New Mexico specialists of the shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle
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Samuel Tabet, MD
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Patient Education > FAQ > Knee

Patient Education Topics: Knee | Recent News: Knee
Frequently Asked Questions: Knee
  		• Last year I spent $2,000 purchasing a continuous passive motion machine to use after a total knee replacement. I was planning to resell it. Now I find out the latest studies say it doesn't work. What's this all about?
    		 
  		• What can be done to keep my leg muscles from shrinking after knee surgery?
    		 
  		• I have osteoarthritis in my knees. I have been trying to loose weight because my doctor told me it could help relieve some of the pain. But whenever I go for a walk, my knees hurt even more. It feels like I'm making the problem worse, so I have stopped exercising altogether. I'm worried that I will keep gaining weight if I don't exercise. Any suggestions?
    		 
  		• One of the ligaments inside my knee was injured in a recent football game. I'm wondering about the knee bones. My biology teacher said ligaments are attached to bones. Do the bones get hurt, too?
    		 
  		• I recently had my right ACL repaired. My orthopedist said everything looked great. If my rehab continues to go well, does this mean I won't have problems in the future?
    		 
  		• My dad had his knee operated on, and now, 15 years later, it's starting to hurt. He hasn't done anything to hurt it again that he can think of. Otherwise he's in pretty good shape. Is the pain coming from his initial problem, or is this something new?
    		 
  		• The pain I feel from osteoarthritis in my knee gets worse when I'm active. Wouldn't it be safest for me just to stay in my recliner so I don't feel pain?
    		 
  		• The arthritis pain in my knee is slowly getting worse. I've never gotten relief with rubs or ointments, but I'm wondering about a new cream called capsaicin. What is it made of, and can it work for me?
    		 
  		• I've read that people with hip and knee osteoarthritis should think about using a cane to take pressure off the leg and to help the pain go away. What should I know about purchasing and using a cane?
    		 
  		• I twisted and sprained my knee badly back in high school. I read once that having a bad knee injury can cause knee arthritis later in life. If so, I'm wondering if there is anything I can do now so I don't end up with knee arthritis.
    		 
  		• My doctor explained that the aching and swelling in my knee is from osteoarthritis. She told me about an injection that can lessen my pain and help me get around easier. What kind of medicine is in the shot, and does it work?
    		 
  		• I fell and hurt my knee pretty bad back in high school. Will I be more likely to develop arthritis in my knee as I get older?
    		 
  		• My doctor said that X-rays of my knee show that the cartilage is gone in my knee joint. Now that I've been taking glucosamine and chondroitin, my pain is better, and I feel I can do more during the day. Could the benefits I feel be coming from these supplements?
    		 
  		• I had knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last year. Is it true that if you tear this ligament you end up getting osteoarthritis in the knee?
    		 
  		• I tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my knee back in high school. When my doctor went in to fix the ACL, he had to take the meniscus out because it was torn. I'm only 30 years old now, and I'm starting to feel stiffness and pain in my knee. Am I going to end up with arthritis in my knee?
    		 
  		• I've heard that women are more likely than men to have medical complications after ACL surgery. Is this true?
    		 
  		• I know that women are more prone to ACL injuries than men. Does this mean that women also have worse results from ACL surgery?
    		 
  		• I am a dancer who's having ACL surgery. The doctor says I have to wear a brace for a few weeks afterward. Is it normal to have to wear a brace, and will it affect my future performance?
    		 
  		• I tore my ACL playing basketball, and I'm having surgery to reconstruct the ligament. Can I expect to get my balance back?
    		 
  		• I am having ACL surgery, and I want to make sure I get my ability to balance back. Any suggestions?
    		 
  		• What is ACL reconstruction surgery? Where does the "reconstruction" come from?
    		 
  		• I'm six months pregnant and can't seem to get over the muscle cramps in my calves. Could these cramps have anything to do with the way I'm walking now?
    		 
  		• What's the standard treatment for PCL tears? Do these injuries call for surgery?
    		 
  		• How do PCL injuries happen?
    		 
  		• Where exactly is the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)? Why don't I hear about it as much as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)?
    		 
  		• I am 75. My doctor wants me to have knee surgery to take out part of the meniscus. Is there any way to tell whether I'll have good results?
    		 
  		• Can patients over 70 have good results from surgery to take out part of the knee meniscus?
    		 
  		• I am 70 and have some arthritis in my knee. My doctor wants to do knee surgery to take out part of the meniscus. What are the chances that the surgery will help with my pain?
    		 
  		• I went to my doctor for a vague pain in my knee. She did some tests and found that part of my knee cartilage had broken off. She called it osteochondritis dessicans. What do you think caused this problem?
    		 
  		• I am scheduled to have surgery to replace part of the articular cartilage in my knee. Will I be able to return to my favorite sports and recreational activities?
    		 
  		• I have heard that knee cartilage can be replaced. My wife had surgery for her knee arthritis, but this option was not given to her. Is it true there are ways to put new cartilage in areas that have been damaged?
    		 
  		• Can repetitive knee movements lead to knee osteoarthritis?
    		 
  		• Could exercising in a pool help me deal with the osteoarthritis in my knees?
    		 
  		• What is the meniscus in the knee, and why is it important?
    		 
  		• I tore my meniscus and had to have it removed. I still have a lot of knee pain. Are there any other surgical options for me?
    		 
  		• My doctor says there's a new transplant procedure for people who've had a torn meniscus removed. How do these transplants hold up?
    		 
  		• Upon seeing my doctor for the popping, clicking, and swelling in my knee, I was told I have a "loose body" in my knee joint. What is a loose body, and where could it have come from?
    		 
  		• My doctor is sending me to get some rehabilitation done on my knee. The program is supposed to include "closed kinetic chain exercises." What are these, and how can they help my knee problem?
    		 
  		• I tore the cartilage in my knee, and the pain is severe. I've heard that cartilage doesn't have any nerves, so why does my knee hurt so much?
    		 
  		• My doctor is trying to find the cause of the pain in my knee. What's the benefit of doing knee arthroscopy instead of MRI?
    		 
  		• I've heard that some knee arthroscopies come out "normal." Do you think the procedure is overdone?
    		 
  		• Could patients benefit from knee arthroscopy even when the results are "normal?"
    		 
  		• I am facing knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). What is the recovery time for being able to move around after this type of surgery?
    		 
  		• I am facing knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). When I went to see a knee specialist, I felt rushed. I was told I needed surgery right away. My family doctor thinks I should have some physical therapy before surgery, but the specialist is adamant that I have surgery right away. Is it usually helpful to have some PT before having surgery?
    		 
  		• I am scheduled to have surgery for the articular cartilage in my knee. How soon will I be able to walk again?
    		 
  		• After having a meniscus transplanted to my knee, my surgeon strongly encouraged me to completely avoid distance running and sports that require cutting or pivoting. Why all the fuss?
    		 
  		• I'm recovering from a minor injury to the muscle on the front of my thigh. I want to get my range of movement back. Will stretching help?
    		 
  		• I want to train for a marathon. I've heard that long-distance runners can get shin splints from the constant strain on the leg muscles. How do I know if I'm at risk?
    		 
  		• I coach a high school cross-country team. Is there any way to predict which of my runners will wind up with shin splints and other injuries from overuse?
    		 
  		• I've had knee pain for years. Now my knee's tight, and it doesn't bend very far. My surgeon says I shouldn't expect a lot of improvement in how far the knee bends, even after I get the joint replaced. Isn't this a bit pessimistic?
    		 
  		• What can I do to avoid ending up with a stiff knee after getting the joint replaced next month?
    		 
  		• Following the replacement surgery for my knee joint, I've tried physical therapy and a special splint to stretch my knee. I just don't seem to be getting any more movement in my knee. What are my options now?
    		 
  		• I had a new knee joint put in two months ago. I still can't bend it very far, even after doing all my exercises and going through heavy and sometimes painful stretching in physical therapy. I've done everything I've been told. Is it possible the stiffness doesn't have to do with me?
    		 
  		• Lately I've had a lot of pain right behind my kneecap, especially when going down stairs. I am only 33 years old. Could I be developing arthritis already?
    		 
  		• I have been using a new taping procedure to hold my kneecaps in place. Sometimes when I have the tape on, I feel great. Other times, it doesn't seem to help at all. Why doesn't it always work?
    		 
  		• I was recently diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome. I don't want to have surgery, but the pain is keeping me from doing the things I want to do. Are there any other options?
    		 
  		• How long does it take for a torn meniscus to heal after surgery to repair it?
    		 
  		• Last fall, I had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in my knee. The surgeon used a new device called an arrow to hold my knee together. These arrows replace stitches. One of the arrows has worked its way up to the skin on the inside of my knee. It is tender and irritates the skin. Why doesn't the doctor take it out?
    		 
  		• Having played soccer since I was eight, I'm a seasoned player in excellent shape. But last month, I tore the anterior cruciate ligament in my knee during my last high school game. I still don't know what happened. One minute I was after the ball, the next minute I was down on the field and unable to get up. How do these injuries happen?
    		 
  		• After sliding into home during a baseball game, I found out that the homerun cost me the meniscus in my left knee. The doctor is recommending surgery to repair the injury. Can't I just rehab it myself?
    		 
  		• Six months ago, I had an operation to replace my knee joint. This has helped with the pain, but I am weaker than before the operation. I am doing the exercises my doctor recommended, but I don't seem to be getting better. What else can I do?
    		 
  		• As I get older, I'm having a harder time getting up and down stairs because of leg weakness and pain. My doctor is suggesting a total knee replacement. How will this help?
    		 
  		• My 86-year-old grandfather had his knee replaced with a new joint last month. When I take him in to see the physical therapist, she puts electrical stimulation on his thigh muscle. What does this do?
    		 
  		• My 17-year-old son hurt his knee playing basketball. The doctor says both the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and meniscus (cartilage) are torn. The doctor is recommending surgery to repair them. Wouldn't it be better to repair the ACL and simply take out the torn meniscus?
    		 
  		• I had surgery last week to clean up a small tear in the cartilage of my knee. Afterward, my doctor said I could put as much weight on the knee as I could tolerate when up and walking. My knee's pretty sore, but I can tolerate the pain. How come I have so much swelling and pain?
    		 
  		• What are the treatments for "water on the knee"?
    		 
  		• What do people mean when they talk about "water on the knee"?
    		 
  		• I've gotten out of shape since having total joint surgery for my knee. What types of activities can I do without harming the new replacement parts in the joint?
    		 
  		• After my knee locked up, my doctor did some tests and found that part of my knee cartilage had broken off. She called it osteochondritis dessicans. What is this problem?
    		 
  		• I'm starting to do more exercises since my knee surgery. How much exercise is too much?
    		 
  		• I was injured in a hockey game one month ago when another team member smacked the front of my knee with her hockey stick. The bruising just above the kneecap is going down, but my knee feels weak when I try to squat down. I was told I had a "nerve bruise" and that it would just take a while to get better. Could my problem be from the nerve bruise?
    		 
  		• It has been 20 years since I was diagnosed with a partial tear of my medial collateral knee ligament. My knee gives out every once in a while, keeping me from the activities I enjoy. I just turned 63, and I like to keep active by skiing and playing golf. Should I have the ligament replaced?
    		 
  		• I tore the articular cartilage in my knee. Can I avoid having surgery by doing a lot of exercise?
    		 
  		• My doctor said my hip and thigh muscles are weak, and this is keeping my knee problem from getting better. How can exercises for my hip help my knee?
    		 
  		• My 14-year-old daughter has been having knee pain and complains of a "crunching" feeling under her kneecap when she straightens her knee. Her pediatrician says this may be coming from the position of her kneecap called the "Q-angle." Can you explain this to me?
    		 
  		• I am a high school soccer player. The athletic trainer for our team insists that we strengthen our hamstring muscles to prevent knee injuries. I think the trainer's going overboard. What's there to worry about?
    		 
  		• I injured the ACL in my right knee when getting down off a horse. Along with exercises in the clinic, my physical therapist gave me a round board with a special attachment on the bottom that looks like a half ball. By standing on the board, I can work on balance and weight shifting. How long should I do these exercises to avoid surgery and get back to riding my horse?
    		 
  		• I have a weak quadriceps muscle that's causing patellar-tracking problems. The doctor has diagnosed my problem as patellofemoral pain syndrome. I am supposed to go for biofeedback to help with the knee pain caused by this condition. What is biofeedback?
    		 
  		• I have chondromalacia of both my kneecaps. The doctor sent me to a physical therapist, who showed me how to sit, stand, and move properly. I have a brace to wear when I exercise more than 15 minutes, and a set of exercises to do every day. Are these really going to improve my knee pain?
    		 
  		• I have been diagnosed with chondromalacia of the knee. What is this?
    		 
  		• Last month I dislocated my left kneecap playing basketball. My doctor is recommending surgery to repair it. How do I know surgery is really necessary?
    		 
  		• I am a professional ballet dancer with dislocating kneecaps. I never know when one or both of my kneecaps will pop off to the side. Although I can push them back in place, my knees are painful for at least two days afterward, and I can't dance. I read a magazine article that suggested "conservative treatment" for this problem. What is conservative treatment, and could it help me?
    		 
  		• I am a 62-year-old woman in relatively good health. Last winter, I slipped on the ice and tore the lateral meniscus in my left knee. The doctor removed the damaged part, and now I am having constant pain, with swelling that comes and goes. I can only go up and down stairs one leg at a time. The X-ray doesn't show anything abnormal. Is this a typical result after this type of surgery?
    		 
  		• I just tore the meniscus on the outside of my knee playing football. Now I am going to have surgery to remove the torn cartilage. Will the results of this surgery last for the rest of my football career?
    		 
  		• About 10 years ago, I tore the lateral meniscus in my knee. Because both of my knees are now bothering me, I went to see my doctor. The X-ray showed arthritis in both knees. How can this be?
    		 
  		• Six months ago, my doctor reconstructed my torn ACL using a piece of the tendon and bone from below my kneecap. I completed physical therapy and still feel like the knee isn't going to hold me. My doctor says the surgery was a success and the knee is as "tight," if not tighter, than before my injury. If that's the case, why do I feel so unsteady on the leg?
    		 
