I Feel Your Pain . . .

[Guest guest]

.. . . and, no, my name is not Bill Clinton,

although I am an American.<br><br>Surprisingly, there are

PT's out there who consider chondromalacia a " garbage

diagnosis " . (I wanted to smash the patellae of the one who

told me that!) I think they also get frustrated

because the condition is so hard to " fix " , and PT's (like

surgeons) like to fix things. Torn ligaments and cartilage,

they can repair or remove; fluffy, mushy catilage they

don't really know what to do. Realigning things can

lessen the pressure and wear on some areas, but as long

as the cartilage is soft, it will eventually wear

away. That's why some procedures give temporary relief

only. We're frustrated, and so are the professionals

charged with helping us.<br><br>I had to visit three OS's

before one would even scope the knee (which is the only

way he made the diagnosis), and I had to continuously

complain for a few months to see the third OS. Too often,

the doc gives you a cortisone shot, and, when you're

not " all better " , he (or she) throws both hands up

and says something like, " I don't know what's

wrong--guess you'll have to live with it. " <br>Definitely

frustrating!<br><br>Do as much " homework " as you can, searching the web,

etc. It may make you feel better just doing something

constructive, and it lets you know what questions to ask. Also,

my experience is that the nurse may be a better

source of information, since the docs all seem so busy.

(My OS's nurse told me more in ten minutes on the

telephone than the doc told me in three visits!)<br><br>As

for anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), I seem to be a

member of the " NSAID of the Month " Club. Not much works

for me, either, unless I take way too much. (Do they

have a " club " for people with ulcers?--just

kidding)<br><br>Keep prodding the medical community until you find

someone who will listen. Our condition isn't just

" garbage " , and the pain is certainly real.<br><br>Joe

B.<br><br>BTW--No joke regarding " feeling " it. I've got two ice

bags on the knee as I type this, and I'm actually

quite pleased it's doing freezing rain outside--perfect

excuse to skip a couple of social engagements. Weather

is a more " correct " excuse! JB