Yippee I have patellofemoral syndrome!

[GirlinContempt]

I've already been off work for a week, and it could be up to five weeks more! wow!
there's nothing they can really do for me except dope me up on percocet and give me exercises! wheeee!
And, after a two week waiting period, I'll be eligible for 55% of my weekly income. HOORAY!


So how convincing is this false cheer?

[KitchenWitch]

1. UM, not very?

Sorry, that really sux.

[GirlinContempt]

3. I mean, come on, 55% man, who wouldn't be stoked?

:P Especially when you find out that the government is running a pilot project which uses your 12 best weeks to calculate your benefits, but it isn't in your area so you get stuck with the shitty weeks! YAY

[KitchenWitch]

5. You must LOVE punishment!

:P

I am so sorry.

[GirlinContempt]

6. When on percocet, I love everything!

:P

Thanks ;)

[KitchenWitch]

9. Yeah, percocet makes me love the world too!

:D

[BlueIris]

2. Ow. Feel better. nt

[GirlinContempt]

7. Thanks

Great time of year for it, eh?

[Bucky]

4. Does the phrase "fucking awful" ring a bell?

It sounds painful. Is it a career killer, or is this temporary disability until the condition is managed?

Oh, and here's a little huggie icon for you...

Oh, shit. Wrong one. Here ya go.... :pals:

[GirlinContempt]

11. Well, I think we'll have to see.

I work in a family business, so they tend to be more understanding (of course).

However, depending on the severity or longevity of my condition, it could pose a very large problem. I'm one of only a few pointe shoe fitters, and without the use of my knee I'm useless in that regard. Much of my work requires fitting shoes in a very detailed and up close way, not like street shoes. Stairs, which are a problem. Taking measurements, which is mostly ok above the waist. There are many many things I *can* do, but also many I *can't*. Also, the varied nature of the business (costumes, dancewear, formalwear) means that I am much in demand as I grew up in it and know every aspect of it, so losing me is a problem. A big one. I think I'll have to wait and see how it plays out, I would hate to give up on my family tradition because of some stupid knee thing :(

Maybe more detail than you were looking for ;)

Thanks for the hugs

[JVS]

8. What is that? Are you going to be ok?

[Deep13]

10. Looks like some kind of knee problem.

:shrug:

[JVS]

12. ZOMG! She's gonna die! AWWWWWWW!!!!!

:cry:

[Bucky]

16. for you JVS

[GirlinContempt]

13. It's a fairly common problem

It's pain in the kneecap, to varying degrees. I'm on the 'excruciating barely able to walk' end of the spectrum. The exact cause isn't known, but it apparently has something to do with the way my patella (knee cap) moves on the groove of my femur.

I'll be ok in that it isn't life threatening, but it's very very painful, frustrating, and prevents me from working to engaging in social activities. Basically I'm stuck at home getting pocket change from the government for a while, and no one knows how long it will take to get better.

[JVS]

14. sounds shitty

[GirlinContempt]

15. It is

you should come visit me, keep me company

[JVS]

17. I have work to do. How about you come down here.

you can sit in my office and watch me read and write

[GirlinContempt]

18. At 55% of my income

not gonna happen :(

[JVS]

19. It will buy you more in the US

[GirlinContempt]

20. I just have to wait til the canadian dollar is at 1.55

:P

[KamaAina]

31. Hmmm... a tempting thought...

but having to go to Winterpeg in the, um, winter? A daunting prospect, indeed... do you have a fireplace?

[GirlinContempt]

33. I do indeed

[fudge stripe cookays]

37. Hey girl-- we can be freaks together!

Did they mention something called a "grasshopper patella?" That's what I have. Got diagnosed when I was 16. The leg bends normally, but the patella pops out to the side as it does. It's rather freaky to see when my leg bends.

I'm not supposed to run or do jarring exercises like skiing, tennis or stuff like that.
They told me I might have problems as I got older. Sounds like you're already there.

Sorry you're having so much pain! And hope you can either control it with painkillers or that it subsides after awhile.

[GirlinContempt]

41. Nope, never mentioned that

but maybe we can still be knee twins ;)

[TrogL]

21. Ok, so why did they shoot you in the kneecaps?

Money or sex?

[GirlinContempt]

23. Sex, clearly

[yellowdogintexas]

22. so your knee and the lower part of your thigh bone are not getting along?

sorry you must be aching. Knee pain is no fun.

Don't you love those wild medical names?

[GirlinContempt]

24. Yeah apparently they're grinding

or something. Sounds sexier than it is, believe me.

[crispini]

25. Hm, you said it was a bone thing--

have you tried glucosamine / chondroitin supplements? I have no idea if it would help your condition -- sounds severe! -- but it couldn't hurt. :shrug:

[GirlinContempt]

26. No, I haven't tried that

I think those are more of a long term maintenance thing, but worth a look in to, thanks :)

[Connonym]

27. On the bright side, excellent dope and a little pay is better than pain and no money

I'm not trying to be snide. It's hard to live off partial pay and it's going to be rough and you've got my empathy there but (and I hate when people say this so why am I saying it?) it could be worse, you could live in the US. Hope it heals up nicely and the good dope keeps the pain at bay. :hug:

[GirlinContempt]

32. I know, it could be much worse

:) Thanks

[Solon]

28. Not very convincing, I hope you can recover...

It sucks being in pain.