  		• My skiing buddy and I both had knee injuries in competition last month. It turns out we had the same injury--a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He went on to have knee surgery. My doctor said my knee will get better with physical therapy. Shouldn't I have the same treatment as my friend?
    		 
  		• After surgery to repair my torn anterior cruciate ligament, I started a rehabilitation program. The physical therapist gave me two kinds of exercises to do. One set is with my foot planted on the ground. The other uses elastic bands with my foot off the ground. Why is it important to do both kinds of exercises?
    		 
  		• I understand that the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) holds the two large bones of the leg together. Does it do anything else?
    		 
  		• I tore the anterior cruciate ligament in my knee last week in a tennis practice. I am scheduled to have surgery to repair the injured ligament. The tennis season starts in two months, but my doctor says I will be in the middle of my rehabilitation program at that time. What exactly will the program involve? And why can't I advance through it more quickly?
    		 
  		• I recently tore the anterior cruciate ligament in my right knee. The doctor told me I need surgery to repair the tear, but he seems to be in no hurry to operate. Shouldn't this kind of surgery be done right away?
    		 
  		• Last month I had ACL reconstruction surgery. Can you tell me what is actually done during this operation?
    		 
  		• I have torn the anterior cruciate ligament in my knee. The doctor advised physical therapy before considering surgery. One of the tests the therapist did was for joint proprioception. What is this?
    		 
  		• After injuring the anterior cruciate ligament in my knee, I had surgery and several months of rehabilitation with a physical therapist. The therapist told me that the injury caused some minor changes in my knee. One change is the knee's ability to sense its position when I am moving it. Is there a brace that could help with this problem?
    		 
  		• I often see people wearing braces on their knees. I hurt my knee in a skiing accident last week. Should I be wearing a brace?
    		 
  		• My doctor thinks I have a cyst behind my knee. An X-ray didn't show anything, so now I am scheduled for an ultrasound. If there is a cyst, will an ultrasound really show it?
    		 
  		• What causes a Baker's or popliteal cyst?
    		 
  		• What's a popliteal cyst? Is it the same thing as a Baker's cyst?
    		 
  		• I hurt my knee while mountain climbing in South America. The doctor in Argentina talked to me about the difficulty of repairing this type of ligament injury. I understand there is a new method using part of the hamstring tendon to make the repair. Is this safe?
    		 
  		• I frequently read in sports journals about the two main ligaments in the knee. I understand the anterior cruciate ligament is the one that's most often injured. Is it possible to tear both ligaments at the same time?
    		 
  		• I hurt my knee playing soccer. The doctor spent a lot of time asking questions and doing tests on my knee. Then I had X-rays and an MRI. Was this doctor just being thorough, or does every knee get this kind of inspection?
    		 
  		• I am a ballet dancer with medial tibial stress syndrome. The only advice I have been given is to take a year off and rest. I can't possibly do this. Isn't there anything else I can do to get better?
    		 
  		• What causes medial tibial stress syndrome?
    		 
  		• I used to be involved in competitive sports and always suffered from shin splints. Now, I have three teenagers who are involved in sports. Can they inherit this problem from me?
    		 
  		• How successful is surgery for shin splints?
    		 
  		• I am a competitive long-distance runner, and I've been bothered by shin splints. I have tried ice, heat, stretching, strengthening, and taping. Is there anything else that could help?
    		 
  		• I injured my knee over the summer playing pick-up basketball. The injury happened when I stepped on a rock and turned my ankle. Why did I hurt my knee instead of my ankle?
    		 
  		• I had surgery to reconstruct a torn ligament in my knee. Since then, I have done my knee exercises faithfully. Even though it has been six months since the surgery, my leg still isn't as strong as the other leg. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• Last month, I had surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in my knee. Now I'm doing a rehabilitation program with a physical therapist. Several exercises are just for my hip and don't seem to have anything to do with my knee. Are the hip exercises really necessary?
    		 
  		• I am a college student having knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Will I have to quit school during the recovery time?
    		 
  		• Am I more likely to injure my nondominant knee compared to my dominant knee? If so, should I strengthen or train the nondominant side more?
    		 
  		• I am a basketball player, and I train several hours every day. I pay special attention to strengthening my legs and knees, but last year I injured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my knee. Why didn't the muscles around my knee protect this ligament?
    		 
  		• I've been following college basketball. I notice the women seem to have twice as many ACL injuries as the men. Why is this? Do men have some training secrets that women don't know?
    		 
  		• What is the knee meniscus, and what does it do?
    		 
  		• I tore the meniscus in my knee last year, but it hasn't really bothered me. The doctor recently recommended surgery to repair it. Since the knee isn't causing me any pain, I thought I would wait. How long do I have before this should be taken care of?
    		 
  		• What's the difference between a partial meniscectomy and a total meniscectomy?
    		 
  		• Lately, I have been having a lot of pain right behind my kneecap, especially when going down stairs. I am only 33 years old. Could I be developing arthritis already?
    		 
  		• I had surgery last month to replace my knee joint. Afterwards, the hospital sent me a survey. Most of the questions had to do with how I was treated at the hospital. Some of the questions were more personal, asking about my sleep, pain, and the like. What is the purpose of these questions? Should I answer them?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement five months ago. I can walk just fine, but I still can't climb the two stairs in front of my house. Will I ever be able to do this?
    		 
  		• I have very severe osteoarthritis in my knee. The doctor is planning surgery to replace my knee joint with an artificial one. Before having surgery, I have to go through a series of tests that will be repeated after surgery. So far, I've done a walking test, climbed stairs, and answered a survey with lots of questions about what I can do at home and how I feel. Is all of this really necessary?
    		 
  		• Six years ago, I fractured my tibial plateau. It was serious enough to disrupt the joint and cause severe arthritis. Now, I need a total knee joint replacement. Will the previous bone fracture cause any problems with this new operation?
    		 
  		• What is a tibial plateau fracture and what’s the final outcome with proper treatment?
    		 
  		• I fractured the tibial plateau in my knee. Surgery wasn’t needed, but I’m having quite a bit of stiffness. What’s the worst that can happen in these cases?
    		 
  		• I have two teenage sons who have just started skiing. I worry about broken bones and injuries. How common are these, really?
    		 
  		• My doctor found a ganglion cyst in my knee. It’s called a tibiofibular ganglion cyst. Should I have this removed?
    		 
  		• Our 18-year-old son just received a football scholarship to play on a college team. He also just tore his right ACL. X-rays show he isn't done growing yet and it's best to hold off on surgery until he reaches full bone growth. Is there any way around this? We don't want him to lose his scholarship before he even gets to play.
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair using part of my patellar tendon to repair the torn ACL. The ACL repair went fine, but the place where they took the donor graft is killing me. I can hardly walk because of it. What is the problem here?
    		 
  		• Yikes! I did a stupid thing. I went skiing before my repaired ACL was healed. I tore the graft that was used to replace the ACL. I'm supposed to see the doctor next week, but I'm wondering what will happen. Can they do the same operation again?
    		 
  		• I saw a video of the ACL repair done on my right knee last week. I noticed the hole where tissue is taken below the kneecap as a graft isn't closed up or sewn together. They just left it. Does this seem right?
    		 
  		• I'm 68-years old and have put off getting a total knee replacement for at least five years. Now my leg is weak and I've lost muscle bulk. Is there anything I can do to get my strength back once the new knee is in place?
    		 
  		• I signed up to be part of a study at the local university. The physical therapists are measuring muscle strength after a total knee replacement. I guess there's some kind of electrical shocks involved. Maybe I shouldn't do this. What do you think?
    		 
  		• I just got my first pair of orthotics for a diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Is there anything I should avoid doing? Can I just resume all my normal activities now?
    		 
  		• I had some pretty fancy surgery done last week inside my knee joint. The doctor gave me a video of the entire operation. What I can't figure out is how they got all those tools I saw on the video inside my knee. What can you tell me?
    		 
  		• A year ago I was in a car accident and took a direct hit to my left knee. At the time of the injury, X-rays didn't show anything wrong. I'm still having pain and swelling off and on. I walk with a limp most of the time. My family doctor can't find anything. What do I do now? This injury is keeping me from playing golf, snowboarding, and doing other outdoor activities I like.
    		 
  		• I was hit by a bus while crossing the street. An MRI showed a torn piece of cartilage and bone in the back of my knee. The doctors don't think they can repair the damage without opening the knee up. Why can't they use a scope like they did last year when they repaired the meniscus in my other knee?
    		 
  		• I'm in a local theater production of A Chorus Line. It opens in two weeks, and I'm scheduled for removal of a fluid-filled cyst in my knee. How soon will I be back up on my feet?
    		 
  		• I've had the fluid removed from a cyst behind my knee twice now. Why does it keep coming back?
    		 
  		• I had a large sac of fluid behind my knee drained, but it came back. What do I do now?
    		 
  		• Two months ago I had an operation to repair a torn posterior cruciate ligament in my knee. The thigh on that side is much smaller than on the other (normal) side. Will this get better?
    		 
  		• I had surgery to repair the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in my left knee three weeks ago. I notice I get increased pain and swelling if I do more than my regular walking and exercises. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• When would you suggest a person have surgery to repair a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)? I injured mine two years ago and have put it off. It's not really bothering me, so I'm just curious.
    		 
  		• My insurance company denied a claim for physical therapy. I was just diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. They said the diagnosis hasn't been "established." What's needed to show I have this condition?
    		 
  		• I have knee arthritis on the left side. I can do everything my friends can do, it just takes me longer. Should I be concerned?
    		 
  		• My 86-year old father-in-law had a total knee replacement about a month ago. He seems very confused to us. He can't seem to remember his exercises or when to take his medications. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• My 95-year old aunt had a total knee replacement and died on the operating table. Why do they put older people through this kind of ordeal? It just doesn't seem right.
    		 
  		• My 92-year old mother has severe knee arthritis. It seems to me she could sure benefit from a knee replacement. Is she too old?
    		 
  		• Ever since an injury in college I've had a locking knee joint. I've always been able to unlock the joint on my own. For the last 24 hours, my knee has been locked and without motion. What should I do?
    		 
  		• I'm a physical therapist working with patients after athletic and sports injuries. Has anyone been able to explain why some patients do well after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears without surgery and others don't? Some patients who don't have the torn ligament repaired actually do just as well, if not better, than patients who have the operation. Doctors aren't always sure why this happens either.
    		 
  		• Is it possible to have bursitis of the knee? I've had shoulder bursitis. Now my knee is acting up much the same way.
    		 
  		• I tore my ACL in soccer five years ago. I had an operation to repair it. Now I've torn the medial collateral ligament. The doctor doesn't think surgery is needed. How does it heal without surgery?
    		 
  		• I had a salvage operation done to save the cartilage in my knee. The doctor says it was a failed surgery because it didn't heal after all. What happens next?
    		 
  		• I've heard there's a way to regrow torn cartilage in the knee. Are they using stem cells to do this?
    		 
  		• My doctor told me I have advanced osteoarthritis. What does this mean?
    		 
  		• I had my right arthritic knee injected with a lubrication. Instead of less swelling and tenderness, I ended up with more pain and swelling. What went wrong?
    		 
  		• I heard a report that knee injections to lubricate the joint are more and more popular. Do they work? And how?
    		 
  		• I play adult-league baseball in the summers. Every year I tear my hamstring muscle on the right side. I have done everything to prevent this from happening. I've used heat, cold, taping, stretching, and so on. What else can I do?
    		 
  		• I have an old hamstring injury that doesn't bother me, but sometimes it feels tight when I run. I try to stretch out and warm up each time. What causes this sensation?
    		 
  		• I'm scheduled to have a special test for my knee. It's called a KT-1000. What is this exactly?
    		 
  		• What is the "Losee maneuver?" I've heard it can be used to detect a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair two years ago. My doctor says the knee is "good to go." But it feels unsteady to me like it's going to give way at any time. How can this be?
    		 
  		• I have a chronic problem with chondromalacia in my left knee. I've tried exercises and taping with limited success. What about bracing?
    		 
  		• What is McConnell taping? I heard it might help my knee pain. Where do I get this tape?
    		 
  		• I have been looking into using taping for a problem I'm having with my knees. I've found different names for taping methods. Are these all basically the same or are there real differences?
    		 
  		• I'm only 35-years old and I've been told I have osteoarthritis of both my hip and knee on the right side. How common is this?
    		 
  		• I'm only 42 years old and need surgery to realign my knee because of osteoarthritis. Is there any way to put this off at least a few more years?
    		 
  		• I saw a report that doctors in Japan are using a firm, spongy wedge in shoes for patients with knee arthritis. Can anyone try this? Where do I get the wedge material?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement six weeks ago. I'm a young (65-years old), active athletic-type. I'd really like to push my rehab ahead and get more aggressive. Is this possible?
    		 
  		• Now that total knee replacements have been around for a while, what are the results for most patients? I've waited an extra 10 years thinking the operation would be improved quite a bit by now.
    		 
  		• I'm in a rehab program for my knee. I had a total knee replacement four weeks ago. As I look over the program yet to come I'm a little worried. Won't all these exercises wear down my new knee? I'd like to keep it nice as long as I can.
    		 
  		• When I had my knee replaced the therapists used cold therapy on it everyday. It really seemed to help with the pain and swelling. I just had a hip replacement. The cold treatment was never used on the hip. How come?
    		 
  		• I tore the cartilage in my knee when I tripped and fell over a tree trunk root while out on a hike. The doctor says to just "leave it alone" and it might heal by itself. Is this good advice?
    		 
  		• I had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus, but the doctor said when she got in there the tear wasn't big enough to fix. How big does a tear have to be to get repaired?
    		 
  		• What is the "Losee maneuver?" I've heard it can be used to detect a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair two years ago. My doctor says the knee is "good to go." But it feels unsteady to me like it's going to give way at any time. How can this be?
    		 
  		• I have a chronic problem with chondromalacia in my left knee. I've tried exercises and taping with limited success. What about bracing?
    		 
