Tibial Tubercle Transfer

HI all. I am new to any type of posting but think that this will be the best way to get information. Its better to talk to those who have had this type of surgery. I am a 26 year old female who injured my right knee in a work related injury on May 6th 2000. Slipped and dislocated it twice before I fell down. Once to the right side then to the left side. I have been through 3 cortisone shots, 5 trys at Physical therapy (including heat therapy, ultrasound therapy, cold therapy and pool therapy). I have had 2 arthroscoptic surgeries and a lateral release. I have been to 3 pain management specialists (one who did a nerve block thinking that this may be RSD). I have been to a neuropsychologist (making sure that my mind was not making the pain worse then it was. It was not but I could have told them that). I am using the Tens Unit and have been on just about all anti-inflamitory and pain meds that there are out there. I am on my 3rd OS with another one doing this surgery. I have been told that I am to have a Fulkerson Osteotomy on March 8th at 7:45 a.m. and will have to stay in the hospital for atleast 1 night if not 2. Depending on my pain level. I am soooooooooo scared about this surgery coming up. I mean the other ones were a breeze but he has told me that this a MAJOR surgery and that scares me. I dont know exactly what they do and would like to know what the rehabilitation is like and how long. I have 2 more appts. before they do it and I am sure that they will tell me what happens but I would like it in laymans terms. Is there anyone out there that has had this and will write to me and talk to me about this. Maybe just having someone to talk to will help me allay some of these horrible fears that I have. Thank you in advance to anyone who would take the time to help me out. Hope to hear a response soon since the surgery is in only 4+ weeks.

i had the ttt on 1/24 on the left knee. i was in the hospital for four days after the surgery because the turney was on too tight during surgery and i lost the feeling superficially for about 24 hrs. I've been using a polar care cuff to keep the swelling down and have begun to put wt on the leg. it is shaky and it does hurt like hell. i've stopped taking the drugs except at night to help me sleep through the throbbing. I feel stroner each day but I'm taking a third week off from work so I can build up my stamina (which is shot to hell) and to strengthen my leg.thanks to anonomous for the helpful hints especially the baby wipes.

looking forward, does anyone know a good salve or lotion to help with diminishing the scar? also, I had the ttt on the left knee, how do you get the straight braced leg in the car? Do you sit on a pillow to reach the pedal with the driving foot? How do you get that darn shoe and sock on the braced leg? any hints?

One more shoe/sock tip for women. If you need to wear dresses with nylons, wear thigh high or garter stockings on your one non-braced leg. Ooo la la and saves money by not having to cut leg off pantyhose.

to Kelli and Anonymous any suggestions for adapting the car? i need to create something to rest my braced left leg on while driving. also, does sitting on a pillow help you reach the pedals with the right leg? any salve or lotion for the scar?

For driving you have to be careful. You could use a pillow to raise up and duck tape a block on the brake in order to move the seat back and reach it. Make sure that it is secure and you are comfortable with it. If you miss it you could be in trouble. I don't know about scars. Ultrasound has been used to break up scar tissue in the knee but don't know anything for external except antibiotic ointment and a good surgical closure.

craig, good luck and try to keep going as long as possible. I found post-ttt I was able to do many sports...but not all. No more running or soccer. I tried to downhill ski and play racketball, but just cound not do it. I could bike, walk, golf, cross-county ski, and do LIGHT hiking. Its better to focus on what you can do instead of what you can't. ---jj

kelli, did you already have lateral releases? If so maybe third time is a charm with getting os opinions. Having a ttt is not really something anyone WANTS to have...only if no other choice will help. good luck

drove the car for the last 2 days with the seat all the way back, sitting on a pillow. thanks for the tips. having a problem with the sidelying exercise, where you move your surgical leg with your other foot and bend the knee towards your butt. Seems that everyday it starts out frozen and then with a loy of pain, it loosens up. I can't seem to get it to bend 90 degrees like the os did in the office. Any suggestions? Has anyone rode the bike with the good leg while resting the bad leg?

To SBL 17@aol.com. I am a 27 year old female who has injured my right knee. My posting is in here somewhere. I have not had my TTT yet but will be in 2 weeks so I cannot tell you how that may be from my perspective but from my point of veiw I would suggest to you that you go to get a second or third opinion. I also was told that the pain would go away. I have now been through 2 arthroscopies and a lateral release. I have been sent to a Neuropsychologist twice to find out if it was just my mind making up the pain and making it worse then it is. Well the 2 os's that I went to were wrong and I am now with someone else who told me that because they kept insisting that it would go away there has been more damage done. Now I am having this major surgery in two weeks and I feel its the other doctors fault. If there is no cartelige in your knee or little of it then you are wearing it down more and more and creating more damage that will catch up with you later. I am also looking at a Knee Replacement in 15 years. I feel I am to young for this. So please get this fixed before it becomes to late. If you would like to e-mail me you may and maybe we can compare stories.

to Nash: if you read most of the postings in this forum you will get a lot of different opinions and some very helpful advice. I had the TTT on my left knee on Jan.24th. I'm still in the hip to ankle brace (8wks) but am off crutches, driving the car, back to work fulltime after 3 wks and of all the meds. Use the polar cuff (circulating ice water with compression) after the surgery. It keeps the swelling and the pain down. My hospital stay was for four days because the tourney was left on too long in surgery and deadened my nerves for 2 days. No shower for a while so anonymous told me to use babywipes-a life saver. good luck and let us all know how you make out.

