Knee problems

[mudjeremy]

Went to the knee Dr this morning and found out I have fluid in my knee, two loose pieces, and Arthritis in my knee. I am having an MRI tomorrow and hopefully seeing the Dr again Friday. He said I will probably have to have surgery again, and at 23 this isn't what I'd like to hear.

[AntlerCollector]

23! Dang! Prayers for ya bro.

[SwampRabbit]

I had surgery at 22 and 24. I dislocated my right knee and relocated it in an moving accident. I broke off a quarter sized peice of bone off my femur. Of course that is where the load bearing cartilage goes too. They pinned it back and I was 16 weeks no weight bearing. 2 years later I re-injured the area and the cartilage where the 2 pins were broke free. They did plugs from my femoral-patella groove. Needless to say, while I have arthrtis... it did get better over time and settled out. While I can't run and jump (I can actually run, but it's too risky) I have cycled in 110 mile cycling endurace events, hiked trails in Yoesemite, etc. I haven't let it hold me back... but I do have to be mindful of limitations and the ability to "overuse" my knee pretty quickly.

[mudjeremy]

I had surgery at 22 and 24. I dislocated my right knee and relocated it in an moving accident. I broke off a quarter sized peice of bone off my femur. Of course that is where the load bearing cartilage goes too. They pinned it back and I was 16 weeks no weight bearing. 2 years later I re-injured the area and the cartilage where the 2 pins were broke free. They did plugs from my femoral-patella groove. Needless to say, while I have arthrtis... it did get better over time and settled out. While I can't run and jump (I can actually run, but it's too risky) I have cycled in 110 mile cycling endurace events, hiked trails in Yoesemite, etc. I haven't let it hold me back... but I do have to be mindful of limitations and the ability to "overuse" my knee pretty quickly.

Does your knee still give you any problems?
I had my first knee surgery at 19. I fractured cartilage and sprained my MCL playing football. I have the arthritis now because the other dr took cartilage out. I was told that even if my knee was 100% after the surgery, I wouldn't be able to run or anything like that. That didn't sit to well with me but I rather not reinjure my knee.

[NTX HUNTER]

I had knee surgery at 13,14,17 and 23 and need a knee replacement now at 28. Bad knees are no fun

[KDinTX]

I had surgery at 22 and 24. I dislocated my right knee and relocated it in an moving accident. I broke off a quarter sized peice of bone off my femur. Of course that is where the load bearing cartilage goes too. They pinned it back and I was 16 weeks no weight bearing. 2 years later I re-injured the area and the cartilage where the 2 pins were broke free. They did plugs from my femoral-patella groove. Needless to say, while I have arthrtis... it did get better over time and settled out. While I can't run and jump (I can actually run, but it's too risky) I have cycled in 110 mile cycling endurace events, hiked trails in Yoesemite, etc. I haven't let it hold me back... but I do have to be mindful of limitations and the ability to "overuse" my knee pretty quickly.

I had a similar injury in 09 at 28. knocked off a quarter size piece of bone from the femur, and blew my acl out in my left knee. Surgery, rehab, etc. I also have to be mindful of overusing my knee, still do most of what I used to except play softball. Im a big guy but was told at therapy to keep the quads and other muscles surrounding the knee strong as they will compensate for the acl to an extent. It took several years to trust stepping down on it from elevated surfaces and I still tend to favor the right knee but force myself to use the left to do things sometimes.

[SwampRabbit]

Does your knee still give you any problems?
I had my first knee surgery at 19. I fractured cartilage and sprained my MCL playing football. I have the arthritis now because the other dr took cartilage out. I was told that even if my knee was 100% after the surgery, I wouldn't be able to run or anything like that. That didn't sit to well with me but I rather not reinjure my knee.

I guess it depends on the injury. Cartilage damage is the hardest stuff to recover from to 100% because it really doesn't regrow or heal very fast. Arthritis and the aches that come with it are really good at holding you back from restrengthing the knee properly.

After my first surgery, I thought I was fully recovered. I didn't realize when the doc said 50/50 he was really taking about the cartilage, not the bone being pinned back.