  		• I have been looking into using taping for a problem I'm having with my knees. I've found different names for taping methods. Are these all basically the same or are there real differences?
    		 
  		• I was born and raised in the South and love warm climates. I don't like anything too cold, even drinks and ice cream. My doctor tells me I need to use a cold pack on my knee. How can this really help if it just makes me cold and uncomfortable? Wouldn't someone like me do better with a heating pad?
    		 
  		• What is McConnell taping? I heard it might help my knee pain. Where do I get this tape?
    		 
  		• I have been looking into using taping for a problem I'm having with my knees. I've found different names for taping methods. Are these all basically the same or are there real differences?
    		 
  		• I tore the cartilage in my knee when I tripped and fell over a tree trunk root while out on a hike. The doctor says to just "leave it alone" and it might heal by itself. Is this good advice?
    		 
  		• I had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus, but the doctor said when she got in there the tear wasn't big enough to fix. How big does a tear have to be to get repaired?
    		 
  		• I'm a high school soccer player hoping for a college scholarship to play soccer. My coach thinks I should focus on training my dominant leg. How can I tell which one this is? I'm right handed, but I kick equally will with either foot.
    		 
  		• I hear knee injuries are more common in women than men. If that's true, why are most knee studies just on men?
    		 
  		• What is "trephination?" I had knee surgery and the report says there was trephination of the lateral meniscus done.
    		 
  		• Is there any truth to the idea that ski injuries are more likely in the afternoon than in the morning? I would have thought injuries occur in the morning before skiers are warmed up.
    		 
  		• My doctor tells me the torn meniscus in my right knee should be repaired rather than removed, even though it's been there five years. How do they know a repair of this type is really better?
    		 
  		• I tore the cartilage in my knee while playing a pick-up game of hockey this past winter. The doctor wants to repair the damage, rather than remove the cartilage. Everything I've heard about this operation has been good. Is there a downside to this surgery?
    		 
  		• I had a torn meniscus repaired about six months ago. The knee on that side seems "normal" to me. How do I know when it's fully healed?
    		 
  		• My doctor has suggested trying an injection into my knee for severe osteoarthritis. What's in the injection?
    		 
  		• I've been chosen to represent my state in a Senior Citizen pageant. My biggest concern is walking normally. With osteoarthritis in both knees, I'm very slow and uneven when I walk. Is there anything I can do about this before the big day?
    		 
  		• My father is going to have a total knee replacement in two weeks. The doctor told him to expect decreased pain and less stiffness. The nurse mentioned improved "quality of life." What does this mean?
    		 
  		• My mother had a total knee replacement six months ago. We (the family) are all a little disappointed that she isn't much better than before the operation. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• I've been avoiding seeing my doctor after getting a new knee replacement. I need the other knee replaced, but I just can't face it right now. How often do I really need to have the new knee checked?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement two years ago. I'm not having any problems, but my doctor wants me to come back every year. Is this really needed?
    		 
  		• I'm a research assistant in a large orthopedic clinic. We are having some trouble tracking with patients long-term. They come back for their early follow-up appointments, but then fizzle out later. We'd like to do some studies over five year increments (5, 10, 15). How are other clinics doing this?
    		 
  		• I'm not a professional athlete, and I don't even compete locally. But I do like to keep in shape by playing soccer, running, and biking. After a downhill skiing injury last winter I had an ACL reconstruction. I'd like to get back to my regular activities but I want to know if my knee is "normal." Is there any way to test this?
    		 
  		• I notice climbing up hills is much easier on the knees than coming down. Why is that?
    		 
  		• Years ago I had an ACL reconstruction because the doctor told me it would prevent arthritis. Now 20 years later, I have arthritis so bad I need a joint replacement. What went wrong?
    		 
  		• I'm having my arthritic knee injected to make it glide better. How well does this treatment work?
    		 
  		• I have knee pain from a poorly tracking kneecap. I've been given an electrical stimulation unit to use at home to fire up the muscles. Why is this treatment better than just plain exercise?
    		 
  		• I've been told I have a knee condition called patellofemoral pain syndrome. My doctor advised me to try exercise to treat it. So far all I've done is made it worse. What's next?
    		 
  		• Whenever we get close to the ski season I start gearing up my exercise program. I notice the last two years I've had knee pain when squatting or practicing my wall sits. So far it doesn't bother me when I ski. What could be causing this pain?
    		 
  		• I heard there were a quarter of a million knee joint replacements last year. It seems like doctors are knife happy. Everyone over the age of 65 gets a new hip or knee joint whether they want it or not. What's going on?
    		 
  		• I saw a news report that the Rehab Institute of Chicago has a new program after knee replacement. They are using a battery-powered monitoring device to keep tabs on the joint motion. I live in the Chicago area and need a knee replacement. Should I get one of these for myself?
    		 
  		• What's the best strategy to follow for rehab after a total knee replacement? I've been saving all my energy for physical therapy. After that I'm too tired to do anything else the rest of the day.
    		 
  		• The physical therapist did a test on my knees before I had a total joint replacement. While blind folded, I pushed a button anytime I felt the knee joint move. What does this information tell him?
    		 
  		• When I had my knee joint replaced the doctor told me both ligaments inside the joint were missing. Is this something I've had from birth?
    		 
  		• I have severe osteoarthritis in my left knee. I notice sometimes I misjudge how far to extend my knee when stepping off a curb. Is that caused by the arthritis?
    		 
  		• What's the best way to prevent ACL injuries?
    		 
  		• I'm scheduled to have an ACL reconstruction in two weeks. The doctor thinks I can get back to playing sports within six months. Will I have my full function by then?
    		 
  		• I know there have been lots of studies showing women are more likely to injure their ACLs than men. Is there anything new on this topic?
    		 
  		• What's the best way to rehab my knee after an ACL reconstruction?
    		 
  		• I recently had an ACL reconstruction and then twisted it unexpectedly. How much strain can the healing graft take?
    		 
  		• I saw my doctor for a knee injury that turned out to be a torn ACL. The doctor wants me to start in physical therapy right away. I think I should wait until the swelling goes down at least. What's the standard treatment for this?
    		 
  		• I had ACL surgery a month ago. My leg looks like it's melted away. I'm doing a rehab program, but I'm pretty worried about how slow it's coming and how long it seems to take to do the exercises. It's still very painful. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• After injuring my ACL I decided to try rehab without surgery. The electrical studies show too much activity, too soon, from the outside portion of my thigh muscle. I'm wondering what can be done about this? I still don't want surgery.
    		 
  		• I hurt my knee in a biking accident. The doctor said I tore the meniscus and called it a bucket handle tear. What does that mean?
    		 
  		• I tore the meniscus in my left knee while playing soccer on wet grass. I felt a wrenching sensation but kept playing because there wasn't any swelling. I'm sure I reinjured it during the next game. Why didn't the knee swell up to warn me of an injury?
    		 
  		• In the last six months I seem to have developed a "trick knee." Without warning it will lock up. Then without rhyme or reason, it will start moving again. What causes this?
    		 
  		• My 73-year old father needs a knee replacement. He can't seem to make up his mind about it. Should we (his adult children) offer our opinions? Or is it better for older adults to make up their own minds?
    		 
  		• We live in Indiana, about 500 miles from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. I'd like to get a second opinion about my 17-year-old son's torn meniscus. The doctor says it's damaged very severely. He may need more than one operation. Is the Mayo Clinic the best place for a second opinion on this type of condition?
    		 
  		• I've heard it's possible to get a new meniscus if your own cartilage is torn beyond repair. Is this true?
    		 
  		• I had a meniscus repair two years ago. I think I may have torn the repair. Is there any way to tell for sure?
    		 
  		• I've heard that women are more likely to injure their ACL than men. If this is linked to hormones can't hormones be used to change it?
    		 
  		• Are women more likely to injure themselves in sports events than men? Is it because they don't have any testosterone?
    		 
  		• My 15-year-old daughter is going to have a second surgery on her knee. The first operation wasn't successful because she had too much pain to do her exercises afterwards. When my mother had shoulder surgery last year, they sent her home with a pump to control her pain. Could my daughter get something like this?
    		 
  		• My doctor wants me to go to rehab to build my muscles up before having an ACL repair. I'm not really an athlete so I don't see the need to do this. Can't I just have the operation first and rehab after?
    		 
  		• What's the best timing for ACL repair? I'm in the off-season as an athlete so I have time to decide.
    		 
  		• My father lives in a small town 90 miles from the hospital or his doctor. He's going to have a total knee replacement next month. The plan right now is to release him directly to home after the operation. Can he really manage on his own?
    		 
  		• My elderly sister (age 78 and 20 years older than me) is having her second total knee replacement. The doctor is planning to send her directly home after the operation. How is this even possible? Won't she need time to recover from the surgery itself?
    		 
  		• My husband is having a total knee replacement today. As I was saying goodbye to him at the hospital, the anesthesiologist was telling him they would use a nerve block with the anesthesia. This is to reduce pain after the operation. There was no time to ask any questions. What is it and what does it do?
    		 
  		• My mother has been put on a morphine pump for pain after a knee replacement. We are all concerned about drug addiction with this. Is it possible? Likely?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have a total knee replacement next week. The doctor asked me if I want a nerve block before the operation to help stop the pain after the operation. What are the chances of ending up with permanent nerve damage from this?
    		 
  		• I'm concerned about my aging mother. She's 86 and needs a total knee replacement. She's on Medicare and doesn't have any other insurance. Will she get the care she needs?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have a total knee replacement. What's better: having it done at our local hospital where I'll be close to home or going to a big medical center 100 miles away?
    		 
  		• I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees. The doctor wants me to have them replaced. The way everything is changing with technology, would it be better to wait until joint implants are improved?
    		 
  		• I notice my mother-in-law can't get in and out of a chair or couch anymore without a great deal of scooting, grunting, and effort. She does have osteoarthritis in her hips and knees. Are her struggles caused by the arthritis?
    		 
  		• I am only 48 years old, but I have severe knee pain from years of running marathons and participating in triathlons. The first doctor I saw took an X-ray and said there's some narrowing of the joint space, but nothing to worry about. Would an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) show anything else the X-ray didn't show?
    		 
  		• My father has been told he has osteoarthritis of the knees. Ever since he heard that, he can't do anything for himself anymore. He acts like he can hardly get around and doesn't go out anymore at all. How do we get him back to where he was before he heard this news?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement six months ago. After physical therapy in the hospital, I had more therapy at home. Now I'm doing my own exercises everyday. How long should I keep this up?
    		 
  		• It's been two years since I had a knee replacement. My pain is much better, but I still can't climb stairs easily or get in and out of the tub without help. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• I work out at the gym three or four times a week. I see lots of older folks around my age (67 years old) sitting on a seat and pressing weights through the foot and leg. Can I do this with my knee joint replacement?
    		 
  		• I'm a teacher at the high school level with a chance to coach girl's volleyball. I've heard that knee injuries are a big problem right now in girl's athletics. I don't remember that when I played. Just how common is this?
    		 
  		• My 14-year-old daughter grew in height by eight inches over the summer. When soccer started she injured her knee during the first practice. Is there any chance the injury was caused by the growth spurt, or is this just a coincidence?
    		 
  		• My daughter passed her high school freshman physical exam with flying colors. Yet a month later she was red-shirted with a knee injury. It happened during a basketball game. Why wasn't this weak spot found during the exam?
    		 
  		• My wife was turned down for a total knee replacement until she loses weight. The doctor says she is "morbidly obese." What does that mean exactly? Should we consider stomach stapling? I've heard that works good for lots of people.
    		 
  		• Five years ago I had my left knee replaced. It's starting to hurt again. I can hardly go up and down stairs. Even getting in and out of a chair is tough. The doctor wants me to have the knee done again. If I wait too long, will it be too late?
    		 
  		• My brother-in-law is very overweight. His knees are bad but he refuses to lose weight. He says he'll just have them replaced when they wear out. Is it really that simple?
    		 
  		• I got a pair of shoe inserts for a problem I've been having with my knees. It took a few weeks to get used to them, but eventually my knee pain went away. It's been two months and now I have a new knee pain along the outside of the leg. Could it be coming from the shoe inserts?
    		 
  		• I'm going to get a special shoe insert to help my knee pain. Do I need to buy a new pair of shoes?
    		 
  		• I'm a competitive bike racer with a torn ACL. After the operation to repair it, the doctor warned me not to start back training until I've finished my rehab program. If it's fixed, what's the danger in pushing a little?
    		 
  		• I'm not an athlete, but I like to bike, hike, and swim on a regular basis. Recently I tore my ACL in a rock climbing accident. After an ACL repair, I'm now in physical therapy. I'm concerned about one thing. The therapist doesn't have me strengthen the knee through the full motion I'm going to need for my recreational activities. How am I going to get my full strength back with this kind of program?
    		 
  		• I had a bike accident and went to the emergency department for an exam. The doctor didn't find anything wrong with the knee on the MRI, so I went home. Two weeks later I still had swelling and pain so I saw an orthopedic surgeon. I had an arthroscopic exam that showed a torn ACL. How is that possible?
    		 
  		• I saw a doctor who wants to do surgery on my knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Shouldn't there be an MRI or some other test done before just deciding on surgery?
    		 
  		• My 17-year old son tore his ACL playing soccer. The doctor told us it was torn before the MRI confirmed it. Why did we need the expensive MRI test if the doctor already knew what was wrong?
    		 
  		• I have some mild, but painful arthritis in my left knee. I'm thinking about having arthroscopic surgery done. The doctor wants to take a look inside and smooth out any rough edges. Will that take care of the problem?
    		 
  		• I tore the cartilage in my right knee several years ago. I tried rest, drugs, and exercise (in that order) but nothing worked. Now I'm going to have arthroscopic surgery to fix whatever's wrong. The doctor is sending me to physical therapy afterwards. What's this for? Won't I be all better after the operation?
    		 
  		• I am a professional ballet dancer with a large dance company on the West Coast. Last year I had an ACL repair using the hamstring tendon as a graft. I did my full rehab and seem to have my strength back. I have the most trouble when I try to go into a full plié (bending my knees fully while standing at the barre). How can I get this back?
    		 
