My left knee continues to be a challenge, but worked out really hard this week at Physical Therapy (yesterday) with some walking without a crutch. Although painful, I am seeing definite progress.
I am scheduled for a radio-wave saphenous nerve block on next Wednesday (10/29), so hopefully that will be a big help. If nothing else, it will allow us to know what pain is attributable to the saphenous damage and which is not.
Showing posts with label Health notes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health notes. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Sprained MCL: Part 2 - More About Cookie's Sad Left Knee Injury
At the beginning of this year, I had a slip and fall in the kitchen with enough time to choose between hitting my head or hitting my head. I hit my leg badly, and realized that I couldn;t bear any weight on it. It was both painful and didn't feel stable or solid. Connie had Harry bring me an ice pack, which I put on it immediately..
I went to the doctor, who ordered an MRI and sent me to an orthopedist. The MRI showed medial (inside of the knee) ligament tears, diagnosed as a Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) rupture. That doctor had me go to an orthopedic supply place where I was fitted for and placed in a knee immobilizer. The first week, I found myself in a lot of pain, and went back to the doctor, who re-fitted the immobilizer so that it was aligned better. That brace required me to keep the leg straight at all times, and I was admonished from putting weight on it, using one or two crutches when going out of the house.
Anyway, the tear didn't heal as quickly as the orthopedist had expected, and during my physical therapy for the leg, Kathy was worried about the degree of laxity of the knee -- so I arranged for an appointment with Dr. Dragoo at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. The appointment in Dr. Dragoo's clinic was fascinating, and it seemed very high tech. They did some x-rays and did a LOT of tests moving my leg and putting pressure on the joint when bending it at different angles. They determined that there is another ligament, the Posterolateral Corner or "PLC", which was ruptured also (completely torn through). Unlike simple tears, as this had originally been treated as, PLC tears generally do not generally heal without surgery. I'm to return later this month for re-evaluation, but the expectation is that I will probably be facing knee surgery in May. The other thing I got from the visit was a new brace, which allows the knee to bend, but provides serious support and lets me do more than the immobilizer did.
After surgery, I am expected to be on crutches for 2 weeks, and then hoping to be able to switch to one crutch or a cane for an additional 10 to 12 weeks. Physical therapy starts the day after surgery, and patients typically do very well regaining use of the knee. Since the knee gives me pain and feels really unstable, I am trying to see the likely need for surgery as a step toward healing and having better function. I really miss dancing, and look forward to when I will be able to get back to it.
I went to the doctor, who ordered an MRI and sent me to an orthopedist. The MRI showed medial (inside of the knee) ligament tears, diagnosed as a Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) rupture. That doctor had me go to an orthopedic supply place where I was fitted for and placed in a knee immobilizer. The first week, I found myself in a lot of pain, and went back to the doctor, who re-fitted the immobilizer so that it was aligned better. That brace required me to keep the leg straight at all times, and I was admonished from putting weight on it, using one or two crutches when going out of the house.
Anyway, the tear didn't heal as quickly as the orthopedist had expected, and during my physical therapy for the leg, Kathy was worried about the degree of laxity of the knee -- so I arranged for an appointment with Dr. Dragoo at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. The appointment in Dr. Dragoo's clinic was fascinating, and it seemed very high tech. They did some x-rays and did a LOT of tests moving my leg and putting pressure on the joint when bending it at different angles. They determined that there is another ligament, the Posterolateral Corner or "PLC", which was ruptured also (completely torn through). Unlike simple tears, as this had originally been treated as, PLC tears generally do not generally heal without surgery. I'm to return later this month for re-evaluation, but the expectation is that I will probably be facing knee surgery in May. The other thing I got from the visit was a new brace, which allows the knee to bend, but provides serious support and lets me do more than the immobilizer did.
After surgery, I am expected to be on crutches for 2 weeks, and then hoping to be able to switch to one crutch or a cane for an additional 10 to 12 weeks. Physical therapy starts the day after surgery, and patients typically do very well regaining use of the knee. Since the knee gives me pain and feels really unstable, I am trying to see the likely need for surgery as a step toward healing and having better function. I really miss dancing, and look forward to when I will be able to get back to it.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Sprained MCL: Part 1
I sprained my knee on 1 January 2014, and it was almost comical -- I was trying to fix a plate of nachos and stepped into the dog's water bowl, which sent me skidding across the kitchen with enough time to decide whether I'd rather hit my head or my leg on the floor. I picked my leg, which seemed the right choice. However, I really damaged the knee. I knew it hurt and felt unstable, but wasn't sure exactly what I'd injured.
The MRI in early January showed a complete tear / rupture of the MCL (medial collateral ligament) and a tear in the semimembranosus tendon, with a possible tear (or at least strain) of the LCL and other assorted ligaments and tendons. Ouch!
I was told that the treatment would be complete immobilization of the knee in a brace (knee immobilizer) with ice and medication for the pain and swelling. The first immobilizer I was given was the wrong size, and the second one wasn't adjusted right initially. A follow-up visit to the orthopedic surgeon had it adjusted and not twisting as much.
My follow-up appointment (1 month post injury) had the orthopedist unhappy with the lack of healing as exhibited by the knee "opening up" when taken out of the brace. He said we'll keep it immobilized for 4 more weeks, and then if it isn't healing, we need to look at surgery or using a brace on a permanent basis. Since hobbling around (with one crutch if going any distance) has been a real drag, and it has meant no square dancing, I have a hard time imagining wearing this brace indefinitely.
After my appointment, I had my first physical therapy session for the knee this past Tuesday at Stanford Outpatient Ortho & Sports Physical Therapy. Kathy (the amazing PT whom I have been seeing for abdominal pain) is now treating my knee. She evaluated it and said she was thinking that it might not repair itself and might very well need surgery. Not the news I wanted, but I am trying to get my head around this. She also said that if I do end up needing surgery, she thought I should get a second opinion (and possibly the surgery) from _THE_ knee specialist at Stanford. I got his name and will likely look to get a second opinion if the other orthopod says it's looking like surgery is needed (at my next appointment).
The MRI in early January showed a complete tear / rupture of the MCL (medial collateral ligament) and a tear in the semimembranosus tendon, with a possible tear (or at least strain) of the LCL and other assorted ligaments and tendons. Ouch!
I was told that the treatment would be complete immobilization of the knee in a brace (knee immobilizer) with ice and medication for the pain and swelling. The first immobilizer I was given was the wrong size, and the second one wasn't adjusted right initially. A follow-up visit to the orthopedic surgeon had it adjusted and not twisting as much.
My follow-up appointment (1 month post injury) had the orthopedist unhappy with the lack of healing as exhibited by the knee "opening up" when taken out of the brace. He said we'll keep it immobilized for 4 more weeks, and then if it isn't healing, we need to look at surgery or using a brace on a permanent basis. Since hobbling around (with one crutch if going any distance) has been a real drag, and it has meant no square dancing, I have a hard time imagining wearing this brace indefinitely.
After my appointment, I had my first physical therapy session for the knee this past Tuesday at Stanford Outpatient Ortho & Sports Physical Therapy. Kathy (the amazing PT whom I have been seeing for abdominal pain) is now treating my knee. She evaluated it and said she was thinking that it might not repair itself and might very well need surgery. Not the news I wanted, but I am trying to get my head around this. She also said that if I do end up needing surgery, she thought I should get a second opinion (and possibly the surgery) from _THE_ knee specialist at Stanford. I got his name and will likely look to get a second opinion if the other orthopod says it's looking like surgery is needed (at my next appointment).
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