Should i get the surgery????

Question

I dislocated my knee about two months ago, and i have been doing physical therapy for 6 weeks now. I can bend my knee 138 degrees, and 140 is normal for my knee. but there is still some swelling that occurs after increased activity, and i still, cannot run. I have also experienced a partial dislocation, which is where the kneecap goes out, and pops right back in. By now, people with dislocations are doing much better than me. So my doctor/surgeon suggested a surgery where they would first scope my knee, then tighten and loosen the tendons so that my knee will not dislocate. they would also remove a piece of my bone to align another tendon so that it prevents my knee from dislocating. but it will take 4 1/2 moths to recover. should i do it or not????

Answer 1

It depends on how you feel: a lifetime of knee pain and inflexibility resulting in inability to run or do physical activity for extended periods of time - versus 4 1/2 months recovering from the surgery to fix it.

I think the surgery is worth it - better to get it over with now than to let the problem get worse over time.  

Answer 2

Question is...are you continuing to get better?  If it were my knee, and I was slowly getting better, I'd still keep up with the exericse and PT. If you decide to have the surgery, at least you'll be as strong as you can going into it.  I think 6 weeks is a little early to decide on whether to have the surgery unless you feel your progress has halted.  

Answer 3

I think if your doctor is recommending it, it might be a good idea.. if you continue to be active on it the way that it is you might end up doing more damage in the long run and maybe when you are much older it could cause you a lot of grief  

Answer 4

I agree with "mistify" - if you are getting better (even slowly) I would avoid the surgery.  General anesthesia is risky, and there is always the possibility of infection.  No surgery is 100%.  Give your body time to heal, keep up with the recommended exercises, and don't stress the joint while it's still healing.  And if you can't be diligent about the exercises on your own, then go for organized PT on a regular schedule. You should consider your diet also... "bad" fats (burgers, fried foods, animal fats) are pro-inflammatory while "good" fats (think pure fish oils, omega 3's) are anti-inflammatory.  If you decide to use a supplement, go to a natural health food store, naturopath, or chiropractor to ensure you get a quality product.  There is a TON of research out there... check out a company called Nordic Naturals.  Google it.  Good luck!