need help with chronic pain/knee problems

dori2o

Story: (sorry for the long post but want to be as concise as possible

Since I was 13/14 i have had problems with my right knee. it was originally diagnosed as Osgood Schlatters disease (growing pains to you and me) and I was told not to worry as I would grow out of it. I was told to rest and give it time, but as a kid all I wanted to do was play sports, so that is what I did.

When I was 15 I dislocated my knee for the first time whilst running the hurdles for the school athletics team, but managed to knock it back myself.

From then on the knee would semi-dislocate 3-4 times a year, but I used to sort it myself, never bothered with the hospital.

Then in 1999 my knee locked on me at work, I couldn't move, couldn't bend and was sent to the hospital who managed to manipulate my knee to get it 'unlocked'.

I had an arthroscopy in late 1999 which diagnosed a lax cruciate ligament but no other problems. I had a course of physio therapy but had to stop when I started having severe pains and swelling after the classes.

From then I did nothing, I just got on with it. Stopped playing sport and did what I could.

In 2006 I started to get revere pain in the knee again and had another arthroscopy and a meniscectomy to repair a cartlidge tear, at this point I was told my anterior cruciate ligament had ruptured and needed to be reconstructed.

I was referred to another consultant who is a knee specialist who said that he would do the ACL reconstruction but in his opinion this was not the cause of the pain and he could not guarantee that it would go away.

This was now mid 2007 and the pain was terrible, it never went away, no matter what I was doing either resting, walking or lying down the pain was there.

Early 2008 I had the ACL reconstruction, it stabilised the knee, but the pain intensified. The consultant sent me for physion but I have been unable to regain full extension or flexion in my knee, I also had to stop physio on the physiotherapists advice as I could be doing more harm than good.

In late 2008 I lost all feeling in my right foot,and it is the same today, although nerve conduction tests suggest there is no problem withn the nerves in my foot/leg.

I was referred to pain clinic in 2009 by another consultant who i had specifically been asked to be referred to who is a known specialist of knee's and knee injuries. After he had seen me he advised there was no further treatment he could give and did not want to do further intrusive examinations incase he damaged the tissue around the knee again,so he referred me to the pain clinic.

That was a pretty bad day. The doctor at the pain clinic put it bluntly. This pain is never going away and I now have top learn tolive with it whch they would do. I was given a psychological evaluation due to the answers I had given on the pre appointment form regarding my mental state, and put on a course of medication to see if it would reduce the pain. He admitted that the possible only solution is a full knee replacement, but at this moment I am 20 years too young to be able to be considered for one.

That was 12 months ago and despite 3 calls to the pain clinic I have not yet received an appointment to see them again.

My knee is now worse than it was 12 months ago. It used to be that I was unable to walk with the pain after I had been on the knee for a prolonged period, or if I had done too much. But these last few months even when I have rested I am getting severe pain and swelling again, I am wondering if I have somehow injured my knee again, or if something has changed.

I'm off to my docs in the next week and will ask him to refer me again to the hospital to see another consultant.

Can anyone advise what I should be doing/saying/demanding.

Even though I am outsuide the 'normal' age group for being given a new knee, should I now be demanding one and kicking up a fuss till I get one. Should I be demanding another scan/arthroscopy/etc to try and get to the bottom of this, or am I just wasting my breath.

So far the doctor has refused to put me onto morphine based medication due to my age and the possibility of becoming addicetd to them, but I honestly don't know what else to do.

hot.chick

if you are not happy with your treatment - question it or ask to see specialists... don't give up or suffer in silence

Good luck

BlondeHeadOn

Have you considered going to a chiropractor or osteopath, to see if they could help?

The reason I ask is because I have hip problems, and because of this I end up putting out other parts of my back and joints as well (as they compensate). I go to a McTimony Chiropractor (very gentle yet effective) who corrects the misaligned bits of me on a regular basis. This keeps me mobile and pain free - until things go out of whack again, which is time for another visit to the chiropractor...

Seriously, it's amazing how much a simple and gentle manipulation can help with pain. It's definitely worth a try.

HTH

rms1

I really feel for you as I know what you are going through. Without going into too much details, I have had 3 meniscus tears repaired on my right leg and 1 on the left. The only option for me is knee replacement surgery as my osteo arthritis is quite advanced. I am putting this off for as long as possible because I have been told they only last about 10 years.

I have found that having a positive attitude has helped a lot. I manage to do most things in moderation and even manage a weeks skiing with the help of steroid injections beforehand. I am wondering if you have tried these injections, they only last a few months but you do get some relief. I also find that using an exercise bike helps a lot because it strengthens other parts of the leg which in turn takes some of the pressure off the knee joint.

BlondHeadOn suggest a chiropractor. I swear by mine for problems that I have in my back and neck but I am afraid that she could do nothing for my knee.

Good Luck