Hi, I am writing because I have a question. I have had several surgeries on my left knee. I have had an ACL repair, 2 meniscus repairs, total left knee replacement and a minipulation. I have pain and still can not bend my left knee, I can not go upstairs the right way. The Dr. wants to take a nerve from the left side of my knee out and also take out scar tissue, will this make a difference? I need some advise on this. Thank you

-- Jan Weir (imstuckup2@yahoo.com), April 21, 2004

Answers

Very difficult to say without examining you. Nerve ablation only works if there is a specific nerve inflamed, not for generalized pain. Scar removal can be effective, but more scar tissue forms during the healing process. I generally recommend it only when patients are very stiff (less than 70 degrees flexion)

-- Marc Hungerford, M.D. (mhunger1@jhmi.edu), May 06, 2004.