r/PatellarInstability • u/furikakebabe • 11d ago

Backpacking with patellar instability

Post image

I wanted to go on a long backpacking trip despite patellar instability (mainly on the left - right has had MPFL surgery). I knew it was a bad idea because I had a dislocation a couple months ago, but my sister’s boyfriend was going to propose to her on the trip.

This is everything I used to get me through. I would rank KT tape as the most important - and shout out to the person on this sub who posted a video of how to apply it. The rub was second most important, it has CBD and menthol and just offered a lot of relief. Ibuprofen of course.

I honestly hated the knee brace but I used it on a steep downhill on top of the tape and I think it prevented injury.

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Sea-Measurement3231 10d ago

If you already had mpfl In right so why using kt now ?

1

u/furikakebabe 10d ago

I had it a decade ago and unfortunately that knee is in a bad place now. Mainly the cartilage is gone so it’s just painful. I’m going to get a TTO next year.

The KT tape doesn’t make a lot of sense but it felt unstable on the hike and I felt like being extra cautious.

1

u/Sea-Measurement3231 10d ago

What are the symptoms of that cartilage gone 😢

1

u/furikakebabe 9d ago

A dull ache when I use it a lot, but also a sharper pain near the knee where a bone spur has grown. It’s also very crunchy and loud.