My Colorful Knee [8: Graphic Warning] (Update #22)

[rg_girlca]

Gina, seeing those pictures of your leg, I can only imagine the pain you are in right now.

I pray that you will be able to get some kind of help to finally get your knee on the road to healing.

Continued prayers being sent out to you that everything will turn out well for you in the near future. Please do not give up hope. Take one day at a time and keep the faith.

[sandragonfly]

thanks lorraine.

no luck today, I was in bed sick, slept all day away, having excruciating pain in right abdomen but am feeling ok now. and my knee seems is good today, bothered me only a little especially being stuck in the bed.

I'll try again tomorrow.

[jennielynn1970]

oh my lord.... your knee looks really bad. I'm so not a good patient. I'm a wimp, and hate just going to the dentist, lol.

Hope there is some way for the doctors to treat you where you are now. I'd be really concerned about that. You shouldn't have to go back to CA to get it taken care of, but insurance companies can be a pain in the butt when it comes to all that kind of thing.

Take care, and be careful with the pain killers too. Do you think maybe the meds are upsetting your stomach as well??

Big hugs to you... take care!

[NoahsMommy]

Hey Gina...

I've been away from PT and found this thread as I was wondering how your surgeries went. I work for an Orthopedic Surgeon and he specializes in knee and hip surgery. I don't think a day goes by (even weekends) that he doesn't do a total hip, total knee and/or MANY arthroscopies. I've been there about 2 months and as his Medical Assistant and scheduler, I've learned a TON about this field, especially the above procedures I mentioned.

I have a question, why was your arthroscopy done in a hospital? I know in the area you were in are just as 'high-tech' as we are down in Southern California, we do ALL of our arthroscopies in Out/Patient Surgical Centers. Even with insurance restrictions (I get to do that as well), because its a Surgical Center its covered and preferrable to do such typically (if not always) out-patient surgeries. These procedures are quick if you have the right surgeon - I think my doc can do the actual procedure in less than 15 minutes - depending on WHAT the diagnosis is.

Did you have a meniscus tear that required the arthroscopy? Did your fall (I think you had a fall, right? Owie, poor thing, that's all you need, right?) cause that blood clot because you fell so early after surgery? Sorry if you've already answered these questions a million times, I just forgot.

You do really need P/T. I know you told Catty1 that you don't qualify for the Medicaid, but don't you qualify for some sort of Federal or State funded insurance program because of your deafness? (Or is it hearing impared? I'm sorry if I used the wrong term.) I know that in all states if you're born with one arm, you get assistance medically, I would imagine not being able to hear would be a greater disability and would warrant a governmentally funded health insurance program.

If your current insurance plan is not allowing treatment outside its area, like if you have an HMO or a EPO and can only use certain docs and hospitals, you can tell them that while traveling you've injured yourself further and have no way to safely transport you back to the HMO/EPO region. I'm positive people get sick in places other than their homes and their insurance is set up for those issues.

Anyway, back to your arthroscopy. I know you had that, those are fairly simple, quick proceedures. With P/T, you can be 100% pain free in 2 weeks! I'd say about 50% of our patients didn't even need the P/T, just some anti-inflamatories after the day after surgery narcotic pain meds (only taken for 1-2 days) and they come back in for suture removal/wound check and for the doc to check weight bearing, range of motion, etc. And I can't tell you how easy they make it look.

So I was really puzzled when I saw you had so much trouble. Did you have a abnormal diagnosis where it was more involved? Why did you have to stay in the hospital? (Like you, I HATE hospitals, I'd MUCH rather be home! )

Anyway, like I said before, I was just checking in and was curious sinse I now work in the field.

I hope you're feeling better each day and can figure out a way to get to P/T if that's what your Doc wants you to do.

Hugs, Kelly & Kits

[sandragonfly]

jenn, may be medication but I don't have much of it left. or perhaps appendix. I looked up symptoms, sounded much of it. I agree about not needing to go back california - I really don't want to. there must be something here for my knee.. we'll see. I've had an appendix few years ago and I shouldn't have have it again??

kelly, I'm not sure if it was done IN hospital exactly but it was done in specialist clinic; pre-admitting/operation office.

I am qualified, which is why I am not eligibled for medicaid. my insurance only covers all california regions without a problem. there are SOME regions out of town/state they would accept but not here for physical therapy (not considered as an emergency) and accepts emergencies only anywhere I believe as a student. but I could try and call again about transportation...

the diagnosis was recurved dislocating kneecap; did hauser's produce, with screws. it went an hour less than what my doctor thought it would be - about 45 minutes. he did not think the fell caused blood clots. this recovery prolonged due to following events; infection, first fall, blood clots, stressful estrogens, third fall, second repairment, lack of physical therapy back here - almost two months ago now, living in car then was in ICU/hosptial for two extra weeks last week for a different medical reason and lastly, don't forget hematoma. dried blood/fluid clotted up inside/under kneecap - it really gets in the way, locks my knee very well and prevents most movements also. sometimes I can't tell whether if it's the damaged pain or hematoma pain. my doctor wants me to do PT until I walk fine.

and please use this term - deaf, see here why. thank you and thank you for checking in.

[pitc9]

{{HUGS}} and prayers sent to you Gina!

[sandragonfly]

today is exactly 10 days I've been without crutches! limping the worst mostly since but not too bad now. my goal was to get off the crutches on my birthday and continue some home techniques and it's doing a little better each day. sigh, feels like forever but bending knee is the most difficult. I'm usually a flexible and cross-sitting girl and a curl-up sleeper without some patience for myself. I miss bending my knees all I could.

and second news, today was my first day with physical therapy... it was painful. I was in tears because of frustration, I just hope my knee will recover quicker this time. so, please think of my wonderful colorful knee for me - it'd make me happier and encouraged - the next session will be next monday, it's almost two and half hours south but worthing it I think.

thanks.

[Karen]

The first sessions of physical therapy are almost always painful - I once wanted to ask a physical therapist if this is what would-be torturers chose for a career these days, but I was afraid she didn't have a good sense of humor, so didn't say it!

We'll be thinking of you, that the physical therapy helps, and you can get back to being bendy-Gina!

[Donnaj4962]

Awww, Gina, I am so sorry you had such pain in your PT.... but I am glad that you are going!

When I had surgery to replace my arthritic thumb joint, and during my PT, we called my therapist "Queen of Pain"!!! She joked right along with us about it. She hated making us hurt, but kept encouraging us to keep working through the pain. That is what you need to do too! Keep up the good work!

[phesina]

That's good news, Gina.. you are up and about and getting stronger. And the physical therapy is a big step along the way, even if painful (easy for me to say, isn't it, since I'm not the one undergoing it ).

You go, girl! We're all cheering for you!

Love, hugs, and purrs,
Pat and kitties

[lizbud]

Physical therapy is key to getting back to walking normally. I know it
is painful, but no pain , no gain. as they say. They will probably give
you exercises you can do at home too. Hang in there.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Hang in there Gina. I'm glad you're doing better and have started PT. PT is hard but so worth it. Keep up the good work!!

[Taz_Zoee]

Yes, all PT is good (Pet Talk and Physical Therapy!!).
Hang in there and you'll be back to dancing before you know it!!

[sandragonfly]

I hope to dance again by next spring, I missed production this end of year and will not be going out on a tour as well. (as half of rehearsals for that tour already went on). but I went to a play audition last night, so cross your fingers for me! we'll know by next week - if I am in, at least something (other than bottling the peanuts) will be on my schedule, finally.