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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Friday, March 10, 2006 - 6:51 pm
I'll add in my "good luck", Wendo! Is there a chance that there are new anesthetics that you can tolerate now? I lived with a "deficient (LOL.. that meand totally severed or gone) ACL from '87 until a couple of years ago and in the interim added a "complex tear of the )(*)*(& meniscus" (don't remember which one) and couldn't exercise the last few years when it got more and more unstable. Since surgery I've been able to exercise and lost pounds and inches and feel way better. Lucky for me I didn't have a sciatica problem (and I know what that feels like from a problem at one time that just knocked me for a loop, physically and emotionally. I do have to be careful of my lower back and for awhile I had to deal with rotator cuff problems but overall, having had the surgery (I had part of the patellar tendon grafted in for the ACL, had an allograft (cadaver cartiledge), a biodegradable screw to hold that in until it connected and they repaired the meniscus.. I know that what was available to be done in '87 was good, but much less than could be done recently. Ginger, I wish your recovery WAS great...
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Friday, March 10, 2006 - 7:02 pm
Ginger, I hear ya about the back issues. Even though my ACDF (herniated disc repair) was a success, I still experience pain regulary. Sorry your surgery/recovery wasn't as you expected. Seamonkey, I've read about your exercise and weight loss. Your story has been quite inspiring to me, in fact. I did receive the fax report with my MRI results. My right knee shows the torn ACL (which was known) and, some fibers still intact. That's a good thing. There's also mid grade chondromalacia of the patella. My left knee (the one that's exhibited more pain) has high grade chondromalacia of the patella and probable chondromalacia in the joint. That explains the pain, chondromalacia. (It's a softening and wearing away of the cartelidge behind the patella.) I go back to the doc on the 21st to follow up.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Friday, March 10, 2006 - 11:15 pm
I would think having it still partially intact would help in possibly repairing it.. the ACL. I sure hope they can deal with the worn away cartiledge. Maybe an allograft would help .. but I don't know much about that.. in fact I didn't realize I was getting one until I signed the paperwork the morning of surgery! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 12:05 am
Yes, I do have to consider getting the ACL repaired eventually; but, since it doesn't buckle much, I don't know if it's something I need done now. My sister had the same surgery (torn ACL in her left knee) ten years ago. So, I'm aware of what it entails. I honestly don't know what can be done about the other issue, the chondromalacia, if anything. I poked around the internet today, but didn't find too much info. Frankly, the left knee hurts more than the right (with the ACL injury.) Knee issues suck, don't they. LOL!
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 10:29 am
I will tell you that I was feeling okay until my knee problem arose. I have severe spinal stenois and spondyliothese (requiring back surgery, which I won't have) but I never knew it until my knee problem, and also very bad heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. None of this was exacerbated until the problem with the knee. When you are walking with a bad knee it throws off your whole body. Soooo, take care of it as soon as you can, or something else will become affected. After having said that, I think I willmake an appt. with my knee surgeon and find out why it is still bothering me.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 1:07 am
Yes, I agree Ginger; once a knee problem develops it can throw your whole body off. I didn't realize you also have spinal stenosis and spondyliothese; that's got to be tough on top of everything else. I think getting a repair on your knee (or other part) only repairs something; it's never back to what it was like before it was injured.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 9:25 am
Oh yeah, and 3 herniated discs in my neck LOL. But believe it or not, my back at this moment is bothering me less than any thing else. Thank God.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 2:20 pm
Oh my Ginger, I don't envy you. As you said, though, at least your back isn't bothering you right now. Thank god for small favors.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 4:01 pm
I just look at other people and know that I can be worse off. I just know that I have to lose weight to get the pressure off my knee, heel and back. The neck will always hurt LOL I am used to that. As long as I can be mobile - that is all I really care about.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 4:39 pm
I have to lose weight too; I know that's contributing to my problems. I was on the way last year too until I had the bad reaction to the statin drug I was on. After that, I couldn't exercise because I had to let my muscles heal. Six months I was told to wait. I'm allowed to get back to exercise now but the time off exercising has resulted in added weight. Now that the weather is getting nice it's time to get back on the bike. Being mobile is the most important thing, I completely agree.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 11:11 am
I made an appointment with my knee surgeon. It is still giving me a problem - I mean it is much better, and I can walk, but after surgery, I expect not to have pain. On a side note, I was walking into my bathroom yesterday, and tripped over the door saddle, and went flying into the bathroom. In my panicked state, I was so afraid of landing on my bad knee or hurt my bad back, I positioned myself (midair mind you) to fall on my "good" knee and so now my left knee and leg is all banged up. I need to a keeper LOL. I am dangerous. But, I am going shopping today so all is right with the world 
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 6:59 pm
Ow, that trip sounds painful Ginger. I hope your other knee is feeling better. Glad you made an appointment with your surgeon. Let us know how it goes. My follow up appointment is Tuesday afternoon. Don't know what he'll think is best for my situation.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 10:20 am
Just an update; my doc wants to take a conservative route first. I'll be doing physical therapy for four to six weeks with a follow up afterwards.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 11:29 am
Me too Wendo, the surgeon told me I did not do enough physical therapy (because of my back), so the muscles are weak and therefore painful, he wants be to do some extensive physical therapy. Here we go again.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 5:05 pm
Well, we'll be doing it together then, Ginger. While I'm there doing oh so fun knee exercises, I'll be thinking of you. Glad to hear that it wasn't something more serious.
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