Plumb,

See someone who knows what AF is immediately.  Also make sure they are giving you an anti-inflammatory.  My AF turned into Heterotropic Ossification (bone growth in the soft tissue).  Dr. Noyes in Cincinnati....talk to missmyknee she is seeing dr. Woltjy's.....AF can be treated early but if you wait or let some horse's a******* OS tell you that the AF is actually a low grade infection, you will be too late.

I am not trying to scare you, but if you are having stiffness, pain, heat in the joint, and lack of flexion/extension you should be getting checked first.

I had three OS and three infectious disease horse's a*** doctors tell me that my knee was infected.  Every single (more than 50) culture and test for infection came back negative for the last three years but every single OS stated it was infected.  My last OS split to TN from Florida in the middle of the night last month.  All my records are now in Knoxville....no letter...no call.  I actually testified for the man twice when he went out on his own.

Just find someone who specializes in AF.

Russ

Plumb,

I have been there.  The good news is there are really good people who can treat AF.  Please read this post I am giving to you:

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/633

Dr. Frank Noyes is great on AF.  There are several specialists who are also very good.  I don't think there is one (1) in Florida where I am at, but I am not making the mistake I made before.  I went forward and had multiple surgeries because they kept telling me the high SED Rate, high C-Reactive Protein levels, and the heat/swelling were due to infection.

The perception was infection was the worst complication possible, but because they treated me for infection instead of AF, I still have the AF and my immune system has been wrecked due to the extraordinary amount of antibiotics I have ingested at the direction of several doctors.

Also, check www.ASTYM.com in your area.  This is a form of PT that specifically treats AF and has been successful with more patients than it has not been helpful with.  Get your OS to prescribe it and this might help

My problem is the scar tissue, which the OS's cut out without my knowledge several times, is being replaced by bone growth...(heterotropic ossification).  I am actually watching the bone grow in my knee....which walking on is similar to walking on a hot, sharp knife under my patella tendon. 

AF and HO are the bodies method for dealing with percieved trauma and instability in the knee.  Your body feels your knee is unstable and so by growing scar tissue through out the capsule spaces of the knee, your knee will be more stable, hence your inability to bend the knee.  Your body is not considering the fact that this causes you pain and emotional torture. 

Also, google "the intractable pain patients guide to survival"  Below are several links that will help you deal with your doctor and what to ask for with pain.

http://pain-topics.org/docs/Press_Release_04.pdf

http://pain-topics.org/docs/Press_Release_04.pdf


http://intractablepaindisease.com/

With AF, I suffered through multiple MUA's.  (manipulation under anesthesia) in which they put you out under anesthesia and forcefully try to manipulate bending the knee by force.

Each time the OS bent it until he thought the risk of breaking my leg was too great.  I had little success.

I had more success with a very patient PT therapist who worked me over for 2 hours every day.  She actually worked very hard to get me from 15 degrees to 70 when I stopped PT. 

Don't let it get you down or if you get depressed...feel free to contact me either thru this blog, email or private messages.

I went thru this myself.  I was working my dream job...I finally was a Lead Captain....driving dinner boats on the Gulf of Mexico...marrying people at sunset.  I had 6 wks of leave built up so I let a doc talk me into having a TKR.  I had gone 29 years since my 5 surgeries after shattering my knee cap at 17.  He said it would reduce the swelling and pain for 10 years.

I am 10 times worse now pain and mobility wise after eight ( major knee surgeries.  The good news is if not for my mistakes and learning about the knee on this blog, I would have followed my OS's advice about my 14 year old daughter and allowed him to do a Lateral Release on her mal alignment and tracking issues.  This would have ruined her and her future.  Also, I was working 70-80 hours a week.  I would probably be divorced now if not for the knee surgery.  The wife and I are taking college courses now and in a better place for the first time in the last 5 years of our marriage.  We have 22 in, it would have been a shame for it to have ended because I was always gone or tired.

Sooooooooo.....that crap they say about everything happenning for a reason....well in my case at least there are good and bad sides.  I am in horrible pain....but have reconnected with my wife, my kids, and my dog.

A dog is very good therapy also.  I highly recommend one for this trying time.

If you must have surgery.....if your OS does not put his cell number on your orders in the hospital and give it to you so you can call him day or night if you have a problem or a question, get another doctor.

The minimum number of second opinons is at four (4) for me.....you need that many to hopefully get the second opinion to match the first.  It is hard to do.

Cortisone is okay...he can also shoot anesthetic in there.....slow and steady pressure by a PT to break that scar tissue up slowly so it does not regrow with fury is the method that has worked for me.  I am also trying astym this week.  I would suggest giving it a try in addition to your regular PT.  Two astym visits a week is a lot they tell me.

Russ

Pam,

I know you are busy, but my new pursuit of knee knowledge centers around the possibility of having an above the knee amputation?

Opinions?  Advice?  Sharp knife I can borrow???

Russ

Hi Russ

I applaud you for your return to college and your new career path. There will always be jobs in healthcare. Everytime I am in my med center prosthetics dept, it is busy. Your humor will put a lot of patients at ease 

I read a post in another section discussing amputation that you participated in. It's no easy decision and you can't reverse it. It can come with it's own set of problems. I even discussed it with my doctor. I already have a fused ankle and foot. I'm sure you have thoroughly researched it, talked to Dr's, prosthetic people and your family. Only you know what it's like, to live with your leg.

Good luck on your new educational endeavor 

Pam