Revised PKR to TKR Patellofemoral PKR with Ehlers Danlos hypermobility
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Through the years, I've had 4 lateral releases and 1 medial release. I had pain in those areas longer than in other areas. I had a lot of pain in the medial area after my TKR. When I received my surgical report I saw my OS had done a medial release. That explained the pain in that area and relieved my worry. If you have lingering pain in that lateral area, you will know why. Of course, many times that lateral area is numb so you won't feel that pain. That would be a blessing!
Healingwell
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It is numb, in fact!
Healingwell
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It is a relief when you have an explanation!
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Strong lateral pain post-op
The past few days I have noticed that the lateral upper side of my knee is very painful. When I flex my knee, there is a crunch, clicking noise, and I can feel and see a muscle or tendon bulging out That motion is super painful. It doesn’t hurt under the kneecap like it did pre-op but is a new pain. Any idea what it could be and how to alleviate it? I tried to show in pix where the pain is.
The past few days I have noticed that the lateral upper side of my knee is very painful. When I flex my knee, there is a crunch, clicking noise, and I can feel and see a muscle or tendon bulging out That motion is super painful. It doesn’t hurt under the kneecap like it did pre-op but is a new pain. Any idea what it could be and how to alleviate it? I tried to show in pix where the pain is.
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Clicking is normal but sudden swelling with new pain would concern me. I recommend resting it a lot, icing, elevating AND getting it looked at just in case there's a new acute muscle or tendon injury that requires attention. Does your ortho practice have an on-call OS who takes phone calls on nights and weekends? If so don't forget to remind them you have EDS.
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I suspect the ortho has an emergency line but hope this isn’t an emergency! As long as I am still, there is no pain. Will ice and rest and check with dr Monday as long as no other wild pain emerges. I haven’t done anything dramatic to cause the pain,
ofher than walk more than feels good because my pup needs it and some times my mental health requires getting out.
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Patella maltracking question:
My PT has noted that my patella seems to be maltracking, and that may be the source if the new, intense lateral pain. I see him again today and will decide if I need to go back to the surgeon to look at it. I did have a lateral release during the PKR.
How common is post-op maltracking and has anyone here experienced it?
My PT has noted that my patella seems to be maltracking, and that may be the source if the new, intense lateral pain. I see him again today and will decide if I need to go back to the surgeon to look at it. I did have a lateral release during the PKR.
How common is post-op maltracking and has anyone here experienced it?
Did you have a tracking problem before your PKR?
I’ve never had a tracking problem, but when I asked for my surgical report at my one year check up, and read it, I learned that it did maltrack during the surgery and so my surgeon did a lateral release. (my surgeon never told me this in any of my follow up appointments) I’m not aware that it has maltracked since, and none of my 3 second opinions found any problems with the tracking. However, I’ve had a major nerve issue ever since my surgery, in the area where the lateral release was done. Major nerve issue in that my knee feels everything, even 7 years later.
You can do a search here for patella mal tracking, upper right corner, and you’ll find other members who had it.
I’ve never had a tracking problem, but when I asked for my surgical report at my one year check up, and read it, I learned that it did maltrack during the surgery and so my surgeon did a lateral release. (my surgeon never told me this in any of my follow up appointments) I’m not aware that it has maltracked since, and none of my 3 second opinions found any problems with the tracking. However, I’ve had a major nerve issue ever since my surgery, in the area where the lateral release was done. Major nerve issue in that my knee feels everything, even 7 years later.
You can do a search here for patella mal tracking, upper right corner, and you’ll find other members who had it.
Tracking can be a problem after surgery. Did your therapist feel it could be corrected by therapy? Sometimes this will work and it would be worth a try. A visit to your surgeon wouldn’t hurt either. Balancing in the knee can be a very tricky matter. This is where surgeon skill comes into play.
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That sounds painful.
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I think so as I had major patella tilt and a large Q angle—plus hypermobility.
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Will find out today!
While not actually painful, it “just” feels really uncomfortable, but thankfully not all the time.
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I had minor patella mistracking on my newer R knee identified by PT. He felt it was due to lateral quads being "weak" - in my judgment, they were not fully engaging.
Decades ago I had been taught to target my other leg's deficient medial quads by doing some quad sets and straight leg raises with my foot cocked, toes pointing outward.
Sure enough my knee PT had me do some of those exercises with the foot cocked in the opposite direction, toes pointing inward, to help target the lateral quads.
It's interesting because R lateral quad deep aching pain, with stubborn swelling around that side of the patella, has been my key ongoing issue with an otherwise functional knee. The patella seems to track ok now.
Decades ago I had been taught to target my other leg's deficient medial quads by doing some quad sets and straight leg raises with my foot cocked, toes pointing outward.
Sure enough my knee PT had me do some of those exercises with the foot cocked in the opposite direction, toes pointing inward, to help target the lateral quads.
It's interesting because R lateral quad deep aching pain, with stubborn swelling around that side of the patella, has been my key ongoing issue with an otherwise functional knee. The patella seems to track ok now.
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That is great news!
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Update:
Surgeon said that my patella indeed is trying to track laterally, due to the hypermobile connective tissue The surgeon wants to keep it taped and try bracing. May need to do a more extensive lateral release, scarv”cleanup” and medial imbrication. Last resort is conversion to total knee replacement.
Surgeon said that my patella indeed is trying to track laterally, due to the hypermobile connective tissue The surgeon wants to keep it taped and try bracing. May need to do a more extensive lateral release, scarv”cleanup” and medial imbrication. Last resort is conversion to total knee replacement.
Hi Mochapup,
I'm back on this forum from years ago after my total hip replacement 12 years ago. I also have hypermobile EDS and had my 2nd (right) PFJ replacement Dec 6 2023. I'm a week ahead of you and don't feel like I'm doing as well as I should be at this point either...it's very frustrating. My left knee PFR was in 2019 and I think I recovered much faster from that. Maybe I am expecting too much. Still in a fair amount of pain. I'm sorry to hear your patella is still not tracking properly. I had a lateral release as well for the same issues that you had- q-angle, tracking disorder....I hope all the conservative measures help you. BTW, my opposite side hip is hurting as well, I think it's from eccentric weight bearing and use. Sometimes everything hurts-EDS is tough! I also see I have no profile, I guess mine disappeared because my account was unused for years....Paula
I'm back on this forum from years ago after my total hip replacement 12 years ago. I also have hypermobile EDS and had my 2nd (right) PFJ replacement Dec 6 2023. I'm a week ahead of you and don't feel like I'm doing as well as I should be at this point either...it's very frustrating. My left knee PFR was in 2019 and I think I recovered much faster from that. Maybe I am expecting too much. Still in a fair amount of pain. I'm sorry to hear your patella is still not tracking properly. I had a lateral release as well for the same issues that you had- q-angle, tracking disorder....I hope all the conservative measures help you. BTW, my opposite side hip is hurting as well, I think it's from eccentric weight bearing and use. Sometimes everything hurts-EDS is tough! I also see I have no profile, I guess mine disappeared because my account was unused for years....Paula
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Hi Paula! Thanks so much for writing-hope your patella pain resolves as well. Mine is about the same as a few days ago-but
more swollen-the PT had massaged some of that out Thursday but it’s back. I wonder if the lateral release/medial tightening will be a reasonable long-term solution but will take it a step at a time! Still need to address the left knee.;) Surgeon said the right patella was so thin (1m) that he had little to work with so doesn’t want to leave the left for too long.
I didn’t even know I had EDS until about 2 years ago!
