Cruciate ligaments :
Bum basketball knees; what do I do? - - Posted by Bigdog (Bigdog), 5 January 2005
I had ACL repair 2 1/2 years ago with excellent rehab results. 18 months after repair knee was 100%, I was in excellent physical condition playing basketball 4-5 days a week. About six months ago began getting stiffness, inflamation and pain in the knee. The pain comes while exercising. It is a sharp pain in the joint that I usually feel while jumping or quickly changing directions. I have noticed swelling on the outside of the knee slightly below the middle point of my "knee cap". It is more noticible when the knee is at a 90 degree angle. A pronounced bulge (the size of a small orange) can been seen at the outside bottom portion of the knee. Shortly thereafter my OS said I am suffering from ostheo and through in the following key words during his exam, which I have yet to fully understand "Fairbanks changes" "Calcium deposits" and "Wolfs Law". Please explain what the OS is talking about. Anyone with similar results? What can I do to keep playing basketball without pain? I am taking Bextra and just started using MSM Glucosamin combination (250mg) but I dislike using medication and supplements.
Posted by Gab (Gab), 5 January 2005
Yikes, doesn't sound like much fun. Might be a stupid question but have you found anything on google with those key words?
Posted by Bigdog (Bigdog), 5 January 2005
Yes and no. I have found info about the calcium deposit but nothing on the other two key words. I have not given up and I am continually searching for additional info. The calcium deposits comes from overuse if I remember correctly the OS said it is a result of bone on bone. Any suggestion on getting rid of the inflamation? I put a cold pack on the knee every night. Should I switch to something different or is there anything out there more effective?
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 5 January 2005
sounds like it's time for an MRI. Bextra is a good product, but risky for some. Glucosamine is not a miracle.
Have your OS schedule an MRI, or find a doctor who will.
Do you have any meniscus? Bone on bone is a recipe for osteo-arthritis.
I did a google on Wolf's Law, perhaps he was telling you to see a movie?
"Wolf's Law is an excellent story of two people finding each other."
The review gets juicier from there. 
Posted by Bigdog (Bigdog), 5 January 2005
I am going see the OS today. Well ask him to schedule an MRI and ask about my Meniscus.
Posted by Gab (Gab), 5 January 2005
on 01/05/05 at 15:22:34, jbluestein wrote:I did a google on Wolf's Law, perhaps he was telling you to see a movie?
"Wolf's Law is an excellent story of two people finding each other."
The review gets juicier from there.
Posted by Bigdog (Bigdog), 5 January 2005
FYI
Wolff's Law: "In the 19th century, surgeon Julius Wolff proposed that mechanical stress was responsible for determining the architecture of bone...." (Forwood & Turner, 1995, p. 197).
"Remodeling of bone ... occurs in response to physical stresses - or to the lack of them - in that bone is deposited in sites subjected to stress and is reabsorbed from sites where there is little stress"
I found the answer. But I am open to ideas to get rid of the swelling.
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 5 January 2005
well done Big-Dawg, thanks for the Wolff's Law definition.
what worked for me:
Rest, meds (Bextra, 10 mg, worked great), and ice works to get rid of the swelling.
I completely stopped pivot sports since August. My knee is better, no swelling or pain. (not much fun either). That took almost 2 weeks, with good results after a week.
And, I'm very sensitive to anything that causes pain after a gym workout.
I have torn my menisucs (after tearing my ACL). The last thing I want to do is go from a small meniscus tear to something worse.
I'm awaiting ACL/meniscus repair in March.
good luck, keep posting.
Posted by Bigdog (Bigdog), 5 January 2005
Got another question'
While dribbling down the court last Sunday, I stopped and changed directions quickly. I pulled up lame with pain on the outside of the knee near where my original pain came from. As I tried to walk and flex the knee I felt pain as if a muscle had popped on the outside of the knee. I felt a slight shift of the knee but not nearly enough for me to worry about the ACL. Is this consistent to a meniscus problem?
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 5 January 2005
knee problems are difficult to diagnose, especially for amateurs.
check this site to try to self-diagnose:
http://www.orthoassociates.com/Sports_Topics1.htm#topics
You need to get the swelling down and a proper diagnosis from a doctor.
Posted by andrewc (AndrewC), 5 January 2005
Hi there.
Fairbanks changes" relate to arthritic changes in the joint. Read this concise link that demonstrates visually and in words what these changes are
http://www.athleticadvisor.com/Injuries/LE/Knee/arthritic_knee.htm
All the best
Updated Sat Oct 11 2008