Bone breaks around the knee :

Questions RE Patella Fracture - - Posted by nmaj (nmaj), 2 May 2004

Hello,

I am new to this, but I do have some questions regarding my recovery from a patella fracture.  Fracture was on 09/16/03 when I was 39 weeks pregnant.  Recovery is VERY slow, my ROM is only at 100 after going to PT 3 times per week since the end of October.  I am now wondering if I will ever get full range back.  Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Posted by Pat_A.E. (Pat_A.E.), 4 October 2004

NMAJ, Do you have hardware?  I did not regain full ROM until after the hardware was removed.
Posted by lizl (lizl), 5 October 2004

DITTO! I stalled at around 95 degrees, in spite of PT 3Xs per week. The hardware had to go! I then went back into PT and did better.

You've certainly had an eventful year! How's the baby doing?

LizL
Posted by lizl (lizl), 5 October 2004

PS: You're NEW to this? If your fracture was in 2003, why are you just now in physical therapy?
Posted by HHB (MHB), 5 October 2004

Lizl,

Yeah, I wondered the same thing, but then I noticed that yesterday, for some reason, posts from months ago were listed at the top of this forum and others. Confusing -- happened just in some areas.

Since there were no new message threads to place these outdated posts at the top, am guessing the bulletin board must have had a few hiccups yesterday. Something to do with the "time," which was also off on some of the posts -- some times posted were for the next day!

Hope your knee is doing good -- MHB
Posted by lizl (lizl), 5 October 2004

MHB--

Yeah, I'm betting your hiccup theory is correct.

I think I'm kind of settled into the new reality of my life and building a new career. Some days I feel almost normal, if I don't encounter too many stairs. Yesterday, I tried going up some steps using the normal two step process and the knee made so much noise that I was sure other people could hear it. It just doesn't seem healthy to put the knee under that much stress, so I usually baby it anytime it complains.

I settle with workman's comp in a couple of weeks, then I guess any future knee issues will be up to my personal insurance. At least then I can have more say in who the doctor is!

How's life in your knee-universe?

LizL

Posted by HHB (MHB), 6 October 2004

Pretty good, no complaints really. Had an OS visit a couple of weeks ago for reassurance. Everything checked out okay. Still swelling/heat (not much) which is now decreasing a bit each day either from the Celebrex I started taking after OS visit, or from simply more time passing.

Back to work full time (means sitting at the computer for two or three 4-hr stretches per day). Seems okay. Was using a golf ball, rolling it around under the foot on the injured leg for sitting comfort, until Heather M clued me about a magical foot rest at Levenson's. A great big wonderful improvement is what it is!

Thanks for asking, hope your new career goes really well and that your knee keeps on trying.

Take care -- MHB
Posted by nmaj (nmaj), 8 October 2004

Pat_A.E., lizl,

I actally did have the hardware removed in March, which did help.  My ROM is currently around 125 and I just saw another OS in September.  He wants me to keep up with the PT everyday for the next three months and if things don't improve he may remove some scar tissue.  It's been a crazy year...I guess I was just hoping to be 100%, I didn't realize things may not completely improve.

Thanks for the replies..and the baby is doing great.

Posted by kgrosskurth (Kathy G), 8 October 2004

Hi, all - glad to hear you are all doing well. I like each of you never thought it would take this long to recover from such an injury (I'm a tib plat break which also affects the knee joint). I'm pleased to report I am doing much better - the last couple of months I've had a breakthrough of sorts and am walking much better - using the stationary bike and treadmill at least 3-4x a week which helps. I can go up and down stairs rather well now, and I can even jog short distances!!   I cannot say I am at 100% but I feel I am getting close to it every day. The key in my case is to KEEP AT IT and not give up.

At any rate, I am glad to hear that all of you are doing so much better, and I pray that we all continue to experience improvements until we arrive at a point we are no longer thinking about our legs/knees and that they feel and act "normal" again!!  

Godspeed to you all and thanks for the updates!!
Posted by lizl (lizl), 8 October 2004

nmaj,

Quote:

Your 124 ROM may get better, but you may not ever have the same ROM on both legs.

At the very start of my knee journey, I was told that a broken knee is always considered to result in some degree of permanent injury. The first person to say that to me, however, was my lawyer and that was while I was still in a wheelchair. Months later, my OS was exasperated with my inquiries about ways to get better and finally said, "Well, you know you're never going to have a normal knee."

The important thing to remember right now is that you are inching ever closer to 100%; and whether you make it to 70% or to 99%, you can walk; you can sit; and you can "pass" most of the time as an uninjured person.

LizL

PS: Great to hear about the baby. At least, you started walking before he/she did  

LizL

NMAJ, Actually 124 is pretty good.  I think I maxed at 128 which is a little less then my good knee.  I really can't tell any difference.  Agree with Lizl's assesment that this is a permanent injury.  I was told to expect improvement up to one year, but I have experienced good improvement this 2nd year also.  If you are realatively pain free and can do daily activities that is huge.
I'm jealous, you must have really good insurance coverage to get PT everyday for 3 months!  I am sure you know how important it is to work on you own in addition to the PT.  I can imagine that with a baby your time is pretty tight.  I found just getting out and walking helped to develop stamina in the injured knee and that is something you can do with your baby.  

Pat_A.E.

I do for the most part feel great.  But, I am having trouble with stairs, squatting, etc.  I also have a lot of  'cracking' when I  bend my knee.  Do you have this as well?  I know I need to spend more time working at it but being back to work full time with two young children it's hard finding the time.    

I have great physio coverage, there is no yearly maximum.  

Wow! I am glad to have found people that have been going through what I have! I already posted in the "post-op" area, so I will not bore anyone here. I am concerned also with the amount of recovery I will have, as my surgeon has not given me an idea. Currently, I am icing my knee A LOT!!!!!!!!!    And am still in a lot of pain! Also, I do not sleep at nite really b/c  of the sensitivity to my whole knee. I cannot even have a sheet touch it at all. So, how long did it take everyone to drive? My accident was on 8/30/04 and apparently it will be "awhile" before I can drive again.

Not sure how to post a picture of my knee, but I think it was pretty similar to the other pic, except that it bent to a 90 degree angle and would not straighten.

Amanda

This is JMHO, but I would advise erring on the side of caution re: driving and be sure to have the Dr's OK before attempting to drive. If (heaven forbid   ) you were to be involved in an auto accident, the other party could hold you responsible if you were driving "illegally" and it could open up a whole can of worms you do not need to deal with.

In this circumstance, it is best to be patient and wait it out than to put yourself and others in unnecessary risk of injury. The time will pass soon enough and you will look back someday and think, "Did I ever really go through that?? Geeeee!!"  

Again, all the best to all of you in your progress and recovery!

Being a TP break, my situation is slightly different, but my best source for gaining ROM was constant motion. I ended up buying a recumbant stationary bike from Fitnessquest ( http://www.fitnessquest.com ). It's coming up on 2 years since I bought it and it was the best investment I made. I also went to an indoor pool for awhile and stretched my leg in a warm hot tub. Those three activities were the best therapy to regain the ROM I could have done (and once I could get my quads working, they helped with strengthening those muscles). Hope that helps!  

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