I have not posted on this board since august of 2001. My bad. Anyway, I came to this area after a knee injury, subsequent dislocations and a lateral release. I have the TTT done on July 06, 2001. I had a cast on for 4 days. Then a full leg brace for 6 weeks. When I came out of surgery I had a portable cooler filled with ice water and a tube that was circulating the water over the sugerical area, the device is called polor ice. I highly recommend it. My swelling was minimal at best. My doctor ordered the CPM machine. I used it faithfully 3 times a day for one hour. I began driving on week 2 and PT on Week 3. I did pool therapy which was awesome, and some other basic bike, stretches etc. I went to PT for 10 visits, followed up at the pool in my Health Club for a month. In september I began coaching AYSO Soccer I though my doctor was going to have a cow. I wore my brace for the first few weeks in Sept, but then I dropped it. I have full fuction with my knee now, I can bend, kneel, dance, run, bike ride, excerise.. my doctor is totally amazed. He never expected me to do 1/4 of the things I can do now, after the surgery. I recommend the surgery. There is one other little thing I did before, during, and after the surgery ladies, I took prenatal vitamins. Look at me now I am very glad I had the surgery and will have it done on the other knee mid 2003. Email me if anyone has a question etc. ~Cathy

dear wicked, i was your age when had TTTs. sorry to say but, Be prepared to make lifestyle changes. Many sports will ok after ttts. however, many are too hard on knee, like running, snowboarding, etc. jobwise you might prepare for a career change. in construction a supervisor, estimator, inspector or bookkeeper might be considered. if work injury, your employer may retrain you. good luck.-jj

I am scheduled to have a TTT on April 16th. I've been told by my doctor that I can expect to be out of work for 2 weeks, on crutches for a month, and in a brace for 3 months. Does that sound reasonable/realistic to those of you who have had this procedure? Also, any tips/ideas on how to make life easier for the first few weeks would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

I am a 27 year old female who found out yesterday that I would need a TTT if my painful, clicking knee was to be sorted out. I've been having physio and have tried strapping and exercising but the symptoms have not eased at all. Can anyone give me any advice and information about the op because as yet I haven't been told very much and the thought of an operation scares me, but the thought of another 50 or whatever years of living with this problem scares me even more.

I had the TTT done almost a year ago, I was scared at first but now I am very happy I had it done. I was in a great deal of pain for about 3 weeks and after during that 3 weeks I had a hemotomia over the knee area that had to be extracted other then that I am very happy I am back to walking without a limp and can do exercises without having pain, a little uncomfortable but nothing like it was.

I am 40 years old and have gone through a total of 12 surgeries on my knees. I had the TTT done on both knees without any relief. I had both knees replaced at the same time this past April. my pain inside the joint is no longer there. I still have some soft tissue pain and soreness, but my knees fell tremendously better. I would recommend that you discuss replacments with your doctor and seek oot a second or even a third opinion. Don't let the doctors tell you that age plays a factor because they will. I am glad that I had the replacments done on my knees. And I would recommend it to anyone who has had multiple surgeries with out success in relieving the pain.

I had TTT with a lateral release almost 7 months ago and I'm very happy with the results. My left knee is actually the problem in my recovery because I need the surgery on that knee as well. It took me 12 weeks to get my bend back to 90 degrees and that was very frustrating. I had the surgery from having severe arthritis under my right kneecap after having surgery on it 23 years ago. So they sort of modified this surgery for me. But my sister had TTT on both knees 6 years ago (at the same time) and had great success with it too. I would recommend it, even if it is a long, slow recovery. I was out of work for 3 months but I also live in a walk up apartment in NYC so I had to move home to recover from this. Good luck.

Kathy, well i had my surgery may 21,2001 and my knee feels great now. but while i was going to therapy before and even with some exercises after the surgery i would get pain and swelling like u talk about and my doctor and physical therapist both would tell me not to any exercises that cause pain or to do less repitions of them or not use as much weight. so just be careful if the exericses are giving u pain and maybe u should ask your doctor what he thinks.

i have had three knee surgeries and they did the taping at my first round of physical therapy before my first surgery. it didnt really give me any extra pain but the taping didnt help me kneecap at all. they thought it was going to and even taught me how to do it myself but it didnt work.