Hello everyone!
I just joined in an effort to seek more knowledge regarding recent difficulties with both knees. I'm currently twenty years old.
In January of 2010 I injured both knees. The Orthopedic believed the cause to be from overuse between running as a hobby and my job at Costco. I ran for 45 minutes every other day on a treadmill. With regards to Costco I had to do stocking which of course involves pulling heavy pallets, bending, lifting, etc.
Both knees made a crack/popping noise when bending that could be heard from across the room. I was having difficulty bearing weight on the left or right knee at times and couldn't lift heavy items. By heavy items I mean anything heavier than around forty pounds.
They did an MRI and diagnosed me with Patellar Mal-alignment and Patellofemoral Chondromalacia. I was given simple bands to put on both knees for additional knee support and medicine to reduce inflammation. This treatment worked out great for me until...
In June of 2010 after a strenuous weekend at work, I returned home and felt fine. I was tired and didn't have to work the following day so I went to sleep. Upon waking up I was unable to walk on either knee for an hour or two. After that I was able to walk fine, but with a severe limp and pain.
I returned to the Orthopedic and the doctor seemed concerned. She suggested cortisone shots in both knees in the hopes this would relieve the pain and strengthen the muscles. I experienced a slight reduction in pain after the shots. This pain reduction only lasted roughly three weeks and I was still limping and in pain. Didn't notice any muscle strength changes.
So I returned to the Orthopedic again and she prescribed J-Brace Patellar Stabilizers and a new set of MRI's. So I wore the braces during periods of activity. I noticed that the crack and popping noise from bending my knees was finally eliminated. My knees felt more sturdy as well.
The results of the new MRI's were identical to the previous set. But my condition is deteriorating. In June I was able to run on the treadmill for forty five minutes at a time with no pain, cracking or popping from the knees.
Present day and I am unable to walk a quarter of a mile without experiencing extreme pain and needing to sit down. The best description I can give is that my knees seem to weaken over time when they bear weight and my knees feel unstable. Even the J-Brace doesn't alleviate these problems anymore. My knees don't pop or crack anymore and that slight discomfort is gone thanks to the braces, but sadly that's about it. All of this is of course paired with pain. I've also noticed that if I straighten my legs completely now, they begin to shake with extreme pain radiating from the knees. (Definitely a new symptom)
My Orthopedic is now suggesting a lateral release for both knees if physical therapy shows no results. I have been doing the strengthening exercises at home since June, with no improvement whatsoever. My doctor doesn't seem very hopeful for the physical therapy, so it seems like she believes surgery is the only option left. I am going to do two to three weeks of physical therapy to see if any improvements are observed.
Any advice and/or suggestions would be welcomed. Should I get a second opinion on the surgery? Did she skip any possible treatment options? I have read some horror stories about lateral releases, such as the knee weakening even further after the surgery and extreme pain that you have to live for the rest of your life. Do these stories have any merit?
Thanks
