Arthroscopy with lateral release

I am only 14 and I just had lateral release done in January. They didn't just do the release they went in and put stiches in my knee cap to pull it back into place. I am still on crutches and it has been longer then a month. Now when I try to bend my knee I have 3 pin like objects that look like they are going to pop out of my skin at any moment. I am also still in some pain and my knee still has a numb like feeling to it.

I apparently dislocated my knee at work, Dec 23,2011. I reported it because of the intense pain (really more like a severe burning sensation that ran from my knee to my neck). I kept thinking that I could "walk it off". A couple or few weeks later, I finally requested to see an ortho doctor, as my pain was worsening. The doctor mentioned surgery, but I did tell him that I prefer it to be the last resort. He put me in PT for a while(which I scheduled on my days off) and I thought that it may be helping some. He released me and a couple months or so later, it started becoming unbareable. I work 12 hour shifts as a nurse on a med-surge floor at a busy and shorthanded VA hospital. I went back after I could not stand the pain anymore. He recommended that I see an ortho surgeon. The ortho surgeon told me that I have 2 choices....I can leave it the way it is or I can have Arthoscopic surgery and lateral release. I asked him about the down times, as I have no one to depend on, only myself, so I would need to get back to work ASAP. I was given the impression that it would be 8 weeks of total recovery. I had surgery on November 15th, 2012.  Lateral release and Arthoscopy. The surgeon told my boyfriend that it was really bad, alot worse than they thought. He said that it would have never healed on it's own, as it was very damaged and i had areas of bone on bone. I have been back to him several times (or more) because of the pain and swelling. I went through 2+ months of PT. I was told that i was doing very well in PT for this type of surgery. I was released and sent back to work partime. I cannot sit past an hour- hour and a half without my knee getting stuck in that position. My work would not work with the restrictions at first when I tried going back to work fulltime and sent me back home for another month. I am now working 6.5 hours per day, with restrictions of no squatting, lunges, prolonged sitting, or patient transfers. So, my work gave me the job as a monitor tech....sitting for extended periods of time. There have been times when I had little to no breaks to walk and stretch my knee. I think I am growing scar tissue from lack of mobility, as my knee is less flexible than it was and my pain is becoming more intense with the tightness and fullness in feeling under my knee cap. Today's date is March 22, 2013. My pain is becoming almost as intense as it was before surgery. So, is it worth it? At this point I would say no. My pain is almost as great now as it was before surgery and my knee is getting weaker all the time. I almost fall anytime I am walking down a few stairs, so, I avoid all stairs and steps. I am due to go back to the doctor next week. I need to go back to work fulltime, as my finances are declining. But at the end of 6.5 hours, I am in excruciating pain 8/10. This is pretty depressing to me. I will be 48 years old next month. I am 5'4 and 132#, and in good health. I am not certain that I have made the right decision. Last time I saw my doctor for the pain, he acted impatient with me and gave me an injection in my vastus lateralis muscle, which did not help at all. My knee worsens daily. I sweat and shake on occassion from the intensity of the pain. I dont know what the answers are, but there has to be something better than this!

I'm 54 and in the same boat as you, although I'm a medical transcriptionist which requires long hours of sitting. Had my surgery 4 days after you did (now 18 weeks post-op). Knee is still swollen and stiff. Have the sensation of a knitting needle stuck into the side of my knee where there is now a big lump. The kneecap moves out of it's track more now than it did before. Stairs are scary and avoided unless there are 2 rails for support. My doc has prescribed Gabapentin for neuropathic pain and it seems to be helping. He thinks it will take 6-12 months for it to heal. If I had known the outcome would be worse than it was before the surgery, I would have just lived with what I had until I'm old enough to qualify for a replacement. One trick I learned from a co-worker who had a replacement is to put a plastic bag under your foot when sitting for long periods and slide it back and forth. It doesn't stiffen up as much that way.

I recently had a lateral release, with chrondroplasty, and arthroscope clean up of meniscus and arterial,on my left knee March 6th 2013, ( now 26 days )since surgery I have been astonished of the level of pain Im in and also my in ability to move my knee.

I'm still using one crutch to support myself, whilst can stand with leg bent with weight. can only walk for very short distances before knee swells significantly. my skin around knee feels like its too small and bending and straightening leg pulls very tight, bone pressure below knee and along side the lateral release  was performed. also experiencing considerable pins and needles through the knee area, my leg is also very cold to touch. sleep is not existant, have to lay on my back with leg on pillow without too much of angle or too straight. large lump like feature above scar for release. lots of pain along outside of muscle of leg. have commenced PT, can with resistance get my leg to 90 degree bend, lift leg from knee up and down, however simple walking movement is still a struggle, when been sitting for a period of time either with my leg down or raised, it appears to cease and lock  unable to put any kind of weight through leg then. very painfull.

Surgeon has informed me that it will take 4months to recover to comfortable motion state. however the lateral release etc will not fix my Patella tracking malfunction, this was carried out merely to buy me some time to try and strengthen the left left leg enough, for the future TTT surgery required to correct Patella tracking disorder which i have in both my knees, though they do not track when leg is bent , but when legs are extended. I can tell you I;m not looking forward to that procedureat all after going through this  now. I have a good pain level tolerance, this however is something else all together.