  		• I just came back from testing at my doctor's office. I had an anterior cruciate ligament repair with hamstring tendon graft six months ago. The tests show the strength of my operated leg hasn't returned to normal yet. And the nonoperative side is stronger than it was before surgery. Does this make any sense?
    		 
  		• My high school son is having an ACL repair this week. He will have to miss wrestling season. Will he be able to return next year good as new?
    		 
  		• My son broke the bone in his lower leg right before the soccer play offs. With all our fancy medicine and technology hasn't someone come up with a faster way to heal bones? Does it really have to take four to six weeks?
    		 
  		• I have a knee joint replacement that is fully healed but the scar is still tender. It keeps me from kneeling down to get things. Is there any way to overcome this problem? Perhaps some kind of cream to toughen up the scar?
    		 
  		• I have a leaky pipe under my kitchen sink but with my knee replacement, I'm afraid to kneel down to repair it. Is it safe to put that kind of weight on it?
    		 
  		• I just went in for a six-month check up after getting a new knee joint. The doctor took an X-ray that showed the bone with the new joint implant. I know the implant is made of plastic but it looked like a cartoon drawing on the X-ray. How do they get a picture like that?
    		 
  		• I'm very overweight and need a new knee joint. I also have a heart condition that's getting worse. The doctor doesn't want to do the knee surgery because of the heart problem. I'm willing to do anything to get better. Is there any hope for me?
    		 
  		• My aunt is about 200 pounds overweight and needs a new knee joint. Is there really any point in having this operation before she loses some weight? Won't the new knee just wear out from all that weight?
    		 
  		• I went to my doctor for a regular check up and came out with osteoarthritis I didn't know I had. The X-rays show I'm about out of cartilage and walking with bone on bone. Why don't I have any pain or other symptoms of this problem? Can this be right?
    		 
  		• My sister lives in England and needs a total knee replacement. I've heard the wait there can be years. Would she be better off coming to the United States for this surgery?
    		 
  		• Is there any difference between results of knee replacement for men versus women? I've got a $10.00 bet riding on this one.
    		 
  		• My doctor has offered me a new operation for total knee replacement. It's done with just a small opening, so I'll have a much smaller scar than usual. Is there any other reason to have this method?
    		 
  		• I heard about a new arthroscopic operation for total knee replacement. When I asked my doctor about it, I was told I'm not a good candidate. What does that mean?
    		 
  		• I was supposed to have the new "minimally invasive" knee joint replacement. The doctor told me to expect a scar about five inches long. Looks more like eight or nine inches to me. Should I complain?
    		 
  		• I'm having my first arthroscopic knee surgery for a torn cartilage. I understand I'll be in and out of the clinic on the same day. I always thought knee surgery would be painful. What can I expect?
    		 
  		• I'm getting ready to have arthroscopic surgery on my knee to remove a destroyed meniscus. The doctors and nurses keep reminding me to take my pain meds afterwards. I don't want to take any pills. Is it really necessary?
    		 
  		• I saw all the news reports about Vioxx® being taken off the market. Yesterday the results of a study done using Vioxx® were reported in the newspaper. The drug was used before arthroscopic knee surgery to reduce pain afterwards. Why are they still putting out this kind of information?
    		 
  		• My husband is coming home from the hospital today after having both knee joints replaced. He'll be on a pump that allows him to control his pain. Even though the doctor explained it's all programmed ahead of time, I'm concerned. First of all, my husband has a past history of drug use though he's been clean for many years. Second, he is a computer whiz. It won't take much for him to figure out how to reprogram the unit. Am I worrying for nothing?
    		 
  		• I need an operation to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in my left knee. The X-ray showed my quadriceps tendon needed for the repair is small. Is this going to be a problem?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair about a month ago. I'm surprised by how much motion I have already. I expected it to be tight as a drum for months. Was the operation a failure?
    		 
  		• I tore my ACL just by wrestling with my kids in the living room. The doctor thinks I should have surgery to repair it. I'm not much of an athlete and I don't have time for a rehab program. Should I just let it go?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair and it turned out too loose. It seemed okay right after surgery, but now after six months of rehab, it has loosened up too much. What happened?
    		 
  		• My 82-year old mother had both of her arthritic knees replaced at the same time. She thought this would save time and money. She ended up in the intensive care unit for two weeks. She had a heart attack and a blood clot in her lungs. The surgery cost 10 times more than she expected. Does this happen very often?
    		 
  		• I have severe knee arthritis. If I have both of my knees replaced at the same time, can it bring on Alzheimer's? The doctor mentioned confusion as a possible side effect of the surgery. Alzheimer's seems to run in our family.
    		 
  		• My wife is going to have both her knee joints replaced at the same time next week. The doctor mentioned death as a possible risk. How likely is that?
    		 
  		• My total knee replacement is considered a "success" but I'm not very happy. The knee is still very stiff. I can't bend it far enough to get down in my garden. What's the true definition of success in these cases?
    		 
  		• I've had one total knee replacement (TKR) and I need another on the other side. I saw a report that new technology and better surgery is on the way for joint replacements. Should I wait another year or two before having the second knee done to take advantage of the new developments?
    		 
  		• I was looking on the internet at pictures of knee implants for knee replacement. I see there are three basic parts. Does everyone get all three pieces? What if the arthritis is only on one side of the joint?
    		 
  		• What is selective resurfacing? I know it has something to do with knee joint replacements.
    		 
  		• I'd like to have surgery to repair a torn ACL in my left knee. The doctor doesn't think I'm a good candidate to donate my own graft tissue. I understand there can be some problems taking tissue from a donor bank. What are these?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair 10 years ago using a synthetic graft. It worked just great. Now my teenage son needs an ACL repair and the doctor tells me they don't use the synthetic grafts much any more. Why not?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have an ACL repair using my own patellar tendon as the graft. What can you tell me about this kind of graft?
    		 
  		• I tore the meniscus on both sides of my left knee. I guess this doesn't happen very often. Why did it happen to me?
    		 
  		• I saw three doctors before getting a diagnosis of torn meniscus as the cause of my chronic knee pain. Is it really so hard to find this problem?
    		 
  		• What's the "Ege's test" and how is it used?
    		 
  		• I was in a front-end collision and had a bad neck injury. The MRI showed a torn ligament along the back of my neck. I wasn't even hit that hard by the other driver. Was this ligament defective and just ready to break?
    		 
  		• My 21-year old daughter hurt her knee when she slipped and fell on some ice. The doctor says the ACL is torn and she needs surgery to protect the joint. Protect it from what?
    		 
  		• I'm 19 years old and just had a bad knee injury. The MRI shows a torn ACL and the doctor is advising surgery. Since I'm fairly young, what are my chances of healing without needing surgery?
    		 
  		• What is the difference between a knee immobilizer and a knee brace used for patients after an ACL repair?
    		 
  		• My son is a cadet at a military academy (West Point). He could have gone to the US Naval Academy but chose West Point instead. He injured his ACL in the first month of training. Is the training more vigorous at West Point? Maybe he should have gone to the naval academy.
    		 
  		• I tore my ACL and just finished eight weeks of rehab after the surgery to repair it. I've been told wearing a brace during jumping or twisting activities is optional. Since I have to pay for the brace myself, I'm thinking about skipping this step. Is it really needed?
    		 
  		• I joined a group of seniors in an exercise group at the local senior's center. I was doing good until last week when my arthritic knee started acting up again. Does this mean I just won't be able to exercise anymore?
    		 
  		• What is a constrained knee replacement? I have very bad knock-knees. The doctor says this is the best kind for me.
    		 
  		• I'm very concerned about my three-year old granddaughter. She is very knock-kneed. I was that way growing up, too and I've had endless knee problems ever since. What are the chances she will outgrow this problem?
    		 
  		• After having a total knee replacement on both knees I notice that I stand up straighter and walk better. I was always a little knock-kneed before the operations. What do they do to change things around?
    		 
  		• Please help! I'm 68-years old with osteoarthritis of my left knee. It's getting so I can't straighten it all the way even when it doesn't hurt. Am I going to need a total knee replacement to fix this problem?
    		 
  		• The doctor says I have a flexion contracture of my right knee from osteoarthritis. What does this mean and what can be done about it?
    		 
  		• My doctor has given me several options for treating the moderate osteoarthritis in my right knee. I can keep active and "do nothing" while waiting to see what will happen. I can have the joint scraped of any rough edges and torn pieces of ligament. Or I can have the joint replaced. Any advice for me?
    		 
  		• I saw a TV special on computer-assisted knee replacements for arthritis. Isn't this kind of technology going to increase the cost of the surgery even more in a group of people who already can't afford it?
    		 
  		• I had a unicompartmental knee joint replacement last year. That means they only replaced the inside half of my left knee. I thought it was going to be the answer to all my problems. Instead I ended up with more problems. Would it have been better to have a total knee replacement?
    		 
  		• My best friend just had knee surgery and seems to be having a terrible time getting around. I'm in a water aerobics class for a shoulder injury that seems to be helping me. Could pool therapy help with a knee injury?
    		 
  		• I've heard there's a pressure chamber designed for NASA that might be used in the future for rehab after knee and hip injuries. What can you tell me about this?
    		 
  		• I've been a marathon runner all my adult life. At age 66 I'm going to have my right knee replaced. What are my chances of being able to run again?
    		 
  		• My 73-year-old mother is going to have a total knee replacement next month. She's already talking about all the things she is going to be able to do after the surgery. What's realistic?
    		 
  		• Is it safe to stretch my leg muscles after a knee replacement? Will this damage the implant in any way?
    		 
  		• I've heard it's possible to have a partial knee joint replacement. How do I know if I might qualify for this?
    		 
  		• I thought getting a knee replacement would solve my problems, but it didn't. The pain is less, but walking on uneven surfaces like in the park with my grandchildren is still impossible. I've been told the knee implant just doesn't move like a real knee. Why not?
    		 
  		• I'm only 45 years old but I have severe knee arthritis. Only one side of the joint seems to be affected. The doctors have given me several options. The best two seem to be realigning the joint and a partial joint replacement. How do I decide what to do?
    		 
  		• I'm a football player with a bad cartilage tear in my right knee. The team doctor says I'll need surgery. They'll put some kind of tiny holes in the bone and then I'll need a motion machine after the operation. I'll be out at least six months. Isn't there some way to get me back on the field sooner?
    		 
  		• I tore the cartilage in my knee playing football. The X-ray report says there's a chondral defect with a "knee mouse." What does that mean?
    		 
  		• I tore the cartilage in my left knee clear down to the bone. The doctor wants to do surgery but I'd rather let it heal on its own. Is surgery really needed for this type of problem?
    		 
  		• I notice as I get older that I seem to misstep when climbing unfamiliar steps or stepping down off curbs. My vision is perfectly fine. The problem seems to be my knees. What could be causing this?
    		 
  		• Do I need a custom-molded orthotic for patellofemoral pain syndrome? Do the off-the-shelf (ready-to-wear) orthotics work just as well?
    		 
  		• Is anyone any closer to finding out the true cause of patellofemoral pain syndrome?
    		 
  		• I've been diagnosed with a condition called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). One of the recommended treatments is to wear orthotics in the shoe. How do these work?
    		 
  		• My 17-year old son tore his calf muscle playing baseball. We've heard there's an injection that speeds up healing. We found out the drug (Suramin) has been approved by the FDA. Is it ready for use in children?
    		 
  		• What causes loss of motion after a muscle strain? I can't seem to get full knee motion after a hamstring injury.
    		 
  		• My family has a long history of arthritis in the hands, hips, and knees. I recently tore my left ACL and need surgery to repair it. Will this injury and the surgery bring on the arthritis sooner?
    		 
  		• My 14-year old daughter is a gymnast with a bad knee. She needs an ACL repair before she can continue competing. We know there are two different ways to fix the ACL. Is one method better than the other for a gymnast?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair nine months ago. I don't have any pain but I still seem to walk with a slight limp. I can't figure this out. What could be causing it?
    		 
  		• Last year I had a total knee replacement but kept my own kneecap. I'm having quite a bit of pain under and around the kneecap. What could be causing this to happen?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have my left knee replaced because of severe arthritis. The doctor has told me I can keep my own kneecap or get a new one. Which is better?
    		 
  		• I saw a report that joint replacements have better results when done by a surgeon with lots of experience with that operation. That makes sense. Is this the whole story or is there more to it?
    		 
  		• My 72-year old aunt is very sick. She has hypertension, high cholesterol, and she's had two heart attacks. She also has disabling arthritis in her knees. She insists on having both knee joint replacements done at the same time. I'm wondering if she should have even one joint surgery, much less both at once. How is this decision made?
    		 
  		• I need both knee joint replaced due to a disabling case of osteoarthritis. Will I save money if I have them both done at the same time?
    		 
  		• Can you tell me what's the difference between a staggered knee replacement and a sequential knee replacement? My father is trying to decide how to have his knee replacements done and these are the two choices. I'm not familiar with these terms.
    		 
  		• I notice I'm having more and more pain when I go up and down stairs (especially down). My left knee pops and cracks with every step. What could be causing this to happen?
    		 
  		• Three years ago I had a knee problem called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Now I'm having new symptoms in the same knee. Last time the kneecap hurt and popped whenever I straightened the leg. This time there's pain all the time and swelling. Am I having a relapse?
    		 
  		• Does taping help with the painful symptoms of patellofemoral pain syndrome? I'm trying to find a way to stay active despite the pain.
    		 
  		• Have you ever heard of using acupuncture for knee arthritis? Does it work?
    		 
  		• I've just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee. My doctor has given me some good advice. Is there a website or book I can read to help me get an idea of what's the best treatment for this problem?
    		 
  		• I have a torn cartilage in my right knee. The doctor tells me I need surgery because it won't heal on its own. Why won't it heal?
    		 
  		• I'm 23-years old. I tore my knee cartilage clear down to the bone in a soccer match. The surgeon tells me I'll be on a machine to make my knee move for six weeks after an operation to repair the damage. I don't have that kind of time for rehab. Is there any way around this restriction?
    		 
