Fracture of tibial plateau

[Helene2013]

True it seems so long ago but it is not. And now with the Synvisc One injected yesterday that knee is swollen some. Nothing major, but enough to keep me from walking properly. So icing and Aleve again. But at least not painful. Just uncomfy. The other knee has no swelling, nothing. It feels just great. grrr

[Helene2013]

Well since I wrote this many things happened again. Nothing major but important at same time.

After injection, my right knee stayed swollen for about a month. The ortho had wanted to wait a month after I returned to work to get those Synvisc-One so I could get the knees in a "working" mode and see how they reacted once back at work. Well it did not go well. Not like the last time I had injections. The knee did not like being stressed again after the fracture. I had waited 6 weeks instead of the 4 for those synviscone. Should have waited more I think. Anyway, my weight was shifted to the left knee...which started to act up about a month ago. I slowed down my activities, did the my RICE technic, but still went on to do my 60km bike ride challenge (it was 110km but due to high winds and rain and cold I decided to cut it short to avoid more injuries.

Forward to now. I had was lucky enough to call Monday to see my ortho surgeon and get an appointment for 2-3 weeks to check my swelilng and the return of a baker's cyst. I did not want it to rupture like 2 years ago. Anyway, his secretary told me that he was going on vacation soon and appointments would only go end of July so I should not fool around and have the cyst checked out. So I went yesterday (Friday). Talk about good service. So I saw him. He told me that I did all the right things and it was good that I still kept active, all the while listening to my legs. He did not remove the fluids (is not a lot) as he said it would return and it was not hurting me. I do everything but it is just annoying and pain in the b**t. He did a shot of cortisone and told me to apply some Voltaren twice a day instead of taking Naproxen pills that get hard on stomach. If the cyst does not resorb in 3 weeks, he gave me a reference to go to an xray lab and they will remove the liquid in the cyst through ultrasound. But he is confident it should improve by then. He told me to see my PT and she can do me a back knee taping to help the cyst resorb. I was able to get that done at 3pm. So overall... I find myself pretty lucky to get all those specialists in a few hours and it was not an emergency.

He said no cycling for 48 hours. Limit my activities until Monday. Then I can resume...but gently to start of. I can wear an elastic bandage around the knee, but only to walk on longer distances and not to wear while sitting down since I have the taping in the back and it would make it too tight.

The fluid has reduced by half. I was able to walk without any discomfort today. Tonight is a little bit more sensitive but not much.

I go back on Monday night to see PT. She will see if this taping worked and if not, she will do the spider one type.

TBC...

[Pax]

Glad your doc is being so responsive to your needs. Knees are such funny things, you don't notice them... until you do, and then they remain front and center in your thoughts for as long as the healing process takes.

[Helene2013]

Yep. He is very good and I like him a lot. He's very sympathetic and efficient and always with a smile and tender words for you. Not like some mean ones you get to meet once in a while. He's a keeper for sure. He did not want to remove the fluids (not enough to limit my movements because removing it means a surgery. And surgery is always a risk (even if it is only sucking liquid out) of bacterias going in. So the less tempering the better.

It's better for the front knee fluid. Almost gone. I can pratically bend my knee normally. The back of knee (going down the upper leg is much better but at the end of the day, it gets "tired". But I can't complaint. There are so many more people much worst then me on this planet.

But true, any body part...you take for granted until it starts acting out. But I find knees/feet are worst as they limit you much more than an arm.

Oh well.... It's ok. I have a super long weekend coming up next week and I sure hope I'll be able to cycle some. Mostly on flats not to overdo anything.

My taping is holding on very well so I may push my PT of tomorrow night to change the tape to Wed night. I should be able to keep the new one for longer that way.

But lesson learned. If one of my knee freaks out...never bear too much weight on the other one to compensate. Use cane or crutches. Because of my worn out cartilage in both knees, the extra weight on the "better" one during an episode will affect later on the other one.

[Crankin]

Glad you are healing, Helene. It seems like a long road for you!
I woke up this morning with my right knee aching and stiff, after a hilly ride on my "other" bike. Five minutes of icing helped eliminate the pain, but it's a reminder that I need to use easier gears more than I already do.

[Helene2013]

It has been a long road indeed but it could be much worst.

Hoping your knee is better. But still a sign that you'll have to watch out for it.

As for me, it is much better today. I guess the combo of cortisone, Voltaren, remaining quiet this weekend, etc paid off. I have no more pain. But I still will stay calm for the next week to give it a chance to heal better. And yes, I will have to be careful on hills as well. Baby steps...again.

[OakLeaf]

Hang in there, Helene.

[azfiddle]

Hang in there Helene. It is so hard to be patient and feel like you're missing out on the things you want to do, and deal with doctors and meds and physical therapy and everything. But it sounds like you're on the right track.