United Statesthanks
I've got an appt with a podiatrist, going to see about cushioned insoles, ask about the best shoes to get, what size lift I should be ordering and also see if he can figure out why my right foot does not have full range of motion.
it will be awkward as the podiatrist works at the practice that does not want to do my knee surgery because of my insurance.
but it's my only local option.
PT added lunges and hip strengthening exercises - I do them 2-5 times a day.
My right outer hip muscles are now able to pull the right knee much straighter, so that collapsing inward is clearly at least partly due to muscle weakness.
I am gradually recovering from secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteomalacia that was overlooked til I got a new PCP a couple of years ago
a bit more info on this: (emphasis mine- those are all symptoms I had- these are resolving slowing since finally get the proper diagnosis and treatment) I still have slightly raised PTH and it's difficult to keep my vitD level where it needs to be.
Often in the early stages there aren’t any symptoms.
However, as the condition progresses, osteomalacia can cause:
Sitting or lying down to rest often eases the pain. Sometimes a slight knock on a bone such as the shin will feel very painful. As the condition gets worse, pain can be felt all over the body and simple movements can hurt.
Muscles may become weak or feel stiff. The weakness tends to affect muscles in the thighs, shoulders and main part of the body – the trunk. This can make it difficult to climb stairs, get up from a chair without using the arms for support and, in very severe cases, get out of bed.
Partial fractures linked with osteomalacia are called Looser’s zones (see diagram below) which can be very painful and make walking difficult. Occasionally, these cracks can lead to full breaks, known as complete fractures.
Bones can break more easily from falls or simple knocks that wouldn’t normally cause a broken bone. This is often how people find out they have osteomalacia.
A simple blood test is all that’s needed to make the diagnosis – the levels of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D are easily measured.
Blood tests for the following also help to make the diagnosis:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The process of getting my right leg straighter has made the obvious deformity of my femur much more obvious- that bone is turned sharply inward- but from the knee down, my leg turns out.
this causes malalignment that can not be fixed.
This is why I have an extremely high risk of failure of a TKR. Anyone who saw my leg in person would immediately see where the problem lies.
It's not a simple matter of a valgus knee.
They would need to give me a new right hip- that was actually discussed but because there is no arthritis in my right hip, it's never going to be done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
this all aligns with what I've been told for years. I don't know why I've listened to these doctors who can't even diagnose me properly.
It's amazing to me that they have flat out refused to look at and touch my body- they are only basing their opinion that I "need a new knee" on xrays of my knees. As if my knees were not connected to anything.
smh
I am looking into saving up for a mobility scooter type thing for if/when my knee gets worse.
I might actually finally need to learn to drive! hahaha
or not
I hope that PT will give me enough strength and that doing something about my feet and the leg length difference will make it so I can keep walking short distances at least.
My dream of going for long walks may remain forever just a dream
it is what it is, right?
I've got an appt with a podiatrist, going to see about cushioned insoles, ask about the best shoes to get, what size lift I should be ordering and also see if he can figure out why my right foot does not have full range of motion.
it will be awkward as the podiatrist works at the practice that does not want to do my knee surgery because of my insurance.
but it's my only local option.
PT added lunges and hip strengthening exercises - I do them 2-5 times a day.
My right outer hip muscles are now able to pull the right knee much straighter, so that collapsing inward is clearly at least partly due to muscle weakness.
I am gradually recovering from secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteomalacia that was overlooked til I got a new PCP a couple of years ago
a bit more info on this: (emphasis mine- those are all symptoms I had- these are resolving slowing since finally get the proper diagnosis and treatment) I still have slightly raised PTH and it's difficult to keep my vitD level where it needs to be.
What are the symptoms of osteomalacia?
Often in the early stages there aren’t any symptoms.
However, as the condition progresses, osteomalacia can cause:
- pain felt in the bones and joints
- muscle pain and weakness, particularly following exercise
- bones that break more easily, particularly those in the hips, lower back and feet
- difficulty walking and a change in how you walk – possibly with a waddle
- muscle cramps
- pins and needles in the hands and feet because of low calcium levels.
Sitting or lying down to rest often eases the pain. Sometimes a slight knock on a bone such as the shin will feel very painful. As the condition gets worse, pain can be felt all over the body and simple movements can hurt.
Muscles may become weak or feel stiff. The weakness tends to affect muscles in the thighs, shoulders and main part of the body – the trunk. This can make it difficult to climb stairs, get up from a chair without using the arms for support and, in very severe cases, get out of bed.
Partial fractures linked with osteomalacia are called Looser’s zones (see diagram below) which can be very painful and make walking difficult. Occasionally, these cracks can lead to full breaks, known as complete fractures.
Bones can break more easily from falls or simple knocks that wouldn’t normally cause a broken bone. This is often how people find out they have osteomalacia.
A simple blood test is all that’s needed to make the diagnosis – the levels of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D are easily measured.
Blood tests for the following also help to make the diagnosis:
- Alkaline phosphatase, which is a substance made by the cells that make bone. This is at a raised level in people who have osteomalacia.
- Parathyroid hormone, produced by the parathyroid gland, is raised as part of the body’s reaction to low vitamin D levels.
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The process of getting my right leg straighter has made the obvious deformity of my femur much more obvious- that bone is turned sharply inward- but from the knee down, my leg turns out.
this causes malalignment that can not be fixed.
This is why I have an extremely high risk of failure of a TKR. Anyone who saw my leg in person would immediately see where the problem lies.
It's not a simple matter of a valgus knee.
They would need to give me a new right hip- that was actually discussed but because there is no arthritis in my right hip, it's never going to be done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
this all aligns with what I've been told for years. I don't know why I've listened to these doctors who can't even diagnose me properly.
It's amazing to me that they have flat out refused to look at and touch my body- they are only basing their opinion that I "need a new knee" on xrays of my knees. As if my knees were not connected to anything.
smh
I am looking into saving up for a mobility scooter type thing for if/when my knee gets worse.
I might actually finally need to learn to drive! hahaha
or not
I hope that PT will give me enough strength and that doing something about my feet and the leg length difference will make it so I can keep walking short distances at least.
My dream of going for long walks may remain forever just a dream
it is what it is, right?
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