Knee Op - Lateral Release...is it worth it?
16 years ago I dislocated my left knee cap playing football. It tore ligaments and I was in plaster for 6 weeks. No surgery was ever performed. I returned playing and always had problems (twinges, twists etc., but never another dislocation). I developed a physcological block about my left, believing that it was weak and would dislocate again very easily, so started using my right leg more. As a result, I developed a lot of pain and twinges in the right.
X-rays have shown that my knee caps sit towards the lateral more than they should, and the left knee has worn down the lateral side of the femur (no real groove for the knee cap to sit in).
I am scheduled for a lateral release on the right knee in 2 - 3 months, and a realignment on the left knee in 6+ months.
I have been looking into lateral releases, and so far, I haven't found anyone say that it was worth it!!!!!
Anyone been through it and can comment?
PS. Release is being proposed as keyhole surgery, if that makes any difference!!
Knee Op - Lateral Release...is it worth it?
Lateral releases are debatable; but without seeing you no-one can correctly advise. I woud say find a private physio and book a consulation - it all depends on how severe the detoriation is.
Knee Op - Lateral Release...is it worth it?
Surgery should only be considered as an option when a conservative management strategy has been unsuccessful an a good surgeon will always advocate a conservative strategy rather than do unnecessary surgery.
As d.robbins said you should consult a qualified health proffesional (physio,sports rehabilitator,sports therapist,athletic trainer etc)
If after a period of rehab you are in no better shape then surgery may be your only option.
The best person to discuss surgical options with is an orthopaedic consultant they do surgery day in day out.
Rehabuk
Knee Op - Lateral Release...is it worth it?
Cheers guys. Thanks for the replies.
I have had numerous years of physio, and only recently was put on a 12 week course to try to stretch out my lateral thigh muscle. That hasn't seemed to help the situation.
I did consult an ortho surgeon a couple of years ago who did mention the surgery, but opted for physio.
My recent visit with the ortho clinic again suggested the physio course, and last week I had a follow up consultation with the ortho clinic (following the physio course) and they have now suggested the lateral release.
I suppose they feel that it is now time for surgery.
As I said, thanks for the replies. I just wanted a perspective from someone who had went through the op (you know what surgeons are like, they never give a straight answer! I know they can't give any guarantees, or predict what will happen)
Lateral release
You may have already chosen surgery because physio did not help. But did you consult a good clinical massage therapist. There is a good possibility that the problem is in your hip. It could be a shortened psoas, creating a leg length discrepancy. It could be some of the smaller hip flexor muscles, causing your foot fall to be different on either side. There could also be scar tissue involved from the earlier healing process.
I would suggest you try any service - massage, chiropractic - to assure your body is in normal alignment. Misaligned bodies can create real issues.
I think we have to remember that when there is a issue with one joint, the culprit is most likely the joint above the problem. In this case, the hip joint is above the knee joint.
You could also have a weakened core, limiting your pillar strength.
Knee Op - Lateral Release...is it worth it?
Dont forget the joint below!!!!
Mass,momentum and gravity influence the body from the bottom up as well as the top down!.
Rehabuk
Re: Knee Op - Lateral Release...is it worth it?
Lateral Release
Hi There.
Ive only just joined the forum, so my reply might be a little late.
I have had two lateral releases, one on each knee. One 14 years ago when I was in my early twenties and the other 4 years ago. I was the usual candidate, knock kneed and a very experienced runner.
I recovered well from both ops and had to complete very intensive physio.
I can say that at the time the ops enabled me to carry on running for several years. Unfortunately, i may need further surgery as both my knees have packed in, I'm on crutches and very immobile, further releases have been mentioned!!!
I presume that you have possibly had the surgery by now. Try to find out if you have arthritis at the back of your knee. This may cause you problems in future. You may always have problems with climbing stairs, driving and certain twisting movements of your knees.
Take care of them but carry on with sports if you can.
Regards,
Jules.
lateral release
Hi
I had a lateral release a year and a half ago and it was the best thing I have ever done, it has completly changed my life. My recovery took about 4 weeks to be really up and about and 1 year until i could get back into sports. I have put a bit of weight on from not exercising but tha is the worst thing that has happened. I am a rock climber and a dancer and I can now do these things again. In a year or two I am going to get the other knee done. Go for it
lateral release
I had a lateral release last September after 3 years of constant knee pain that finally left me unable to ski, run, bike, climb stairs, perform squats or lunges or even walk very far without pain. I was into a lot of sports and it was pretty depressing that I couldn't participate any longer. After surgery, a week at home resting and 8 weeks of physical therapy I felt great. No more knee pain.. except in the other knee. I had that one operated on 4 days before Christmas and hope to have the same great result. I was actually able to ski one day on my repaired knee before the second surgery and it felt wonderful. It was a blessing to have no pain after a day of skiing (in one knee). The other one made me regret that one day of skiing! Ouch!!
