Post MVA Knee Problems

[keirasmom2009830]

I had a crush injury to my knee five years ago in a head on collision. I now have Chondromalacia in my knee, and can never kneel or run again, but have been okay walking normal for the past 4 years now. All of a sudden when I am done Maternity leave and it's time to head back to work, I've started getting this burning, pulling pain behind my knee, which then started travelling down the back of my leg to my ankle. My Ortho can't figure out what's wrong, and thinks it's maybe my sciatic nerve causing this, but it felt like someone was punching me in my kneecap with every step. I rested this a month ago, and thought I was getting better. But now, as of a few weeks ago, a different knee pain has occurred. The other pain behind the knee was gone (I had all of the symptoms of an ACL tear, but an MRI said nothing was wrong other than the previous damage from the MVA). Now the knee pain is so bad that I can barely walk, and have to walk keeping my leg straight, because it hurts so bad to lift it. And five days ago, now if I sit for too long, I can't straighten my leg again. I have to work it out straight slowly and it is very painful. I have two small daughters and have to work at my hospital job, and would really like to be able to take my kids for walks and bike rides this summer. I'm finding it very depressing that this might be permanent and I will never share those moments again with my girls, and will have to quit my job that I love. No one seems to have the answers for me yet. I am doing physiotherapy, but it seems to be making me worse. Does anyone have any similar situation, or any advice on what I can do? Please help
Thanks,
SJ

[keirasmom2009830]

Well I will have to look into it. Yesterday evening my knee felt alot better than it normally has lately, and today for the first 1/4 of work it did too. I have been still doing the physio exercises twice a day for a few days now, and it hasn't hurt as bad, and after i'm done them, I seem to have more movement in my knee. I might be getting too excited about it too quickly, but I think the muscles in my leg are starting to build up now, and it might actually be working to stabilize my knee. I am still going to be really careful though, because it started doing what it normally does after awhile at work. My Mom has gone to a chiropractor her whole life, so I will try and talk to him about this and see what he says. Chiropractors and Physiotherapists are always so different from each other, and people tend to like either one or the other, never both. I guess I will only find out through trying it, so thanks for the great idea!!

[achilles2]

Yes, chiropractors treat sciatica. It is hard to describe what he does for my knee. He just checks it and if something is out he puts it back in alignment. (He is very gentle and it never hurts.) My chiropractor has also given me some exercises but they typically do not bother my knee. The main one is chair sits, it is a modified squat but much better for the knees and low back. (I cannot describe how do it, you have to see it to know how to do it.) You only need to do 5 repetitions. It strengthens the glutes. Then I also use an airex pad, like someone would a step in aerobics. But it is much slower since speed is not a goal and I lead with one leg 10 times and then the next leg 10 times. (Both of these I do twice a day) My chiropractor's motto is-- less is more. If you do not know what an airex pad is you can look it up. I had to get the name brand because it is guaranteed to be latex free. (I did not get the elite I have just the typical one because it was much cheaper. I asked my chiropractor the difference he said that one has a no skid surface and the other one does not. Since I use it on the carpet I knew I did not need the no skid surface.)

[keirasmom2009830]

Thanks it does alot. My Orthopedic Surgeon is going to do another arthroscopy, but he only has theories on whats wrong. He thinks maybe sciatica, or my cartilage is hanging down and getting caught in my joint with every step. Just theories, but he said if the physio helps then I can cancel surgery. I don't want to cancel the surgery, because I still want him to look in their and see what's happening. What did the Chiropractor do to help your knee? They deal with sciatic pain too don't they. If its just pinched nerves, then I wonder if they can fix this as well. I just want to be able to play with my kids again. I am in so much pain sometimes that I have to stand still and hold my knee. My 14 month old is a climber, and sometimes I have troubles getting to her quickly to save her from falling. It's so frustrating. Plus I'm going to lose my job if I have to keep on calling in sick, and I love my job. Let me know about the chiropractor too, and maybe I will try that as well. Thanks again for your responses :)

[achilles2]

I was just given the wrong exercises and my knee complained. Within a month of being "finished" with PT I quit them. Years later I would have pt again and this one was better but still there were certain ones that my knee hated. The first physical therapist gave me knee extensions, leg curls, heel raises, and using the exercise bike. The second gave me step and reach (a modified version of lunges-- he believes lunges just make the pain worse), squats-- holding a weighted ball, a modified calf stretch using a specially folded pillow case, side stepping with a theraband tied around both my thighs. At first these new ones helped but after awhile I hated doing those as well.

First time the high school trainer thought I had chondromalacia then a orthopedic dr said I had patella femoral chondrosis. Personally durring my research I have yet to find a difference between the two. My symptoms were I absolutely abhorred stairs-- it was so painful, my knee would feel "stuck," most of the pain was in the front, but sometimes I would also have pain behind my knee, or on the side, sometimes I would feel like my knee was about to give out, sometimes pressure would build up and then it would pop. Immediately there would be relief but it was very short lived and many times the pain would be worse.

Like I said the chiropractor has been the first one to give me long lasting relief.

I hope this helps

[keirasmom2009830]

How did the Physiotherapy make your knee worse?? I'm just curious because it feels like its getting worse for me as well. What kind of damage did you have and what kind of exercises did they do that hurt you?

[achilles2]

Sorry I misread that, I see you are finished with maternity leave. But you still might want to consider seeing a good chiropractor also look at your back (and the knee).

[achilles2]

I am sorry about your knee problems. I too have knee problems which were made worse by physical therapy. The one thing I have found that helps me is a good chiropractor treating my knee. Since you are on maternity leave I suggest that you also may want to find a good chiropractor to also treat your back.

I hope this helps,

achilles2