Seeing new OS next week

[kneepaincure]

So after nearly a year of ups and downs with my knees, I am going to see a new OS next to next week. I haven't been to one in a year now - only been to the PT or the PA. While my PT is super awesome and has helped me get really far, he thinks he has done everything he could since September last year. He still maintains that nothing is seriously wrong but I just want another assessment. The PA has been helpful but she's not very experienced, and usually says that my problem is not one that can be easily solved, PFPS has no clearly laid out treatment, etc, etc. So I'm going over to the OS she works for, who is pretty distinguished, is one of the directors of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board and has lots of other accolades. Hope I get some answers from him and can get over this frickin' knee stiffness...

[lisa424]

Good luck. Hope the new OS is able to help.

[kneepaincure]

Thank you..

[kneepaincure]

So my diagnosis is once again patellar tendonitis, and I'm supposed to begin eccentric exercises. Thankfully the doctor did not think surgery is indicated but I have to check back in a month.

[joanfan123]

I think it is a good sign he is having you check back in a month, hopefully you will be feeling a bit better by then 

[kneepaincure]

I sure hope so. I really thought I was rid of it..   

[kneepaincure]

I had x-rays taken when I visited the OS last week, and when I read the report, it said 'Patellar tracking is neutral.' I'm pretty sure that it's not neutral, because it's easy to see when I extend my leg that it tracks off to the side. It also said 'The osseous structures are in gross anatomic alignment.' Does anyone know if that includes the kneecaps too? Because they are definitely not in alignment. Should I be concerned that the report seems inaccurate, or are my observations wrong?

[drmark]

I am not a director of the AAOS, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express on Tuesday night.
Unless the patella is dislocated at the time of the X-ray the results of said X-rays wll be normal.  It takes the
the examining hand to stress the patella in one direction and the other to make this determination subluxability or dislocatability.

[kneepaincure]

I see.. The thing is he mentioned during the exam that my kneecaps are tilted, and his PA has noted before that my kneecaps do track laterally, but it didn't show up in the report. I'm wondering if there's a communication gap somewhere. 

[Hiker girl]

I hope it all gets sorted out on your next visit 

[kneepaincure]

I could send him an email before the next appointment and ask about it.

[Hiker girl]

Does he have email?  I like that idea and then bring a copy with you to your appointment.

[kneepaincure]

Yes it's more like a messaging system. I'm just concerned about appearing too inquisitive by asking if the test results might be inaccurately reported. I wouldn't want to offend him.

[drmark]

People ask me that all the time.  Test results come back wrong every day.

In Orthopaedic surgery, there is a big disconnect between many of the specialty trained docs, and the general radiologists who look at the MRIs, etc.   I try to send all my studies to a MSK (bone and joint) radiologist.  Stilll and all, half the time, it ends up on the desk of the guy who reads the Upper and Lower GI studies.

[kneepaincure]

I guess I'll send out that message then..