Bone breaks around the knee :

Unexplained sensation in knee.  Need advice - - Posted by Joy (Joy), 15 January 2004

Hi all:

Broke my patella and am presently 4th week after removal of immobilizer and second week in rehab.  I have this feeling of having a piece of elastic pulling across my kneecap that I can't get rid of and that is bothersome and I believe is preventing further progress.  I still feel as if my knee is bending backward, kind of like a camel's leg.  I am having trouble progressing in knee extensions.  PT says it's probably swelling, OS via phone says it's the hardware and I don't believe it's either at this point.  Has anybody had a similar sensation after surgery?  It is a feeling of tautness and pulling.  Thanks.

Joy  
Posted by kgrosskurth (Kathy G), 15 January 2004

Hi, Joy. I am sorry that I cannot be of specific help, but I am sure you will get an answer from one of our fellow Patella breaks (I am a Tib Plateau baby myself).

I wish you all the best and hope you get the answers you seek!!  
Posted by JanieE (JanieE), 15 January 2004

Hi Joy,

I am currently having something similar.  My feeling of tightness/banding is around the knee. It seems to tighten as I am walking to the point I have to stop and stretch it back out.  When I talked to the OS about it, he said there is some "banding" around the knee and that is probably what it is.  It just needs to get used to being stretched out again.  I am going to go with that theory for a few more days.

I am currently waiting for my surgery date to remove the hardware.  It has become evident that the hardware is impeding my ROM and needs to be removed.

This is probably not an answer to your question, but I know how you feel about being curious when something new crops up.  

Keep on with the rehab, it will help a lot.

Janie
Posted by Joy (Joy), 16 January 2004

Hi Janey:

Your "banding" sounds very similar to what I'm experiencing.  It's much more comfortable when I bend my knee.  When my leg is outstretched it gets very tight, i.e. I feel as if there's an elastic band being stretched  around and over my knee that won't stretch any further.  It's very uncomfortable when I walk.  It's tight and I feel as if I don't have control of my leg below the knee.  My knee continues to feel weak when I walk tho I'm walking with much less of a limp, albeit with a cane.  I see the OS next Tuesday and I'll speak with him about it then.  I have no choice but to hang in with this thing; I don't want to call him again.  It's probably more efficient to speak to him face to face.  

Thanks for your feedback.  I feel somewhat reassured knowing others have something similar.  I was thinking it was tendons of muscles struggling to come back.  Who knows?

Joy

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