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I Had A Knee Operation On 12/03/18. My Surgeon Has
Question: I had a knee operation on 12/03/18. My surgeon has told me that my knee is "stuck" and he can force the knee ( knee numbed) to "break it loose." He likens it the velcrose that needs to be separated. He gave me the option of trying to force the knee, heel to buttock, myself. I have tried and extremely painful. Is this a common practice? If I allow him to break it loose what are the variables with my knee i.e. Average recovery and possible damage? I have spoken with a friend who is a doctor and he has never heard of this procedure. What's your take?
Brief Answer:
You will need a clear diagnosis of your conditions and treatment criteria can be followed afterwards.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome at "Ask a Doctor" service.
I carefully went through your query.
The knee being "stuck" is not a medical diagnosis. I think you will need first to have some examinations to identify the cause of the knee pain. An xray may be tried and sometimes a knee MRI.
Only after having a clear diagnosis treatments can be decided. I have not heard of breaking the knee loose either, actually this imposes risks to hurt the structures in the knee like the meniscus and ligaments and make the knee unstable. Sometimes the bone surfaces of both the thigh and shin may not have cartilage anymore in between them and they wear and tear their surfaces causing erosions locally and depending on the degree of these erosions of the surfaces of the knee bones arthroscopy (treatment with a camera in the knee) or surgery (replacement of the knee joint) might be needed.
To conclude:
- you will need a good evaluation of you knee and a clear diagnosis (knee is stuck is not a diagnosis). When there is a clear diagnosis there are treatment criterias available as well telling which would be the best treatment in which circumstance.
- if the surfaces of the knee are badly eroded sometimes surgery is needed.
- I have not heard of forcefully breaking the knee loose and I see many risks with this procedure mostly related to the structures inside the knee that might be damaged (menisces and ligaments).
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
You will need a clear diagnosis of your conditions and treatment criteria can be followed afterwards.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome at "Ask a Doctor" service.
I carefully went through your query.
The knee being "stuck" is not a medical diagnosis. I think you will need first to have some examinations to identify the cause of the knee pain. An xray may be tried and sometimes a knee MRI.
Only after having a clear diagnosis treatments can be decided. I have not heard of breaking the knee loose either, actually this imposes risks to hurt the structures in the knee like the meniscus and ligaments and make the knee unstable. Sometimes the bone surfaces of both the thigh and shin may not have cartilage anymore in between them and they wear and tear their surfaces causing erosions locally and depending on the degree of these erosions of the surfaces of the knee bones arthroscopy (treatment with a camera in the knee) or surgery (replacement of the knee joint) might be needed.
To conclude:
- you will need a good evaluation of you knee and a clear diagnosis (knee is stuck is not a diagnosis). When there is a clear diagnosis there are treatment criterias available as well telling which would be the best treatment in which circumstance.
- if the surfaces of the knee are badly eroded sometimes surgery is needed.
- I have not heard of forcefully breaking the knee loose and I see many risks with this procedure mostly related to the structures inside the knee that might be damaged (menisces and ligaments).
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank-you Dr. Zotaj! Will my primary Doctor be able to see the X-ray well enough to make a diagnosis? I prefer to NOT go back to the surgeon that performed my knee operation. Thank-you for your reply - it certainly makes more sense than " breaking the velcrose like situation apart by forcing it.
Brief Answer:
PCP should be able to read the X-ray, MRI exam might be needed sometimes
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It's a pleasure to be able to help you.
Primary care doctors should be trained to read the knee x-rays so I think he should be able to have an idea from the x-ray what is going on.
Sometimes the PCP might need to refer you though and this he will decide after examining your knees and checking the x-rays. Sometimes MRI of knee might need to be ordered to visualize the inner structures of the knee, especially if the X-ray is not giving much information (it only shows the bones but not the ligaments or the meniscus).
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
PCP should be able to read the X-ray, MRI exam might be needed sometimes
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It's a pleasure to be able to help you.
Primary care doctors should be trained to read the knee x-rays so I think he should be able to have an idea from the x-ray what is going on.
Sometimes the PCP might need to refer you though and this he will decide after examining your knees and checking the x-rays. Sometimes MRI of knee might need to be ordered to visualize the inner structures of the knee, especially if the X-ray is not giving much information (it only shows the bones but not the ligaments or the meniscus).
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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