Almost all my problems are associated with my knee cap and my inability to restrengthen my Quad (specifically the medial pull) due to the aches and arthritis in my femoral/patella groove. Very rarely do I feel the aches, etc in my fibia/tibia on the lateral side. I do, but very very very rarely.

The more surgery you have, the harder it is to recover, at least as a lay person who doesn't have thousands thrown at you to recover like a pro athlete.

But... I adapted to it. I now ride a bike if I want to do cardio. While cycling can be bad for you knees IF you aren't fitted correctly, if you are fitted correctly, then there is no impact problems. I've ridden 110+ miles in a day and while I had to build up to it like everybody else, I was no more sore than anybody else.

Running I would not be able to do long term. running puts 10x your body weight on the joint. I don't need to be doing that.

I climb deer stands, I hike long distances (I've walked 20 miles in a day before) and it's been okay. It just takes time. You get used to it. After my knee surgery, I raced biclyes. I've gotten my heart rate up to 190 bp regularly, turning over the cranks at 130+ rpm going 30+ mph going up an incline.... Knee surgery doesn't have to be the end to having fun in life; but you may have to adapt a little for a while.

[SwampRabbit]

I didn't give you a straight answer: yes it does give me problems... but mostly when I shoot myself in the foot. I've allowed myself to gain too much weight and have not been on the bike in a couple of years. I went to the Y and shot some hoops with my kiddo. Being dump I went for the ball, planted, turned and shot. I felt it. It was more on the lateral side where my IC Band attaches (that was trimmed a wee bit the first go round.)

but again, that we me doing something I should have known better to not push given my current lack of fitness.

[SwampRabbit]

I had a similar injury in 09 at 28. knocked off a quarter size piece of bone from the femur, and blew my acl out in my left knee. Surgery, rehab, etc. I also have to be mindful of overusing my knee, still do most of what I used to except play softball. Im a big guy but was told at therapy to keep the quads and other muscles surrounding the knee strong as they will compensate for the acl to an extent. It took several years to trust stepping down on it from elevated surfaces and I still tend to favor the right knee but force myself to use the left to do things sometimes.

Mine was my right knee. I can so climb stairs. Going down stairs is a different matter altogether. Anybody with bad knees understand when somebody says "it will take me longer to come down that hill than to go up it."

But the truth is... whether you get it fixed or not, the problems are going to be the same.

I actually found out I needed the second surgery when all of a sudden my knee cap started popping out of the groove after an impact type of injury. MRI showed the cartilage dislodged and peices were floating in my joint and getting hung up under my patella. If I had let it go, the cartilage on the load bearing surface would have degenerated very quickly.

[KDinTX]

Mine was my right knee. I can so climb stairs. Going down stairs is a different matter altogether. Anybody with bad knees understand when somebody says "it will take me longer to come down that hill than to go up it."

But the truth is... whether you get it fixed or not, the problems are going to be the same.

I actually found out I needed the second surgery when all of a sudden my knee cap started popping out of the groove after an impact type of injury. MRI showed the cartilage dislodged and peices were floating in my joint and getting hung up under my patella. If I had let it go, the cartilage on the load bearing surface would have degenerated very quickly.

Much to my own pride I did "tuck and role" down hills a couple times after the injury as I can get down at a normal pace but get to much momentum and the knee pops and its a down we go....with stairs I am sure to at least be touching the rail/wall etc as to catch myself if it pops and gives out. But I haven't had many problems other than the occasional catch/pop and it gives out for a second, which can be eventful given the timing. Surgeon said no matter how good it does that within 10-15 would need a rebuild, so I have that to look forward to. I wouldn't have the acl fixed unless it needed it as it doesn't bother me enough as of now.

[SwampRabbit]

I am buying time for some fancy kevlar or other equipment. Doc won't rebuild my knee until i am too old to be active enough to wear it out. But i know i will get a bionic knee someday....

[mag301]

had 7 surgeries... last was replacement... go down stairs backwards and hold the rail... NO pain