Old Age + Falling on Ice = Knee Odyssey
I retired from all work last September and this past season was my first one going for 100 days. Seemed like a piece of cake until the winter sucked hard and then I fell on some ice in early December. I was walking in ski boots and my left foot slipped forward but my right foot hung up on some snow so I ended up in the hurdler's stretch position. Not good when you haven't done that kind of stretching in a long time. I definitely felt it in my right knee, specifically the right MCL.
But I was able to walk the rest of the way home and with some ice and Vitamin I, able to get around pretty well. So I continued skiing on it. See my season TR https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...oing-Skiing-TR
Once I hit 100 days, I immediately went to see my PC doc who got me a referral for an MRI. Since I was in the Army for 20 years, my healthcare is almost free (about $1,500/year) but sometimes, you get what you pay for. It took 3 weeks to get the MRI done and another 2 to get referred to an ortho doc. Between when I quit skiing and now, I turned 62.
Just got back from the ortho doc. Mostly good news....
Went in expecting him to want to do a full or partial knee replacement. His first comments were just that...the MRI and x-rays suggest a full replacement but based on my skiing on it for almost 5 months after the injury, he wants to try a less aggressive approach initially.
Lots going on in there:
* MCL shows some evidence of at least a bad sprain or partial tear but it has resolved itself.
* Medial meniscus is ragged but in place and doing its job.
* ACL and PCL show no damage
* Medial cartilage is thinner than when I was a youngster but there is at least some.
* Lateral meniscus is completely detached and floating outside of the joint compartment
* Basically no cartilage on the lateral side of the knee
* Grade 3+ osteoarthritis on the medial heads of the femur and tibia. Range is 0-4.
* There is a small shaving of metal inside the tibia head. This is clearly from when I had the screws removed after a tibial plateau fracture (TPFx) in 2012.
* There is some evidence that I suffered another minor TPFx but it has resolved. Not sure about that one because I basically skied on it and I can't see that happening after suffering a confirmed TPFx in 2012.
Basically, all of the above has caused my knee joint to collapse on the lateral side so my lower leg and upper leg are not in alignment; upper leg points in at the knee joint while my lower leg points out toward the ankle. This misalignment has caused me a crushing case of sciatica but I have recently upped my core exercise regime and that has helped tremendously.
The way ahead is to get fitted with an "unloader" knee brace that will get my leg bones back in alignment and then hyaluronic gel injections to "replace" the soft tissue on the lateral compartment of the knee joint. These injections are good for about 6 months and delay joint replacement by 3.6 years on average (according to the propaganda from big pharma). Doc liked my idea of biking to strengthen the muscles supporting the knee but not to start until I get the brace because strengthening them when not in proper alignment could do more harm than good. Should have the brace within a couple of weeks and first gel injection is on 7/6. Assuming my insurance provider agrees....
Sucks getting old but it beats the alternative.
