A Little Lateral Dislocation of the Patella Anyone?
It has been just over a week since I dislocated my knee cap and basically tore it out of where it’s supposed to stay. This type of injury is medically referred to as a patella dislocation, and regardless of what it’s called it hurt like a sonuvabitch! I have never experienced pain like that, it was excruciating. When it happened I was playing Dodge Ball (yes I am 33 and I was playing Dodge Ball) and when I was dodging a ball I had turned my body to the right but my right leg decided to stay put. Needless to say my knee lost to my upper body’s movement and ended up turning all the way to the right. It literally felt like my knee did a 360, but what it really managed to do was come all the way around to the back of my leg and then I guess I instinctively turned back around thus putting it back to the front. Man, it hurts just thinking about it again. OUCH!!! (When I looked at my x-rays I can see the top of my right knee and my knee cap floating over to the left side. Fun stuff eh?)
Aside from never experiencing pain like that, I have never heard the human body make a sound like that either. It was a very loud crunching and popping. I thought I only heard the sound inside my body since I could feel it travel up my leg and into my head, but the people I was playing with said they heard the noise as well. I don’t think I’ve ever sworn as much in my life either. I’m pretty sure I exhausted a years supply of expletives from the moment it happened to the first few minutes while I was lying on the ground. The ambulance came fairly quickly and it was my first ambulance ride to the emergency room as well. (A lot of first emanated from this sordid event).
The emergency room visit was long and drawn out, par for the course here in Toronto, but at least the emerg doctor had a very friendly gurney side manner. She discharged me with Tylenol 3s, a leg splint, and the standard RICE method for recovery (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), and told me to book an appointment with the Orthopedic Surgeon in three days.
Three days of lying/sleeping on the couch in my living room doing jacksqaut, taking painkillers, and cursing the gods whenever I had to reapply the splint after icing my knee (6 times a day no less) before I had a chance to visit the orthopedic surgeon. He confirmed the emerg docs diagnosis about the patella dislocation, and then nonchalantly told me about the fact that the dislocation indeed tore the knee cap off from where it normally dwells, and that there are minor fragments of bone floating around the knee area. He said he wasn’t too concerned about those as they are quite small, he would look again on my next visit, which he informed would be in three weeks time. As for treatment, he didn’t want to go the surgery route (thank god) and feels the best way for my knee to heal is to continue doing what I’m doing (RICE) and in three weeks time he’ll see how things are progressing. If all is well I will be downgraded from a leg splint to a knee brace that will allow for bending of the leg along with a device that will keep the knee cap in place so that it can continue to heal.
And so, that leaves me back where I was a week ago. Lying/sleeping on my couch, taking painkillers, and being mildly annoyed with the gods whenever I have to reapply the splint after icing my knee (6 times a day). The pain has gone done considerably since this first happened, but there is still swelling, and a constant pain/discomfort. It really hurts during the night when I sleep the most, I think this is because I tend to move and flex my leg a lot when I sleep. So when I wake up it hurts like a sonuvabitch.
The down side of all this is the fact that I am in constant pain/discomfort, I can’t really move around to much, the couch in my living room is now my permanent place of residence, and my wife has to take care of not only our 6 month old daughter but me as well now. That’s a lot for anyone to have to deal with. =(
The plus side is that I am getting to spend a lot more time at home with my wife and daughter, I’m reading more, and sharpening my web design skills as well. The first stop on my “web design skill sharpening journey” is giving this blog a redesign. Hopefully the changes are noticeable and appealing. I liked the first version, but as it is for any web site design, there is always room for redesign. I wasn’t going for anything drastic though, just some aesthetic changes that perk things up a bit. I’m happy with where I’ve taken things so far. I’m sure during my recovery I’ll come up with other things to add or change as well. Besides, there’s no sense just lying here bitching and moaning about my situation and not doing anything productive with my time. As they say, “when life hands you lemons, just make lemon aid”.
cheers,
Jonesy
July 1, 2007 by Jonesy in Musings |
7 Responses to “A Little Lateral Dislocation of the Patella Anyone?”
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July 9th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Hey there!
I live in Alberta, and I was suppose to be going to a concert sometime before the same thing happened to me, today, of all days.
Anyways, I’m 16, and I used to play sports, but I shifted to the “geeky” side of things.
Anyways, sitting here, in extreme pain, of course, I decided to just search up some information that happened to pop up (on Kneecap dislocation).
Anyways, just as a quick question…
Would you know anyway to deal with the pain?
I would like to stray away from painkillers (and I’d be damn proud of myself if I don’t take any at all during this whole ordeal).
