NOTES - Your success stories :
Taming the post-traumatic OA beast - - Posted by Beauzer (Beauzer), 17 July 2004
Well, I'm currently improved to a point where I feel like it would qualify as a success story. First, a little background on how I got to the present. All of this was on the right knee:
1. Partial lateral menisectomy - 1994 - torn in Tae kwon do
2. hammy ACL recon/ chondroplasty - 1998 - dog went one way, ACL went the other
3. chondroplasty, revision notchplasty, plica excision - 1998 - hit by car in front of the hospital on the way to PT (yeah, I know)
4. retrieval of broken screw from joint, extensive chondroplasty, partial medial menisectomy 1999 - the ACL screw pulled out and destroyed a lot of articular cartilage
5. reconstruction of MCL and medial joint capsule, subtotal medial menisectomy - 2000 - 2 weeks after surgery #4 slipped (in the OR) and tore the aforementioned parts - rehabbed extensively for a year and the joint was so loose I was at risk for blowing out my ACL graft
So, that brings me to the most recent chapter. 4 years of worsening pain, inability to climb stairs, walk, stand, sleep, etc.
6. chondroplasty for recurrent grade 4 femoral condyle lesion - January 2004 - followed by Synvisc, an unloader brace, Celebrex and amitriptyline. My OS told me I wouldn't make it 5 years without a TKR and should consider finding a different job where I didn't have to stand so much (I work in the OR)
I was in PT 3 times a week for 3 months and had my PT help me come up with a home exercise plan. PT really sucked, but I stuck with it. My goal was to do more with the same pain level. I currently do the elliptical, sliding board, trampoline and leg presses 2-3 times/week. Oh, and I lost 41 pounds since the last surgery.
Currently, I have minimal rest pain. I still have some pain with any sort of weight bearing activity, but it is tolerable compared to what it was in the past. 29 is a touch too young for a TKR if I have anything to say about it.
I'm not going down without a fight!
Danielle
Posted by cat (cat), 17 July 2004
Hooray for you! 
Way to go!
But, tell me, what is a sliding board and what do you do on it? 
cat
Posted by Kelli_Bear (Kelli_Bear), 17 July 2004
On a day when I am flaying around in doubt.
Good for you! You have worked hard and it sounds as if it is paying off! Thanks for sharing your success.
Kelli
Posted by Beauzer (Beauzer), 17 July 2004
A sliding board is used to help with proprioception and strengthening with side-to-side motion (like using the tramp or a BAPS board). I've seen them where they're just a slippery surface and you wear footies to slide back and forth. The one I use has a track with a platform and you slide from side to side. It's supposed to be good to rehab for things like skiing.
Hang tough with the exercising! Don't give up.
Danielle
Updated Sat Nov 21 2009
