Fulkerson TTT & Possible MPFLr for June 14

[2cutekiddos]

Hi Kate,
I know it may sound stupid, but no they did not give me anti-nausea meds for my surgeries!!! I was 19 & 22 with my first surgeries and it was pre internet so I wasn't as knowledgable about these things. I have heard others mention Tramadol so I will definitely be pushing for it! I saw your super cute pic for prom...glad you had a good time! Graduation is wonderful and there is so much more adventures to come! I can't believe I will be having my 20 year reunion this September! I hope to be walking somewhat normal then and hopefully without a brace!

On another personal note...I just had to share a pic of my youngest graduating from Pre-K this past weekend!!! He is half the reason I have waited so long to get this procedure done or maybe he was my excuse as I am completely scared out of my mind for it!!!

Well, I hope this isn't the last image of me ever kneeling again!!! Please tell me that someone out there has full ROM after these procedures???

[oohheykate]

It's not stupid! I never had anti-nausea meds until my last two surgeries. I was given Zofran and it worked wonders. And thank you! I know there are wonderful things that will happen after high school, I just love high school so much. I'm sure I'll say the same about college. I get attached to things and hate change.

Your son is adorable!

The only reason I can't kneel is because I have nerve damage to the skin over my entire knee and it hurts to put pressure on it. I got that when I had the medial reefing done. Nothing changed after my MPFLr. I'm sure I would be able to kneel if I tried and kept doing it but I don't because I couldn't kneel before any of my surgeries so I'm used to it. But since you're having a TTT you might not be able to kneel until you get the screws taken out, if you decide to. Do you have any nerve damage from your MR? You might also be able to kneel if you gradually start kneeling on different surfaces after you're allowed to. My PTs used to do that with me. And I actually have full ROM now! When I was released from PT in August, I had about 125 degrees but, in January, I realized I could finally bring my foot to my butt for the first time in years. If you have the MPFLr, you'll have to be more proactive about regaining ROM but I think regaining ROM after a TTT alone isn't as difficult since the work isn't done on something that prevents bending...but I could be wrong!

[2cutekiddos]

@ Kate...glad to hear you regained ROM!!! That is encouraging!! I am lucky enough to say that I gained back sensation (on both sides) after my MR/LR surgeries. It did take some time though...those surgeries were 16 & 19 years ago (boy do I feel old...yikes!), so I am a little foggy as to when the sensation fully came back. It was weird to kneel when they were numb and I HATED shaving my legs! I was so worried I was going to cut myself because I couldn't feel the razor!

Thanks for the Zofran suggestion...I am adding it to my list of items to discuss with the anesthesiologist.

Well tonight I was carrying that adorable son of mine and guess what happen...yup left knee gives and we go tumbling! I usually never say dislocate or sublux because it is a little bit of both! My patella already sits in a rather subluxed position and when it "dislocates" it slides completely off and then reduces on its own like a rubber band.

My question is to those whose knees sublux/dislocate, what is your experience when this happens?

When I was young (ages 7-18) and my knees "went out" I would cause some definite damage and my knee would swell up and I'd be on crutches for two weeks. Then something happened...when they would "go out", yes I would be excruciating pain but after a few minutes I could get up and go on as usual. I also have never counted how many times my knees have subluxed/dislocated over my lifetime but I am starting to wonder what is a lot? I mention that my MR/LR surgeries were failures due to the fact that my knees still sublux/dislocate but the number of incidents were reduced (I guess that is a positive right?). Prior to my Rt knee procedure it "went out" at least once a week and now it is maybe twice a year. Sounds great but the cartilage damage and arthritis are my consolation prize! I am going forward with the left knee first because it "goes out" between 3 and 5ish times a year (estimate because I just don't keep track).

I am starting to have those thoughts that say "Maybe I shouldn't do this surgery...I mean yeah my knees still sublux/dislocate but it isn't as bad as when I was young and I don't swell up anymore when an "incident happens". Like tonight, I went to a Zumba class and had no problems with any of the moves. My knees are a little achey but I have been dealing with that for 20 years.

I keep telling myself that I am doing this procedure to not only provide my knee stability but to off load the forces on my lateral articular cartilage so I can hopefully stop future cartilage loss and damage. Another worry I have is that if I do nothing that my local mild arthritis will turn into osteoarthritis...and that a TKR will be my future.

I read everyone's posts on here and think, wow most people seemed to be in a bad way (pain) prior to surgery and it makes sense that they went ahead with it. But for me, I don't know any different way. I have ALWAYS lead a modified lifestyle (I have never ran, I hold railings down stairs as I have gone down many because of my knees going out, I guard my knee around others as being knocked from behind has caused them to give way, I hold onto nearby objects when roads are wet or icy, etc). At the same time I have not let my knees limit me either. I have enjoyed fitness and physical activities too because for me I never know when my knee will "go out". I could be walking and turn one direction and whammy I am on the floor and other times, like tonight I was cha-chahing at Zumba and had no problems.

Okay...thanks for letting me rant, my nervous are getting the best of me. I know these are the right procedures for me but I can't help having my reservations!

