12 wks post fulk'n osteotomy and trochoeoplasty now arthritis pain coming back

[caroline889]

Hi, just wondered if anyone has had my experience. I'm 12 wks post fulkerson osteotomy, trochoeoplasty and mpfl reconstruction right knee. For 12 wks my arthritis pain was decreased and I was able to weightbear to a slightly larger angle of bend than before the op which meant that for the first time in 7 years  i managed the stairs with no pain whereas it had been unbearable before. But over the last few days I've noticed the arthritis pain beginning to reappear on the stairs. I'm utterly devastated. I know my consultant put a layer of fat pad on my patella to try and repair the arthritis. The only logical explanation I can think of is that the fat pad was protecting my patella and has now wearing away. I was all set to have my other knee done as well because i thought it was successful. Now I really don't know where I go from here as I am 40 years old and trying to put off knee replacements. Does anyone have any similar experiences. Thanks

[KW]

I hate to say this and don't know if it is going to be at all helpful but....at 12 weeks you are no way near recovered from this surgery to have any idea if the surgery has been successful.  The 3 surgeries you note are huge when combined and 12 weeks is  drop in the bucket in terms of recovery.  Your quad is probably still very very weak and not supporting your joint properly.  A few bad days at this point does not make a failure.  Keep at the PT and gym and give the knee the proper time to recover.  You are probably looking at 6+ months before you are going to get an idea of full recovery.

[Silkncardcrafts]

As KW has said 12 weeks is very early.

I have had both a MPFL reco and trochleoplasty separately, but the trochleoplasty does take a long time to recover from. Since you have had both a TTT and trochleoplasty together it will ame a lot longer to recover.

My arthritis pain did improve. Just hang in there !