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Partial patellar tendon tear.. Rehab, Surgery?

I have recently been diagnosed with a tendon tear in my knee, and more specifically the patellar tendon, the doctor said he does not want to do surgery due to the 6 to 12 month rehab time with this procedure and since it is not completely torn, but without surgery it looks like i will not be 100 percent again and get back my capabilities. since it is not ruptured or completely torn im wondering if i could rehab the tendon and if theres anything i can do to rehab the tendon toward bringing it back to strength without surgery.. basically i was told not to play basketball without a knee brace, refrain from certain excersizes and types of motions or it would get worse and tear completely... basically is there anything i can do to improve it without surgery, is there any way to get it back to 100 percent (with or without surgery) thanks.  also i was told arthoscopic surgery would not be sufficient, open knee surgery would have to be used.
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Avatar universal
Kosta r u still around? Your email didn't show on your post. I just got diag w partial patella ligament tear, meinscus tear and inside of knee ligament tear. I would love to know what pt you did. Your post was very encouraging. The idea of being unable to use my knee and walking around like a 90y o woman kills me. Email is ***@****. Many thanks!
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Avatar universal
Hello,
Could you please tell how your son is today? Did it heal?
Exactly the same thing happened to me 4 month ago in Ibiza, we fell from the scooter and I hit the wall with my knee, I had open rupture of the skin and 10 stiches, patellar tendon rapture partially and lots of bone bruise.
Doctor said it would heal from itself naturally and I am going to Physiotherapy. But nothing helped. Now 4 months passed and I still cannot walk without the crutches and I cannot bend my knee more then 90 degrees. I am starting to be really desperate as I think this will never heal and I ll be invalid for the rest of my life. I am 34 and actually wanted to start with family planning and now cannot even walk.
I am from Germany and the doctors are here quite good actually but in my case they said there is nothing they can do except to wait.
I think that won't do.
I would appreciate any advice or shared experience.
Many thanks,
Silvia
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Avatar universal
All the info here is very interesting, but your post was outstanding! you are the one who made the most sense to me...can we exchange contact info? (your complete email isn't showing)  i'm a great enthuasiast of excercise and rehab, but in a non traditional way, exactly the way you explained, yeahp also have had my tendon adventures!...please add me as gu5tav0ca5tr0 at fb or in that legendary email service that's too hot to handle

Thanks man!
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Avatar universal
Hi my name is Kosta I have been playing basketball since 8 years old and i had bad foot mechanics i was a toe walker so weather i ran walked i always was on my toes this gave me bad stability in my muscles and in time they became instable (some were stronger others weaker). at 16 i had my first knee pains and this was normal by my parents both doctors due to the growth spur, at 18 i signed a under 22 pro contract with a basketball team and trained my *** off 6 days a week 5 days double trainings + gym n 1 day games. During my first 6 months i started to feel gradual pain buildup under my left knee (patellar tendon) and soon enough it had spread towards my VMO (inside quad area) went to doctors had no idea what was wrong had mri,xrays,ultrasounds they couldnt fing anything i was in pains couldnt jump properly, couldnt run properly and my knee was giving out often. Went to see a specialist at 21 years old after stoping playing ball she found micro fibre tears in my patellar tendon on both my knees. And she said they are not that little the stages are, muscle imbalance-tendon pain-microfibre tears-partial tears. she told me to rest RICE and to go physio nothig really helped. Was so depresed I was at a point to thinking to bash my knee with a hammer or to cut off my leg from the pains and discomfort. I was at the end of my nerves i saw that non of the speialists n physios really cared about my pain but more about my money ******* priks. Did tons of research and currently i am 22 my knees are strong i squat 125kg, deadlift 120kg and my vertical is 30inches. First analyse your pain how does it feel and when after exercise before exercise after stretching and icing. have a mri and ultrasound ASAP when you start feeling pains. Supplimenets that helped me: cissus quadragelis, hylauronic joint complex, fish oil, ibuprofen, chymoral enzymes look them up and search about them miracle workers. I was told to rest the knee 4-6 weeks which i did and didnt feel it got better, did physio helped a bit but still didnt get rid of the pain i was spending $$$ for no real help. I did my research and was intrested how can i take the most pressure out of my tendons so they do not do too much work and are not too iritated and the answer was not rest BUT FUKN WORKING OUT THE MUSCLES most of the tears happend because we use the tendon to do a strainius activity like jump and run instead of the muscles. SO PLEASE HAVE A CHECK UP FIRST FIND THE CONDITION OF YOUR TENDON DAMAGE IF IT IS MINOR TEARS OR LEVEL 1 there is a chance to get the knee better. Your knee will never be 100% it never is it is constantly geting damaged day in day out forget 100% geting the knee between 90-95% condition is optimal. My email is kostadin_mkd***@**** i am a PT now and have helped myself and many of my clients in Sydney to get their knees better too many exercises to name here but if you would like to know the exercises that helped me write to me and i will send you a list of them.
