DEAR JOE,
I HAD ONE OF THE WORST KNEES THE SURGEON HAD EVER SEEN. MY LEG WAS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND I COULDN'T WALK. I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE OPERATION. EVERYTHING HAD TO BE CORRECTED IN THE SURGERY. AFTER SURGERY I HAD NO PAIN AND COULD DO PHYSIO EASILY. I STARTED WITH FLEXION 90 AND AM NOW AT 122, WHICH MY THERAPIST CONSIDERS EXCELLENT. THEN IN THE 3RD MONTH MY KNEE STARTED TO GET STIFF AND PAINFUL. SURGEON DID A FOLLOWUP X-RAY AND WAS SATISFIED. SAID I HAD PROBABLY TWISTED A MUSCLE. PAIN PERSISTED. PHYSIO TWICE A WEEK. I WENT BACK TO THE SURGEON THIS WEEK. HE SAID I WAS PROBABLY FORMING BONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE THE LIGAMENT HAD BEEN TOTALLY TORN. HE SAID THEY DID A LOT OF REPAIR ON THAT SIDE. HE CONSIDERS IT NORMAL. HOW DO I GET RID OF EXTRA BONE FORMATION? NO NEW X-RAY, BUT PREVIOUS ONE SHOWED SLIGHT BONE FORMATION ABOVE MY KNEE. THEN HE SAID NO CONCENS, BUT NOW HE SAYS BONE FORMATION.I CAN EASILY DO ALL MY PHYSIO, BUT WALKING LONG DISTANCES HARD AS KNEE IS VERY STIFF. FEELS LIKE A BLOCK OF CEMENT. STARTING TO HAVE LOWER BACK PROBLEMS, DUE TOFORCED WALKING. AGAIN HOW DO I GET RID OF BONE FORMATION? CAN PHYSIO HELP.