  		• I've heard that a cartilage tear of the knee isn't as bad as it used to be. They can be repaired rather than removed with less damage to the joint later. Does it matter which side of the joint the tear is on?
    		 
  		• I know I have a torn meniscus. I'm even scheduled for surgery to repair or remove part of it. I've had X-rays to see the condition of the knee joint. Would an MRI provide any greater information at this point?
    		 
  		• I just tore the cartilage in my knee. Is there any way to tell ahead of time just how much better I might get?
    		 
  		• When a piece of tendon is removed and used to replace a torn tendon, is the donor site weaker?
    		 
  		• Eighteen months ago, I had the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of my right knee repaired. The operation was done by removing a piece of tendon from my kneecap and using it to replace the torn ACL. Since that time, I’ve developed knee pain and a neuroma. What causes this?
    		 
  		• My sister had a tendon graft to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). She has an infection in the knee now. How is this treated?
    		 
  		• I recently saw a physical therapist for a knee rehab program. I injured my ACL years ago and find that as I age, the knee is starting to give out from time to time. The therapist described the way I walk as the “quadriceps avoidance gait pattern.” What does this mean?
    		 
  		• I injured my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a pick-up game of basketball. I opted not to have surgery and try to rehab it instead. Is this a bad idea?
    		 
  		• What is an "ACL-deficient knee"?
    		 
  		• My 150-pound Newfoundland dog ran into my leg full tilt while chasing a cat. My knee was completely dislocated. Besides tearing the ligaments in my knee, there is also some nerve damage. It’s been almost four months now. EMG studies show that there is no evidence of nerve recovery. What’s the next step?
    		 
  		• My 17-year old son was sliding into home plate when his foot hit against another player. His knee dislocated and he had surgery to repair the damaged ligaments. There’s some concern about nerve damage. How can we tell if there is a nerve injury?
    		 
  		• Last year, I had an ACL repair on my right knee. Even after going through a complete rehab program, the knee still feels unstable. The doctor and physical therapist assure me that it’s safe to use it normally. What causes this problem?
    		 
  		• After an ACL repair, my physical therapist is helping me get back my "proprioception." Just exactly what is this?
    		 
  		• Years ago, I tore the ACL in my left knee. It was more than a year after surgery before I could bend it fully and return to sports. Nowadays, it seems as though people are back to work and play after only six months. Am I right?
    		 
  		• What is tissue engineering?
    		 
  		• I heard there’s a way to use my own cartilage to repair torn knee cartilage. When I tore the cartilage in my knee, the doctor just removed it. Is this new?
    		 
  		• I read an article about replacing torn or damaged knee joint cartilage. Are there any side effects or problems after this surgery?
    		 
  		• After a total knee replacement (TKR) for a bad knee, I started walking with a limp and a "squeak." Every time I bend my knee it creaks and squeaks. What could be causing this?
    		 
  		• Three years ago, I had my left knee joint replaced. For the last 18 months, I’ve had uncomfortable swelling in that joint. The doctor thinks it might be a failed kneecap. A second operation is advised. What will be done?
    		 
  		• Two years ago, I was hit by a car and had to have my kneecap removed. At the time, it didn’t seem that important. Now, I find there are many activities I’d like to do that would be more comfortable or easier with a kneecap. Is it too late to have an implant put in?
    		 
  		• I've had my left knee joint replaced four times. I've had loosening of the implant, bone fracture, and wearing away of the parts. Is this typical?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement that failed and had to be replaced. The original implant didn’t all come from the same manufacturer. Could this be why it broke?
    		 
  		• My husband developed a condition called heterotopic ossification after having a total knee replacement. The doctor advised a wait-and-see approach to treatment. Is this best?
    		 
  		• I am a 77-year old woman in good health. I had my left knee joint replaced last year. I ended up with a stiff knee that had to be manipulated by the surgeon while I was under anesthesia. Then, I developed something called heterotopic ossification (HO). I’m thinking about having my right knee joint replaced. What are the chances I’ll get HO again?
    		 
  		• I read an article on ACL injuries in a sports magazine that mentioned the "rule of thirds." What is this referring to?
    		 
  		• I was in the doctor’s office for a knee injury. When the doctor tested for joint laxity, there was a popping sound and my knee gave way. The diagnosis is a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Does this test usually have this kind of result?
    		 
  		• What's the difference between an acute and chronic knee injury? I have a torn ACL that is several months old, but still flares up. Is it acute or chronic?
    		 
  		• I'm an exercise leader at the YMCA. Six months ago, I had an ACL repair. Despite, a daily workout routine, there’s still some noticeable weakness on that side. I also have a patch of numbness that really bothers me. When will these get better?
    		 
  		• Should I or shouldn’t I? I’m agonizing over whether or not to have the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my left knee repaired. What’s the current thinking on this?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have the anterior cruciate ligament of my right knee repaired. The doctor has proposed taking a piece of tissue from my good side and transferring it to the injured leg. I understand there are two different possible donor sites. Are there any benefits of one over the other?
    		 
  		• I saw a report that "tight" hamstrings can lead to increased athletic injuries. How is "tight" measured?
    		 
  		• I am a 53-year old woman newly diagnosed with a ganglion cyst in just below my knee. Is this common in women my age?
    		 
  		• I was just diagnosed with a ganglion cyst in the upper part of my lower leg. How common is this problem?
    		 
  		• I am a volleyball player on my high school team. I fell on my knee during a game and ended up in the emergency department for severe pain. The X-rays and MRI showed that my kneecap isn’t one piece of hard bone. Instead, it’s two pieces of cartilage. Will this keep me from playing volleyball again?
    		 
  		• I am a professional football player with bipartite patella. The pain and discomfort are keeping me on the bench. What’s the best treatment for this?
    		 
  		• My 17-year old son has been diagnosed with a bipartite patella. What is this?
    		 
  		• I've read that female basketball players are more likely than male players to injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. Is this true in other sports as well?
    		 
  		• I saw a science program on TV about the knee. It showed the ligaments of the knee as strong bands of tissue that work together. If this is true, why do so many people tear the ACL?
    		 
  		• Twenty years ago I had a football injury and tore my ACL. I spent six weeks in a cast before starting a rehab program and never played football again. My 17-year old son just tore his ACL in a basketball injury. He had surgery and was walking on the leg and doing exercises right away. What happened to the casting?
    		 
  		• I've been going to a physical therapy clinic for rehab after an ACL repair. There's a group of us who had our surgeries around the same time. I notice some people can do much more than others after the same amount of time. Why the difference?
    		 
  		• I am going to have my six-month check-up after an ACL repair. The therapist already told me I'll be doing a single-legged hop test. This means I'll hop as far forward as possible on my operated leg. This makes me very nervous. How do I know it won't snap underneath me?
    		 
  		• My husband lost a leg while on active duty in Iraq this year. The VA wants him to be part of a study on amputees. They've given him a prosthetic device at no cost to us. Does this obligate us to be a part of the study? We're just not up to it right now.
    		 
  		• It's a funny thing but ever since my husband had his leg amputated, he walks faster. I have a hard time keeping up with him. Can you explain this to me?
    		 
  		• I have a big problem. Besides having hemophilia (a bleeding disorder), I need a knee joint replacement. Since any trauma causes bleeding into the joints, can I ever get a new joint?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have a total knee replacement next week. The doctor says I'll be in a machine moving my knee for hours right away. I'm not very strong. What if I can't keep up?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have revision surgery for a very stiff knee after a knee replacement. I can't bend or straighten my knee fully. It's changed the way I walk, sit, everything! What kind of result can I expect from this operation?
    		 
  		• I've heard of a frozen shoulder before. Is it possible to get a frozen knee?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement eight months ago. Despite all efforts in physical therapy, I'm just not getting my motion back. What can I do now?
    		 
  		• I hear there's a big debate over whether to leave the kneecap in or take it out during a total knee replacement. Why can't they figure this out? It seems like a simple 'yes' or 'no' question to me.
    		 
  		• Are there times when the kneecap should be left alone when the knee joint is replaced?
    		 
  		• What is a resurfaced patella? I see it in the surgeon's report on my new total knee replacement. I don't remember ever hearing about that.
    		 
  		• I have a torn meniscus and a damaged anterior cruciate ligament in my left knee. The meniscus was repaired with arthroscopic surgery. The surgeon couldn't repair the ligament at the same time. I'll need a second surgery for that. Right now my knee is much better. Should I even bother having the ligament fixed?
    		 
  		• My son is going to have a meniscal transplant on his left knee. The surgeon is going to replace his meniscus with a graft. Where does the graft come from?
    		 
  		• I am a 24-year old tap dancer in New York City at my peak in dance performance. I tore the cartilage in my knee and need surgery to repair it. I've heard it's possible to replace the cartilage if it's too far gone. Where can I go to have this done?
    		 
  		• Will I gain or lose any weight when I have my knee replaced next week?
    		 
  		• My husband is a business executive and wears expensive, tailored suits to work. He's going to have a total knee replacement in two weeks. Will his suit pants still fit?
    		 
  		• I was in a car accident two weeks ago and slammed my right knee against the glove box. The MRI showed a partially torn ligament in my knee (the PCL). I've been advised to wait on having surgery since this can heal itself. Is that true?
    		 
  		• I tripped and fell on my left knee. Besides cracking the kneecap I also tore the posterior cruciate ligament. I had surgery to repair the damage. I notice my knee is still loose. Will this ever get better?
    		 
  		• I tore the posterior cruciate ligament in my knee playing soccer. It was only a minor tear so I decided to rehab it instead of having surgery. I want to get back on the field as soon as possible. When is it safe to go back?
    		 
  		• I've just been diagnosed with patellar tendonitis. Will this condition go away over time? Is surgery required?
    		 
  		• I'm a college level basketball player. Recently I increased my training level to improve my jump. Now I'm starting to get pain just below my kneecap. It's tender but not too painful. Is it safe to keep playing on this?
    		 
  		• I'm a competitive basketball player with patellar tendonitis. Sometimes I see guys on other teams wearing a strap around the leg just below the knee cap. Would that help my condition?
    		 
  		• My 88-year old mother is going to have a total knee replacement. I'm just scared to death she'll die from the operation. What are the chances of that happening, really?
    		 
  		• My father just had a total knee replacement. I overheard the nurses saying the doctor renewed his prescription for morphine. Isn't morphine a dangerous drug? Should we be concerned?
    		 
  		• It's been six weeks since I got my new "half" knee replacement. I'm just getting back the motion I had before the operation. I was expecting to be as good as new by now. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• My mother-in-law just had a total knee replacement. I notice she has a plastic wrap around her leg with cold water inside. There's a pump that seems to go on and off every minute or so. What's this supposed to do?
    		 
  		• My father had both knee joints replaced in the last year. He walks much better now and can even climb stairs. But I notice he still falls a lot. Is this normal? What can be done about it?
    		 
  		• My son injured his knee in a soccer game. The arthroscopic surgery showed there was nothing wrong despite chronic swelling and pain. The MRI showed a tear of the medial meniscus. Why was the arthroscopic exam normal?
    		 
  		• I work as a physician's assistant in a small, rural town in the west. We can do X-rays in our clinic, but we don't have a hospital, which means no CT scan and no MRIs. Is there a reliable test I can use to look for meniscal tears before sending the patients to the next large town for further tests?
    		 
  		• My doctor examined my right knee for a meniscus tear. She seems certain that's not the cause of my pain. Should I press for an MRI to be sure?
    		 
  		• I was a marathon runner all my life until arthritis laid me up. I've had a total knee replacement. I'm working to get back to running. It's been a year and I still can't run up and down stairs as part of my training. The doctor says to "give it some more time." How much more time is needed?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement six weeks ago and just had my six-week checkup. After six week's worth of intensive exercises my muscle strength just hasn't come back like I thought it would. What's going on?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement about four months ago. If I could just get past the pain, I think I could get back my strength. What's the next best step for me?
    		 
  		• Just a year ago I had a unicompartmental knee replacement for the medial side of my left knee. At my one-year checkup the X-ray showed loss of joint space on the other side of the joint. Is this a common problem?
    		 
  		• Six years ago I had half of my knee joint replaced. The other half is still fine but now the kneecap over the joint is giving me fits. Can I get that replaced?
    		 
  		• I've been knock-kneed all my life. Now at age 55 the inside edges of my knee joints are starting to wear down much more than the outside edges. I'm getting pain with walking and especially stair climbing. What can I do about this?
    		 
  		• Six months ago, I had a total knee replacement. After the operation, I used pumps on my legs to prevent blood clots. They were very bulky and uncomfortable. I'm planning to have my other knee joint replaced next month. Is there any way I can skip using those pumps?
    		 
  		• My mother just had a total knee replacement. I see they have plastic wraps on her legs to prevent blood clots. How does she walk with those things on?
    		 
  		• I've heard a lot about ACL tears in the knee. Are PCL tears just as bad?
    		 
  		• My 17-year old daughter tore the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in her left knee. We don’t have medical insurance, so we’d like to try treating it without surgery. Is this possible?
    		 
  		• I was in a car accident while riding in a compact car. My knees hit the glove box and I tore the PCL of my left knee. My diagnosis is PCL insufficiency. What does this mean?
    		 
  		• I am going to have a total knee replacement in two weeks. The doctor explained the operation to me. There will be an antibiotic mixed in with the cement that's used to hold the new part in place. Is this experimental?
    		 
  		• My mother was getting off the bus when she had severe, sharp knee pain. The MRI showed a stress fracture. The doctors are calling it an insufficiency fracture. She's gotten off that bus everyday for the last 10 years. Why was yesterday any different?
    		 
  		• What is an insufficiency fracture? My mother was told that's what's causing her new knee pain.
    		 
  		• My 72-year old mother has a long history of alcohol use and now has osteoporosis. She's been complaining of knee pain for the last two weeks. We think she fell on her knee but she won't admit it. Would an X-ray show anything if it's not broken?
    		 
  		• I'm very worried about my father. He needs a new knee joint but he's convinced he'll die if he has the surgery. How can we help him get over this fear?
    		 