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Can you message me I tried messaging you but the message won't send I need your help
Avatar universal
Hi everyone, I have a slight tear to the patella tendon only 5mm, ive been going to the physio for the past month and doing a range of exercises as requested by the physio. I haven't played a game of soccer since 17th December and to-date I still feel pain in my knee and it doesn't feel better at all. I really want to continue to play soccer, any help will be much appreciated.
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Avatar universal
hi every one. Feeling good after hearing form all of u. Am 21 years old and i had bike accident in 23nov 2013. In this accident i got cut injury in my right patellar tandon. After 20h i had surgery in my knee. And docs plasterd my leg. After 4days injurd knee found infection after lots of injection it lookd good. I hv rested 2months in bed without no leg movement and now doc is telling that my other tendon got jamed and i also dnt knw hw is my pateller tendon and i cant fold my leg .i will start physiotharepi next few days. Dont knw whats going to happen with my lyf pls pray for me
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Avatar universal
Don't know if this still matters, but I did the open knee surgery and around nine and a half months of rehab to a partially torn patella (25-40%)... the results aren't pretty. I use to play basketball and I haven't regained the mobility, the agility or the stamina I once had. I can't cut, jump or make quick changes of direction anymore. My body isn't at that level. Even my knee feels stiff as hell and its been a two years (and some) since surgery. Its a sacrifice that I'm willing to undergo. But you will NEVER feel the same. Your knees get stiff when standing to long. Sitting in the same position for long brings aches. Bending is limited. Everything I do physically is tiring. The only thing I can do is bike short distances (I have to raise the bike seat super high but at least its something). You should speak with a professional before undergoing anything this serious. And not to just understand the timetable of recovery, but life after the injury. Hope you the best.
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Avatar universal
I had a complete tear of the patellar tendon on June 4.  I had Surgery on June 10. I tore the tendon off the tibia... Pretty brutal. The surgery was 3 hours, they had to put a pin in my tibia while drilling 2 holes in my kneecap.  Then they attached a wire from my kneecap to my tibia.  I am still wearing my brace in full extension but have gotten a 60 degree bend out of my leg.  I am also using the elliptical when I am not in PT. it is exhausting to say the least. My Orthopedist just ok'd me to put a 30 degree flex in the brace in a week. Folks... Stick to the PT regimen. Exercise the knee every day of he week. I wouldn't  wish this I jury on my worst enemy.  The rehab is a long process... Don't know fully how mine will turn out but treat every bit of progress as a win...  
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Avatar universal
Please let us know what your Ortho says.  I have a partial tear and am waiting to see the Ortho myself.  I'm curious as to what he is going to recommend.  I'm a cop and so I have to be very active.  Honestly I'm hoping for an aggressive approach so that I can return to an active lifestyle.  This was an on the job injury so I'm curious how they will approach this.
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Avatar universal
What did you ever find out?  Or how have you been since 2011?  I have a very similar situation and hoping I can recover without surgery.  Does anyone know if I have a partial tear of 50% off the bone(MRI confirmed), can this heal without surgery?  I can walk normal and lift my leg laying down with no pain, but hurts when I bend my knee from a squatting or lunging position.  Seeing an Ortho Dr. for a recommendation in two days.  Thanks in advance for any advice.
