Can anyone answer this?????

Question

Can anyone help me?????
I was in a car accident and hurt my knee pretty bad and was in rehab. They left me go saying I'll have to have both knees replaced by the time I'm 40 (I'm 20 now) and that they couldn't do anything else. Well my knee still hurts and it's shooting pain up my leg to my outer thigh and it hurts so bad. I can't exercise or do all the things I used to do. Any advice on what I can do to stay in shape? Also, what should I do about this knee problem? I'm already suing the girl who hit me cause she ran a red light. Also, they did an MRI, my kneecap is shifting to the left. Isn't there anything they can do besides give me pain meds?

Answer 1

ok so I'm answering the second time bc I lost the other page.
I also took Rehab some years ago. What to do?

1. try this exercise on a matrace, lyeing on your back, feet close to but and knees relaxed up. Now open your legs on both sides first 4 times on left, then on your right side. Then open both your legs together. Now comes the same move with both legs on left and then on right. As long as you feel better you can advance until 8.
When you feel stringer, after 1 month I think try the wall-bars. Hang on your both arms (work on your arm muscles a bit) and lift your knees to your chest. Easily, day by day you'll succeed more. You should choose than a gym rehab room with mirrors on walls to see what you're doing. It's much more easy if you see yourself doing the whole thing and Don't forget to count everything.

3. try to ride a bycicle from time to time: it gives you equal poise, balance, equilibrum.

4. take vitamins, very important, magnesium and calcium, even in form of injections if you still feel uncomfortable or weak.

5. go to a thermal spa,. like Heviz, Hungary, gives general wellness and strentens mustles - see URL at the end.

6. read books from author Dale Carnegie which will keep your spirit positive from this time on.

7. never say "I'm goin to a rehab class", better say "gym class", don't show them you're heart, better let them see you the way you wanna be afterwards, maybe you would tell me your results.

Answer 2

I would get a second opinion - that would be my first course of action. Try going to a place that specializes in these sorts of injuries, like a workman's comp clinic.

Anytime a joint is injured, you should never attempt to do any sort of impact exercise. Swimming aerobics are an excellent alternative to impact exercise. There are also simple stretches that can help your muscles to "move" things back into place. You could have damaged some muscles which usually hold your knee cap where it should be. I would talk to a physical therapist about these kinds of exercises. They are easy to do, non-impact, and build strength in the muscle through safe and proper stretching.

I am 28, have Rhuematoid Arthritis, and have had it since age 16. I, too, will need hip and knee replacement surgery (as reportedly told by many doctors) by around age 40. You, however, do no have a degenerative disease. What your problem is results from an injury, which can be healed through proper instruction and guidance. The same methods I outlined above for you are what I do to SLOW the degenerative process in my case. For you, it will IMPROVE your body and encourage it to heal as it should.

You are the gardener, your body is the garden. You have to know what you are doing to make it grow right. Read up on everything you can regarding knee injuries online.

Another piece of advice ... go to a doctor YOU pick, not the doctor the girl's insurance picks or your insurance picks. Those place usually have no interest in seeing you get better. But just to prove you to be uninjured and "fine" so to speak so they don't have to pay out so much money. Your concern should be getting back into good health - and so you will want a caring doctor with the same goal in mind.

Answer 3

I read over your answers and you got some great advice. The only thing I would add and it is very important is the effect the impact had on your low back. I was having pain in both knees and never cosidered it would be originating in my back. I had bulged some discs in my back from the impact and the compressed nerves were referring the pain down to my knees. The knees were injured as well but you won't see improvement in your knees until you get help for your back if that is indeed a problem. Depending on your insurance or lack of it, unfortunately, too often determines how thorough a hospital allows a doctor to be. Frequently doctors automatically assume a patient is just going for the big monied lawsuit. They let that cloud their awareness that many,many automobile accidents cause real and irreparable damage. You need to have an MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) with contrast if you haven't had it and possibly an electromyogram (EMG) to check for nerve damage. You need a good attorney to orchestrate this for you. Good luck and Happy New Year!

