I been in the navy 5yrs now and earlier this year I developed bi-lateral knee pain. They said it's PFS(Patella Femoral Syndrome) and if it keeps acting up I'm definatley going to get admin sep for it, cuase the military doesn't consider it to be a disability. I just completed my cross rate from AE to IT and I'm suppose to be reporting to a ship shortly(for 1 year), I'm afraid that If I go through with this sea duty I will be leaving the navy with a cane and I'm only 25. It hurts so badly when i go up an down stairs that i want to cry! I am about to max out my physical therapy and the ortho surgeon said there isn't much else he can do but recommend me for admin sep and recommend me against shipboard duties. The later of the two didn't helped to get my orders modified. I dont know what do, but I cant bear the pain and damage i'm putting on my knees!
the Navy might not consider it a disability, I had a condition that the Navy scoffed at, upon retirement, the VA gave me 90%! Navy and VA, two different bodies with two different sets of standards. you get out and apply for disability, but only after you hit that cane. and this is not ment to be rude, but knee replacements work well, it happens all the time.
PFS is not technically a joint problem as the patella lies outside of the knee joint proper. You could have a surgical procedure...something like a shaving of the underside, or even a loosening of the medial or lateral retinaculum (a thin band of tissue on either side of the patella that helps keep it aligned in the femoral tract). Or maybe somone will take pity on you and give you cortisone injections under the patella for some temporary relief. But for sure, going up and down ladders on a ship will not improve your condition.
This is from a handout that I used when I was assinged to Division.
Exercises can help strengthen the inner side of the quadriceps muscle. The muscle in the front of the thigh hooks in the kneecap and helps align it into the center of the groove. The quadriceps can be strengthened by a full leg extension exercise.
When you are doing leg-strengthening routines, it is necessary to stay away from leg presses and squats which put stress on the bent knee. Bending the knee more than 30 degrees may cause symptoms to flare up.
The same principle goes for riding an exercise bicycle. The seat should be high enough to bend the knee as little as possible (allowing nearly full extension). Although most cases respond to these conservative interventions, some persist for years. Conservative therapy is still encouraged and operation is rarely indicated.
Also you could look into a ChoPat strap, designed for chrodromalcia patella, it also works for PFS
I have the same thing and forget shaving the back of the knee caps , IT wis not a cure. I take naproxin as needed. I was diagnosed with this at age 21 back in 1971 when I graduated from HM "A" School. I lived with it even at its worse flare-ups. My knees used to sound klike a creeky door. Things that help are leg lifts, swimming, walking, bike riding. Don't run on cement roads. I went with the Marines and on ship.
This affliction is NOT due to military service but as I WAS told years ago by an orthopaedic doctor, military service agravates the condition. Planty of military members have this condition
If you want out, you will not get much, if any disability(10% at most) and the VA gives that amount as well.
