Left knee surgery - now problems with right knee

[chris37]

Hi. This is my first post. I have been having problems with my left knee tracking for the last couple of years. My knee cap feels like it pops out of place when I bend it the wrong way. I play hockey or at least want to play hockey three times a week. I underwent 3 courses of physical therapy to build up my quad muscles and despite this I rountinely felt my knee dislocate and pop back into place. After 3 course of PT, my surgeon suggested a lateral release. I went for a second opinion and the new surgeon suggested Open Lateral Lenghthenig of the Retinaculum I had that done on my left knee in Feb 2012. I have been going to PT ever since. The doctor told me two weeks ago that I can try skating in two weeks. I went to public skating twice then the following week picked it up a little. Last night, I twisted my good knee. I felt it pop out and then pop back into place. Just like did on the left knee. I know I have tracking issues on both my knees. But, I never had a problem with my right knee. I'm wondering now that my left knee is tracking correctly is that affecting my right knee in a negative way. I'm afraid that now my right knee is going to be prone to dislocation.

I'm a pretty solid guy emotionally. But after spending so much time concentrating on my left knee, doing PT and recovering from surgery then to have injured my right knee right when I just started getting back into hockey was pretty devastating. I almost cried.

[kneepaincure]

I know the feeling (as do many here) of being on the verge of getting back to normal function, and then losing it all. Words cannot describe how much that sucks. But your situation is definitely not hopeless.

What you describe sounds more like subluxation than dislocation, though I might be wrong. And it's surprising that your left knee is better after a lateral lengthening. For a loose kneecap it doesn't make much sense. Also, after your left knee was operated on, you most likely favored it and that's why now the right one is complaining.

Has your doctor checked you for any rotational problems? The fact that it only started two years ago might mean that the problem was there but was never aggravated enough to show symptoms, kind of like my knees.

[lisa424]

Your right knee is probably working harder right now. I wouldn't rush into any more surgery until you know for sure that the first was successful.