{Disarmed} RE: Re: Newbie coming through - have Q's

October 18, 2006

Not true…I was diagnosed with it when I was 18. My patella was out of

alignment and got so bad that it was visible when I wore shorts at the age

of about 22. For some reason, my Dr didn’t think my knees were out of

alignment, just the patella, so he scoped me and sure enough…I had grade 3

at age 22-24. I’ve had many surgeries and had the bone graft procedure done

in 1988. Now, almost 20 years later, they have gotten really bad, so now I’m

searching for a Dr here that has a clue about knees…so far haven’t found

one.

Joi

_____

From: chondromalacia treatment

[mailto:chondromalacia treatment ] On Behalf Of zacksmith2

Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 2:21 AM

chondromalacia treatment

Subject: Re: Newbie coming through - have Q's

Kirsty

I realy doubt at 20 years old u have chondromalacia. The only way a

doctor can diagnose chondromalacia with certainty is with an MRI. U

probably have patellafemoral syndrome. If that is the case the best

quick fix for you would be to purchase a pair of foot orthotics.

Usually when a person complains about both hip and knee pain the

best place to start is the feet!!!!!!!!!!

>

> Hey! My name is Kirsty, 20. I've had trouble with both my knees

since

> I was about 12 (8 years ago now). I went to the Dr. about it 5/6

times

> over that period of time and he pretty much spent each visit

> dismissing it as `growing pains' (This coming from the guy who

told me

> I had tonsillitis a week after I had my tonsils out). Eventually he

> did send me to 3 1/2hr Physio sessions but no explanation. But

> finally, after having spent a week in pain with the Army on a

college

> trip (my knees started hurting for the first time when cycling

too), I

> went to the Dr. again and he diagnosed me with Chondromalacia

Pattela

> and gave me an info sheet, painkiller gell (called powergel) and he

> left it at that. I think it's caused in me by misalignment of the

> knees which is fairly noticible now I think of it.

> I started writing this in class when for seemingly for no reason my

> left knee started hurting (why do they do that!? I haven't even

done

> anything majorly physical today.) It's just so annoying.

> Now for the main, really annoying, lifeplan changing bit - I'm on a

> uniformed services course, a course for people going into the

> services. My plans to join the RAF have gone pretty much completely

> down the drain now as I'm told I won't get past the medical. Still

> gotta stick with the course though it's worth 3 Alevels. The

course is

> quite physical and we have fitness tests and sports coming up

again, I

> know not to push myself too far, or when it starts hurting badly;

I've

> been doing muscle strengthening exercises for my legs too.

> I'm thinking of getting leg supports/braces for sports, what's

worked

> for you guys?

> And do your hips hurt because of CP too? (I think it's just

because of

> the misalignment thingy)

> Thanks,

> Kirsty

>

> ^ Wow think I needed to vent ^

> I'm really glad I found these 2 sites I've learnt more from them

than

> I did my Dr.

>

October 18, 2006

Here is a link that might help;

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/html/names/n_america/disclaimer_n_america.html

Also, you are from out west? I did see a few good doctors or heard of them.

There is a Dr. Dennis Crawford at OHSU in Portland OR, Dr O'Brien and

Dr. Mark Deibert at the Alpine Orthopedic Clinic in Bozeman MT, and the Steadman

Hawkins Clinic in Vail CO. These are some of the best, IMO. Alpine Orthopedic

did a successful partial knee (patella-femoral) replacement on a woman I know of

in her 40s in Bozeman. On the kneeguru site she signs her posts as Leta MT. A

knee specialist with a good local reputation should know something about CP.

You might ask around to people who have had knee surgery. They might know

someone who knows someone.

Mike

MT

Re: Newbie coming through - have Q's