Miserable malalignment

[vickster]

Can you get an appointment with a hip specialist as the next course of action if that’s possibly the problem?
Are you relying on the NHS or do you have private insurance/funds to get further opinions?
Maybe Kneeguru can suggest other surgeons in the UK experienced in these types of issues? Although I think you have seen a specialist this field?
Where in the UK are you?

[The_KNEEguru]

I have attended many osteotomy courses as an onlooker, and met Dr Kristian Kley who has a keen interest in rotational disorders of hip and knee and who is very respected - https://ovelihealthcare.com/?utm_source ... VDEALw_wcB and I note that Prof Adrian Wilson (one of our KNEEguru team and an osteotomy guru) offers a video endorsement on the same page in the Testimonials. I believe that he would give a good assessment if you feel you need a second opinion...

[Memmi]

I got fed up of this consultant I am seeing on the NHS and just went and got a private second opinion from a limb reconstruction specialist in London who said that it’s basically the femur that’s the problem and that’s what’s causing the pain as it’s internally rotated he managed to obtain all my scans etc. He thoroughly explained the scans and showed me my alignment and said that the consultant I am seeing on the NHS doesn’t know what he’s talking about as he’s just focused on the knee and has tunnel vision. The private consultant said he is happy to take on my care on the NHS and wants to do a femoral derotaional Osteotomy to correct the alignment issue annd hopefully eliminate the pain. I am from the UK in the West Midlands so travelled 3 hours to see this London consultant. This whole process has really stressed me out. I’ve spent so much money on private consults as well and just feel like each consultant is saying something completely different. I know my body and I know that whatever is going on is getting worse. When I was younger I didn’t have an issue with the alignment of my bones, I used to do a lot of W-sitting and was very sporty but as I got into my late 20s I started to feel significant pain and that’s when I noticed that my legs where quite bowed and that my knees faced inwards but only my left side was causing pain and the other side was fine, I can only now think that the other side doesn’t hurt because the anteversion is at a normal degree where as the side that hurts it’s abnormal.

The NHS consultant has made me question everything and I just feel fobbed off to have booked me in for a Distal femoral Osteotomy surgery in Feb and then noticing an abnormality in the knee as it was facing inwards and then wanting to run a CT scan before listing me for the surgery like how did they even miss the knee facing inwards it’s so obvious I showed them my legs on many occasions but they just never looked properly, but I guess they didn’t check my scans properly from the start neither as they lied to me about cartilage damage when there wasn’t any.

[vickster]

So are you seeing two different consultants?
When did each say what they said? I’m a bit muddled on the chronology.
It sounds like both of these surgeons work in the NHS?

[Memmi]

So last week I got a private consult from the limb reconstruction specialist who also works on the NHS but I used his services as a private patient, he checked the scans and said the anteversion is causing all the pain as the femur is rotated inwards etc and that it’s his speciality and he knows what he’s talking about this was just purely for a second opinion to check all my X-rays and MRIs and to see what he’s suggests.

So the consultant I am currently seeing is on the NHS and at a hospital in Birmingham, and he’s the one saying basically yes you have 30 degrees of anteversion and also have tibial torsion but that’s not what’s causing your pain it’s just your body can’t tolerate pain and you need pain management I seen him yesterday and I left that appointment feeling so deflated. He’s acting like it’s all in my head and i am basically over reacting about the pain. Unless your feeling the pain yourself no one else can understand I never used to have pain I used to be so healthy and fit. So now I am at a point where I just don’t know what to do or who to believe.

[vickster]

I would personally believe the expert, but it’s a massive operation so make sure you understand what will be done, waiting list time, how long you’ll be laid up/non weight bearing / off work etc, how your pain will be managed, the rehab (how you’ll get physio locally on NHS/private etc) and realistic recovery and follow up timelines (a specialist should be honest about this stuff).
Also, the risks, potential complications, what you can realistically expect to be able to do/not do after the op.

Do you have a strong support network as with surgery like this you’ll possibly need it for several months not days or even weeks after a major op.

Good luck

[Memmi]

I mean the limb reconstruction specialist did explain it all to me, and told me I’d be able to weight bare straight away but would need crutches for 4-6 weeks and then it’ll be 6-9 months for a potential full recovery. Luckily I have a strong support network but I’ve been messed around so much by the original NHS consultant I feel if I transfer to the limb reconstruction consultant on the NHS the same is just going to happen again I have lost faith to be honest.

[The_KNEEguru]

I understand how you feel. Osteotomy is not an easy thing to contemplate. At the end of the day you need to feel fully informed, so that you can move forward with more confidence.

[Memmi]

I think once I’ve had my second appointment with the new consultant I’ll be in a better place to make a decision! Thank you for all your help