 

 

I had both my knees done 14 years ago, when I was 18. After literally years of pt, injections, getting them drained, bags and bags and bags of frozen peas, watching my kneecap slide down my leg, inability to use stairs at all, and a lot of pain, I was given the surgeries, 3 months apart. It was an incrediably painful recovery, more pt, and crutches for 7 months, I was able to walk pain free for the first time in years. I still can't do a lot of stairs, but those surgeries are why I can walk today, and the best thing I ever did.

I was 4 years older than u. I remember crying and puking it hurt so bad. The first surgery I had 3 sites opened on my knee. The recovery was awful and took months. Pt sucks. The 2nd surgery was an experemental surgery type that only opened 2 sites. Recovery was easier and less painful. It will suck for a few more months. You will have to avoid certin things for a long time. But (ur at 4 months post op now) at about 5 or 6 months post op, u will wake up one day and be much better. And at about 9 months post op, it will be over. Its been 14 years, and I'm still walking pain free. Also, my doc told me this. Wear at least a 2 inch heel for the rest of ur life. Even in sneekers. It takes the pressure off the front of ur knee and puts it on your calf. It really does work!

I justbhad a lateral release of my right knee two days ago ( April 10, 2013).  I had some mild pain the day of and the second day but on day three I am no longer taking anything for pain.  My bandages were feeling itchy and hot so I removed them on day two to find that I have three incisions each with a single stitch.  There was some blistering of my skin from the excess swelling but other than that I am bearing some weight and already using only one crutch.  I did physiotherapy for a year with no improvement to my knee and have lost a great deal of my quadricep muscle in the affected leg so my ortho doctor decided to do a lateral release arthroscopically so that he could look around at the same time.  I was diagnosed with chondrmalacia of the patella and ITB syndrome before the surgery.  During the surgical procedure he found a plica which he shaved down and a large crack in the patellar cartilage which was also shaved down.  Then he cleaned up the damaged patellar cartilage and ended with the lateral release.  I am able to fully extend my leg after day two but can only flex to about 45 degrees.  I will begin physiotherapy on day five to work on my range of motion and getting my quad muscle back. 

I am 47 years old by the way and practice weight training

I've been through most of that BS. I'm five nine, twenty one when it started and weigh 180. I did two years of therapy, pain management, cortisone shots and more. After two or three visits, I had specialists tell me they couldn't do anything more and if I lost 20 lbs, it would go away.(I did, it didn't) FINALLY after two years, my doc sent me to a new specialist who was shocked no one had scoped it. When he got in there, he saw my knee was so far out of track and that did not look as extreme in the scans. He did a lateral release about ten days ago. I had surgery on a Thursday and was back at work Tuesday. Granted I was weak and on crutches, lift restrictions etc. My boss rules and let me sit as much as I wanted, and I was wearing an ice bandage, with no opiates. My knee is still swollen and has pain but *nowhere* what I had before. Yes, everyone is different and a lot depends on your surgeon. I finally got somewhere when I stepped out of the local HMO style structure and saw a private practice ortho specializing in knees. I've been extremely pleased with him. If you can, get a surgeon who specializes or has a done lot of these procedures, or at least someone who thinks it will help. The guy who's condescending about it will show in his work. My only regret is going back to full days immediately, but it wasn't that bad. If you can be the driver or another less strenuous role, you can be back within a week.

i had a release on both knees, 2002, and  2003. i have stopped all sports now and work is difficult for the knees and steadiness. if you keep up on the exercises and physio for many years, pending on your age, it may help, but also athritis can be an issue to set in, again pending on your family history. it is effective to releave petteller pain on excessive wear on the cap and miniscus wear as well.  best of luck london ontario.

I had a Lateral Release a week ago on my left knee. The doctor cleaned up the arthritis too. I have advanced cartilage all over the whole kneecap. He said I have some bone on bone on the inner part of my kneecap. He said in the near future, I will need a total knee replacement. I hurt more at night and in the morning, so I use the crutches at night and in the morning when I get up. I was wondering how long will it take for the surgery to give me relief from pain? Patty

I had a lateral release and repair to a tendon. Yes when i woke i felt like i had been hit by a bus but each day it improved. 10 days later i still have weakness but i am sure PT will improve this. I am posting this because i scared myself to death reading all the stories. Yes its painful at first but each day gets better..i will soon be back in my heels.

I just got this done how long was ur recover time. It's only been a week for me. I hate taking pain killers , but this pain is horrible

I am trying to decide if this is the right surgery for me.  I have been dealing with knee issues for almost 10 months due to a work related injury.  What were some symptoms that you experienced? When I squat I can hear crackling in my right knee(like tissue paper).  Also, on the outside of my right knee I feel this dull poping sensation like a tendpn going over a bone.  I can't squat like I used to and I am advised by my physicain not to run.  I worked out regularly, was running 2-6 miles every other day and backpacking on the weekends and now I am not very active.  I am not in intense pain, but I am not back to where I was before the accident.  I can not kneel, do squats or go down stairs/inclines without pain.  What were the indicators for you to get the surgery?

I am trying to decide to do this surgery. I am a 34 year old female and was injured during work. I have been working with PT, a second opinion, more PT and 2 injections. My symptoms are crackling in the front of my knee when bending my knee and a weird popping sensation on the outside of the same knee(like a tendon rolling over a bone). The doctor has prescribed arthroscopic and lateral release. I am not in terrible pain, but I just can not do the things I used to be able to do. What were your symptoms and reasons for doing this surgery. I am worried.