[allyd]

I also regained full ROM - was at 135-40 before surgery (8 months), and can get there no probs today. Got back to full ROM somewhere in between month 2-3. Kneeling, not so much yet for the same reason Kate stated. Just to numb yet from from the incisions... but no pain when I do kneel, just to odd to not feel the ground beneath me. But I like to hear yours dissapeared from your earlier surgeries!

My experience w/ dislocations, etc is sort of opposite yours. When I was 12-18, my left knee would go out - and I'd be up and running hours later. I like you don't count "subluxation" as an event. I need to be on the floor in pain/shock for it to count. 10 years later, my right one went and recovery was weeks each time. Before I had surgery, I could function with-in daily activity, and modified fitness. But what fun was that? My main goal with surgery was to remove modification from my life. The stability is amazing, and I didn't even realize how much I modified my daily life - how I got out of my car, the railings, walking/turning a corner, etc. It's sorta nice not constantly watch where I walk. I by far thought the same thing in reading other stories - I'm not in that bad of shape - I'd only had a couple dislocations; yeah, I felt it shift, slip and slide everyday, but it was manageable, didn't have a lot of pain. I did my best to try and talk myself out of it. Best decision I've ever made - both long term and short term. You'll probably be suprised at how much you have actually modified because of the instability, time to learn a new normal!!

[2cutekiddos]

@allyd...that is great that you were able to get back to full ROM that is one of my main goals!!!

So...I am now on the count down, 10 days to go. I am really starting to get nervous, every now and then I get twinges of a nervous belly and doubts start to creep into my head!

I am trying to get everything ready for my surgery. The portable battery pack for the Polar Care Kodiak has arrived but the machine hasn't yet...hopefully tomorrow! My mother flies in from California on Wednesday and will be staying with me for the next two months!!! What an awesome mama...plus she will be taking care of my two little ones for me!!!

We will be traveling from Northern Virginia area to Connecticut. I am debating on routes and would love some input. Google directions say the fastest route is to take the 95 which will make us go through DC, Baltimore, Jersey, and New York. I am worried about traffic. The other alternative is to take the 81 north and go through Pa on the 84 E to NY and finally Ct. It is an hour longer but we don't have to go through major metropolitan areas so I would hope traffic is less.

Anyone drove these routes before?

Thanks! 

[RLE]

I know you're nervous but wow, to be getting your surgery done by the guy who invented it? How lucky is that. Surgery isn't exciting I know but this kind of is. I'm so happy for you that you know what you need and you're going to get this great surgeon. 

[2cutekiddos]

Well...tomorrow my mom and I leave Va for Ct! We decided to take the 81 North to the 84 East. Even though it is longer we hope to miss big city traffic like NYC! I see Dr. Fulkerson on Wednesday and Surgery on Thursday.

I had my pre-op interview with the surgery center today...I am soooooo nervous.

Unfortunately I had a horrible headache all weekend that turned out to be one of my upper molars. So I had a "wonderful" root canal today. I can only take tylenol now before surgery...bummer because I am such an advil girl!

[RLE]

Post your updates when you're feeling up to it. I hope you have an easy recovery.  Oh, and what a cutie your little one is!

[lisa424]

Good luck with your surgery!

[am7800]

Good luck with the surgery!!  Hoping everything goes smoothly!

[allyd]

Good Luck! Hope everything goes as planned!

[oohheykate]

Good luck with your surgery!

[2cutekiddos]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes! I am here in beautiful Farmington CT. I am trying to think positively but the nerves are winning...not eating much! I am anxious to meet Dr. Fulkerson and see exactly what he thinks of my knees in person!

[Forevergimpy]

Best wishes to you on surgery day. Just think you are just hours away from working on recovery!

 I know you asked the questions much earlier on this thread, but I always have done well with phenergan as an anti-nausea drug to accompany my pain meds.

Let us know how you are doing when you are feeling up to it.   

[2cutekiddos]

Dr. Fulkerson was very personable! He talked to me first about my history of my knees, about my life, and what I am hoping for! It was nice to have a doctor look at me as a whole person rather than a joint that needs to be fixed.

He did a physical exam and then went out to look over my MRI. He was gone for about 10 minutes. When he came back in he said I definitely need the TTT and a MPFL. The TTT is needed since my TT-TG offset is over 20mm and the MPFL is needed since I have trochlear dysplasia and lax ligaments. I feel very calm now and completely believe
these are the right procedures for me!

I go in tomorrow at 9am EST and in the OR at 10:30am. We talked about using Tramadol so my tummy is happy and he completely is fine with my Polar Care Kodiak unit!!! One of the big pluses to Dr. Fulkerson's office is Donna in his front office. After my visit while I was signing papers I turned to my mom and said, Darn I forgot to ask about removing the loose body and the baker cyst, Oh well I will ask him tomorrow. Donna said, Oh we will just get the Dr. over here and ask him. I said I didn't want to bother him and it would be fine tomorrow. She said oh please, you traveled all this way, you deserve to ask your questions. She pulled me back to where Dr. Fulkerson was. I quickly asked and he pleasantly answered! I LOVE this office!

I hope tomorrow goes smoothly...I will take any positive thoughts tomorrow around 10:30am EST!!! See you all on the other side!!!