  		• I'm 66 years old and in excellent health but I do have osteoarthritis of my right knee. I'm thinking about having a total knee replacement. I expect I'll have a good result but I've heard of people who end up worse off after surgery. Is there any way to predict these things?
    		 
  		• My mother-in-law is a hypochondriac, plain and simple. When she had a shoulder replacement the results were terrible. Now she wants a knee replacement. The family asked the doctor not to do the operation but he says that it's her choice. Is there some kind of test that can be done to tell how well (or poorly) a patient will do after surgery?
    		 
  		• After using an ice pack on my knee, the joint feels really frozen. Is there any actual change in the temperature inside the joint? Or is it just the skin that gets cold?
    		 
  		• I saw a report on TV that the knee joint is kept cool during surgery by flushing it with saline. How do they take the temperature of a joint?
    		 
  		• What's the optimal time to keep an ice pack on a painful knee? I've heard anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. Does it make any difference?
    		 
  		• The kneecap on my left side is rubbing the wrong way causing pain. My pain might get better if I have a release of the fibers alongside the kneecap. Is this a short-term improvement or will I get lasting results?
    		 
  		• I'm having knee pain and my kneecap dislocates every now and then. The doctor suggests an operation called a lateral retinacular release. I've been told the results can vary from patient to patient. How do we know if this will really work for my problem?
    		 
  		• I had a lateral retinaculum release for a chronically dislocating patella. My symptoms aren't any better. In fact, the pain may be worse. What went wrong?
    		 
  		• I don't feel like my doctor really understands how much pain I'm in from a knee injury. Can I really trust his judgment about treatment options?
    		 
  		• I tore the cartilage in my right knee. The doctor gave me three different treatment options to choose from including conservative treatment without surgery or surgery. The surgery choice comes with two different types of surgery to choose from. What ever happened to the old days when the doctor sized up the problem and just fixed it?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL-repair about a month ago. I'm getting my motion back nicely but I still can't do all the things I expected by now. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• I read that blood clots are very common after knee joint replacements. How often does this happen and what causes it?
    		 
  		• After surgery for a total knee replacement, I got a blood clot in the other leg. The doctor wasn’t even checking that side. Is this a common problem?
    		 
  		• What is a "soggy knee"? My doctor gave me this label after a total knee replacement surgery.
    		 
  		• Before having a total knee replacement, my doctor insists that I go to physical therapy. This is called preoperative treatment. Why is this necessary? I’m really ready for the operation.
    		 
  		• I'm two months out after a total knee replacement. I've been using an electronic pedometer to monitor my activity. I'd like to figure out how active I am. Is there any kind of scale to help me out?
    		 
  		• My doctor tells me my new knee replacement will last about 10 to 15 years. So what happens exactly? Does it just stop working after 10 years? Is there some kind of microchip inside that tells it when 10 years has gone by?
    		 
  		• What is a bone bruise? After a car accident that dislocated my hip, I found out I also had a bone bruise around my knee.
    		 
  		• I was in a car accident six months ago and dislocated my hip when my knee crashed into the dashboard. Everything was coming along fine until I started putting more weight on that leg. Now I'm having knee pain. Could this be from the accident or is it just from being inactive for so long?
    		 
  		• Could you settle an argument for me? I say more men have total knee replacements because women don't have anyone willing and able to look after them after surgery. My daughter says I'm gender-biased and don't know what I'm talking about. Who's right?
    		 
  		• My 78-year old mother had a total knee replacement last year. She had all kinds of problems after and ended up having a second knee operation. Sadly, she died as a result of pneumonia after the second surgery. She seemed healthy enough for this surgery. It just didn't work out. Does this happen very often?
    		 
  		• Six weeks ago I had a total knee replacement. Everything was fine and then I got an infection in the joint. I had to have a second surgery. My father always said if it wasn't for bad luck he wouldn't have any at all. Is it my bad luck or does this happen very often?
    		 
  		• I am an athlete in training with hopes for a college scholarship in volleyball and cross country. I just tore the ACL in my right knee. I've been advised to have surgery to repair it but it could mean losing my chances to compete in the fall. If I rehab the knee can I get back to training sooner than if I have the surgery?
    		 
  		• Thirty years ago I tore the ACL in my left knee playing football. Now my high school son has done the same thing. Is there a hereditary factor in these kinds of injuries?
    		 
  		• I've been told if I don't have my torn ACL repaired I could end up with a total knee replacement. Is that true?
    		 
  		• My mother-in-law is very hard of hearing even with her hearing aids. I was with her when the doctor went over all the instructions for her upcoming knee replacement. I don't think she heard a thing he said. Is there any way to help older adults with hearing problems understand what's going to happen?
    		 
  		• My father is going to have knee surgery in the next two weeks. I'm concerned because he only went through the sixth grade. Will he really be able to understand everything and follow directions after?
    		 
  		• I'm supposed to take my mother-in-law to the doctor's for an informed consent appointment before surgery. What will be done during this part?
    		 
  		• I think I might be prone to knee injuries. Would wearing a knee brace during volleyball practice help prevent an ACL tear?
    		 
  		• I'm on a women's college basketball and soccer team. I injured my left ACL in the first season out. Now that I'm back in the game, I'd like to prevent further injury on either side. What specific exercises can I do?
    		 
  		• I've never been in favor of girls' sports. They are just going to hurt themselves trying to play games they aren't built for. Now I hear that girls are eight times more likely to injure their knees compared to boys of the same age in the same sports. Doesn't this just prove my point?
    		 
  		• I tried a new treatment for a partially torn ACL in my left knee. The doctor used radiofrequency waves to heat it up and shrink it down. It didn't work. My joint is still too loose. What went wrong?
    		 
  		• I have a partial tear of the ACL in my knee. What are my chances for recovery if I try to rehab it without the surgery?
    		 
  		• I'm on a football scholarship and just got red-shirted for a knee injury. My right anterior cruciate ligament has a 25 percent tear. I've been told I can rest and rehab it, but I'll miss the season. What about the shrink wrap treatment I heard about? Can that get me back in the game sooner?
    		 
  		• I see the news focused on cancer all the time. None of my friends have cancer but we all have arthritis. Do more people really have cancer than arthritis?
    		 
  		• What do you know about taking creatine for Duchenne's muscular dystrophy? I have two sons with this disease. We'll try anything that might help.
    		 
  		• I've heard taking creatine supplements can help me get better faster after surgery. I'm going to have a hip replacement later this month. Is it too late to start taking this?
    		 
  		• I'm working with a physical therapist to rehab my knee. I've been told I have patellofemoral pain. The therapist keeps telling me to avoid thinking "no pain, no gain." That's been my motto as an athlete since first grade. How can this be wrong thinking?
    		 
  		• Why does taping around the kneecap help reduce patellofemoral pain? I've tried everything else and this is the first thing that's worked.
    		 
  		• I was treated for patellofemoral pain syndrome with a rehab program. The before and after X-rays showed no change. How come I got better?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have a total knee replacement in two weeks. The doctor is going to leave the kneecap alone unless I want it replaced, too. Should I have it replaced?
    		 
  		• I've been doing a little research on total knee replacements (TKRs) for my mother who's going to have one. I found out there are mixed feelings about having the knee cap replaced. And all the studies I've looked at have different results. Why are there such sharp differences in results between these two methods?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have a knee replacement soon. Can you tell me what difference it makes if I have the kneecap replaced or not?
    		 
  		• I'm 45 years old and in need of a knee replacement but I can't find a surgeon who'll do it for me. I've heard the trend for joint replacement is on the rise. Does this mean more younger people are getting new knees? Or just more older folks?
    		 
  		• I understand more and more people are getting joint replacements as the aging of America continues. I still have a few years to go before getting there myself. What will the world of joint replacements look like 10 to 20 years from now?
    		 
  		• It seems like more and more folks my age are having joint replacements. My childhood friend of 70 years just had her third (two knees, one shoulder). Is this some kind of record, or what?
    		 
  		• I'm 62 years old and have very bad knees from arthritis. I make my living cleaning other people's houses. If I have a knee replacement, will I still be able to get up and down to clean under and behind things? I can't really afford to retire just yet.
    		 
  		• I can't help but notice my family and friends who've had a knee replacement do less and less after their surgery. I thought replacing the joint would free them up to do more. Is this a common pattern?
    		 
  		• I'm in a panic. I had a total knee replacement done about four weeks ago. The strength measurements keep going down. I'm not getting better and I have to be ready for my daughter's wedding in two months. What can I do??
    		 
  		• Is there any truth to the idea that hyperextension at the knees increases my chances of a knee injury?
    		 
  		• I was reading the surgeon's report on my son's ACL repair. There's a note that says he used care during the graft harvest to avoid patella baja. What's patella baja?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair done about 18 months ago. The knee works fine but it creaks and cracks a lot when I move it. Is this normal?
    		 
  		• What's a ligament substitute? I need an ACL repair and the doctor mentioned this as a possibility.
    		 
  		• I'm thinking about having surgery to repair a torn ACL. I guess there are two ways to do the operation. What difference does it make which one I choose?
    		 
  		• I had an anterior cruciate ligament repair about six months ago. My doctor and therapist say I'm coming along fine. I'd like some better way to measure my results. Are there any standard tests for this?
    		 
  		• I have a trick knee that goes out on my every now and then. It's from a torn ACL from an old football injury. If I have it repaired surgically will that stop it from giving way?
    		 
  		• I am an athletic trainer with a college-level basketball team. I read an article suggesting that athletes can avoid anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears by making softer landings with more hip and knee flexion. How can this be done when the player is trying to make a rebound or jumping quickly and repeatedly while trying to tip the ball into the basket?
    		 
  		• I'd like to make a training video for the high school athletes I coach. If I start with trying to improve landing technique, what should I focus on first?
    		 
  		• I'm a high school basketball and volleyball player. I go to training camps each summer. I always wonder if I'm making any improvements. Is there any way to show changes I'm making from my many hours of practice?
    		 
  		• I am 67-years old and have arthritis in both my knees. Many of my friends have had knee replacements, but I’m too scared to do it. Is the operation painful?
    		 
  		• A month ago, I had a total knee replacement. I’m working very hard with my exercises, but the thigh muscle just doesn’t seem to contract when I try to straighten or lift my leg. Why is this?
    		 
  		• I was training a young horse that kept trying to push me into the fencepost. My knee got pretty banged up. Now, I have a large knot on the outside of my leg just below the knee. It especially hurts when I put weight on my leg. Could it be broken?
    		 
  		• I had bone cancer three years ago. My lower leg was amputated below the knee. I notice the bump alongside the same knee is getting larger and hurts when I push on it. Could this be the cancer coming back?
    		 
  		• My son is off to college on a basketball scholarship. Early in the season he tore his ACL and had surgery. He says he's coming along but that he has an extension deficit. What's that?
    		 
  		• Two years ago I had a hamstring graft to repair a torn ACL. There was a lot of controversy then over whether a hamstring or patellar tendon graft was better. I'm still wondering if I made the right choice. What's the latest thinking on this issue?
    		 
  		• I'm a basketball player at the college level. I blew out my ACL during the last game of the season. Now I'm faced with having surgery. I know there's two ways to do the operation. Since I don't have to get back to play right away does it matter which kind of repair I have done?
    		 
  		• What's the advantage of having a meniscus repaired by arthroscopy? Are there any problems with this kind of surgery?
    		 
  		• Just about 10 years ago I was one of the first patients to have my meniscus repaired with a special little arrow. The doctor didn't have to open up the knee but put it in all by arthroscopy. I hear they have stopped using these arrows. How come?
    		 
  		• Three years after a meniscal repair I started having painful clicking in my knee again. The doctor says the repair was "incomplete." What does that mean? I may have to have another operation to repair the problem.
    		 
  		• I'm wondering about my mother and her total knee replacement. She was in so much pain before the operation. Now she's having a longer stay in the hospital than expected. Does this mean she'll have a worse result?
    		 
  		• I'm trying to get up enough courage to have one of my knees replaced. Are there any studies to show who should really have this operation? Maybe I'm not a good candidate.
    		 
  		• I'm about 100 pounds overweight and need a total knee replacement. The doctor won't touch me until I lose at least 50 pounds. Does it really make a difference?
    		 
  		• I have a painful knee problem called patellofemoral pain syndrome. Sometimes it hurts like crazy. Other times I have no pain at all. Why is that?
    		 
  		• I have patellofemoral pain syndrome in both knees. Sometimes I can't decide which is worse: the pain or the stiffness. Is the pain causing the stiffness or the other way around?
    		 
  		• Whenever I'm in my yoga classes I hear people's joint snapping and popping. Mine never do that. Why not?
    		 
  		• I'm supposed to see a physical therapist for rehab after an ACL repair. I have a health club membership. Can I do my rehab program there and skip the PT?
    		 
  		• I have heard that it's possible to do my own rehab after an ACL repair. Is this true? It would sure save me time and money driving into town to go to rehab.
    		 
  		• I tore the medial collateral ligament in my knee. Is it true I don't need surgery to repair it? I had to have surgery for a torn ACL. What's the difference?
    		 
  		• I am a traveling sales rep and just had surgery to repair a torn ACL. There's no way I can get to rehab three times a week. Can I just do my own program at home and on the road?
    		 
  		• I saw a TV special on physical therapists who use a computer program to show results before and after total knee replacements. The system could even measure how hard you're stepping when walking. I've had two knee replacements. I've never seen anything like this. Why don't more PTs use this kind of program?
    		 
  		• I have severe osteoarthritis and need both knees replaced. How soon after the first one can I have the second one done?
    		 
  		• I had my left knee replaced about six months ago. I thought I was fully recovered but my adult children tell me I still walk funny. What can I do to get a more normal walking pattern?
    		 
  		• I injured my knee in a biking accident. The arthroscopic exam showed a torn ACL and MCL. I tore my other ACL several years ago so I know the rehab can take many months. Will having a second injured ligament prolong the rehab time?
    		 
  		• I am going to have to have two ligaments in my knee repaired at the same time. The first is the medial collateral ligament. The second is the anterior cruciate ligament. The surgeon is going to use some of my hamstring to repair the medial collateral ligament. What do they use for the anterior cruciate ligament?
    		 
