Knee Subluxations/ dislocations and supports

[tireesix]

Just woken up with it out of place and locked, checked on knee anatomy and it looks like the patella ligaments playing up. Was terrifying, I took the supposrt off tonight cos I figured I was safe in bed (got an elastoplast one) and then this happens. The support doesn't even work that well but reminds me now to bend the knee too much.

Going to have to see someone about this ASAP.

[pink]

I was told that, since I've had to reduce my pain meds, that use of a support for my knee occasionally would be ok if I found it reduced the pain (esp at work when can't rest it as much raised). However, its very annoying when it creases behind the knee and just wondered if anyone knew of any reasonable costing supports that have a 'gap' behind the knee so that the support doesn't crease there when you bend your leg?
Thanks

[small29]

hello

i was given hinge knee supports likes these http://www.healthandcare.co.uk/exercise ... maker.html, different make but same design by the NHS in the winter, being winter i had them over leggings and then put combats on top, looked fine apart from the knees pointing out and the clicking when walking, and some amount of sores as i didnt really go out in winter.

the problem i have is now it summer i would love to wear a skirt, and go out more, but i find BOTH kness supports course me blisters and sores on my legs, any advice would be grateful, i tried most things like powder and legging matteral underneath with no joy.

thank you

[Es*]

Firstly - mods - this post is about AFO's and Knee Braces, and so I've put it in both. Please do move to one or the other, if you feel that's the right thing, but it really is about both.

I've got (relatively) stable ankles, although my right one gives me quite a lot of grief when driving, and is somewhat side-side unstable. My feet pronate, but my insoles just about sort that (sometimes still do it, but not mostly). My knees hyperextend; not to any wild angle, but to beyond 'straight' and then lock in the usual not-using-muscles way.

I've just had an appointment with my orthotist, which I feel a bit deflated after. She clearly knows her stuff, so I'm not sure if I'm just being silly. She watched me walk in my AFO's and said that I was walking really well and they're stopping me hyperextending at the knee (I feel like I sometimes lock in them, but they do definetly reduce/almost stop that, and I can't see myself walk, so she's probably right). I'm not sure about the AFO's, though. They're the solid sort; no hinge. They definetly do make my ankles much more stable, and they're great for standing in (when I started with them I'd had a run of injuries, and was rarely weight bearing, but with these I can stand for quite a while). The problem, is that though they might (aparently) make my walking look 'better'/more normal my knees hurt more when I try to walk in them. My ankles are really stable in them (but they arn't that unstable, generally) but my knees feel like they're made of jelly. Standing up/sitting down (including on/off loo etc) is really hard, and sometimes I fall, I think because I can't feel where they are in space (given that they're big bits of plastic..!). And they're really heavy; they feel like they pull down on my knees.

The orthotist says that they're doing their job just right, and that if I walk in them more than 'every step is therapy' and it'll build up muscles I don't currenlty have much of. I expressed concern about weakening my (relatively strong) ankles, and she said that absolutly would not happen. She said that in 'normal' people it might, but in me it would build up the right muscles.

I feel that I would prefer have a hinged knee brace, with my insoles, or possibly something just a little bit more supportive than my insoles but not nearly as restrictive as my afo's. I think my knees would then not hyperextend, and I'd walk more normally. I'd also be better for standing up/sitting down/transferring and, bonus, I could drive in them. It'd help with the side to side instability of my knees, too.

She said that she doesn't want to just keep throwing lots of devices at me. I'm not sure if she was inferring something bad about me for not liking her afo's, or just saying that she doesn't think that'll work, or what. She's referred me for a physio appointment (I hate physios...) to look at it. Any ideas? It does seem that AFO's for knee hyperextension is a done thing (from googling) but also actual knee braces too.

Anyone else been told to wear AFO's for knee hyperextension?

