Cruciate ligaments :
New to board, 2 new probs after ACL reconstruction - - Posted by Twisted (Twisted), 11 March 2004
Hi all, I have been reading about the many different problems associated with your knee injuries. My problems are very minor compared to most of you, but still a problem to me...
My history:- Snapped ACL 4 years ago. I fell down a hole in the pitch playing football. Alot of pain for about 2 mins then fine. I tried playing on but running a couple of minutes later my leg just gave way and splayed out to the side. I thaught it best to come off then...
Only had NHS care, waited 9 months to have an MRI scan. MRI was inconclusive. Waited another year for arthroscopy. I was then advised that I had snapped ACL. Then had another years wait for ACL replacement. I was very lucky that my leg was stable, and was still able to play football, squash and tennis. I was not going to have ACL op but 2 months before op date I suffered a bucket handle tear locking my leg. My knee had given way 3 times before that but never caused much pain or injury. I wanted to carry on playing competitive sport so opted for ACL recon (patella).
The op seemed to go ok apart from my os saying that I had a very strange knee!! For the first month I was in alot of pain. PT seemed to be going ok but very painful.
After about 3 months swelling was minimal and it was then that I started getting my new problems.
My knee would feel as if something was catching and locking. My os tells me that it is the "Fat Pad" beneath the Patella tendon that is locking. You can see it pop out on the inside of my knee when I bend it. Around this area I also get alot of pain and it is very sensitive to touch. If my knee stays bent for a period of time (say 40 mins on a car journey) the pain will get worse and worse ending up feeling quite sick 
Other problem is that my knee clicks on every step until it gets warm (exercising). My os is not too worried about this, as he say that is the Iliotibial band where it joins the knee, that it clicking. Stretching exercises have not corrected this problem.
I am now 7 months post ACL op. I saw my os yesterday who says that I will need arthroscopy again. He says that he will check fat pad but says that he will probably "vaporise" (remove) this fat pad and check the part of the knee that is clicking.
When I questioned how the knee will cope after fat pad is removed he just answered with "well if its causing a problem then it needs to be removed". He did not explain to me what this part of the knees function is and what possible implications it may cause on its removal.
I have tried finding out info on this but have been unsuccessful. If anyone has had this procedure done or can impair any info regarding this then please respond..
Also can surgery correct iliotibial clicking??
I have been informed that I have another 7 month wait for this op so you all dont have to rush to answer!!
Sorry to put you through war and peace and thanks for reading...
Updated Thu Apr 29 2010