  		• My daughter is a high school senior. She's been offered scholarships to several universities. One school wants her to play lacrosse. Another school wants her for their women's basketball team. We're looking at all sides of the playtime. Can you tell us if there are more injuries with basketball or lacrosse?
    		 
  		• In the 1980s I had both ACLs repaired after a bad skiing accident. My daughter just had ACL surgery (just on one side). I remember wearing a cast and being on crutches forever. She's walking around without either. Can you explain this?
    		 
  		• Since I hurt my ACL, I've been reading a lot about doing closed-kinetic chain exercises after knee injury. What kind of exercises are these anyway?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair on my left knee about two months ago. The physical therapist keeps telling me it's okay to put my full weight on that leg but I'm very nervous it's going to give out from underneath me. Is it really safe to exercise standing on just this one leg?
    		 
  		• Should I have my ACL repair done using donor tissue from the same leg or the other leg? Which is better?
    		 
  		• I tore my ACL in a water skiing accident about 27 months ago. I tried rehab but it looks like I'm going to need surgery after all. Have I missed my chance for a good result by waiting so long?
    		 
  		• I had an MRI to find out what's wrong with my knee. The report came back saying, "ACL deficiency with concomitant intra-articular pathology." Can you interpret what this means and explain it to me?
    		 
  		• I tore my right ACL two years ago. It's still not right. I have continued pain and swelling that's keeping me from enjoying the things I like to do. Will I ever be able to ride a bike again?
    		 
  		• Should I have my ACL repair done using donor tissue from the same leg or the other leg? Which is better?
    		 
  		• Years ago I had a total knee replacement. With the new joint I had less pain but not much more motion. Now I'm going to have the other knee done. Any chance I can get better motion with the newer joints?
    		 
  		• Is it really true that being overweight means I won't get good motion after a total knee replacement?
    		 
  		• I have hemophilia that's under fairly good control. My left knee is a real problem. I could really use a joint replacement. What's the status of this operation for people with hemophilia?
    		 
  		• I am a high school athlete doing a science project on ACL injuries in girls and women. So far I've found that females are at greater risk for ACL injury than males. Are they also more likely to reinjure themselves later?
    		 
  		• If I have a total knee replacement on an outpatient basis will I still need to use crutches or a walker? I live in a tiny apartment and it would be easy to walk around holding onto the furniture.
    		 
  		• I've heard it's possible to have a total knee replacement and go home the same day. Can anyone do it this way? Since I don't have health insurance, this way to do the operation could save me a lot of money.
    		 
  		• I'm planning to have a total knee replacement done and go home the same day. The nurse I spoke with today said same-day discharge isn't always possible. What's to keep me from going home?
    		 
  		• I'm looking into having a total knee replacement. The surgeon showed me the new all-poly plastic joint replacement for the bottom half. What's the down side of this implant?
    		 
  		• I'm used to walking three to four miles a day even with my painful, arthritic knees. If I have a new joint put in should I go with the plastic or metal implant? Which one holds up best for walkers like me?
    		 
  		• How can I find a surgeon who is certified to do the new minimally-invasive knee joint replacements?
    		 
  		• What makes a surgery count as "minimally-invasive"? It seems like surgery is a major trauma to the body no matter how short the time it takes.
    		 
  		• Ten years ago I had a total knee replacement. The staples got infected and I have a huge, ugly scar on my leg. I hear they can do it now with a much smaller cut. Where is the scar for the new method of knee replacement?
    		 
  		• I'm wondering how in the world surgeons can replace an entire knee joint with only a two-inch incision? How do they even get the implant through a hole that small?
    		 
  		• I have a trip to Italy planned in two months. I also need a knee replacement before I go. The surgeon offered me the new minimally invasive "faster" surgery. Should I do it?
    		 
  		• Please help me out. I'm writing to you from the rehab center where I've just had a total knee replacement. I've been up for the first time and put weight on the leg. Do I have to use this walker? I hate looking like an old person.
    		 
  		• My mother fell and broke her kneecap into many little pieces. She's having surgery to take them out. It's complicated because she has a knee joint replacement in the same leg. I'll be taking care of her. What can I expect?
    		 
  		• Two years ago I had a total knee replacement. I was able to keep my own kneecap at the time. Last month I fell and broke my kneecap. It's painful, and I want the doctor to take the kneecap out. Do I really need it anyway?
    		 
  		• Well, strike one for me. I tore the cartilage in my knee. The surgeon did a debridement technique that didn't work. The hole just got worse. Now what?
    		 
  		• My wife is going to have some cartilage repaired in her knee. They call this a debridement procedure. What will they do?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have a cartilage cell transplant done for a bad cartilage tear in my right knee. How long does this take?
    		 
  		• I am trying to break into semi-professional tennis but I have a torn cartilage in my left knee that's holding me back. I found some information about cartilage transplantation. It all seems to be geared around soccer players. Have they done this treatment on anyone else? Does it work?
    		 
  		• I am a competitive soccer player with a large and deep cartilage tear. I've had one surgery already that failed. I'm going to try the cartilage transplantation next. What are my chances for getting back into the game?
    		 
  		• I was in a car accident and crashed my left knee against the dashboard hard enough to break it. I'm only 23-years old and I know this might get arthritic later in life. What are options now to help prevent this from happening?
    		 
  		• My 83-year old mother fell on some ice while trying to get across the street. She broke her kneecap. She already had arthritis in that knee and now this. The question is: should she wait and see if the fracture will heal? Have the kneecap replaced? Replace the entire joint? The doctor has left it up to her to decide and she's depending on us to help her figure it out.
    		 
  		• My father suffered serious burns in a car accident. He's in stable condition but now they say he has compartment syndrome in his right leg. What happens next? What's the treatment for this?
    		 
  		• My 16-year old son broke his leg skiing over the weekend. They put him in a lower leg cast that seems too tight to me. Is this okay? Should I say something?
    		 
  		• Six months ago I had liposuction to my thighs. One side developed severe problems diagnosed as an anterior compartment syndrome. I ended up with a huge, swollen thigh and had another two surgeries (one to release the pressure and another to sew the wound up). After getting the bill for the second and third operations, I'm wondering if it wouldn't have worked to just use ice and elevation to get the swelling down. Were the doctors just knife-happy?
    		 
  		• Our 15-year old daughter got smacked in the leg during a soccer game. She ended up in the emergency room 12 hours later. They did surgery for an anterior compartment syndrome of the thigh and said it was a "rare" problem. With all the athletic injuries we see every week, how can something like this be "rare"?
    		 
  		• My 23-year old son had a bad stick injury playing ice hockey. There was obvious bleeding under the skin and swelling in his thigh. It was diagnosed as a compartment syndrome. The doctors did emergency surgery without even taking an X-ray. How could they tell it was that serious without any testing?
    		 
  		• My doctor told me that just because there are arthritic changes on my knee X-ray doesn't mean the pain in my knee is coming from those changes. Why not? Doesn't it make sense that the damage seen would be causing the problems?
    		 
  		• Sometimes my knee clicks and then gives out from underneath me. What causes this kind of buckling?
    		 
  		• My father had a total knee replacement that had some problems. During the operation one of his ligaments was damaged that was fine before the operation. Does this happen very often? Is it an indication that the surgeon wasn't being careful?
    		 
  		• I usually have my dental work done without novacaine. Can I have arthroscopic surgery without anesthesia?
    		 
  		• I went to see a doctor about getting a total knee replacement. She kept talking about the "envelope" of my knee. I guess it has something to do with what kind of replacement I get. What is this envelope?
    		 
  		• My orthopedic surgeon showed me half a dozen different joint implants that could be used for my knee replacement. How do they decide which one to use?
    		 
  		• My total knee surgery has been postponed because the surgeon had to order a new replacement. He said the old one had been at the hospital too long. Is this a way to just increase the price by buying a new one when the one on hand would do just as well?
    		 
  		• What is osteolysis? The radiology report on my total knee replacement says "there's evidence of mild osteolysis on the medial tibial plateau." Can you explain what this means?
    		 
  		• I'm a 16-year old basketball player with lots of knee problems. I've been doing a program of exercises to help prevent an ACL injury. I've been doing a box heel touch exercise without problems. What's the next step in the sequence of exercise?
    		 
  		• I'm entering my first practice season on a college soccer team. My entire college education depends on the athletic scholarship I'm going to school on. Lots of my teammates in high school had ACL tears and missed entire seasons of sports. How can I keep this from happening to me?
    		 
  		• I'm working on various events in gymnastics right now. I'd like to improve my tuck jump. Can you give me some tips on what to do?
    		 
  		• I can tell my new knee replacement heats up inside after I start to exercise. It seems to happen most often after I walk 20 to 40 minutes. Biking the same amount of time causes some warmth but not as much. Should I be worried?
    		 
  		• Sometimes it feels like my new knee replacement is hot inside. When I touch the skin on the outside it feels normal. Am I imagining this?
    		 
  		• My surgeon told me the type of knee joint replacement I have can heat up a little with activity. Should I exercise more often but for shorter periods of time to keep this from happening?
    		 
  		• I've been training for my third triathlon but I got sideswiped by a bout of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I was down and out for three full months. Now that I'm starting back I notice a lot of knee pain I didn't have before. Every time I try to bump up my training schedule the knee pain comes on. Is this left over from the fever?
    		 
  		• I'm a soldier in today's army just finished with basic training. There were many recruits who dropped out in the first 90 days because of stress fractures. I was pretty glad it didn't happen to me. Does anyone know why some trainees get these and others don't?
    		 
  		• Our son had knee pain every time he tried to run or work out. We finally took him to the doctor's. An X-ray was negative but the MRI was positive for a stress fracture. I thought they used bone scans to find things like this. Why not?
    		 
  		• I'm having physical therapy for my knee after a total knee replacement seven months ago. I just didn't get the motion back that I needed so the doctor sent me to PT. I'm a little worried about the treatment. When the therapist pushes on my knee it feels like something's going to break. Is that possible?
    		 
  		• I can't seem to straighten my knee all the way after my total knee replacement. It's been six months. Does it usually take this long?
    		 
  		• I have a bum knee that probably needs replacing. Over the years whenever I see a doctor they always do the same thing: plant my foot flat with my knee bent and pull on the lower leg. What kind of test is this anyway?
    		 
  		• My surgeon was talking into his tape player as she examined my knee. I heard her say the laxity wasn't balanced. I'm going to have a total knee replacement. Should I have therapy to get the laxity balanced before the operation? I'm already seeing a physical therapist to build up my muscles.
    		 
  		• I saw my orthopedic surgeons assistant for a pre-operative exam today. I notice when he put pressure on each side of my knee I had more motion with the knee bent compared to when it was straight. Is this normal or will they fix it during the operation?
    		 
  		• What is a discoid lateral meniscus? I've been told I have one and that's why I tore the cartilage clear down to the bone.
    		 
  		• What's a bucket handle tear? That's the kind of meniscal tear I have.
    		 
  		• I had a torn meniscus that was repaired surgically but failed. The knee still locks up, swells up, and gets painful when it does. I'm probably a statistic -- just one of those few patients who didn't have a good repair. Are there specific reasons why this happens to people?
    		 
  		• I just (yesterday) had an out-patient meniscal repair. The surgeon used a new all-inside arthroscopic technique with special anchors to hold the meniscus in place. I forgot to ask when I could start running again. My next appointment isn't for a few days. What can you tell me while I'm waiting to ask directly?
    		 
  		• When the surgeon repaired my torn ACL he took a piece of my patellar tendon and used it as a graft. How can they do this without causing problems in that tendon now?
    		 
  		• I think I'm in trouble. I've had two ACL repairs (one on each leg) and used up the donor material from each side. Now I've ruptured the repair. If I've already used up the tendon that's used for grafting, then what?
    		 
  		• What's a lateral overhang of the kneecap? X-rays show that my daughter needs surgery for kneecap overhang problems.
    		 
  		• When I was a college athlete I had a lot of trouble with dislocating kneecaps on both sides. Since I'm not in sports any more it seems much better. I did see a new heat treatment like shrink-wrap that can be done for this problem. Is there any reason to think it might help me? I worry about what will happen when I'm much older.
    		 
  		• What kind of rehab can I expect for recurrent patellar dislocations? I'm supposed to see a physical therapist for the next two months.
    		 
  		• My father had a total knee replacement six months ago and still has pain and stiffness. We think the surgery was a big failure. Does this happen very often?
    		 
  		• I have a total knee replacement that just won't heal. I'm diabetic and that slows my recovery from everything. The doctor mentioned infection as a possible cause. How can they tell if that's the problem?
    		 
  		• My mother has had a bum knee for years. She finally had a knee replacement and the results aren't any better than before. The surgeon wants to do surgery to fix the problem. What can another operation do for her that the first one didn't accomplish?
    		 
  		• I am 27-years old and I had an ACL repair using the hamstring tendon graft. The physical therapist has tested my muscle strength. After rehab, I still have hamstring muscle weakness. Will this be a problem?
    		 
  		• After having an ACL repair I developed mensical problems. Now I have to have a second operation. Couldn't the surgeon have taken care of this problem when the ACL was operated on?
    		 
  		• I'm scheduled to have an ACL reconstruction in two weeks. The doctor is trying out a slightly different way of doing the operation. A piece of my hamstring will be used with a little piece of bone attached to give it greater stability. Will this speed up my recovery at all?
    		 
  		• Is osteochondritis dissecans inherited? I have a brother and a nephew with this condition. I'm just wondering about my own children.
    		 
  		• My neighbor's kid has a condition called osteochondritis dissecans. He's off the neighborhood baseball team (I'm the coach) and on crutches. What are his chances of playing again next season?
    		 
  		• I saw my own knee X-rays and know I have bad arthritis on one side of the joint. I'm too young (45 years old) for a joint replacement. I'm too heavy (100 pounds overweight) for an osteotomy. Aren't there any other options for people like me (besides losing weight)?
    		 
  		• Years ago I had a football injury and tore the meniscus in my left knee. They took it out and now I have arthritis on that side of the joint. The surgeon's talking about doing a unilateral compartment replacement. Do these always work for this problem?
    		 
