Knee surgery- tibial tubercle transfer

[Tanya]

Hello everyone!

I'm new here, so I'm sorry if these questions have already been answered somewhere else...
Iv recently had a definitive diagnosis of HMS. But Iv been seeing an orthopaedic consultant for a few years now regarding my knees. Iv been having frequent patella dislocations, and increased pain for about 3 years now.
My Ortho consultant wants to perform the TTT surgery which he states will stop the dislocations but may increase my pain. I am very concerned about the pain getting worse if I have the surgery, but I am fed up with constantly adapting how I do things in order to prevent dislocations.
I had a failed lateral release on my knee last year, which has made no difference what so ever- except for making my pain worse, and causing more instability.

I am aware of the risks of surgery with HMS, and that it is often not recommended. But I feel that I have no other choice! I qualify next march ( fingers crossed) as a nurse and I don't want to take time off from a new job to have surgery, so my only option is to have it this august, where I have an 11 week " window" of time at Uni where I could have it.
I was wondering if any of you guys have had the surgery, and how you found the recovery and rehab. I have worked previously in orthopaedics so I'm am aware of how brutal the surgery is, and that recovery varies vasty between individuals. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I'm in two minds of what to do!

Tanya

[gila]

hello tanya,
and hug for the failed lateral release (which pity enough seems common to fail in bendies) and your situation/difficult decision!
and sorry I have no surgery advice-hopefully someone else will!-
just a wee forum usage advice... when you wonder whether something's already been talked about... use the search facility (top right hand corner of page)- if a 'general' search brings up too many posts, try the advanced search to narrow it down; if nothing comes up try playing around with the keywords for search etc etc

putting 'tibial tubercle transfer' in the general search box brings up the "knee surgery-good idea or bad?" thread - and you'll find Amy who it seems has had this procedure with some success- maybe you can pm (private message) her to find out more-
and a v short "TTT and muscle spasms" thread.

oh and the 'eternal' questions... have you extensively tried physio ? tried any orthotics ? I know this would all take time and you're hoping for a fairly quick solution, but sometimes... quick isnt best
good luck!
xxg
ps just 'played around' with spelling and 'Tibial Tubercule Transfer' brings up another thread, as does 'TTTs' and then I noticed oops if you just scroll down the knee surgery subforum thread headings... they're all there

[Tanya]

Hey,
Thanks for all advice regarding using the forum, I should of done that before sorry! Haha
Yeah Iv have had extensive Physiotherapy and sadly it hasn't made any differenece. I still do physio exercises daily hoping that they may make a difference!
I am awaiting an appointment with orthotics, as I have flexible flat foot ( which I never new I had!) so I'm hoping that the in- soles may make a difference.

Tanya

[minniem]

Hi Tanya,

Funily enough, I had a Tibial tubercal osteotomy on Friday on my left knee and am currently recovering! I've already had one knee done (4 yrs ago). It has definately helped stablize the knee cap and (touches wood) have not had any disclocations since! However, I have had problems with stiffness and cannot use the right knee to get up the stairs but the stablization of my knee cap has outweighed this and I couldn't really bend my knee before the surgery anyway. Its really up to you whichever you think is more benifical to you. I'm looking at 6 weeks in a brace, only weight bearing when the brace is locked straight. I'm 23 now and have been told I will need knee replacements when I'm in my forties.

I haven't had a formal diagnoses of HMS but am waiting to be referred. I must admit that this time round it seems to be taking a lot out of me and I am sleeping a lot but this could still be the anesthetic and I also sleep a lot because of the HMS anyway.

Any questions that I might be able to answer, feel free to message me and I will respond as quickly as I can!!
I hope this has helped you x

[mazza111]

Minniem - So glad to hear of a positive on this type of op.My daughter's having problems at the moment,like you she's not had an official diagnosis of hms, but it's been thrown around a bit a few times. I don't know what a TTT is but they are thinking of a total knee reconstruction, doc said it's not always successful. So a bit scary at the moment. So I feel your pain Tanya. Funny how we always seem to manage to read the downsides on forums rather than the positives

[Tanya]

Minniem- I hope your recovery is going well, I hope it's not to painfull for you. I'll send you a message as I have a few questions to ask you! Haha
Mazza111- I feel so glad to hear positives about the TTT too as I have heard several horror stories! Im sorry about your daughters knee's I hope she gets the right treatment and it get resolved for her.

Tanya

[cracker]

hiya minniemem hope u feeling better soon

[minniem]

hiya minniemem hope u feeling better soon

I'm a bit late seeing this but THANKS CRACKER! Getting there but taking a while!

[cracker]

that ok minniem i had a TTT a cupple years ago too

[minniem]

Did you find it helped you Cracker? I seem to struggle getting the knee bending again. I'm worried a bit as I can only just get to 90 degrees now from the op I had on the other knee 4 years ago. I dont want to have the same stiffness as that one did as I struggle with stairs. My consultant wants me back in for a Manipulation but I said I dont want one because last time the manipulation was more painful than the TTO operation! lol x

[cracker]

it helped a bit mimmieum it did hurt first. but the phsio helped. i had if about 11 years ago. i didnt have the manipulateon. it just starting to play up again a bit now tho. it lasted me a long time tho.
sending u bigs hugs hun.

[minniem]

Thank you Cracker I have heard that people have had the op, its worked for a while and then started to dislocate again So far the other knee has lasted 4 years so fingers crossed! lol. It's nice to hear from someone who had the same op a while before me and that it was successful for a long time
I had physio today and she said that my body is producing a lot of scar tissue (too much) so when I exercise, the scar tissue has to "tear" apart which is why I am in a lot of pain. She said its to do with producing too much collagen. I'm confused as to whats wrong with our collagen in people with HMS. :s x

[cracker]

you're welcome minneum anytime i happy to help. my knee been getting up to mischeif too
i not to sure about the collegeng thing too it probs be best to ask your physio i going to ask mine next week hun x

[minniem]

Aww no! I hope they can do something to help *hugs*
Yeah, that is true. Although my physio doesn't seem to understand HMS, she seems to think its just about being bendy lol. I'm having specialist physio soon tho so I will ask them.
Thanks again Cracker, take care x

[cracker]

aww thanks miniem.
anytime i happy to help. i have a special physio too. she got HMS too so she knows about the pain i go to hypermobility class once a week.
i hoping to see my GP about my knees soon.
take care hun bigs hugs x