I’ve noticed when I do a bit too much, an area under the left knee (newest replacement leg) is swellinh, doesn’t hurt persay, but I notice it when I go to do steps or hills. Aches and looks unsightly.

From googling I think it’s Hoffa’s Fat Pad, I seem to be lucky it’s not as painful as it could be. But something to keep an eye on for sure. So what is Hoffa’s Fat Pad? Well the Hoffa is a wedge shaped pad of fat, that can get squeezed. Fat pad impingement occurs when the infrapatellar fat pad can become impinged (pinched) between the patella (kneecap) and the femoral condyle (large bony prominence at the end of the long bone of the thigh). Impingement causes microtrauma within the fat pad, resulting in pain, swelling and inflammation.

This is affecting step ups, and adding to the Quad / Hip Flexor issues it also has its making this poor leg a little unhappy and slows progress on land down.

Saw podiatry yesterday, That was a Good/Bad decision. They think my knee problem is an impingement caused by my new leg length and how I’m walking.

OMG they do think it’s a true Leg Length Discrepancy, measures 3.5cm in various states of relaxation and following certain movements, to show it’s not just a muscular difference. I had to walk barefoot up and down the corridor, did different stretches. And we discussed the Surgeons desire to wait for a while year following their plan, while making arrangements to see them again in August and get at least a 1.5cm lift for boots and trainers. With a view of having especially made shoes to rise that to 3cm. I do not relish that thought at all.

Came away with 2 new exercises to do, a Straight leg raise with foot at 90degrees, and a Hamstring stretch. Do both to failure every day.

We also did a Faber test, so leg up abduct outwards, straighten leg and down again, almost like swimming breast stroke but lying on your back. As my right hip is extremely tight due to being the (small) leg whereas the left (long) leg is very lax and abducts too easy.

As the Surgeon has stipulated to leave me for a year they are going to wait. So that’s a little frustrating, but I’ve got to try my best to see if we can over come it.