(Correction 02/13/2013): 6 mo f/u MRI 06/2012 showed a false pvns recurrence. It was proven during f/u surgery that the mri was showing scar tissue and not pvns. After you have surgery the mris become more difficult to read accurately. After the 6 mo f/u mri I had two more mris done showing that the (false) pvns was remaining stable (unchanged) that was the clue that it was scar tissue and not pvns.
For the peeps that are new to this or just had surgery...I don’t mean to scare you or come off negative but I’m seeing way too many people with negative outcomes and I’m angry. I feel discouraged after spending nearly $40 grand ($1750 out of pocket), I have more pain in my knee post surgery, radiation therapy induced tendinopathy, manipulation under anesthesia, and six months off work to get rid of and recover from this disease... only to have it reappear with more of a vengeance within six months. Due to the extra strain my good knee now has an effusion (no pvns) but it is swollen and hurts all of the time. Now 2 bum knees. Thank goodness for insurance.
I know that the treatment decisions I made gave me the best chance of recovery (15-20% chance of recurrance), however, treatment seems to have been a total failure. Now the diffuse pvns appears to be in a new area within the intra-articular notch and within the bakers cyst which is enlarging again, synovitis has recurred and to top it off I have radiation induced tendinopathy in my knee. How can this happen so rapidly and what next? The docs would be much more accurate in saying “there is a 100% chance that pvns is going to fuck up your life or not” no matter what treatment choices you make. Where are they getting their figures anyhow? How can there be a 9-45% spread in recurrance statistics? To me that is a useless statistic. I understand error margins but that is ridiculous. I think to myself “how bad would it have been if I hadn’t treated it aggressively but on the other hand I wasn’t in pain and only had minor swelling prior to surgery. What if I had just left it alone? Would I be better or worse off? I can’t help but to ask these questions.
On a positive note I have the worlds most supportive husband who loves me with all of his heart. He is stressed at work and now my health and financial situation causes more stress. He says no but in my heart I feel like I’m letting him down and not fulfilling my part of the responsibilities. I don’t feel good about me as a person when I’m not working and I can’t shake that.
I am not a physician and the above is in no way to be taken as medical advise. This is my interpretation of what I have been told by my physicians and from what I have read. Always consult with a professional to determine your individual risk factors.
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