I am a gamer, so that helps a little. Though, I have restless leg syndrome (self diagnosed) and I can’t fall asleep either. It pains me too much to try to.
Oh, and I guess I should say how it happened, huh?
Well, we drove up to a friend’s place, and my father had said it would be a good idea to open the windows in the back of the van. Well, alrighty then. I just stood up, and tried to go through the back, but my right leg slipped down, causing my left leg to twist, thus causing poor little kneecap to pop out and to the left. I do admit, I did feel an extreme amount of pain. I had a few outburst (No swearing! =P) of pain, and I let loose with a few cries and some tears. But for the most part, I just moved to the back seat, and sat there. Of course, my dad, not knowing what had happened, began telling me to stop acting like a wimp and open the windows.
I rolled up my pant legs to let him see, and I never saw anyones jaw drop faster.
Then we drove to the hospital, where we waited about an hour or so to see the doctor (our family doctor, no less).
Well, after 3 X-rays, they sent me home, with just some bandages, and I was told to wrap my knee (and surrounding area) with sterile cloth, and tensor bandages. Well, I’ve done that, and I don’t feel any different.
Anyways, hit me up at my email address for your advice, or just to talk. I’m also available on MSN messenger (though, I have a funny feeling that you might be confined to your couch for sometime. I really don’t have that problem. Well, I do, but my computer stays in my room.)
Thanks! And nice blog too!
July 9th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Mr.Anonymous,
Sorry to hear about your situation. At least I can honestly say “I know how you feel.” Your response has prompted me to put together a “year in review” post regarding my knee and what has happened with me/it over the past year. I will work on that this evening. However, in response to your question about how to deal with the pain……I was a big wimp, and had to be on Tylenol 3’s. There were times when the pain was excruciatingly unbearable, moreso at the very outset and then again during the phase where you start to go to physiotherapy and actually have to start working with it to get better. Even now there are days when it hurts pretty good, but ibuprofen does the trick at that point.
However, if you are truly set on not wanting to take any painkillers then more power to you my friend. I commend you on your courage and efforts to support that courage. My advice would be to really be consistent with the icing of the knee for 15 minutes every hour or so. Also, you may want to look into some deep breathing exercises for when the pain gets too harsh.
Good luck. I will check in with you from time to time to see how you’re making out.
cheers,
Jonesy
August 19th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
YES Jonesey….I’m looking to hear what the end of the story is too.
I just had my patella dislocate, and so much of what you experienced there, sounds like what I’m going through now. I am set to see the doc next week and don’t even feel up to standing in the shower to get ready.;)
I hope your update is that you healed quickly and are doing great now.
~E:)
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:47 am
Hi there,
that’s kinda funny you dislocated your knee in july i dislocated mine on may 16 of 2008 and i’m just now gettin PT. My doc. didn’t want to do surgery but he did the MRI and i came back normal he said from the pain i’m in and the way i’m walking i’ve torn and ripped the lateral ligaments and tendons…
Thanks for your story i appreciate it, and i hope your knee heals up very soon…
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Thanks for your comment S., I wish you a speedy recovery and please feel free to stop by and leave a comment on how your progress is doing.
Take care,
Jonesy
November 4th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Hey all, I’ve seen dislocated knees so often in my 12 years of playing rugby that I was waiting for my turn. An it happened 2 days ago..but not playing. It just happened as I was bartending at our halloween party, no impact, slips or falls to cause it but my knee cap went right off the human charts of where it should be, followed by my leg buckling backwards. I popped it back in as soon as I was on the floor.
My comments are to those who are getting told not to go the surgery route. I’ve talked with so many trainers, doctors and guys with this injury and it’s always the same.
1) Xray right away…usually a negative, but could precaution
2) RICE treatment for at least 3 days then go back in for follow-up exam (usually with specialist)
3) MRI, will show the soft tissue damage
4) Surgeory depending on MRI result…if you had a complete dislocation of the patella and subsequent shift in movement of your fib/tib comared with femur you’ve almost certainly torn ligaments and require surgeory.
So when I read S. state the MRI came back normal and the doctor said you may have torn something…I’d question MRI reults big time as they should show this! Ligaments will not heal themselves completely without surgery.
Good Luck and keep updating.
November 16th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Thanks for sharing your story, and I agree that we should always make sure we seek as solid a medical opinion as possible, and not just writing off something because we don’t like it. For myself, I am not a fan of surgery, but if in the end the consenting medical opinions are that I should have surgery, then that is what I would have to go with.
I really like how the comments are going strong here. I look forward to reading more and more.