Solutions to Bilateral Patella Alta???

[SAMBOB925]

I'm a 20 year old Male and I have Bilateral Patella Alta and I am nearing the end of the 2nd month of physical therapy with no pain relief. The first month I had a cortisone shot on both of my knees and I felt no pain relief. The second month I was prescribed Naproxon to hopefully reduce the swelling in the bone but I have felt little to no pain relief from that. The pain at times is horrible, at times it feels like someone is jabbing a needle into my knee below the kneecap. At other times its just mild--sharp pain aching pain. I get pain laying down, sitting, standing. I can't stand for more than an hour or 2 before I have to sit down. I am wondering what are my next option's since physical therapy isn't working?? Will I have to get surgery? And what kind of surgery there is to help with Patella Alta.

It's so hard to find information online about Patella Alta, and if I do find anything it has to deal with a ruptured tendon, which I don't have.

I'm just getting frustrated because I want to get a job and I can't get one if I can't stand for 1 or 2 hours.

[lisa424]

The surgery for patella alta is called a tibial tubercle transfer. The tibial tubercle (bump on top of tibia) is lowered in order to bring the patella down into the correct position. There are plenty of posts about TTTs on this forum and in the post op diaries if you want to read about other peoples experiences.

[SAMBOB925]

Thank you, Lisa424.

[RGrelsamer, MD]

Yes, there are many operations based on lowering the tibial tuberosity.
the tough part is determining whether patella alta is the source of your pain. Make sure there's no underlying inflammatory condition, weakness/tightness of the CORE structures around the pelvis, etc...
Patella alta most commonly leads to instability rather than pain.