Partial patellar tendon tear.. Rehab, Surgery?

[Petejrrr]

I have recently been diagnosed with a tendon tear in my knee, and more specifically the patellar tendon, the doctor said he does not want to do surgery due to the 6 to 12 month rehab time with this procedure and since it is not completely torn, but without surgery it looks like i will not be 100 percent again and get back my capabilities. since it is not ruptured or completely torn im wondering if i could rehab the tendon and if theres anything i can do to rehab the tendon toward bringing it back to strength without surgery.. basically i was told not to play basketball without a knee brace, refrain from certain excersizes and types of motions or it would get worse and tear completely... basically is there anything i can do to improve it without surgery, is there any way to get it back to 100 percent (with or without surgery) thanks.  also i was told arthoscopic surgery would not be sufficient, open knee surgery would have to be used.

[wickems]

It is good to know you are doing 90%.  I fell in July of this year and broke my kneecap and tendon.  I had surgery and was in the hosptial for about five days.  Came home in a brace and started physical thereapy about five to six weeks after that.  I am presently in therapy.  I have just now reached 100 degrees and still have a good ways to go.  I figure thereapy for a few more months which is great progress is good.  My problem is that my thigh on the same leg has numbness all the time, and my buttocks also is numb. The therapists are now working on this but, I have not read where anyone else has had this problem.  I thought it was from the extensive thereapy and I also have the flexonator.  Has anyone else had this problem

[raysson]

I had partial knee replacement in both knees at the end of June. All was going well until 2 months into rehab, I was in an auto accident. Apparently in the accident, I hit my left knee and injured or tore the Patellar tendon. I have a burning, stabbing pain below my knee cap that has progressively worsened. My doc said to tough it out, as there is no broken bones, nor apparent problem with the implant. Its been 2 months since the accident and am not getting better. Today, I was fitted for a knee imobilizer brace. This position does alleviate some discomfort. Will I have to keep my weight off this leg, or will crutches and partial weight bearing be sufficient? I intend to wear this for 6 weeks and then rehab again, based on the posts on this board. Do you agree or have any other suggestions?

[markeyni]

Hi,  I am 2 and 1/2 yrs post op for a full patellar tendon tear.  I lost 2 cm of tendon and had it reattached to the bone. I was training to be a police officer and had to resign 3 months after the surgery.  The rehab was self driven with phsio once a month - I am not a sporty person but my knee is back to about 90% and I have totally forgotten about the injury - the fear and counting steps has long gone and am only left with some pain when i kneal - due to what i think is wire in there.  Considering the long road of physio that i took and learing to walk again I am able to look back with almost amnesia- hang in there - do what the physio says and it wil get better.  I can run and have been for over a year and forget about the knee and the previous injury

[pankaj_ghosh]

I had sprained my LCL sometime in December 2010 during rehearsal and then eventually, as I continued, got a hairline tear. It would hurt me all the time. Doctor initially thought I had tendonities and had me go through physical therapy for over a month but the condition did not improve.. Finally I was referred to a specialist and after MRI they found the sprain and tear.. He advised me that it will heal in time (6-7 weeks) and I did not need any medication or anything... But it was not getting any better and I was living my life with pain as part of my every day life. Also been to accupuncturist few times not to much effect. Then I started doing Bikram Yoga, ever since it has done wonder. It still hurts little some times, but I am doing so much better now. Back to dance and am performing again. Have also been on the field quite a few times to play cricket. Its been really good so far. I am so grateful to yoga now and believe with time and continuous yoga practice it will heal completely. Please give it a try and see how it works for you, but you will have to be patient with it.

[biggsey]

My son fell in Portugal in June 2011 and cut his knee open in a tile. I realised how serious it was as we could see straight into the knee joint but nobody spoke any English. The ambulance took him away and they took him to a minor injuries unit where a GP stitched him up. It was very frustrating. We came back to Britain 4 days later, took him straight to the Doctors but when I tried to book in with the emergency GP he told me that this was tocomplex for him to deal with and booked me in to see the nurse practitioner ! Eventually after a week, my normal GP saw him and agreed to refer to the hospital. Since then I have been fighting with the NHS system (and consultants) and he has finally had an ultrasound and then an MRI (by default as the first consultant stated to me that he was not going to "waste NHS money" scanning him, fortunately he forgot to cancel one a junior colleague had already booked).  3 months on and the ultrasound and MRI have shown a cut patella tendon.I already knew as I am an Occupational Therapist and look at the fight I've had. The only advice we have had so far is that he should be exercising more (not immobilise) and no one seems to have the foggiest about how to manage a patella tendon damage. We have our first appt with the hospital since the test results and I would be grateful if any one is aware of any articles,research etc that anyone knows of as I think the fight is going to continue. This thread has been a huge help and without it,I might not have fought as hard as I have. Thank you

[irishjoey]

joemyra. numbness is normal, im 2y on from my patella tendon ,the numbness is common, a little part of my knee is still numb, sometimes  it does not come back fully.Even now it still needs constant exercise to keep everything loose, cant really run , and can go a little weak at knee if i take a false step but im really happy with the final product, did make the mistake of letting the wire inside. it cracked and caused pain, get the wire out asap if u have it fitted, get it out, biggggg mistake to take the chance on letting it in, i had way more movement and comfort in the knee when it was out.Its a very long and hard road but everyone gets there in their own time .