I'm in my mid 30s and apparently this condition I have is hereditary. My patellas were so far out on the lateral aspect of my knees that there is no wonder it was painful. I'm glad it was a relatively simple fix and I look forward to regaining my active life.
lateral release
Hi All
I had lateral release done in both my knees in October 2007 to correct the tracking of my patella. I'd been having really bad pain after sports and some days I couldn't even climb stairs. We presume they'd been well out for long while as the damage that my surgeon discovered was extensive. I'm 31 years old and have been playing netball and rounders weekly for 20 years.
I needed 6 weeks off work after the op and have been attending physio sessions ever since. I have my own little session at home every day too, which my therapist has tailor made for me. I've been really strict with myself and she is exstatic with my progress so far, but I'm not. I'm very impatient !
I have good days and bad days. I'm climbing and descending stairs quicker now,(not pain free) and I also suffer after wearing heels, after driving long distance and if I've generally been doing too much activity of any kind.
My surgeon has told me I have grade 3 osteoarthritis in both knees now and that my netball days are over. I'm taking glucosamine and chondroitin liquid to try and help symptoms.
I'm hoping to return to rounders this season (April) but the thought of running is a bit of a joke for me at the moment.
Anyone had similar and what can I expect for the future folks ?
All advice encouragement welcome. I'm really down !
x
Bilateral Release
Hi
its refreshing to see that people's experiences are similar to mine!
I had a bilateral release done last week....and I wasnt prepared for how i'm feeling now! I never even knew what it was until my surgeon told me he had done it whilst doing a bilateral arthroscopy.
I can empathise with your frustration! I'm reading some comments and cant believe that I thought I would be back to work in a couple of weeks!
My surgery was done on the back of a consultation with a knee surgeon as I felt I was in considerable pain when climbing up and down stairs and exercising in the gym - I certainly had not been mentally prepared for how I feel now. They diagnosed osteoarthritis and suggested bilateral arthroscopy to see if anything could be done.
With the experts around me helping to recover, the physio's are fantastic, if you're very active you need to ensure you've got the mental stamina to cope with the after effects and frustration of very limited mobility, before embarking on a procedure such as bilateral release!!
I hoping in the longer term I'll reap the rewards of short term pain!
How can i make my knees better
Hi everyone. Hoping I can draw on some of your experiences. I had an arthroscopy and bi-lateral release on both my knees about 18 months ago. I had always had painful knees that stopped me doing things like running, but it was bearable. I went through with it, after consulting with a surgeon, as a preventative measure, to stop them getting worse (having seen my mothers kneed deteriorate considerably over the years).
However, 18 months later, they are still worse than they were before I had the surgery. I am seeing a really good physio now and through exercise, and strengthening the muscles in my legs and around my core, the pain in my medial ligaments (ie, where the release took place) is lessening. Basically I am doing a lot of cycling to strengthen my quads (without putting too much pressure on the knees) and pilates exercises to strengthen my gluts, my stomach etc etc.
However, what doesn't seem to be lessening is the pain within my knee joint, which I understand is caused by scar tissue in the joint. The surgeon that I have consulted recently (purely for advice, the last thing I want is more surgery!) doesn't seem confident that there is anything I can do about this pain. He certainly isn't telling me that it will go away. I'm determined to do whatever I can to make my knees better, and I'll do all the exercise I need. I'm getting to the age where I'm going to think about having kids, and I can't see how I can go through a pregnancy with me knees as painful as there are. Does anyone have any advice. Is there anything particular that I can do, that I'm not doing?
how can i make my knees better
hiya i am 16 years old and had 2 bilateral knee release on both my knee's. i injured then playing soccer i dislocated both my knees and my hip. my most recent arthoscopy was in feburary of 2008. however i have been scouted to play for charlton athletic fc womens but the problem is they will not allow me to play because i am in terrible pain all the time, ever since i had the operation my knees have been bad and now it has come to a point where i may need a knee replacment on my left knee. but i am 16 years old and may play professional football in england, but with this agony i cannot. my advice to you is not very good because getting the arthscopy works for sum people but for me the surgery never worked and in fact made my legs a lot worse but you are old enuf to make ur own decisions
Bilateral Release
Hi, I'm a 45 year old fitness instructor/life guard who had a bilateral orthroscapy knee & bilateral open lateral release in Feb this year(2008)I'm still off work some 5 months later as I still experience pain with anything weight bearing through the knees. Getting up and down out of a seat, stairs, sitting with my knees bent, walking up and down hills are all proving to be problematic despite physio and exercises. I now have only 30 degree bend to the knees before it becomes too painful. My surgeon warned me prior to surgery that there was only a 50% success rate with these types of operations and recovery could vary from anything from 2-18 months. I am trying to remain hopeful that things will improve so I can return to the Leisure Center were I work in the near future; but have been warned that high impact exercise such as I teach are probably not a good idea, even in the event of a full recovery. In the mean time I persevere with trips to the gym to use bike, cross trainer and weights for upper body along with aqua jogging for fitness and sanity! My condition was the cause of an abnormality in the bone alignment which may not have come to light had I not been so active all my life. Surgery was a necessity in my case, not an option as it was preventing me from continuing to teach my exercise classes. It may or may not enable me to continue in my chosen career...time will tell.