Answer 4

There is nothing you can do about the shifting knee except get a knee replacement. And you might not want to do that so early in life but then you dont want to be dealing with the pain either. I have two malaties in one knee and just one in the other. Its rheumatoid arthritist and torn ligaments. I'm looking to knee surgery when I get older otherwise I can excepect to be in a walker by the time Im forty.

Do yoga, pilates or any senior citizen like excercises. Also the doctor may say one thing but how do you feel. Can you overcome the doctors order to achieve your own goals. I've heard lots of stories about the doctor saying somehting and because of will power the patient over comed.

Good Luck and Happy new year!

Answer 5

For the pain, a natural method. Look into vitamin supplements you can find at any pharmacy or vitamin store. Find a reliable source of Glucosamine Chondroitin with Sam-E and MSM. There is also information about hylaronic acid (my spelling may be off) that works with the Glucosamine/Chondroitin. If you can find them combined in the same tablet, that is good. Take these supplements for a full 90 days before you may see some effect.
In the meantime, see if you can locate a massage school (for discount) or a registered / licensed massage therapist to work the muscle tissues from your spine down both legs to help the muscles relax and return some of the flexibility. I would also check in with your local gym or rehab clinic to locate a trainer that specializes in sports or trauma injurys for proper exercises that you can slowly work into to help your muscles around your knee areas to strengthen and assist your knees.
In the meantime, use elevators whenever possible, no heels on your shoes - absolutely nothing over 2" heels - flat is best. Avoid treadmills and stair climbers, unless you have had adequate rehab and your body can handle the stress.
You may NOT need to have your knees replaced if you religiously adhere to a proper exercise program, use proper body mechanics in daily standing, sitting, lifting and walking, maintain proper weight, and use those supplements. Take it slow and easy, have patience, and you will be able to return to a fairly "normal" existance. My best to you!

010307 11:30

Answer 6

Have you ever had knee surgery? If so, did they remove any cartilage? Also, how long ago was that car accident? The answers to these questions can drastically change what I recommend, but I'm going to give you recommendations based on my personal experience and what you've told me.

I first injured my left knee when I was 13 (running track) and had my first operation when I was 19. Because of the operation, over time I began to develop osteoarthritis in my left knee. This is a direct result of the surgery, as whenever air gets into the joint, it speeds up the development of osteoarthritis. I had my second operation on my knee when I was 37, and my knee has only gotten worse. Both times, they operated to remove torn cartilage, and the second time was also to remove some bone spurs. The pain I have to live with is quite severe, so I know what you're talking about in that area. I am currently in the most painful stage of the disease and soon there will not be any cartilage left in my knee. I have had, on many occassions, that shooting paid that starts in the knee and radiates to the outer thigh... I too, must have a knee replacement and the doctors are trying to "buy time" until I'm 50, because if they do a knee replacement now (I just turned 41), I'll be in a wheelchair by the age of 68 (after 4 knee replacements)... Based on what little information I have on your condition, and my personal experience, I think that what my doctors have "prescribed" for me will work for you, too. Here's what they have told me:

1. Anti-inflammatory medicine - This is very important, because the more swelling or fluid you have on the knee, the more painful and restrictive your knee will be. At first, they prescribed 800 mg of Ibuprofen 4 times a day. I did that for about a year, then they put me on Mobic (prescription). I took that for less than a week, due to all the serious side effects, and went back to the ibuprofen. I recently learned about the anti-inflammatory properties of Aspirin, so I have started to take 2 regular strength aspirin 2-3 times a day and you know what? It actually works better than the ibuprofen or the Mobic! It's a lot cheaper, too! If it starts to bother your stomach, get the coated aspirin, such as Ecotrin.

