locked knee
After several years of my knee giving out or locking, I arose one morning and my leg gave out completely. I could not straighten it at all. The pain was terrible on walking, so I only walked if I had to. I felt like the Hunch Back Of Notre Dame. My GP reffered me to the hospital. After several months I was seen by the consultant. He said they would operate quickly. Several months went by and lots of phone calls. I could not do my job properly as I had to drive and walk all day, so I became office bound. Even this was painfful and stressfull as I was on the 2nd floor and there was no lift I had to pull myself up the stairs. Eventually another consultant saw me and admitted me for my op.
They removed the torn cartiledge, but because I had had my knee locked for several months, the leg would not straighten. I was referred for physio, 3 times a week for 3 months. The leg still would not straighten, so I was readmitted and under anesthetic they tore the tissues which had fused together. I was given morphine for the pain, and put on a machine which straightened and bent my leg day and night. On discharge I received more physio.I was on crutches for 5 months. Slowly my leg has straightened but I can not get my knee to go back completely. My right leg has now started to lock. I hope I am not left as long as I was before, the thought of a year of my life going again is more than I can bear to think about.
From:
susan.hedges@ticali.co.uk