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Avatar universal
I'm a bit confused why someone would advise a brace for this. The patella tendon is not just a stabilizing tendon like the acl, mcl or pcl. It transmits all of the force from your quads to your tibia. This has to happen to jump, run, or even straighten your leg. When you put maximum force into a jump, all of that force goes through your patella tendon. And if the tendon is week, it tears or ruptures. Rest and rehab will allow any inflammation to subside. A brace may prevent a twisting or lateral force injury but will not prevent the joint from working as designed. A brace will not prevent you from putting enough force through the tendon to cause further damage. Especially a tendon that is already compromised. Your options are, get surgery and hope it helps or, stop jumping and become an outside shooter. I'm currently recovering from my second patella rupture. I recommend you stop jumping. A complete rupture is extremely painful and a long, long recovery. Depending on your line of work and benefits, it could be career threatening.
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Avatar universal
Shocking. Current medical theory stays away from cortisone injections near the patella tendon. Patella and Achilles tendons that have been exposed to this type of treatment appear to have a higher likelihood of complete ruptures. Or at least that the current theory. They still use injections in other areas but I'm surprised that a doc is still injecting a patella tendon.
I'm not a doc and make no representations as such. But I would question this technique and do your homework.
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Avatar universal
what exactly did they do to repair it during surgery? Thanks,
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Avatar universal
did you go with the prp? i have a 10-15% tear as well and i am contemplating it.
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Avatar universal
I am in the same situation - But want to know about an MRI that may be poor. Meaning, slight movement may result in a inaccurate MRI. Is that possible and can cause a misdiagnose? I was told I moved during the MRI, but the MRI was sent regardless to the the Surgeon. Should I get another MRI?
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Avatar universal
I am 18 and I have just recently under gone surgery on my partially torn patella tendon. The pain from this is huge and my knee looks like a balloon, with huge bruising around it. Basically what my surgeon did was to go into the knee and open it up straight down the middle where he then cleaned out the patella tendon of all the jelly like substance where the hole in the tendon is he then re cut the hole in the tendon to hopefully get it to re attach. But before the surgery I had countless amounts of Physio and acupuncture which did not work, I then had just plain blood injections which is where they take my own blood and inject it back into my knee next I tried platelet Rich plasma (PRP) Which sort of worked but nothing great. Then I tried putting it in a fixed brace and used croutches so i was completly non weight bearing which I did for 2 months yet again no success. Finally I tried a polidocanol injection which is an injection they do under ultrasound to kill the blood vessels which hopefully takes away the pain meaning that you can then do intensive Physio, for me this didnt work though I would recommend trying it. Especially for brosson because sometimes this can be a temporary pain relief. Although this treatment is normally a follow to the PRP. I would not recommend surgery straight out because it is the most painful thing and has a huge recovery time. So exhaust all your options first.
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Avatar universal
my name is Brandon and im 19 years old and i have a partical torn pateller tendon in my left knee. Ive had a sharp pain in my knee for 6 months now and 2 months ago i went to the doctor and got an mri. He told me i had a partical torn patellar tendon but it had to heak on its own and he wouldnt  do surgery. He told me to rest all the time and it should heal on its own but i think its the same as before and didnt heal. Im in pain all the time trying to walk straight, trying to go up stairs which i can do if i have hand rails, i cant crawl without horrible pain, i cant kneel down without falling on my face, i cant go to a store and shop because it hurts, i caznt even wal;k without holding something so i cant fall and i get looked down on for it. This is the most depressing and embarrassing thing ive ever had to live with in my life. I have a wedding nxt month and its my brothers and im the best man. I dont know how im going to do this and its depressing. What do i do to help myself?
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Avatar universal
Are you really a doctor? Because it's a tendon not a ligament we're talking about.
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Avatar universal
hi, im 26 and have just done exactly the same as you did back in 2010, i was curious to know if your back up and running fully active because im really concerned i wont be, i just want some reassurance. its been 4 weeks since op and have only about 40 degree bend in my knee. im only doing passive exercises and i dont feel its getting any better.

if possible and you recieve my text would it be possible to send an e - mail

bensaunderz_1986***@****

thankyou
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Avatar universal
I ruptured both patella tendons back in Nov. 2000, while playing basketball when I did a jump stop, I heard an actually explosion go off in my head and fell on my back. I took a ride in the ambulance to the hospital where my worst fears were confirmed and I was scheduled for surgery the next morning. I had both knees surgically repaired and following six weeks of my legs being immobilized, I began a long journal of PT (six-months to be exact). Then, I continued my therapy at home, with weight training and walking up and down steep hills for approx. six more months. I was 38 when the injury occured and I am 50 now. There are some things, still today I will not do. I use to love running, but the pounding still makes the tendons hurt. The one testimonial I can give is the injury was forever life changing -- at least for me.
