Knee Operation Gone Wrong

mashtobi

Hi

Im posting this as I am very concerned and upset about my knee which has never recovered since last years patellar stabilisation surgery, I think I was misinformed, and may sue the orthapedic surgereon who performed this.

I dont intend on naming the surgeon, but last year I had surgery to correct instabilsation of the patellar, thats the knee itself, and got it done, because it felt unstable.

When I was young it yoused to dislocate, and in 2007 was the last time it went out. Took up exercise, and it started paining, so I went and got it look at on the HSE. Waiting list was a few months, and to cut a long story short, had no sickness or pain after the operation, thinking everything was ok, but I was wrong.


The main problem being that I can no longer run, the knee feels completely unstable. Sometimes the knee jerks forward for no reason, cant help looking down at the ground in case I fall over. Usually the leg hits the ground if i go over uneven surface

When standing or walking the leg feels heavy on the instep, months of physio, using an ankle brace etc, and no let up, and like Im doing my own stuff at home.

I do not want to do anymore ****in physio, its not working, and finding time, and wondering how many hours to do, for me is just hopeless.

This surgeon wouldnt give me an MRI the last time I saw him, and said it was my fault that my muscles were ****, and that were his own words.

I havent a clue what to do, and my life is destroyed.

Mellor

A forum isn't the palce for this discussion.
But just because the surgery didn't fix it doesn't me the surgeon did anything wrong

seanybiker

Physio isnt useless. You have to do it for a reason. Surely if its ruining your life then doing physio will help you sort it out instead of suing the surgeon. Hows a few quid going to help your leg.

WeeBushy

If you think things have gone so wrong, get a second opinion. An anonymous internet forum is not the place to get medical advice.

user1842

You need an MRI simple as. If you dont have private health insurance you can pay for it yourself, €200 to €300 I think.

Go to your GP to get a referral.

username123

Hi OP - I had a patellar stabilisation surgery over 20 years ago. Since then the knee has never been 'right'. Ive had a further surgery to deal with torn cartilage that was causing the knee to lock. I have not been able to run in over 20 years - I can do a little dash but I cannot go at an all out run as the leg will hurt/give way.

The patellar stabililation surgery is a big one, it takes a long time to recover from. They never tell you this, but it can take up to 3 years to regain 80-90% of full strength afterwards (depending on how weak the leg was to begin with). Then you get the brain blocking the muscles because its trying to 'protect' the damaged area. Any surgery weakens a joint - once its done the joint is never the same again.

Sometimes you have to accept that things will never be the same after a surgery - its a matter of adjusting to the new situation as opposed to going to a 100% good knee.

I suggest you go over to www.kneeguru.co.uk - its a great site for all knee issues, you will be able to discuss whats going on with people with experience and get some ideas of how to proceed.

I would personally advise you to not write off the physio just yet, its actually still early days for that type of surgery (and if you were a dislocator long before the surgery chances are the leg was already significantly weakened prior to the op - same as my own situation).

As someone else has suggested a second opinion is an option - however from experience I can tell you that no surgeon will be interested in operating again (a) so soon after a surgery and (b) for the knee 'feeling' unstable but not actually dislocating. You may however be able to persuade someone to get you an MRI to ensure all tendons/ligaments are in place and not torn/busted.

Try not to worry - I know its extremely frustrating, my own knee felt unstable for a number of years after the op but I adjusted to it and it never held me back in life - its a matter of adjusting to whats possible and continuing to work on it to give it the best chance to continue to heal.

metamorphosis

I really see nothing much more coming from this thread. Closed.