The patello-femoral joint :
Pain and TTT - - Posted by AC (AC), 11 December 2002
Just wondering if they always give heavy narcotics after a TTT (specifically an Elmslie Trillat).
Is the pain to you the same, easier, or a lot worse then a LR and Patella Shaving?
What else could you compare it to?
What type of pain is it? Burning? Stabbing? Sharp? Throbbing?
How long did the severe pain last?
Was waking up the worst pain?
I am scared to death of this procedure, because of the pain associated with it. If there is a chance it will take away my day to day knee pain that is interfering with my life, I will rough it out, but I am scared to death of this pain.
PS I found my LR and Patella shaving a piece of cake. But I did have brutal pain with my blood clot.
Posted by Kathy (Kathy), 11 December 2002
Hey, don't worry about the pain - you won't remember it when you're knee is back in action and you're running around like a kid again!
I had a Fulkerson. For me the pain was worst at first when trying to lift my leg - either a straight leg raise or even just trying to lift it enough to crutch my way to the bathroom. The sitting pain was never above a 3 or 4 unless I got a weird twinge of severe pain (like muscle spasms or something). The pain meds worked fine most of the time. And now, I can hardly remember how much it hurt because I'm doing so much better! Each day it will get better (aside from the twinges of pain that seem to come along...) Some times the pain came from having the immobilizer pressed on it. This was a terrible burning feeling. Other times it throbbed, and others it was stabbing. Honestly, though, it got better very quickly after the first two and a half weeks. If your OS is certain it will help you, I would go for it! It won't be as bad as living a life of misery!
Kathy
Posted by Helena (KTF), 12 December 2002
AC
Try to relax!! When you're nervous you can not think rationally!!!
Everyone handles pain differently. I had a Fulkerson TTT and I didn't have much pain directly post-op and when I was in cast. I had most pain when getting ROM back, but then again it was more of a "stiffness"-feeling. Pain was where the screws are (the tubercle site).
My OS doesn't like the narcotics you guys use. The only thing I could use was codeine (and only as less as possible). And I took the rest of my Vioxx (which were 4 tablets of 50mg). I was off painmeds within 10 days.
I too was scared to death of the pain. The TTT in itself didn't scare me, but I freaked out just when thinking about the pain I could have post-op. And look, I din't have much pain.
Just try to relax, when you go in stressed out, sure you'll have more pain post-op. When surgery is over, try to lie as comfortable as possible and RELAX!!! Relax is THE word to remember!!
Just a last note : all in all I found the LR/shaving part more painfull than the TTT.
Greetz Helena
Updated Thu Apr 29 2010