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Avatar universal
Reading all the different testimonies regarding a patella tendon rupture mine is slightly different.....August 2011 I was admitted into hospital for a routine 'flush' of the knee as it was grating and grinding and uncomfortable. I could still live a full and active life, most mornings at the gym, power walking and walking my dogs every day. I was told this was a minor op and would be back to normal within 2 weeks. When I awoke from the op and was told I could go home and to get out of bed.......I couldn't move my leg! 3 nurses hoisted me out of bed and dressed me, I couldn't walk so they put me in a wheelchair, screaming and crying I was stood up out of the chair to where my partner was waiting and left me, We somehow managed to get in the car, people were staring at the sight of me screaming and being prised into the car. Got home and I was in AGONY I had to be lifted in and out of bed, I couldn't bend my knee at all the pain was something else. After 5 days I was in so much pain I was taken into Orthopedics by ambulance, where I was shown no sympathy told to lift my leg and get on with physio, there was nothing wrong and the only thing they could do for me was to give a leg brace and crutches. Over the next few weeks nothing changed I would wobble nearly fall over the knee would give way for no reason, it was swollen, hot and painful. I saw 4 consultants over a 12 week period each sent me away and told me there was nothing wrong even though I protested and kept telling them I felt something had gone wrong, I walked very slowly with a profound limp was in severe pain all the time I was at the end of my tether not knowing what to do next. I had been going to hydrotherapy for several weeks and they were nagging me to 'bend it come on bend it' they wouldn't listen to me. We decided to go for a 2nd opinion privately I paid £710 including the MRI scan and after 15weeks I finally had an answer. Dduring the routine 'flush' and shaving of my patella they and severed my patella tendon!!!  My new consultand said it is very rare and that I only had a few strands of tendon left holding my kneecap in place, he was amazed that I could get about at all, he told me it was urgent that I have surgery because if those last few strands went my knee would just 'pop' then I would be in real trouble. 3 days later I was in hospital for the repair, they have drilled holes in my kneecap and shin and wired them together and sewn the tendon back. I am 3 weeks and 1 day in now I have a 6" wound down my knee, in a leg brace which I will have to wear for months, crutches again months, I need further surgery to remove the wires and full recovery is up to 2 years! We live in an upstairs flat so I can't get out (I'm in too much pain to even want to go out anyway) we have 2 small dogs who I have had to give to a friend because I can't get downstairs to let them out. I have to rely on my partner and family and friends to fetch and carry for me. This has ruined my left I cannot believe this has happened to me and how I have ended up like this. The pain from the repair is as bad as the ruptured tendon. I must not put weight on my leg for 6 weeks, I am doing everything I have been told to do. I just pray that there is light at the end of the tunnel and I will make a full recovery. Knee pain is SO awful I sympathise with all efllow sufferers and wish you all a speedy recovery. I tell you what though....I have NOT finished with those doctors who told me nothing was wrong and sent me away time after time and left me limping about in immense pain for 15 weeks...oh no  they have already been sent a solicitors letter !!
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Avatar universal
I first noticed my knees aching back in June of 2011.... It started with me being determined to loose weight fast.  I went from no activity at all to running around 3 miles a day and or doing at least 30 minutes a day on the elliptical machine. I thought the pain I was experiencing was due to me being out of shape.  I stopped running and started doing only elliptical but still experienced serious pain. Fast forward, Months later to August of 2011, I played a pick up game of basketball, which I never do.  The dull aches I had been feeling for months immediately turned into severe pain while I was playing.  I immediately realized that I had a real problem.  Did some research and discovered I must have patellar tendonitis.  Went to U.K. Sports Medicine in Lexington, KY.  They are renowned in Lexington by I think my physician disregarded the severity of my condition. They confirmed that I had Patellar Tendonitis and gave me a list of exercises to do, a script for a topical ointment, and the suggestion to continue my: 2000mg of ibuprofen daily, Deep tissue Ice massages, and tendon wraps.  Fast forward again.  It's Dec 2011, the week before Christmas, 6 months since my first symptoms and although my quads and hamstrings are stronger from the rehab exercises, I feel no relief from the pain.  My legs still buckle when I walk.  Holding on to hand rails up and down stairs is a must.  No running, no aerobic activity at all.  I'm struggling to control my weight using weight training only, as I know any weight gain is just going to complicate my condition.  I'm becoming depressed.  I work and am on my feet for 8 hours a day.  Reading everyone's testimony regarding surgery is scary considering the possible recovery time.  I'm 32 and move like I'm 72.  
