Knee Diagnosis is in; Need questions to ask the surgeon

AudeSapere

*Heavy Sigh*

First of all, thanks for all of you who gave me suggestions for getting around on crutches. I've used most of the suggestions with very good results. Thank You!!

OK. Now I finally have a diagnosis (actually diagnoses) for my knee and will meet with a knee specialist on Thursday. It seems that I have torn my knee up pretty well. I knew it right away it was bad as I was not able to put any weight on it without it buckling. The pain of the broken ankle overshadowed the pain of the knee, but I knew the knew would be my biggest concern.

Here's what I've got:

ACL Tear.

Lateral meniscus tear.

Couple of small fractures of the tibial plateau.

Large lipohemarthrosis (blood and fat in the joint fluid)

Mild chondromalacia changes.

It sounds like a mess to me. I've done just a little research so far but am hoping for some good questions to ask while I'm meeting with the surgeon.

Anybody gone through treatment for any of this?

I would appreciate hearing your experiences and insights. I want to make good use of the appointment and get on to decision-making so I can get into the healing phase more quickly.

Thanks a Bunch!

-Denise.

Nosferatu

Anybody gone through treatment for any of this?

Me and you are kindof in the same boat. I had my first dose of physiotherapy today. It was pretty much the diagnosis, and my knee hurts like a bitch because of it. This stuff is supposed to help me.

Usually when I'm in pain, I just down a bunch of Tylenol. The Physiotherapis told me to put ice on it when I'm in pain.

HadEnuf

Girl...you've got one heck of a bad knee! I really think, in my own professional medical opinion (high school education with emphasis on sex education...isn't that kind of medical?), that you're gonna need a scope of that knee. I've had three scopes and they help alot because they repair any tears you have and remove torn cartilage and other floating things in there. My only recommendation would be to be sure to go to some sort of physical therapy afterwards. I didn't and I paid for it with two knee replacements. My husband has had two knee scopes and the phys. therapy and is doing quite well. So it's probably a good thing you are getting all that crutch practice in. Good luck!!!

cathy l.

Snoozy

I had a lot of tears repaired a few years ago. (Scope). I had no pain afterwards. It felt so good!..

They also scraped a lot of arthritis stuff out under the knee cap? (No more sharp pain)

They didn't really give me any therapy..I was walking on it the next day..(Slowly on crutches.)

I became so active afterwards..I guess they skipped the therapy..

But it's doing just fine. Your's sounds a little more complicated though..hope they can do it with just the scope...

Snoozy..who had some nice happy stuff on the way to the operating room..I was yelling "Yahoo"..ride em cowboy...everyone was laughing at me..

ps..Still felt pretty good when I came out...

AudeSapere

Hi Nos - I usually take Advil for aches and pains but this past week it's been Codiene and VicodinES. Did you have surgery, too? or just therapy??

Cathy - I don't know how else a tear could be repaired. Based on the degree of knee instability, I fully expect surgical intervention. I seeing a surgeon that's part of a large, well-known orthopedic institute here. It seems that the more advanced techniques involve scopes. Regardless of the method of treatment, I will ask for therapy. Hopefully I can get upper-body treatment, too, to help counter the strain of the crutches. I'm surprised that therapy wasn't part of your treatment. I would expect that as a matter of course. I guess that's question #2.

Anybody have any specific questions I should ask?

What helped you heal well? What caused you to heal not so well??

-Denise (who doesn't mind hearing the gory details of others but also likes to hear the great success stories. I'd prefer to learn from others mistakes and adventures.)

jwfacts

Knee operations are very sucessful. I have damaged my knee several times playing football. My meniscus has been scrapped back and the anterior cruciate ligament removed. The did all that with keyhole day surgery. It didn't hurt and I could walk within a day. I can still run as fast as ever, but can not sidestep as my knee collapses, which rules out playing sport.

To be able to play sport again I need a reconstruction with a new ligament put in. That is worse, as you can not walk for about 6 weeks and take 6 months. I am still tossing up whether or not to have it done.

Mary

Anybody gone through treatment for any of this?

You may want to ask the Gumbsters about his knee......he had surgery on it a few weeks ago and I know it's still been giving him a bit of trouble........

AudeSapere

JW Facts - without the ACL, do you wear a knee brace to keep from buckling?

Mary - Thanks for the tip. I ask gumhobbler.

Snoozy - Sorry. I missed you the first time around. That's very encouraging for me. Seems that most people are put back on their feet pretty quickly. As far as the happy juice - I'd like what you had. The stuff they gave me in the ER just made me toss my cookies. And they weren't very pretty when they landed.

damselfly

OUCH! My knees are good ;-) but this is what I would want to know

Questions to ask; What should you be doing/not doing to prepare for surgery? (Exercise, diet etc)
Should you be strengthening your good knee to prepare it for the extra work it will be doing as you heal?
Average recovery time? Most common side effects of surgery?
How many of these surgies has he preformed? Good success?
What activity level should you have post surgery?
When should you start remedial excercise? Physiotherapist or personal trainer?
What supplies should you have ready at home post-op? (bandages, crutches, medications etc)
Will you need someone to look after you for few days/ or do they think you will be fine on your own?
How long to they predict you will be off work?

If I think of more I'll post them! Hope these help.

Dams

noni1974

I had my knee scoped about 10 years ago.I tore my miniscus also.It has never been the same since.I don't really have much trouble with it until I walk a lot.Then it swells and is painfull for several days.

The acl tear is a common sports injury. A lot of football players get it.

I hope you get well soon.I don't remeber what questions I asked the doctor.I wish I could help more.

Knee Diagnosis is in; Need questions to ask the surgeon

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