I have been through physical therapy and is taking medicine. But i am just wondering will surgery work? Because most surgeries don't go to well. What does the surgeon do to my legs? I have it in both knee's. Also anyone who has had this, Am i stuck with this sydrome for the rest of my life? Because i am very young, 16, and this knee problems really stops me from my active life. Most surgeons are getting away from surgery for PFS. Lateral retinacular release was usually the choice of procedure...it was an easy procedure and easy to recover from...however, it has been found to mostly be ineffective. This is usually because there is something that is driving PFS...be it poor foot alignment or ineffective angle of pull of the quadriceps tendon either due to weakness or structural deviations. If these are not addressed, the PFS will return.
Things you need to consider: foot alignment...if faulty, may need orthotic correction. Weakness...may need quadstrening. If there is structural deviation (ie, a large Q angle)...this cannot be corrected without surgery...if is structural. It may include a procedure to realign the patellar tendon to compensate for the large Q angle (a little different procedure). If sugery is not an option, bracing may provide relief...I recommend checking out the Q brace by bioskin. Discuss this with your PT
If you are still growing, your development may finally catch up with you and you may "grow out of it"...if your growth plates have fused, you will not grown any more. I have/had PFS and had to undergo surgery. This is basically what they did:
http://www.arthroscopy.com/latrel02.avi
I have about a 3" scar down the front of my knee and was on crutches for 6 weeks.
It has helped a lot. I occaisionally get knee pain but not nearly as severe as before. Reading this, my young friend, may help. Knee surgeries these days actually go quite well and have a huge degree of success. I know this for a fact as I am awaiting my 10th on my right knee alone and have claimed a degree of success from all of them.
Cheer up, you should be fine except for some scarring.
Patellar Femoral Syndrome(also know as patellofemoral) is one of the most prevalent knee injuries, especially in athletic young adults, and coaches, parents, and athletes should be on the look out for this often-debilitating problem. In the rehab clinic we tend to see this type of injury at the beginning and end of the sports season due to overtraining, or from some type of knee dysfunction involving the alignment of the thigh bones or musculature. We also tend to see patellafemoral problems after surgery of the hip, knee, or ankle due to some sort of abnormal compensation.
This syndrome typically describes many conditions regarding the knee, including patellar malalignment, chondromalacia, and dislocating patella. However, pain complaints are similar in these cases, usually involving pain in the front of the knee and under the kneecap, especially with activities such as climbing stairs, running, deep squatting, and standing for prolonged periods. The functioning of the kneecap is dependent on a fine balance between the way the thigh bones are aligned and the proper functioning of the muscles and ligaments. When this balance is disrupted, compensations are made. These compensations usually affect the way the kneecap tracks over the knee joint, which most typically pulls the kneecap to the outside of the knee joint. There are so many variables that affect this relationship that it is critical to get a thorough evaluation by a doctor or physical therapist to ensure a proper diagnosis of the problem.
There are as many ways of dealing with knee pain as there are origins of knee pain. However, if surgery is not indicated, non-operative treatment is generally geared towards restoring normal patellar alignment. There are different ways of doing this. Sometimes orthotics may be necessary, which are simply put in the soles of shoes to restore normal foot alignment which helps the structures in the knee (remember the ankle bone鈥檚 connected to the thigh bone, etc.). Most often, certain stretches are required to stretch the tight musculature in the leg, which may be overdeveloped and causing abnormal compensation or pull on the kneecap. Because the kneecap sits under the quadriceps tendon (part of the large front thigh muscle), this muscle is often recruited in the rehab process.
Physical Therapists also use manual therapy to realign the kneecap, which may have shifted from the surrounding soft tissue structures. In rare cases, knee braces may be necessary to wear for sports to continue sports participation until the rehab process has been completed. More conservative measures such as taping have also been effective at relieving knee pain.
One of the most common complaints in the symptomatic and asymptomatic knees is crepitus or cracking under the kneecap with certain activities. People often diagnose themselves with having chodromalacia. However crepitus of the patella femoral joint does not necessarily mean that there is chondromalacia. If you have a cracking in the knees, try to avoid deep squats and perform exercises that minimize the cracking and pain.
There are some preventative measures that help to ensure healthy knees throughout the season. Two of the most effective exercises to strengthen the knee and thigh are the squat and the lunge. However, time and time again I see these two exercises performed improperly where more damage is actually being done to the knee joint. To safely perform a squat, I generally stick with the tried and true wall slide, making sure the knees do not go over the ankle on the downslide, and not bending more than 60 degrees. To properly perform the lunge, stagger your feet at least shoulder width apart (one in front of the other), keep your back straight, and squat down as if you were going to kneel down on your back foot (but don鈥檛 go down all the way.) Hold that position for a few seconds then return to the starting position. The key thing to remember here is that there should be no pain with these exercises! If you do experience discomfort in the knee joint, check your form, then shorten your range until the discomfort is gone. Remember form follows function!
So when is the occasional knee pain a real problem worth seeking professional help? Seek professional help if you experience recurring discomfort with running, squatting, prolonged standing or kneeling activities. Also, if swelling is present that is usually a sign that something is wrong and a visit to the athletic trainer or physical therapist is warranted. Remember, don鈥檛 ride out the pain. Get help, be safe, and listen to your body. found a page with alot of info on yer condition, hope it helps ya alot...I messed up my knee Feb.17 skiing...tore my ACL,MCL, and Meniscus..awaiting surgery on April 10 yippee... |