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Avatar universal
I have suffered a long time with Patella Tendon issues I had my left knee operated on around 3 years ago for a tear this was not immobilized at all after surgery, I would say I have recovered from this but my knee will never be 100% but I can resume playing soccer and have done for the past 2 years. After I had the surgery my right knee began to get sore and the familiar feeling of the tendon being inflamed, I saw a physio who was able to refer me to a sports medicine specialist who arranged for a MRI to be done. Results showed no tear but the tendon was very thick and inflamed so it was suggested I complete eccentric exercises which had no effect, I was then offered PRP Therapy but the cost was high and with no guarantee it would help I declined it.
I have continued to see my PT every week for the past 5 months in order to try and maintain my knee enough to continue to the end of the soccer season. On the 14th Nov I had surgery to repair my tendon (this was a last resort as other treatments had not worked) the tendon had the damaged portion removed and I was in a knee brace with my leg in full extension for 2 weeks post op, I had a mild amount of pain which was bearable, I had my first PT session post op on the 2nd Dec which included flextion and extension exercise's and my brace adjusted to allow me to bend my knee by 50 degrees. I have to do strengthening exercises which are quite painful but I feel I have made the right option to go ahead with the surgery but it will be a slow process to get back to fully fit, I have been advised 6 months.
So fingers crossed!
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Avatar universal
I AM QUITE CONFUSED. I ENDED UP HYPERFLEXING MY LEFT KNEE AND A DAY LATER IT WAS REAL SHINEY HOT AND SWOLLEN. I DID CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT FOR A WEEK, ICE REST ELEVATION ETC. THE SWELLING AND PAIN WENT AWAY BUT I HAVE BEEN SINCE THEN LEFT WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PUT FULL WEIGHT  ON MY LEG BECAUSE IT BUCKLES OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME. I HAVE HAD A TOTAL KINEE REPLACEMENT IN THAT SAME KNEE SEVERAL YRS AGO. THE TEAR TO MY PATELLA TENDON WAS IN JUNE OF 2010. MY DR SAYS THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX ME. HE SAID THE ONLY WAY TO DO SURGERY IS TO TAKE  A TENDON FROM A CADAVER AND HAVETO INSERT IT  ANOLG WITH SOME OTHER TENDON OR MUSCLE FROM A CADAVER. HE SAID THE BSURGERY IS EXTREMELY INTENSE AND THE RESULTS FOR ME PROBABLY WOULDN'T GAIN ME ANYTHING. WHY HE DIDN'T RECOMMEND ANY IMMOBILIZATION IN THE BEGINNING I AM NOT SURE. I CAN ESTEND MY LEG FULLY ON A FLAT SURFACE BUT TO EXTEND IT FULLY WHILE IN A SITTING POSITION NO WAY. I AM PROBABLY AT SAY65 DEGREES. HE WANTS METO SETTLEFOR A BRACE THAT WOULD KEEP MY LEG IN COMPLETE EXTENSION WHILE WALKING SO I CAN PUT FULL PRESSURE ON IT.I ALSO SUFFER FROM SPINAL STENOSIS WHICH 2 SURGERIES HAVE NOT FIXED THE WEAKNESS IN MY LEGS SO I HAVE THAT AGAINST ME TOO. I ALSO WEIGH CLOSE TO 300 LBS SO I KOW THAT DOESN'T HELP. THE THING IS IS THAT I AMVERY CONFUSED ABOUT THERE NOT BEING A SURGICAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM USING WHAT TENDON REMAINS AND COMPARED TO WHAT I HAVE READ HERE OF PEOPLE HAVING SURGERY TO REPAIR IT. ANYBODY HAVE ANY KIND OF SUGGESTIONS FOR ME? ANYTHING WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANKS.
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