dislocating kneecap - sorry gross

[huskygirl]

i first disclocated my kneecap when i was 10. i went to hospital and they put my leg in plaster followed by physio. The physio told me they shouldnt have put it in plaster as its best to keep it moving. The next time it happened it went back in by itself, didnt go to hosp and i just kept it moving and put some ice on and luckily it didnt swell and was normal the next day. Its since happened several times. It happened on monday night, i luckily managed to get it to go back in by relaxing my muscles but its getting on my nerves now. I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about the operation you can have done? i vaguely remember the hosp staff saying something about having hooks put in????

thanks anyway, bet its worse with a shoulder. i usually pass out apart from this time, i was trying to bash it back in but it just didnt work but as soon as i relaxed my leg it popped back. what did she have done in surgery do you know?

I suffered from partial subluxation of one of my knee caps for years. Eventually I had surgery but I'm not sure if its the same sort of thing you're being offered?

The op was a Tibial Tubercule Transfer -it involved relocating the part of the tibia where the ligament that holds the patella in place joins it, and fixing it in place with a screw. It was quite a major op ( about 6 wks in a leg brace and a few months on crutches, lots of physio and hard work to get the strength back in the leg).

I had the screw removed a few years ago as it was quite prominent but even that was quite debilitating especially when you've got children!

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you go for an op, be prepared for a long ( and possibly painful at times) recovery. Think about how you will manage with the children (presuming you have them?), not being able to drive etc.

I'm glad I had it done now but at the time I had my doubts as with the original op it was very painful, left me virtually housebound for a while (all pre-kids).

Good luck

gosh bbss sounds like you had a rough time of it! mine isnt that serious thank god its just that recently my knee has been grinding and crunching really badly and going upstairs has become really painfull. yes i have a 19month old dd. so not being able to run around after her woukd be a nightmare! cali - your poor ds1 - what an awful memory for him x