  		• My 60-year old daughter is having a special knee replacement called a McKeever. When I had my knee replacement I never heard of this kind. What is it?
    		 
  		• What's biologic resurfacing? I've been told I'm too young for a knee replacement but this treatment might work.
    		 
  		• I'm 42 years old and have severe, disabling knee osteoarthritis. The doctors say I'm too young for a total knee replacement. Is there such a thing as a knee joint transplantation? Maybe I could qualify for that.
    		 
  		• Six years after my total knee replacement, the implant came loose and had to be replaced. The surgeon told me the first joint implant was turned in a few degrees too many and that's what caused the problem. How often does this happen?
    		 
  		• What is a resection arthroplasty? My mother has an infection in her total knee joint and this is what they are planning.
    		 
  		• What happens if a total knee joint replacement fails? My father just got the bad news that his new joint isn't working. Infection has caused it to become loose. The pain and loss of function is worse than his arthritis before the joint replacement.
    		 
  		• I'm 23-years old and already blown the meniscus in both my knees playing football. I've done exercises and used braces but there's still so much pain and stiffness. Isn't there anything else I can do?
    		 
  		• I am looking into the possibility of having a meniscus transplantation for my left knee. When I had the meniscus removed I was on crutches for about a week and no real exercises. Can I expect the same with this operation?
    		 
  		• I have rheumatoid arthritis that has bothered my knees for years. Two years ago I had the right knee replaced. I see now there's an even better operation with a small incision that doesn't cut through the muscle. If I have my other knee replaced, could I have it done with this new method?
    		 
  		• ACL repairs have been around for a long time. I had one when I was a college athlete. Now my daughter who is a collegiate basketball player is having one. Has anything much changed over the years?
    		 
  		• When my son tore his ACL during basketball season we agonized over which type of tendon graft repair would work best. We went with the hamstring tendon graft. Now I hear there's an even better two-bundle method. What did we miss out on?
    		 
  		• Can you tell me what an abrasian arthroplasty is? I have a total knee joint replacement so I know arthroplasty means repairing the joint. Mine was a total knee arthroplasty.
    		 
  		• I'm a dance instructor at a local dance studio but I may have to give up my practice because of my right knee. I know I'm down to bone-on-bone because I had the cartilage removed 20 years ago. I'm too young for a knee replacement. Are there any other treatment options? I hate to quit teaching but some days the pain is unbearable.
    		 
  		• I saw on a news report that cartilage can be transplanted into knees. The scientists said that with fresh grafts, the success rate is like 95 percent. How long can they keep donated tissue before they have to throw it out?
    		 
  		• I'm very excited because I've been selected to receive a cartilage transplant for my knee. Hopefully this will help me get back into sports activities. What kind of restrictions will I have and for how long?
    		 
  		• I've been told not to have my total knee replacement at our local (small) hospital. My family wants me to go to the nearest large hospital 100 miles away. I thought I might get better (more personal) care at the smaller hospital. What's really best?
    		 
  		• My father-in-law is going to have a total knee replacement next week. Call me a pessimist but I think he's going to have problems. He's old (83 years old) and frail. Is it possible to predict who will and who won't have a good result?
    		 
  		• I'm 62-years old and in reasonably good health. Lately I've been having some pain along the inside of my right knee. I've waited for it to go away. I've tried ibuprofen. It's not getting worse but it's not getting better. How do you know what's just a sign of getting older and what should be checked out by a doctor?
    		 
  		• What is spontaneous ostenonecrosis and what causes it? My husband has been diagnosed with this problem in his left knee. We can't figure it out.
    		 
  		• I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and had to have surgery to reconstruct it. Why doesn't this ligament heal itself like other tissues in the body?
    		 
  		• Thirty years ago I looked into synthetic tissue for an ACL repair. The science wasn't there yet to support a bioengineered graft. Now my son has a similar injury. Is it possible to get a synthetic ligament graft now?
    		 
  		• I've had the worst luck with my right knee. First I tore the cartilage right down to the bone. The surgeon tried to repair it arthroscopically. That didn't work. Then I had a new cartilage implant out on the market called Carticel. There were problems and the graft failed. Now what?
    		 
  		• I was one of the first patients to receive the new Carticel made by a company called Genzyme. I've had a great result. I was wondering how other people came out?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair a week ago. The doctor doesn't think I'm getting my motion back fast enough. What should I do differently?
    		 
  		• About 10 years ago I had an ACL repair. Everything's been just fine and now all of a sudden, I'm having painful grinding behind my kneecap and in the joint. What's happening?
    		 
  		• I've been having knee pain whenever I do running or squatting drills during football training. One of my other teammates says tight hip flexors can cause this problem. How do I check myself for this?
    		 
  		• I've had knee pain since I was 13 (I'm now 18). The doctor calls it patellofemoral pain syndrome. I've done a million quad sets and hamstring stretches. It helps but I still have pain when I try to increase my training schedule for track and field events. Is there anything new I can try?
    		 
  		• I'm 26-years old and at the peak of my career in athletics. I also have a torn meniscus that can't be repaired. If I have it removed, can they put a new one in?
    		 
  		• I'm 62-years old and getting ready to retire. I've always been active and don't want to become a slug when I'm retired. The problem is I had the meniscus taken out of my left knee and now I've got arthritis in there pretty bad. I'm not really ready for a knee replacement. Are there any other treatments out there for this problem?
    		 
  		• My mother is thinking about having an operation to rotor rooter her knee. It seems she may have some torn or loose cartilage causing pain, locking, and difficulty walking. We're thinking at her age (66 years old), maybe she should just have a knee replacement. What do you suggest?
    		 
  		• I have some very bothersome arthritis in one knee. I'm not really ready for a joint replacement. Antiinflammatories don't seem to help. Are there any other options for people like me?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair about 10 years ago. I was able to return to competitive sports but now I found out I'm starting to get arthritis in that knee. I guess I thought the knee would be better than ever. Does this happen to everyone?
    		 
  		• Years ago (back in the 1980s) I had an ACL repair. As I recall, they sewed my torn ligament and reinforced it with a piece of plastic. Is this still done nowadays?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair using a piece of my own hamstring tendon as the replacement part. Everything seemed fine for awhile. Then the knee started getting too loose. Did I do something wrong?
    		 
  		• I'm going to have an ACL repair in two weeks. The physician's assistant went through all the steps of the operation with me. It all made sense at the time. Now I'm wondering why do they lower the temperature of the graft before putting it in the knee? How does this help?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement several years ago. The knee part went fine but I had a terrible reaction to the anesthesia. Now I need a shoulder replacement. Is there any way to avoid the same problem this time?
    		 
  		• My son is a good athlete who tore his ACL. The doctor says they will get him back on the field with surgery and an accelerated rehab program. What is an accelerated rehab program?
    		 
  		• My daughter has the worst luck. She had a great future as a basketball player and then tore her ACL. I've heard this is more common in girl athletes compared to boys. Nine months later she ruptured the graft. Is this more common in girls too?
    		 
  		• My father had to have his total knee replacement taken out and replaced a second time. Does this happen very often?
    		 
  		• I need some help deciding about a knee joint replacement. I have arthritis in several joints. The rheumatologist has not been able to control the pain with medications. She has suggested I have the knee replaced. The orthopedic surgeon is not in favor of doing the surgery. How do I decide what to do?
    		 
  		• My mother is in a nursing home and has early stages of dementia. She also has severe arthritis in her left knee. Some of the staff think if she had a knee replacement she would be more active and this might help with the dementia. Can people with dementia handle surgery and rehab?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement about three months ago. I never did get my full motion back. The doctor mentioned manipulating the joint and sending me back to PT for an intense rehab program. How soon should I do this?
    		 
  		• I had a total knee replacement about three months ago. I never did get full knee motion as expected. I only have about 80 degrees of flexion and I know I should have more than 90 degrees. What causes this problem?
    		 
  		• What is a semitendinosus-gracilis autograft? My son is going to have this method of repairing his torn ACL.
    		 
  		• I'm 52-years old and just came back from a family reunion where I did the three-legged hop game with my grandchildren. I was dismayed to see that with my ACL repair on the right from a year ago, I can't hop as far as on the left. Is this typical?
    		 
  		• I have very severe patellofemoral pain syndrome. Would it ever be possible to just have my kneecaps replaced?
    		 
  		• Believe it or not, I've actually become extremely limited because of kneecap arthritis of all things. I've tried exercises and various braces and splints. Nothing seems to help. Is there anything else that can be done?
    		 
  		• I read a small report in the paper about using the patient's own platelets to speed up healing after joint replacement. Is there anything to this?
    		 
  		• What's the point of using the new platelet-plasma spray for wound healing after knee replacement? Is the added expense really worth it if the results are the same in the end?
    		 
  		• I had a nerve block after an ACL repair that didn't seem to work. The surgeon switched me over to an oral and injectable narcotic instead. I had much better pain control after that. Is this typical or am I the odd duck out?
    		 
  		• I had an ACL repair about two weeks ago. On the first day after surgery I couldn't even lift my leg off the bed. I could still walk okay with crutches. Does this make any sense?
    		 
  		• For years I've had knee pain from being knock-kneed. Now I'm going to have an operation to correct the problem. Part of the procedure involves taking a piece of bone from my pelvis and putting it in the side of the knee joint. I've heard the donor site can have more problems than the actual surgical site. Why is that?
    		 
  		• I needed a special operation called an osteotomy for my left knee. It involves using bone taken from my own pelvic bone to correct the deformity. When I went to a special clinic that does this kind of surgery, I was turned down because I'm a smoker. Is this true everywhere?
    		 
  		• My father is going to have his left knee joint replaced. The kneecap is in pretty good shape, so they are going to leave it alone. Are there any disadvantages of this? Maybe it's better to replace everything all at one time.
    		 
  		• My mother is having surgery on her arthritic knee. The operation is called patellar spongialization. What is this?
    		 
  		• For months after my new total knee joint it just seemed like something wasn't right. I finally got a second (and a third) opinion. Both consulting orthopedic surgeons called my problem "overstuffing." What does this mean really?
    		 
  		• Our 78-year old father is having surgery right now for a fractured femur. He broke it right above his fairly new knee joint replacement. The surgeon is using a device called a LISS to make the repair. How does this device work exactly?
    		 
  		• I'm on a handball league that's fairly competitive. I recently injured my ACL but don't want to have surgery if I can avoid it. What's the best approach? Just rest? Give it time to heal? Or do I need some kind of special exercise program?
    		 
  		• It's been six months since I injured my left ACL. Despite a daily exercise program, my left quadriceps muscle just doesn't seem to contract normally. Is this something that just won't get better without surgery?
    		 
  		• I'm looking into knee replacements. I know I need at least a unicompartmental implant. I could have a total knee replacement. How much of a cost savings is the unicompartmental?
    		 
  		• I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of having a full knee replacement versus a unicompartmental implant. I know the unicompartmental unit costs less. Does it last just as long?
    		 
  		• I saw an orthopedic surgeon about some knee pain and swelling I've been having. He thinks I may have a torn meniscus but needs an MRI before doing surgery. In our area a knee MRI costs about $1000.00. Do I really need this?
    		 
  		• I'm 55 years old and have the start of a meniscal tear in my left knee. The surgeon is going to do arthroscopic surgery to shave off the torn edge. I thought the new direction with meniscal tears is to repair them, not remove them.
    		 
  		• My son is supposed to have surgery to repair a deep cartilage tear in the knee. The surgeon said that the patient must be cooperative for this operation to work its best. What does that mean exactly?
    		 
  		• Two months ago I had a microfracture treatment to the knee. The surgery was done arthroscopically. I'm supposed to be very careful to do exactly what the surgeon says to avoid displacing the healing tissue. How will I know when it's healed enough to be safe?
    		 
  		• I've always been told I have an excessive Q-angle in the knee. This has been blamed for many of my knee problems over the years. Would a knee replacement help?
    		 
  		• Is it possible to get a total knee replacement designed for women?
    		 
  		• I've met more and more younger adults who have a knee replacement. I thought you had to be older before anyone would consider giving you a joint replacement. Is this changing?
    		 
  		• What does it mean when the surgeon tells me the five-year survivorship of my knee replacement is good?
    		 
  		• Our 23-year old daughter had an ACL repair last year. She did the rehab thing and went back to her favorite sports activities. Last week the repaired ACL ruptured again. She was told she was "good to go." What went wrong?
    		 
  		• Two of our four sons have had to have an ACL repair from injury while playing sports. Their father had both ACLs repaired from different football injuries. Is there a genetic link or is it just the dumb luck of sports injuries?
    		 
  		• My 83-year old mother lives in a small, rural Western town in the U.S. She needs her knees replaced because of severe arthritis. I'd really like her to come to the northeast (Boston area) where I live and have the surgery done here. How can I sell her on the idea?
    		 
  		• I notice a lot of men in my age group who have both knees replaced at the same time. There isn't a single woman who has done this. Is there a gender bias here?
    		 
  		• How important are shoes for people like me with knee arthritis? Is there a best shoe you can recommend?
    		 
  		• As I get older I notice more and more knee pain and stiffness. What are some simple things I can do to help with this problem?
    		 
  		• I just saw my orthopedic surgeon for a pre-op appointment. I'm having a meniscal repair done next week. He mentioned a certain type of suturing technique that will give me good fixation. Can you explain this a little more to me?
    		 
  		• I just got the results back from the pathology report on my meniscal tear. The surgeon had to remove a small portion that couldn't be repaired. The report says the fragment was fibrillated. What does that mean?
    		 
  		• I have a brand new knee replacement (this year). When I travel, I notice some airport detectors go off and others don't. Why is that?
    		 
  		• We took our 18-year-old daughter to see a doctor for knee pain. After an exam, X-ray, and MRI, she was given a diagnosis of grade two articular cartilage defect. Was it really necessary to do so much testing to figure this out?
    		 
  		• I'm planning to have an operation called microfracture to repair an old football injury to my right knee. I've been told to expect a rigorous rehab program. I'm not much of an exerciser anymore now that I'm not playing ball. Can I get by without this part?