2. Glucosamine Condrointin - This is a natural supplement that helps to prevent further damage to the cartilage, and possible regrowth of the cartilage. If you have lost any cartilage, this is vital. It does help.

3. Excercise!!!!!!! It's very important that you exercise!!! I know you said you can't, because of the pain, but it's worth it! Make sure you take anti-inflammatory medicine about an hour before you exercise, and that will help to reduce the pain (due to the pain reliever in the aspirin or ibuprofen, plus the anti-inflammatory properties of it). Bear in mind that you can NOT do your normal activities, like before the accident. Here is what they told me to do: Ride a bicycle - it's one of the best things you can do for your knee! Swim!!! This is also extremely beneficial to the health of the knee!!! Finally, work out with weights! I know it sounds odd, but trust me - it works! Since I have started working out with weights, my knee pain has gone from almost constantly chewing pain pills, to most days not even taking an aspirin! All that in less than a month! Here are the exercises you need to do - A. Leg press, keep the weight low, but do a lot of repititions. Start out slow (fewer repititions) and gradually work your way up to a normal weight/repititions, but DO NOT strain! I suggest that you start this out at around 50-60 pounds, and about 30-40 repititions. B. Leg curls - again, low weights, high repititions. I would suggest that you start this out at around 20-30 pounds, and only 20-40 curls. Again, gradually work your way up...

The reason these exercises are so important, is that they will help to strengthen the tendons, ligaments and muscles around your knee. By these being strengthened, it will help to keep your knee cap in it's proper position. Remember that all of this was injured in the accident, and you have to gradually re-strengthen all of it, in order to live a fairly normal, pain-free (or minimal pain) life...

4. Supartz Injections - Supartz is a natural lubricant that is injected directly into the knee. It is a series of 5 injections. I had this done a couple of years ago, and it helped tremendously. Recently, I had the Halygen injections (similar to Supartz), but it didn't work nearly as well as the Supartz. Not knowing your exact condition, I can't say if this will help you...

My doctors are the team doctors for a major College Football team, so obviously they specialize in Sports Medicine.

I hope you find this information helpful! If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Answer 7

Look, take the money you will hopefully obtain from the lawsuit and get your knees done. Or, I hope you have excellent insurance (which you will still have to argue replacement..since they will deny you at first and probably more). Work on saving or obtaining a way to get the operation needed, and get it done as soon as possible. The reason that insurance companies will tell you 40 or 50, etc...is because they don't want to end up replacing them...which will more than likely happen (knee replacements have a limited life...just as we do).

Dont give up on seeking help from your insurance...file a claim, after you get denied you can submit an evaluation and judgement complaint...work at it. Again, hopefully you will get money from the girls insurance.--seek to see if you can get your car insurance company to work in getting that money from the other insurance to help pay for the expense....have doctors document pain and discomfort.

Good luck!!!

Answer 8

You can go back to the ortho doc and ask him about fitting you for a brace to keep the knee from shifting on you......this should help in relieving some of your pain or using it.
Getting addicted to pain drugs is not an answer to your problem..go back to the surgeon and tell him you don't want to end up addicted and ask him to re-evaluate it.....have you taken any physical therapy for it? you would be surprised how much that helps.
Note: sometimes another surgeon won't take on a patient that has already been in treatment by another one, especially when a lawsuit is involved

Answer 9

I would talk to an orthopedic surgeon about options besides pain meds. You may need some further rehab. Exercising in a pool will take the weight and pressure off of your knee, so if you want to do it on your own join a gym with a pool, or go to your neighborhood YMCA. Good luck.

Answer 10

See an orthopaedic surgeon to get his take on the matter. Also, if he doesn't see surgery as an option at the moment, ask to be seen at a pain clinic. Cortisone shots may help relieve the pain. The anesthesiologist that does the shots can also recommend other drug therapies that can help.

To keep in shape you may want to take up swimming. Its really the best exercise with no impact.
good luck.