Knee op

[Lou]

So I'm finally getting the operation I need to stop my kneecap from dislocating on a regular basis (it's only been 11 years that I've had to put up with it, don't know what I'm complaining about really!) but the question is......when can I return to diving?
I know you're all going to reply with "Go and speak to a medical referee" which I will do after the operation but I'm at home right now (yes you guessed it my knee dislocated so yet again I'm reduced to daytime TV and chocolate eating) and I'm bored so I thought I'd see if any of you medical types could give me an educated guess.
I think the op is called a Tibial Tubercle Transfer but I'm not 100% sure if thats the correct name. Basically what the surgeon is going to do is cut the tibia where the patellar tendon attaches and move the bit of bone with the tendon attached further over and screw it into place back on the tibia. Personally I think it sounds rather horrendous although if it solves all the problems I'm all for it. Cruel friends keep making jokes about hammers and chisels and screwdriver sets tho, I even got a present of a pack of 2" wood screws - "in case the surgeon runs out on the day"!
I think my leg will be immobilised for about 6 weeks. Has anyone had any experience of this kind of operation or have any idea how long I'll be out of the water for?

[Fiona]

Lou obviously it isn't the same, but in 1995 I had something called a higher tibial osteotomy (sp) which involved cutting a wedge of bone from the tibia and plating over the space, this was to increase the space between the top and bottom bones, basically I was walking (or not walking bone against bone) very bloody painful.

I was not immobile for one second more than it took to transfer me from one table to the other in the recovery room :eek: when I came round a physio was placing me on a machine which made the knee bend and straighten, this continued while I was in hospital which was I think about 3 days.

Although I could have had longer off work I went back, as work lent me an automatic car for the left knee (nice of them) although I was on crutches.

I had the first one done in the June, the second one done in the October and I was back diving the following February.

Make sure you follow your exercise plan it really is important.

I do struggle with boat ladders and I don't do shore diving but apart from that oh and not being able to run (no big deal there) I am quite happy to dive and being in the water doesn't effect them at all.

Good Luck with the op.

I have recently been back in for a bit of a tidy up round the left knee, had a local for that one so I could watch Paul (Odin) said I was mad, apart from that my surgeon is quite happy with me.

The xrays look like a macarno kit :D

[Tony Dwyer]

Lou

I'm sure that you will be fine.

As Fiona says, do the exercises and you will be OK.

I've had Meniscectomies (cartilage chop) to both my knees and last November I had a 'Lateral Release' done on my left knee. They had me doing straight leg lifts as I was waking up from the anaesthetic and sent me home the same day.

I was cleared to dive in January. :)

regards