The patello-femoral joint :
Got my MRI results - - Posted by sha22 (Sharon), 9 September 2004
Hi everyone,
So yesterday I finally got a call from my new OS's nurse to tell me the results of my MRI. It was pretty much everything that I already knew-patella malalignment, patella baja, no ligament damage-but a few new things as well-25% degeneration of my articular cartilage and proximal patellar tendonosis. The OS was looking for the cartilage degeneration and his nurse said that 25% isn't too bad for a 25 year old although I'm sure that if you did an MRI of a 25 year old with a "normal" knee they wouldn't have 25% degeneration. Anyway, the OS said that due to the results he would feel comfortable going ahead with the patellar tendon transplant surgery if I wanted to do it. The nurse said that the first thing I should do is make an appt with the OS to talk to him again about the details and any questions I might have(yeah, like all 16 pages of things I want to ask before I put myself through this!) I'm planning on making that appt and getting all of the info from him. After that I'm going to get a second and probably even a third opinion before I make any decisions. My mom found out about another OS who is supposed to be wonderful from a parent of a child in her school who she had in first grade several years ago. It's a friend of his who he says saved his wifes life after she had an accident with her horse. He said that this guy is an amazing surgeon. The best part is that he's covered by my insurance. The worst part is that his office is in NY City like my other OS, but unfortunately his office isn't as easy to get to. But whatever it takes, you know? He's the team doctor for the New York Rangers which is also probably a good sign.
I'm still incredibly unsure of whether I'm actually going to do this but I think I'm ready to at least get more info and other opinions so I can think about it. I know it's something I need to do but it's so hard because I hate having this on my mind. Right now the idea of going through another major surgery, the recovery and all of the horrible PT afterwards is just torturous to me. But then again, the idea of living with this pain for the rest of my life is also not something I enjoy thinking about. There are just so many what-ifs involved that keep running through my mind. I also know that part of the problem is that every surgery I've had so far has failed and the last thing I want is to have this and for it to fail as well. I know it's crazy but a part of me thinks that I'm destined to have this fail just because nothing else has seemed to work for me.
Anyway, I think I'm going to call either later today or tomorrow and make the appt with the OS to talk about the surgery. This is also a really bad time to have to do this because as school here has just started, it's time for me to begin working as a substitute teacher. I'm already working 2 days next week and 2 days the following week. I'm aiming to work at least 3 days a week but hoping for 4 or maybe even all 5. Even though it's going to be really hard on my knee, it's something that I have to do and really want to as well because teaching is something I really love to do. I just wish I could get my own classroom! Oh well, at least this makes OS appts a little easier because I can just not work that day instead of having to take a day off and possibly run out of sick days or whatever. If anyone can think of any questions that I should be asking and may forget about-could you let me know? I just want to make sure that I get all of the info I possibly can out of him about this. Thanks for any advice and thanks for just being here for me.
(((Hugs)))
Sharon
Updated Thu Apr 29 2010
