New patella may be needed :-(
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi everyone, brief bit of history, I have broken my left patella three times. First time it was just put in a brace, second time a broke my ankle at the same time they wired my knee and put screws in my ankle and third time when the wire snapped, they re-wired it. This was from 2001 to 2005. Recovery was slow. From about 2011 -2013 things were what I would call better, mobility although not perfect was good considering. But from 2013 I started getting pain in my ankle and knee. Over the last three years pain has got worse, and I my knee has been locking. I saw more doctor who said I should sort my ankle out first, so they removed screws last october thinking that was what was causing the pain, but it turns out its actually a bone spur so I am going in next friday for arthroscopy on my ankle to clean out my ankle and remove the spur. Meanwhile my knee has got worse with locking happening on a daily basis so went back to the doctors. I saw the physio at the hospital today and she wants me to go for an MRI. My knee does not look pleasant, depending on the result will determine whether I have an arthoscopy of my knee or a knew kneecap. I would just like to know if anyone else has had a new kneecap and how they felt it went? would you do it again, how long did it take to recover? Sorry a long one for my first post.
2 likes, 13 replies
moandrieu tanya462
Posted
Wow, what a ride you've had Tanya. I hope someone can give you some helpful information. I'm one who had both knees replaced, but apparently one of my patellas is in need of replacement, so I'm curious the responses too.
-Mo
irma85119 tanya462
Posted
Arthroscopy is a great idea for you. As you say your pain going worse day by day, I personally think you should take this step many days ago. But at last you take the decision that's the good news. You can understand the recovery time your surgery.
Oldfatguy1 tanya462
Posted
Personally I have not had to have the knee cap replaced even though PVNS , a rare tumor are up a portion and numerous surgeries have damaged it additionally. During my last rehab session I met a lady in her early 60's and a man in his late '60's who were operating with prosthetic patella. The last wasn't having any particular problems although she has be advised to lose 70 or 80 lbs to take the undo pressure off of the entire area. The gentleman had a career with the telephone company as a lineman. Jumping off poles the last few feet for many years had really taken a toll on his legs and he had a bilateral tkr a few years back with the patella replaced at that time. His only problem was the kind of active lifestyle ((golf, diy projects, etc) plus an issue with carrying an extra 50 pounds of ice cream and adult breverages had caused the knee caps to pop loose. He had to have them reglued which was done with a scope. Otherwise they performed like the original. Hope this give you just a little second handed insight.
tanya462 Oldfatguy1
Posted
Eww kneecaps popping loose ouchie. I like to keep active but I don't really do anything too strenuous, the only thing I would like to be able to do is walking without pain, I like walking the coastal paths. If they performed well then thats a good. Thank you
Oldfatguy1 tanya462
Posted
In time I would imagine you would do just fin. I have a PT appt this afternoon. My therapist has a doctorate as well as sports medicine certification. I'll run this by him and see what he can tell me.
tanya462 Oldfatguy1
Posted
Thank you. Every injury I've had I've thought I'm never going to get over this and everytime I have. So even though it scares me I just need to keep going, I have an amazing family who are always there for me. I'm very lucky
Oldfatguy1 tanya462
Posted
I discussed this with my pt today. From his experience the patella is the last thing they want to mess with. Apparently it's somewhat easier recovery than a tkr but surgeons don't like to replace unless it's so badly damaged they have No other alternative. A 65+ year old friend of ours had already had a tkr and was close to fully recovered. This past new yearsceve they were getting ready to go out for dinner and she started down a short flight of stairs when there was a sudden snap.........the knee cap broke into three pieces. They put an ace wrap and brace on it. It has healed to a degree but she is still in pain and walks with a limp. She's not obese but Definately. On the overweight side and has been told to lose weight to help the healing process.
tanya462 Oldfatguy1
Posted
After breaking it three times, properly shattering it, I really can't see it being worth saving lol. In some ways I think they should just do it hopefully then I can hope for a good 10-15 years free of any more surgery whereas if they just do an arthroscopy I think it won't be long before I'm back in again. They know whats best I suppose and at the end of the day until I have the MRI results I don't know what the plan will be. Long term I'd guess it would be easier going from a patella replacement to a knee replacement then having a knee replacement and then another knee replacement. My whole life has been a battle with my weight probably the reason I'm in this state lol Although I have been slowly losing.
tanya462
Posted
tanya462
Posted
Yes it has been one hell of a ride, a frustrating one. I need to do something, I suppose I am just concerned that the lifespan of a new kneecap is only 10-15 years and being as I am only 42 just worried about going through it all again further down the line. But if the cartilage is gone or too damaged I don't think I'll have any other choice.
Zipper_knee tanya462
Posted
Hi,
I have not had a new cap, although it was investigated for me. As I had severe, reoccuring osteomyelitis (bone infection) in my right femur, tibia & patella. After MANY arthrotomy (open) surgical procedures to resect & debrid the 3 differenr, infected bones...I ultimately had a patellectomy (removal of the entire parella). I did GREAT once my patella was removed
I suppose that if soeci5fic testing was done, it woukd show that I lost some quadricep strength in the leg that hadvthe patellectomy. However, I did anything & everything that I wanyrd to do.
I chose not to go with a patella replacement bevause the 3 surgeons that I spome yo said that the surher was not ver suvvessful.
GOOD LUCK@
pam1313 tanya462
Posted
In March 2015 I had a patella femoral arthroplasty.....that is a new plastic knee cap and a metal trochlea (that is the bit the knee cap runs over). I'd been waiting for a new knee for over 11 years (I had an arthroscopy in 2004 when I was 45, and was informed that if I had been 10 years older I could have had a new knee immediately!!). So after 11 years of waiting, and wearing a knee support for all that time, I finally had the operation last year. I was told that they try and save as much of the knee now depending what theyfind (mine was arthritis causing the knee cap to not run "straight".) The operation was fine, but the recovery was really slow as I was informed that the knee support had done the job of the muscles around my knee and they were now very weak. I was really annoyed to be told this because at every opportunity I'd questioned whether I was OK to wear the knee support.
I have the same size scar as anyone having a partial/full knee replacement and followed all the same routine exercises recommended. The best piece of equipment I used was a static exercise bike, so much so that I purchased one to use at home. Slowly but surely I've built up my muscles (in both legs, which is a good thing as my other knee is now starting to play up a little so I may well befacing similar surgery on that knee in the future!). 17 months on my operated knee is more stable but still doesn't feel like "mine" and I still have some stiffness some days, but I'm glad (I think!!) that I had it done.
tanya462 pam1313
Posted
When I broke my knee the second time I asked if I could just have a new kneecap but they said I was too young, I do understand that but its frustrating. My other knee is starting to give me grief, all those years of supporting the knackered knee is starting to take its toll. They've told me to really work hard to build the muscle up before surgery, but to be honest over the years I have done a lot of leg work and I've never managed to regain the muscle I lost when I first injured my knee, but I will do my best.
Thank you