Time Line - History

Summer 1991 (14 years old)

I fall an injury my knee multiple times at summer camp, do not think it is a big deal

Fall 1991

Foster mom takes me to DR diagnosed with "water on the knee" have an MRI done put in immovable leg brace continue doing marching band, take off brace, push through the pain, discomfort, knee giving out, very swollen - nobody thinks it is any big deal - will resolve on its own

January 1992

Mother sees my knee for the first time and freaks out. It is still very swollen, I still fall all the time because of it. Takes me to a DR. Dr thinks I have a torn cartilage and will do exploratory arthroscopic surgery. Blood work showing weird things.

February 1992

First arthroscopic surgery. When looks into the knee sees something he has never seen before - PVNS (Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis) ttp://www.kneeandshoulder.md/pvns_02.html It was completely covering all areas of my knees, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, it was very prolific all over, around, and in my knee. Once inside my knee the DR did an arthroscopic synovectomy. Within a month the disease was back.

June 1992

Second arthroscopic synovectomy - it was suppose to be open knee but once I was put to sleep he changed his mind and did it arthroscopic. The disease was back within a month. Every few months had the fluid drained from my knee. Radiation is not done since I am still growing. I fell down seriously 2 times once down a flight of stairs and once down bleachers because of my knee.

December 1992

I got pregnant. The PVNS was my constant companion during my pregnancy. It caused me to fall down another flight of stair, this time cement ones when I was 5 months pregnant. Thankfully Meghan stuck like glue inside me! :) I also felt myself fall so I ducked and rolled :) DRs told me that was VERY smart thinking.

September 1993

Had my beautiful baby daughter!

However, during pushing my PVNS impacted and swelled the joint so much that I could not walk and it was hot and hard to the touch.

October 1993

New DR!!! Dr Eckhoff had seen PVNS the most of any DR in Colorado. It was him who told me how rare my condition was, how devastating it could be, how hopeless the situation was, how crippling it was, and how he was going to do everything possible to try to give me relief for as long as possible from this crippling disease....how I loved that man :) I owe that man so much. Because of his skill and dedication I have been free from PVNS since that surgery!!!!! However, the damage was already done. He also had to remove healthy tissue as well to insure that it would stay gone for as long as possible. He gave me hope when there really was none.

November 1993

Surgery - complete and open synovectomy. It was a very painful surgery. I was put in a immobile knee brace for 2 months (trying to prevent the PVNS from coming back). I then had physical therapy for 2 months to regain the use of my leg.

2002
Ex-rays done showing my knee was "70" years old. I was told at this time I was too young for a knee replacement that the soonest I could get one was when I was 35.

November 2008
Went to see a knee surgeon with Kaiser. I was told they would NOT do it until I was AT LEAST 40...more rejections. It was hard. But she did give me shots of the "good stuff" it helped to take some of the edge off, but it has consequences of its own.

1993-2009
Over the years I have been in a lot of pain with my knee. I can not do things a normal person my age can do. I can not bike, run, walk, pretty much anything. I have tried injections, narcotics, nerve blocks...nothing gets rid of the pain. Injections take some of the edge off, narcotics make me high and sleepy, and nerve blocks make me feel weird.

March 2009
I got new insurance. Went to get more shots for my knees. Dr took one look at the x-rays and told me there was really no option EXCEPT total knee replacement. It was like he was trying to convince me... lol... :)

March 27, 2009
Meet Dr. Xenos... :) Wonderful DR. I am so excited!!! Surgery is scheduled for July 6, 2009. FINALLY a DR listened, understands, and cares about how much pain and suffering I have been in for 16 years!!! "quality of life is important, when you can not even walk without excruciating pain how can you live?"