bad news, at this rate going to need a total knee by 35 according to my new very helpful surgeon, he plans first to do a scope and ligament tightening and a washout, but it looks likely later in 07 i will need big knee surgery. I have been given two options:
1. A new op which doesn't have much more than 4 years of evidence which is the shaving of the bone and metal plating underneath my patella and re shaping the bottom of my femur. They don't know how long the metal lasts, my surgeon isn't keen as i am very young for this and it may mean a lot of surgery in the future
2. An old fashioned approach which due to my age the surgeon feels is a better option as I do have a good fitness and muscle mass, which is the removal of my kneecap, he believes the muscles will compensate well and i should be able to ride etc still
Has anyone any advice or know anyone who has had these done??
I have no personal experience but my Dad had a nasty accident when he was 18 - it resulted in his kneecap being removed and his knee wired back together and at the time, 8 weeks in hospital.
At the time this was pioneering surgery!
He's now 55 and had no problems at all and he's been doing hard manual labour all his life......
can i ask is this because of wear adn tear of the patellar cartilage or due to some trauma. I've been told i'm going to need knee replacements but i just keep going. I'm 43 now, had problems for the last 6/7 years
There was an interesting article in December's runners world about a cyclist turned runner who'd had a kneecap replaced. Info on her is on http://www.vegparadise.com/otherbirds76.html. Hope it goes OK.
Hi, that seems very drastic surgery...i was also told i had to have my patella out some years ago(aged 27 after a downhill accident),I went private for a 2nd opinion and had realignment surgery (fulkersons osteotomy)instead, the knee has been good for around 7 year snow. However, The left knee was worse, and my cartilage was shot, i had a cartilage graft done,(as well as another osteotomy) this surgery is pretty new, its called Autologous Cartilage Implantation (ACI and MACI) Articular Cartilage Repair Surgery.
"Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation (ACT) is performed to repair areas of full thickness localised loss of articular cartilage on the bearing surfaces of the knee. It involves resurfacing of the damaged areas with the patients own cultured articular cartilage cells (chondrocytes). These are cultured in the laboratory following harvest of a small piece of healthy cartilage at an initial arthroscopy. Implantation of the new cells or tissue takes place through an open arthrotomy (opening of the joint rather than a keyhole technique) after 4 weeks"
My surgeon has a web site that gives a better idea. www.timspalding.com
I am back cycling again and i am covering around 270 miles a month:) so there is hope, but shop around!! I hope this helps, merry xmas! Jane x ps i am 34 now...
Hi, As a fellow knobbly knee injury person, i would stronlgy recommend a surgeon in Bristol, don't know if your anywhere near but he's definatly worth it! I had major surgery on my knee reconstruction of my patella tendon, medial ligament and Anterior Cruciate. He's worth simply a consultation for an opnion, plus he has the most fantastic group of Physio's for support who will put you through your paces but have allowed me to return to triathlon! His name is Dr Eldridge At the BUPA Glen hospital , hope this is helpful, Petrina
question for Jane - can you tell me please how long you were out of action with ACT treatment? I went down to London with a view to having this done but got the idea that I would need just about a year recovery for each knee, as the new cartilage is in a liquid form adn the knee has to be kept immobile. I'm 43 and felt that 2 years out of training at my age was a huge amount of time. I'd be interestes in your experiences.
HI there, I had the cartilage put in in March 2006,(mine was taken out a few months before and grown in a lab, then reimplanted) It wasnt a particularly painful op(compared to osteotomy)although i found it took me longer to recover from it. You sound like you are impatient like me!, the rehab from this surgery has to be followed otherwise you risk damaging the graft. I found that i could walk long distances quite soon, but only started riding around August time. The main problem i had was my quads were very weak, i couldnt stand on the pedals for another month or so..I am now doing regular 20-25 miles rides, averaging 70 miles or so a week. It does not hurt at all while riding, although it hurts when i walk up the stairs when i get home? Taking daily cod liver oil(1000mg) and 1000mg glucosamine also helps. I know what you mean re taking time off, but if you leave it too long then the damage may be too severe to repair with this surgery. (my surgeon didnt allow me to ride, walk hills, kneel etc for the 6 months i was waiting to have it done!) Have you seen the "knee geeks" web site? it is very useful for advice.My friend (Karen Hambley)who i used to race with is a physio(who specialises in rehab of this type of surgery) who posts on the forum, she has had the same surgery! She however struggles to cycle since, but has become a top indoor rower! Have a look and maybe send her a mail, she will be glad to help I am sure. I hope this helps?, any more info please mail me. hempty222@yahoo.com. good luck! Jane
