patello femoral syndrome
(4 discussions)
hi!! I have been diagnosed w/ PFS and i’m supposed to get physical therapy. My doctor mentioned that surgery sometimes happens when physical therapy doesn’t help. What woudl the be the conditions of the surgery and how long would I have to stay in the hospital, etc.? thanks!!
4 comments
May PT
Physical therapy can last anywhere from 2-3 months…or at least the rehab aspect. If that doesn’t help, they re-align the patella and tighten up the ligaments, then after that you’ll need rehab again for 2-3 months. Gosh, a normal hospital stay is usually 1-2 days if no complications…but check with your doctor. Good luck.
Heather Earp
i was finally diagnosed with patella femoral syndrome at the age of 19, after several misdiagnoses of everything from fluid to cartilage loss. my doctor and I tried the exercises for a couple of months, and when I went back things were still no better. I finally had surgery at the age of 20 right after exams of my sophomore year of college. that was almost 3 years ago. it was a same day surgery; I went in one morning and left that afternoon. I was on crutches for a little while; I was hobbling around after a week or so, and finally ditched the crutches about 2 weeks after my surgery. I was able to walk ok soon after that, and I was able to start dancing en pointe again within a couple of months. I still have some pain (i still have to get the other knee done- just can’t find the time) but definitely noticed a difference. it was not bad at all and I have 4 little scars that I can hardly see now from the small incisions. I was on some really good painkillers, so I don’t really remember a lot of pain following the surgery. just let me know if you have questions; feel free to email me and I can tell you the exercises that I did to try to strengthen my muscles, and about the surgery that was the last resort. I had a pretty bad case, I think; cheerleading and dance took its toll on my body. the surgery definitely helped me though. –heather
Vicki
I am getting the patello surgery and I hear that the pain is extreme afterward. I can’t take many pain killers because they make me sick. I just wanted to see if you could explain anything more to me.. thanks. Vikki
Dawn Berfield
: : –heather