Richard Haynes PTA/CPT - 3/24/2009

Question
Hi. I broke my left femur in a dirt bike riding accident a year ago. I healed pretty slowly but finally got confirmation last month that I was 100% healed. I got a rod implanted in the femur through my knee. When I went for my follow up last month I mentioned that I was still having knee pain and the doctor told me it was normal and should go away after a while
Well over the last 2 weeks, it's gotten worse. Every time I put pressue on the knee in an "abnormal" position (ie side step, pivoting, turning, anything like that) a pain shoots down from knee into my ankle and remains for several minutes. Today the knee gave out on me completely for a few seconds.
I had the initial suregery done at a less then favorable hospital in Northern Ca and no local doctors would touch me with a 10 foot pole so I ended up at a doc 2 hours away. I'd hate to have to take half a day off to go see him again just for him to tell me a 2nd time thats it's normal. Can you advise if this sounds like normal pain or is it something that I really should get checked out?

Answer
Hi Rebecca,

I can tell you from breaking my own femur in the past that it sounds as if it is "normal" at this point.
I do not think at this time from a physical therapy stand point that you need to take a half day off to check it out.

Have you gone through any rehabilitation with the leg after surgery?
Has your left thigh been strengthened sufficiently since the surgery?

generally if you are having problems where a knee gives out it is due in part to a thigh/quadricep muscle that has been weakened and is not as strong as it should be.

I had a rod placed in mine in 1973 and the rod is still there. I made a mistake though when I was younger in that I did not get the thigh muscle as strong as it should be and my knee gave me trouble as well.

So unless you have been advised that you injured your knee in the accident as well, I would suggest you start on the process of getting that leg stronger if you are not already.
I did not get any PT with the leg which looking back was a mistake as well, None was offered at that time.
Let me know how you are making out with it as I have already been through this as well.

Richard Haynes
Punta Gorda, Florida.
www.richardhaynes.com