT.
The doctor said I have to be in the hospital from Monday to Friday, so another boring week Hope this makes the pain to go away and recover better from this nightmare

[floridanightingale]

Awesome news. Happy New Year, and Happy Healing. The hospital stay will fly by and you will be feeling so much better when the pins come out.  Best wishes, GCA

[Rollerblader]

gca,

Congrats on getting to get your pins out.  I know they have been causing you pain.  I'm not sure how the do the MUA when they take the pins out.  Usually with a MUA the OS has you start bending right away, some get put on. a CPM machine.  It seems like when they take the pins out with a MUA the OS doesn't schedule PT until sometimes 2 weeks after the removal.  Do you know if you are going to have a cpm while in the hospital?  I'm sure your OS is going to be watching you closely while you are in the hospital.

Good luck!  Keep us posted.

Take care, RB

[acg]

hei all,

Writing from the hospital. Finally the pins (and so the pain!) are gone and my right leg is bending MUCH better after the MUA, although the staples hurt a little

They did the surgery on Tuesday morning and I was walking and on a CPM machine on Tuesday afternoon, getting to around 120º ROM pain-free (before surgery I was getting to 100º after some exercises and with pain). As I said, little pain on the wound and some swelling on the knee, but not on the quad nor in the patella

OS said I should stay in the hospital until Friday so I can be on CPM as much as possible, but I am feeling positive Now it should be less than 2 months to say goodbye to all the hardware I still have in both knees, hope it's gonna be easier to stand without pain