Remember the time I...

dislocated my knee and couldn't go to work for two months?
If you don't, let me enlighten you.

From February 27th(mah burfday!)-March 6th, N and I took a much needed vacation. I expected to be going back to work on the 7th, but my boss gave me an extra two days of relaxation. Cool, right?

WRONG.

Sunday was when I dislocated my knee in the most ridiculous way ever. A little back-story first:

In 8th grade, when we were playing hockey in the gym, I fell on my left knee freakishly hard. Couldn't move even. Had to roll around in a wheel chair. From then on, I've had issues. It would be sore from time to time, and would hurt if I ran long distances. I went to to doctor for it, but all he said was that it was growing pains, and would pass. This pain completely messed me up and kept me from running track and playing softball after my freshman year of high school. I told my family that I wanted to focus on getting a job, but it was just too painful to run, and I knew we couldn't afford to go to a specialist.

2009. I would notice from time to time, after sitting with my legs crossed, when I'd go to uncross them, it would really, really, REALLY, hurt. If only for a few seconds. But it wasn't normal. Did I ever think to go to a doctor again? No. Because I'm an idiot. I just thought it was something I would just have to deal with.

Flash forward to March 7th, 2010. I'm sitting at the computer, as I am now, looking up running paths to train on for the 5k I registered for to do with Charizard the night before. Why I thought I would be capable of walk/running 3.1 miles is beyond me, but I was excited. I went to get up only to experience the worst physical pain I have ever felt in my entire life.
I didn't understand what was happening. I couldn't move my left leg, let alone bend my knee without screaming in agonizing pain. All I knew was that something horrible had just happened, I was home alone, and I couldn't reach my phone as it was charging on my nightstand about eight feet away. That was when I made the mistake of looking down at my kneecap, as it was pointing in the complete opposite direction it was supposed to.
Everything all of a sudden got really quiet, and my ears started buzzing really loud. My vision got white, and I thought to myself "this must be what it's like to about to pass out." I also was on the verge of throwing up, but told myself to stay over the computer mat, so my vomit wouldn't seep into the carpet. wtf, right? I was also burning up, and wanted nothing more than to turn on the fan in my bedroom. I was in this state for about 40 mins.
At that point, I was somewhat able to get control of myself, and knowing that it was going to hurt, I had to call N and figure out how to get to urgent care. So I more or less flopped on my bed, and pulled myself to my phone, screaming and crying the entire time.
He told me that I had dislocated my knee, and would need to straighten my leg to get it back in place. WHAT?! N told me he was going to call his parents to get me a ride to urgent care.
Other than getting my leg straight, I had another problem. I was wearing these ricidulous calf high boots that I had bought only the day before. I knew I was going to need to get into shorts before we left, and wouldn't you know it, not only was I stuck in those boots, I was wearing a pair of jeans that were skin tight.
I ended up cutting the boot off myself. When I say cut, I mean more like hacked at it with scissors. Luckily I only spent five dollars on them. It was still horribly painful to manuver my leg to pull the boot off, but I did it, and was so proud of myself. At that point, I was to bite the bullet and get my leg straight. It hurt, and I didn't even realize I was crying the entire time, but the pain was less severe.
After going to urgent care, to be referred to a knee specialist, who told me I couldn't go to work for at LEAST another month really freaked me out. Luckily I was approved for short term disability, and while it wasn't paying all the bills, it was definitely helpful to have. I did physical therapy and that helped a lot. They even taped up my knee and I was able to run again with no pain whatsoever! However, I wasn't approved to go to work again until I was restriction free, and since I had to more or less live in my knee brace, that took about another month.
Everyone thought I was getting a super long vacation-with pay thanks to those checks. Yeah, deffff not the case. Unless you call a vacation where you can hardly walk around without agonizing pain and needed to be on crutches for 2 1/2 weeks straight.
I still get pain from time to time, and worry about it dislocating again. At least this time I know what to do to fix it. Any questions?

Until next time,

Sarah