[Kattykins]

hello

i was given hinge knee supports likes these http://www.healthandcare.co.uk/exercise ... maker.html, different make but same design by the NHS in the winter, being winter i had them over leggings and then put combats on top, looked fine apart from the knees pointing out and the clicking when walking, and some amount of sores as i didnt really go out in winter.

the problem i have is now it summer i would love to wear a skirt, and go out more, but i find BOTH kness supports course me blisters and sores on my legs, any advice would be grateful, i tried most things like powder and legging matteral underneath with no joy.

thank you

I have similar problems - mainly rashes and terrible itching, although that is now causing sores! I think it is the neoprene in mine that is causing the problem. I have now got to the stage that if I am not going out and just working from home, I don't wear them! I am going to go back to the orthotics department to see if they can come up with anything!

[niccysearle]

Geez......suffered my first knee subluxation today...oh my goodness!!

All I did was roll over in bed-I can't even put it down to doing anything fun and clunk.....there it went!!! Thankfully the Co-codamol have taken the edge of it but it was not an easy day today!!

In sympathy for all of you who regularly suffer this (really hope this is not the start of yet another problem for me) am sending out some hugs. x

[shirleytx7]

I have problems with my knees (pain, redness, swelling and extreme heat) when walking etc and usually have to limit time spent on my feet. Has anyone found that strapping or bracing the knees has helped with knee symptoms?

[niccysearle]

Still having loads of trouble with my knees......have ordered a highly recommended knee brace for the one that subluxed, and if it helps will prob get one for the other knee too...will heep you posted on if it helps!!

[niccysearle]

just wanted to update on the knee support that I purchased this week for my subluxing kneecap as I am so impressed with it!!!

Mods-hope this is ok to post the link for this item!!

knee support

(Not sure if I have done that right with the link....I'm not too good with this sort of thing!!! If not just put knee support in Amazon search and it's the one with 70 reviews!!!)

mod edit - link tidied for you, it worked fine and posting links is ok too

[Jorgie]

Anybody know of any supports that aren't made of neoprene? I'm allergic to the stuff, makes me itch like crazy if it comes into contact with my skin.

[Stone]

In the short term could you try wearing some thin Tubigrip underneath the neoprene splint to stop it touching your skin?

Stone

[Jorgie]

Yes, you know where I could get some from?
Every time I mention the neoprene allergy to my PT or OT I get "Oh no, that's a shame isn't it." Which is a bit like as they're the ones that advised me to have supports in the first place.

[niccysearle]

Having worn the knee support for the last few weeks in this heat I have started to get quite bad heat rash (well that's what it looks like) underneath it. I can't wear tubigrip underneath as this does the same......any ideas??

[bobo_n]

I have had a subluxing fibula for as long as I can remember but now with my fixed dystonia it's making my therapy very difficult. Everytime I try to straighten my leg the fib comes out very hard and gets stuck needing to be pushed back in with some force. It's preventing me from getting a stretch on my bent leg ( bent due to the dystonia ) and causes a lot of nerve pain. I've tried all the strapping and braces that the hospital can think of but as I'm under a neurological hospital at the moment they don't really know how to deal with my EDS issues.
I was just wondering if anybody else has this issue and have they found anything that works to keep it pinned in?

Thanks.
Jo.

[loosebones]

I had a problem with my knee last night. I straightened it and something behind the knee locked and I couldn't bend it. It felt like it needed to be bent further back in order to pop back into place but I couldn't do it. As I was at a Queen tribute concert I ended up at the Red Cross tent where they were going to call an ambulance. My pain level was 8/10 and I was almost throwing up from the pain. As luck would have it a Doctor came to the tent for some cotton wool for her son and she asked if she could help. She had a look and then got her husband as he is an orthopaedic consultant. When he came he had a look and said that I had dislocated the meniscus behind the knee. He tried manipulating it but it wouldn't go anywhere. As I didn't want to miss the concert he suggested I put my knee brace on backwards so that it was locked in a straight position and wait to see if it would relax. The next 3 hours were a haze of pain and nausea but I tried to focus on the concert and ignore it. At the end of the concert I tried manipulating it again and it finally popped back. Today however I can hardly weight bear, it feels like it wants to pop out the back if I try and straighten it.

What I would like to know is a) has anyone else had this before? b) how should I be treating it? c) I'm due to stay in Stanmore tomorrow for 2 weeks and don't want it to get in the way...will they be able to help?

Thanks