Knee Surgery

When I was in high school I had my knee cap dislocate a few times during Soccer Seasons.  It would always slide out, but then jerk right back in.  As time went on it stopped happening.  fast forward 18 years later.  This last summer I was climbing down a little step stool at Lisa's and my right knee cap came sliding out and stayed out. Lisa helped me pop it back into place. It hurt so bad I cant even begin to explain.  I got a brace and started strengthening it.  About a month or 2 later It slide out again.  I was getting really scared to do anything because I was afraid it would dislocate again.  I had Dean set up an apt to see a knee D. and then cancelled it.  Come Thanksgiving time we were up at the Monson's side and My knee slide out while I was turning my body.  Dean wasn't around but Shaylee was and she has been with me when it has happened before.  I cried out a little bit for help, but cant talk because of the pain.  Shaylee yelled out that I had dislocated my knee and needed help.  (Shaylee isn't any help in these matters.  She is so grossed out by it and gets paralyzed with fear to help).  By the time I had family near by I was able to pop it back into place.  That one threw me for a loop.  It was my left knee that time and I was just walking.  After this incident I had Dean call for another apt and this time I kept it, but I couldn't be seen until the end of December.  For the most part of last year I had a brace on one of my knees and was ready to see what we could do to fix this.  I went to Dr. Clark we ordered some x rays and MRI, and came to the conclusion that my ligaments were stretched holding my patella in place and my knee would just keep getting dislocated unless i wore a brace the rest of my life or I had surgery and put in a knew cadaver tendon.  Knowing how painful it is to keep having my knee dislocate and to wear a brace 24/7 I opted for the surgery.  He scheduled it for Jan 31st.  He wanted to do 1 knee at a time so we started with the left knee which he said was stretched the most.  The surgery was fast and went well.  Dr. Clark mentioned to Dean that while he was looking and moving the knee it just slide out and dislocated during surgery, so glad that I did it.  Got home Friday afternoon. They put in a nerve block to help with the pain, and the anesthesia I was a little out of it tell that night.  Still felt relatively okay, but wasn't hungry or anything.  Saturday woke up and was able to get up and brush my teeth and wash my face, and then sat around the rest of the day.  I started to feel a lot of pain come afternoon time.  getting up to go to the bathroom was really painful, and Landon decided to get sick on us that day.  We had Basketball that night so Dean took the girls and Preston was supposed to help me with the boys and dinner.  Well Landon threw up all over me and himself and Preston is MIA, Brecken is yelling I'm yelling and Brecken Is looking everywhere for Preston.  He finally come downstairs probably a good minute after it happened.  I call Dean and he heads home.  Preston does get Landon in the bathroom and then proceeds to gag while cleaning up the throw up.  Sunday morning I'm in a lot of pain and Landon still isn't better.  My Nerve block is killing my leg every time I stand up and my incisions are painful as well.  Dean has to help me to the bathroom every time and I pass out from the pain and throw up as well.  I just couldn't get it under control on Sunday.  Sunday night into Monday morning I have a break through with the nerve block and can finally get up to use the bathroom without passing out.  Monday I still don't remember a lot but It was another painful day.  Tuesday was my birthday..also my nerve block ran out so I was also excited to get that pulled out to see if that would help with the pressure I was feeling up around that area.  I tried going to Preston's home game, and made it about 15 minutes late with the help of dean and the girls.  After that we came home and I was in a bunch of pain and spent.  Wednesday felt a little better and moved around a little more.  Thursday was my breakthrough day where I finally felt like getting up and walking around with the crutches.  I over did it and ended up in bed that night swollen and in pain.  Friday was a great day with more walking and moving.  Saturday I felt great and even went around the block with the crutches with Dean.  I still like to keep it elevated when I sit, because it hurts my leg to keep it straight and down.  All the blood rushes to my leg and feet and throbs.  Over all I am feeling better. I haven't been able to drive which is a big deal with 5 kids, but should be able to this next week.  I need to keep my brace on for a few more weeks in straight leg, and then I can move it to bend but keep it on for another few weeks.  We are looking around 6.    Doing good.  Even took some steps without crutches today and haven't been doing any Ibuprofen  only at night before bed.  So glad to be through the hard part...Not sure when I will do my other knee, but I might just wait awhile while I try to forget how hard and painful it was.