Arthroscopy with lateral release

johns23 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

I had a latteral release on my left knee one week ago today. Id had 6 years of problems and decided that at 23 yrs of age i wasnt putting up with so much pain. Id had enough of physio because all it did was make me ache for hrs afterwards and waste money in taxi fares.
Docs did and mri scan 3 months ago and said they found nothing and that they didnt know what else to do with me, said that the scan was 90% affective and that the last option was for them to just go in there and have a look but it was highly unlikley that they would find anything. I took my last option.
After having the op i was told that they found both damage to my cartilage and damage to the anterior ligament.
I am healing slowly, still unable to walk properly without crutches but making progress. Just wanted to leave this note to say doctors dont know everything... if you feel something is wrong then trust yourself. Its your body..

alr7 · Newbie Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

I had a lateral release Nov 07 after suffering chondromalacia for about 7 years. I was told that it would not fix my problems but possibly help it. So after having a cortizone shot (which worsened the symptoms in both knees) the doc decided to continue surgery on the worse of both knees. After surgery, my whole leg was black and blue and had therapy after two weeks.
Therapy wasn't seeming to help with the pain and swelling. I had addressed that redness and warmth, but that was due to the swelling I was told. After 3 months and new VMO's, the doc decided to give me synvisc injections. With each injection, especially the last, my symptoms worsened as well as the pain. I was popping pain killers and muscle relaxers more than I should have.

On my 6 week follow up apptointment, I was told to get a second opinion on a knee cap replacement. I drove 2 hours to find out that I was suffering Complex Regional Pain Syndrome http://www.munley.com/rsd.html).

I am now undergoing more therapy and laser treatment to break up all the scar tissue. I am to seek a pain clinic to take care of the pain, but the specialist prescribed LYRICA (med for fibromyalgia) for the sensitivity, pain, lack of mobility. So far, so good, but the swelling will not go away.

I more or less have muscle and nerve damage from the surgery.

contact me if you have more info (mrsdtp7@hotmail)

Guest · Guest

I had one the end of August, recovering slowly but I'm optimistic. Physio just started and it's quite painful but I'm sticking to it. I'm a ski instructor in the winter and hike all summer so not having this surgery wasn't an option for me. I was on crutches for two weeks, cane sometimes still when I'm walking for long periods. I still don't have all my stability but I'm told that'll come in time. I'm hoping to be ready for ski season in November and will work hard to get there. I stilll have heat spots on my knee but icing helps with that. My massage therapist along with physio is helping with my recovery. I say, hang in there for anyone else thinking or all ready had the surgery.....I know I am. Smile

Guest · Guest

I had surgery 6 days ago. I was told I had a medial meniscal tear that they were going to repair and some runner's knee that they were going to clean up. Post op, I was told nothing different, and told that I had "no restrictions" on my activity. I'd been told to force my knee to bend if it wouldn't bend on its own. I'd tried to go to work on Monday (2 days ago) and couldn't. I tried to stop taking the pain meds, and couldn't. Today I went in for my follow up visit and was shown pictures of my knee. I was told that I'd had a "major abnormality" and that the cartilege was completely gone in the medial part of my knee and that bone had been rubbing on bone and chipping off in my knee. They found "plica banding" which they removed, and did a lateral release. They also mentioned (as a 'by the way' kind of thing) that I should wear a brace for a month because of the release. I was told no physical therapy was needed and that I can start running again in a month. Needless to say, after getting home and looking this up..I'm concerned. I can't believe they would do something this controversial without talking to me first, and ESPECIALLY without letting me know post op.

Guest · Guest

hi sam,
may i ask which ortho surgeon you used at the hosp for special surgery? how are you doing? are you back to running? thanks!

sam_NYC · Newbie Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

My ortho surgeon at special surgery is Dr. Michael Alexiades--he's great! Still not running but doing PT at the US athletic training center and they are getting me strong so hopefully will be running in the spring. The recovery is really long.

Arthroscopy with lateral release

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