Confirmation I Have Exhausted The Bracing Option For My Knees
[ Tuesday October 3rd 2023 at 1:33 pm ]
During my pain management assessment on September 6th my pain doctor asked me to have a follow up appointment with the bracing specialist to further discuss making the knee unloader brace work for me. With the pain management doctor saying he would adopt the position of the bracing specialist I agreed to this. I decided when I arrived home I was going to think about this follow up. I had concerns about it. I was concerned I was being setup to make my physical disability worse. I needed time to think about how I would present my concerns to the bracing specialist.
One of the concerns I have is that a knee unloader brace causes osteoarthritis. The nature of a knee unloader brace is to put the body weight through a specific area of the knee joint. By not allowing the body weight to pass through the entire knee the knee joint is treated as if you've become obese. This results in osteoarthritis. I have a memory of the bracing specialist saying to me the knee joint will wear out in between 18 months and 5 years with the use of a knee unloader brace. I can't see how engaging in something that is known to make my knee joint worse leaves me in a better position.
My second concern is with how must my pain specialist was focused on knee surgery and bracing I think he lost track of where all it is paining in my right knee. The area of the knee used for a knee unloader brace was damaged when my knee buckled for a second time. Using the knee unloader brace will increase my pain. A knee unloader brace is no longer viable to improve my quality of life. I am not upset by this recommendation. In principal I agree with an intervention over simply prescribing more pain medication. I can't fault the pain specialist for trying. I agree that the need for surgery is present.
My bracing specialist sent a letter to my pain specialist. In summary the letter states all viable bracing options have been pursued based on my current clinical symptoms. The bracing specialist was far more politically astute compared to what I said. However this does fulfill the need I have. That is to say the option of bracing is exhausted. This bolsters my case for knee surgery. I accept I need another operation.