patellar knee problem months after surgery and possible rsd? totally frustrated?
i was in a car accident and was injured about a year and a half ago, and was diagnosed with maltracking problems after odd pain arose in september. i had a lateral release in october.. but i'm still having terrible knee pain, even after months of physical therapy. i was referred by my orthopedic surgeon to another surgeon in the same practice, and he diagnosed me with RSD. my PTs are very surprised with this diagnosis, and after looking up the symptoms, i don't exhibit most of them (my knee is sometimes warm to touch, and my surgeon said my bones looked "washed out from the rsd" on the x-ray). he referred me to a pain management doctor, but i'm just sick of all of this - i feel like i'm just being shuffled around. i have an appointment with another surgeon out of that practice this fri, but does anyone have any ideas or advice or anything? i'm a full-time college student and working and in the middle of a lawsuit, and totally stressed... anything would be appreciated.
Public Comments
1. Your problem is actually coming from the pelvis which was injured in the car accident. As the hip misaligns forwards or the tailbone backwards on the side of your bad knee, it rotates your femur (upper leg) inward which makes the patella look like it's going outward. The patella lateral release surgery does nothing to solve the problem, it just makes the patella even with a misaligned leg and pelvis.I've referred many patients with cases like yours to a special chiropractor in town. They've been doing wonderful results and I'm very pleased. I highly recommend them. Ask them first if they take personal injury case, half the doctors may not.
http://www.gonsteadseminar.com/referral.aspx
2. Does your knee have sensitivity to touch? The biggest symptom of RSD is that you have severe pain, which is much worse than the pain from the injury should be, and it doesn't seem to heal. It sounds like you do exhibit some of the symptoms of RSD, and going to pain management doctor is the right place to go if you do have RSD which the pain management doctor should be able to help you. Often times with RSD you do have to visit many doctors to find help. I understand what you are going through. I have had RSD from a knee surgery that I had. If you do have RSD I would suggest beginning treatment as soon as possible because if you can get the RSD under control it increases your likely hood of putting it into remission. Here are a few helpful websites about RSD.
www.rsds.org
www.rsdhope.org
www.rsdfoundation.org
Good luck and feel free to e-mail me with any questions!
