Chrondromalacia/Patellar-femoral pain

[beachcomber]

Hi.
I feel like i should introduce myself---

I am a 51 year old woman with a recent (almost 4 month old) PKR who has just been diagnosed with chrondomalacia (patellar-femoral pain) in my *other* knee. I am scheduled for an MRI next Tuesday to get more information to help with a treatment plan.

The bad part is--- I have already had all the treatments usually done for CMP, including a Maquet tibial tubercle elevation 25 years ago. I thought that "cured" me. Recently my knee became inflamed and I am having difficulty walking because of the pain. I am hobbling around like an old woman(again).

Did any of you have patellar femoral pain as a major symptom prior to your TKRs? Obviously if that was your only problem---- treatment didn't work or you wouldn't be here.... But I would like to hear about what you know about it.

This is a nightmare. Last night I was reading about PKRs for PF arthritis and feeling panicky.

I will know more after the MRI and maybe a scope....and new physical therapy routines, I suppose.

Thanks and I hope you are all having a great week. Roll call sounds positive!

Carolyn

 

[JenniferG]

hi Beach, I've gotta google that one. Not sure if I had it. obviously no help to you. Hope you find the solution though, you've worked too hard to keep hurting.

 

[1jt@atime]

Carolyn,

Stay positive! You never know what the MRI will show. We are all here to help you through this. Hugs!!!! Karen

 

[Jamie]

Beach, I'm with Karen....try not to jump the gun with worry here until you have all the facts. Hopefully someone will here will have some experience....Josephine???? No matter what, we'll be here for you! A hug from me too!!!! ...Jamie

 

[Skeet]

I had chrondromalacia in my affected knee many years ago and pains came and went. That wasn't the primary reason for my TKR, but it did cause my doctor to rule out a partial replacement for me. That's all I really know other than the weighted boot I used to wear for therapy sessions - really built up my quads.

 

[Nursepair]

Carolyn, just another problem thrown in your face, bet it feels like it will never end?

Hopefully the MRI may help with the diagnosis and they can treat you accordingly and hopefully effectively. I don't know anything about this so I am not much help. I really wish I could wave that magic wand and make it all better for you. Take care and sleep well tonight. ((((((((HUGS))))))))) Sue

 

[gatiger]

Carolyn, I'm sorry to hear about your problem. Can't help you with any personal experience on that one. God bless you.

 

[beachcomber]

Thank you all for your support.

I suppose it makes sense that if I have arthritis in my knees (and back) that it could be under my kneecap in that knee. It is swollen and and inflamed and hurts like "the old days".

One step at a time. MRI next week and see what it says.

Just needed to stop and take a deep breath with the help of my friends.

 

[Jamie]

Beach.....you are definitely in my prayers, hon.....

My doctor said when he went in for my TKR, he found a lot of arthritis behind the kneecap that had not shown up in either xrays or MRIs. I wonder if it is the same thing? He didn't ever call it that, but it certainly sounds similar. My pain before surgery was not constant, but I limped and the joint felt unstable. It also felt like something in the kneecap was binding and would not let me straighten my leg completely.

Please keep in touch with your friends here.....we'll be your supprt network until things get resolved. ((((HUGS)))))

 

[Simon]

Carolyn

I had chrondromalacia/Patellar-femoral pain along with knees that were out of alignment and always partially dislocating. I had a tibial tubercle with the movement of the patella tendon along with several other surgeries to improve the alignment. On the other side he was going to do a tibial tubercle as well put he did not think the tendon would reattach so he removed 1/3 of the knee cap. So between the original malalignment problems which wore down the cartilage and bone and all the surgery developing osteoarthritis was a given. I had periods of time when things were pretty tolerable then I would get major flair ups. What finally did me in 1 knee was a slip on the ice which caused a complex tear of the medial meniscus a couple of years ago. Since then the knee has been swollen and not bending much at all (In 3 years it went from about 95 to 80).

I hope the MRI gives a clear picture and you can see what you are up against and can plan accordingly. I started having problems in high school and have been putting up with the pain and all the other related problems for 40 years and am going to have them replace. My original surgeon though I would have to have them replaced by my early 40's but I waited till now when I am 56. Waiting really was not smart as all I did was increase the damage and reduce the chance of an excellent out come.

Good luck.

Simon


Good luck

Simon

 

[beachcomber]

Thanks for the reply Simon. My CM/PF pain started in my mid 20s and they said it was probably due to rapid growth at about age 11(when I reached my adult height of 5'7"). I guess I considered myself "cured" after the TTE seemed so successful. And I guess I can't complain too much about 25 years of relatively pain-free functional knees.

Now, however, that old pain from way back then is back when I bend my knee I can feel the grinding. Seems to be worse on the medial side where my Xrays in the fall showed joint space narrowing. I can also feel lateral grinding, but not as bad-- nor is the pain as bad on that side.

I hope the MRI will clearly show the knee cap--- and to discern whether this is a patella problem only or also the tibial-femoral problem that led to the PKR on the other knee.

Good luck on making a full recovery despite having let it progress so far...I am determined not to let that happen.