Collateral Ligaments and other non-cruciate tendons & ligaments around the knee :

LCL Sprain? - - Posted by wimple (wimple), 22 September 2004

Hi,
I've just been told in PT that they think I've sprained my LCL. They've come to this conclusion due to increasing pain and clicking on the outside of my knee. I had my plica removed at the beginning of July and have been doing PT since then with these pain problems. Should I be asking to see my OS again or is this something which the PT will be able to sort out? I orginally sustained a grade 1 tear to my MCL in a fall 17 months ago and am slightly confused how my LCL has come to be 'sprained' What does this mean exactly? Any advice would be appreciated
Posted by ATsoccergirl (ATsoccergirl), 22 September 2004

I would definitly go back and see your OS.  Your symptoms just don't correlate with an LCL sprain.  Your OS would have visualized the LCL during your surgery so any abnormalities would have shown up then.  With the clicking you mentioned, I would be more concerned with a mensical tear or patellar tracking issues.  But then again, the mensicus should have been ruled out during surgery.

PT's do not have the more extensive acute evaluation skills which other professions have, so this is something that is better left to the OS to decide how to procede.
Posted by hmaxwell (Heather M.), 22 September 2004

Wimple,

I posted this in another thread.  Have you been evaluated for scar tissue (arthrofibrosis) post-op?  I went through at least five different possible diagnoses after my first scope, from meniscal tear to plica to chondral lesions to ligament sprain.  None of them was anywhere close to the truth.  I had scar tissue--even the doctor missed it as he didn't think a scope could produce that much scar tissue.

I really think you should go back to your doctor.  And if she/he isn't a knee specialist, consider seeing someone else.  If you do have tracking or scar tissue problems, you need to see someone who does a lot of work with knees.

Heather
Posted by wimple (wimple), 22 September 2004

Hi,
Thanks for your advice again, my biggest problem seems to be actually getting to see my OS again, here in the UK I'm at the mercy of long waiting lists and have had no follow up from the op itself yet. I will go and see my gp this week and see if she can contact the OS on my behalf, I have tried contacting him directly but unfortunately his secretary is so thick that the messages never get through or I'm forever being told hes busy or on holiday. I also have another appointment with the PT on Thursday next week so will raise this issue with her as well. Thanks again for taking the time to reply, much appreciated, I feel like I'm still trying to find answers and the professionals have 'closed ranks'  wish me luck!!!
Posted by wimple (wimple), 24 September 2004

Still no answers, appears that I don't get to see my OS again until the physio has tried 'conservative treatment' which basically means more delays, fed up with all of this
Posted by wimple (wimple), 30 September 2004

Hi,
Saw the physio today, had ultrasound treatment, she is now admitting they are running out of options so is going to contact the OS for me and hope for the post op follow up appointment that hasn't happened yet. Suddenly have a PT appointment once a week rather than once a month which is a positive step I suppose!

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