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Ultrasound shows bad alignment of knee

Posted , 7 users are following.

veronica91735
veronica91735

Had my ultrasound this afternoon. The radiologist ( a senior one at the Nuffield, although I am NHS) showed me why I had swellings & was still in pain after 20+ weeks. The knee is not aligned corrrectly. There is a visible "shelf" (his description) that is rubbing all the time on the soft tissue, which is inflamed. So no fluid (is that a relief or not?) - but all the excercising/physio/massage in the world is not going to correct this alignment. I see the consultant on the 30th March, but I have lost ALL confidence in him. His letter to my GP, when I went back to see him with the swellings & pain, said the "alignment was satisfactory", & at the time, I mentioned in this forum, I would rather it was perfect. There is no way I can live with the constant pain, & I dread to think what I'll have to go through for correcting it. Has anyone else had this happen?

1 like, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo veronica91735

    Posted

    I'm SO sorry to hear your trouble vernonica . . sounds as if you have been one of the really unlucky ones.  I believe bad alignment is one of the major causes of problems, and surely you should be able to see a different consultant as he seems to be the one who has originated this problem.  Difficult for you to feel upbeat at the moment . . thinking of you!
  • Annodoremouse
    Annodoremouse veronica91735

    Posted

    I went to The Nuffield Newcastle as NHS & had 1st class care. The surgeon is excellent
  • Clarkey1962
    Clarkey1962 veronica91735

    Posted

    That sounds horrendous. I'm slightly concerned because I'm certain I can feel the knee rubbing when I exercise and think it looks slightly off centre if that makes sense. I just hope I'm being paranoid but after what you've just described I'm not sure that I am. I'm seeing my consultant next week so hopefully he will be able to put my mind at rest! Good luck to you though because I can't imagine having to have more surgery to put it right. Xx
  • tess94652
    tess94652 veronica91735

    Posted

    I mentioned earlier I am on a trial for a relatively new prosthesis and when giving all the initial data to the research nurse she said that they wanted patient feedback to know how it is for us - because the surgeons always say its all fine whatever!!!! Makes you wonder........

    Do feel for you. Don't be fobbed off explore all ways to get answers and help!

  • betty07083
    betty07083 veronica91735

    Posted

    Oh Veronica, that is very distressing news sad     I will be anxious to hear what your consultant says as to how they plan to correct this problem!

    Please keep us updated! I'm so sorry and you are in my thoughts,

    Betty

  • nicky14342
    nicky14342 veronica91735

    Posted

    Sooo sorry about your knee,Veronica,I can empathise as the lower plate  of my prosthesis is oversized  and loose. My op was 15 months ago and I have been in pain  with only 90 degree bend since then and only now am being listened to and have an appointment in a week to see the "doctor who deals with problem knees"!! I wish you the best of luck on th 30 th.

    PS I the joint IS misaligned, you may have a case for malpractice against the surgeon.

    • veronica91735
      veronica91735 nicky14342

      Posted

      I am seeing my GP this evening, to ask if I should move it less, as everytime I move, it rubs the soft tissue, which causes more pain. I'm not sure if it is the patella, or the lower plate which is oversized, the radiologist called it a "shelf", so I have the feeling it may well be the lower too - I sort of lost the plot when he was talking, tinged with relief that I was not imagining this forever pain. This consultant was in the news for d/driving around the time my knee was done, so you can see why I have no faith in him at all. I'm not sure about malpractice - I just want to feel normal again, but it's hard to find anything about it on the internet. I didn't sleep at all last night (so what's new!), I have lost 5 months of my life, & I can only imagine that they go back in & start the process all over again - they'll still have to move/cut tendons/ligaments/muscles etc to get at which part is wrong. I must have done something wrong in a previous life.
    • Annodoremouse
      Annodoremouse nicky14342

      Posted

      Where is the malpractice and dont forget the forms you signed prior to surgery
    • Annodoremouse
      Annodoremouse veronica91735

      Posted

      See the surgeon ask for an xray to finr out about the positioning of the prosthesis. It may have slipped but that cant be said by a forum only by xray or scan. Pain is only an indicator something is wrong

      7 yrs ago I had terrible pain from a fractured ankle, every step was pain. I saw the consultant removed the metalwork and found the pain was due to a small muscle catching on the metalwork

      See the consultant

    • veronica91735
      veronica91735 Annodoremouse

      Posted

      I'm not interested in malpractise - like I said - I just want my life back. The consultant took x-rays, & wrote to my GP saying the alignment was "satisfactory" - where obviously it isn't. He spent ages pouring over them whilst I sat in his office. We are in their hands - helpless humans who accept all that they do to us! The radiologist yesterday also spent ages & took the time to show me the "shelf" causing the pain. I'm grateful to him - now, hopefully, it can finally be sorted.
    • Clarkey1962
      Clarkey1962 veronica91735

      Posted

      I totally understand how frustrated you must be feeling. Of course the last thing you are probably thinking about is legal action and all you want is to get the problem resolved. I hope that you can get some answers soon rather than just being told that your knee is satisfactory because it obviously isn't. Let me know how things progress. Lots of love 😘 xx
    • nicky14342
      nicky14342 Annodoremouse

      Posted

      It is malpractice if the surgeon has not used a tried and tested prosthesis or technique and the result is a poorly performing joint. There are instances written by orthopedics doctors about this subject and they themselves discuss poor practice as malpractice. You also have to consider other people who may have been operated on by a surgeon whose practice is not up to scratch and who endure weeks/months/years being told their pain is nothing. I work for the NHS and know from the front line how cash strapped it is,however,I have lost time at work,my mental stability and my confidence since my TKR .
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo veronica91735

      Posted

      I now remember your mentioning that your surgeon had been arrested from driving while under the influence . . That does obviously take away any little confidence you may have had left in him!  I do hope you can get treatment from a different surgeon, for your own peace of mind, and for an eventual successful outcome.  And it certainly has NOTHING to do with what you may have done in a previous life! . . .
    • Annodoremouse
      Annodoremouse nicky14342

      Posted

      If a patient was fully informed then the patient made an informed decision and probably signed for it

      Needs to check

    • Annodoremouse
      Annodoremouse nicky14342

      Posted

      PS - just retired after 53 yrs nursing. You know the detail on the consent form and the detils of trials consent
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Annodoremouse

      Posted

      It's very likely that the consent form covers the possibility of the poor alignment . . and it would be difficult to prove at this late stage misconduct in the form of 'operating while under the influence of alcohol' even if that were the case, but Veronica has said that she's only interested in getting her life back,  with a properly functioning knee, and not interested in a malpractice case . . I just hope that they can do that with a minimum of invasive surgery.

       

    • Annodoremouse
      Annodoremouse martinarvelo

      Posted

      It may need a 2nd TKR using an older prosthesis. My surgeon only works on knees & lower limbs & is amazing 
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