The patello-femoral joint :

arthritis in right knee - - Posted by mgb (mgb), 24 January 2005

please could someone give me a few answers.i had an arthroscopy on my right knee in august last year.i had played football for years,kept myself in good shape etc,then i twisted my knee etc etc.i have been in pain since the arthroscopy,specialist said i have torn the miniscus, got arthritis in joint.he tried me with a steroid injection in the knee,didnt work.he said i need a knee replacement or a partial knee replacement.but he says i am too young,i am 42 .but im buggered if he thinks i can last 10/15 yrs to have one.i do a lot of manual work in my job.so far my employers have been good.but my knee occasionaly locks,pain is bad.......i am no hypocondriac?if i do have partial knee how long am i expected to be off work....?i  am having a mri scan shortly,just seems to be dragging on and on. i would be grateful for any help here.
Posted by shadehawk (shadehawk), 24 January 2005

Hi, welcome to the board.  You should go to an OS who is experienced in knees.  At the top of this page is a heading knee surgeons, click on that and find a knee specialist in your area.  You can e-mail your history to them and go from there.  

You need to see someone that offers other procedures.  There is PhysioTherapy which might help, there are numerous surgical procedures besides total knee replacement etc.  A second opinion is a good choice.

Hope this helps you some.  There is also an arthritis section on the bottom of this board where you can browse through alot of information.  There is also a section under knee arthritis regarding unicompartimental knee replacements.  Kath, John and Stefanie on this site have a thread going on this subject that might interest you - they have all had this procedure.  
Posted by mgb (mgb), 24 January 2005

thanks for the advice,i will have a look into a second opinion.i have heard the reason my knee locks is due to loose debris in the knee,the last arthroscopy they swilled the joint out.i feel as though they are dragging there feet as they think im"too young".i feel if it hurts ,which it does ,and that my only option is surgery,why do they drag it on,my physio said there was little more he could do ,apart than give me certain excercises.
Posted by shadehawk (shadehawk), 24 January 2005

I know PT is boring, but some people have had very good results with exercises from a good PT instructor.  Braces are not a perfect answer either, but they do help.  Exercise programs take a long time to work, but leg strength can not be underestimated.  It really does help.............

Good luck to you.  
Posted by mgb (mgb), 24 January 2005

thanks...my quad muscle are fine,all the muscles are,but its the pain in the knee(deep inside)it keeps locking etc.its especially sore when i go up or down stairs/steps etc..thanks again.
Posted by shadehawk (shadehawk), 24 January 2005

Hey no problem, I just hope when you get a second opinion they will find out what is causing this problem.  It is no fun having knee pain all the time.  It also is not any fun feeling that you are just being pushed off.  Have they ever mentioned plica to you.....

I have been there also and it is not nice to go through this feeling that you are just taking up someone else's time.  You just have to shake this off though and find someone that will listen and assess your condition.

Good luck!
Posted by mgb (mgb), 24 January 2005

hi,what is plica?
Posted by shadehawk (shadehawk), 24 January 2005

I just thought of this with something you said about your knee catching.

http://www.athleticadvisor.com/Injuries/LE/Knee/plica_syndrome.htm.

This article explains it.

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