:hug:

[GirlinContempt]

35. Oh, I'm sure I'll recover

just have to give it time *sigh*

[Solon]

39. I know its hard...

will you have to get into physical therapy? It sucks, and I call them torture experts myself, but I will concede its necessary sometimes.

[no name no slogan]

29. OUCH

Thankfully you'll get short-term disability-- 55% is better than nothing.

Unfortunately I don't have short-term disability coverage at work, and because of my health history I can't get it. So I got to spend most of this year without an income. Yay!

[GirlinContempt]

34. Your government doesn't offer employment insurance?

[no name no slogan]

46. Not for short-term disability, and not for me

Because of my health history, I can't get short-term disability coverage. And, short-term disability is a voluntary, optional coverage not included in my base benefits. So unless I go on Social Security (which requires a minimum of six months off of work), I don't have any income. Gotta love capitalism!

[GirlinContempt]

47. Holy shit

I'm sorry hon :hug:

[no name no slogan]

50. s'aright

thankfully I've got enough in savings to live on for awhile. Plus I'm finally back to work PT so at least I'm earning a paycheck again. I got really lucky I sold my house when I did (fall 2005) and didn't buy another one, otherwise I would probably be living in my mom's basement :o

Hope you are feeling better. Being injured really sucks. :hug:

[GirlinContempt]

51. I just can't imagine

having to pay for medical expenses, let alone having to pay for them without any kind of support. I'm bitching about my 55%, but believe me I know that at least it's *something*.
Jesus.

:hug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

30. .

:hug:

[GirlinContempt]

36. thank you

:)

[Taverner]

38. Do you at least get good reruns?

In the end, that's what really matters!

[GirlinContempt]

42. I don't watch TV really

a few shows i like, most of them aren't on anymore :\

[Tuesday Afternoon]

40. Oh dear, not very convincing, I remember comparing notes

last week. I went to the doctor on Thursday. He gave me an exercise to do for my arm. It hurts like hell to do it, but I am regaining some more range of motion. At least you got percoset. All I got was vicodin x)

I hope that the cut in income does not leave you too badly.

Here is a hug :hug: <----gimpy arm and all :)

[GirlinContempt]

43. They looooove putting me on the percocet

hope you're feeling better soon!

[SeattleGirl]

44. My sincere sympathies.

I have a torn meniscus in my right knee; nothing that needed to be operated on, according to the doc I saw a couple of years ago. Today, however, I found that I could not push off on my right leg when standing up; my leg would absolutely buckle. x(

[GirlinContempt]

48. Ow, that sounds awful

I hope you're ok :(

[La Lioness Priyanka]

45. i am very sorry. you will get better soon right?

[GirlinContempt]

49. Maybe soon, maybe late.

[LaraMN]

52. Stop it!

You have more health issues than my husband! Stop it!

:(

I'm sorry, babygirl!
Guess what, though? This is my LAAAAST week of classes until Jan. 20-something, so I'll soon have ample opportunity to chat, if you're at home and bored!

[GirlinContempt]

53. I can promise I will be at home, and most likely bored

:D

[Redstone]

54. Is that the same as Chrondomalacia Patella? Where your kneecap grinds against

the bones, because you've worn out the underlying cartilage?

If so, count yourself lucky. I have a plastic kneecap because of that (and a few other things).

Redstone

[GirlinContempt]

55. I don't think it's the same

but it sounds similar

[Redstone]

56. OK. Follow the doctor's advice and get better, OK? Knee pain is no fun at all.

Redstone

[GirlinContempt]

59. I'm finding it amazing

that i ever took my knee so much for granted. I guess it really isn't amazing, but I never thought about everything it does until it wasn't working properly.
I went to take a bath, and I was seriously stuck in the tub for 2.5 hours until someone came home to get me out

[applegrove]

57. Sorry for your bad news. Glad it will solve itself. Doesn't sound fun for the

holidays.

[GirlinContempt]

60. No, not a lot of fun

I'm missing lots of soirees and fun :(

[ThomCat]

58. Damn. :(

:hug:

I don't know what to say, except to offer you some hugs and moral support. :hug:

I really hope this is only temporary, and that you're walking again and back to work soon. Please be well.

[GirlinContempt]

61. Thanks Thomcat

I read you've been having a rough time of it too. I hope things get better for you asap :hug:

[Shallah Kali]

62. Are you getting physical therapy? If so ask about taping your knee

I have the same thing and when I got PT the therapist taught me how to tape my knees to get the patella a little bit more in it's correct place so my knees didn't scream at me so badly and reduced further damage a bit. It really did help me and was simple enough for me to learn the first time he showed me what to do. I am hyperflexible aka double jointed and so it turns out people like me are especially prone to problems like this. I had to be realy careful doing the exercises that my knees didn't go backwards as they were extra bendy at that time.

HOw good is your medical coverage? Do you qualify for something like a visit from an occupational therapist to help you adapt your work if your doc refers you? There are many devices out there to help people with various health problems keep doing the things they need and want to do. I hope that you will find the things you need to help you once you have recovered enough to work again and take at least some of the strain off your knees now. When my knees were at their worst I borrowed a spare walker from my grandparents to help me at home especially when getting up and down from a low seated position. Low toilets are devices invented to torment the joints IMO.

I see someone suggested glucosamine already. I tried it since it is harmless unless you are allergic to shellfish and found it made me nauseous. I had to get it enteric coated which took care of the nausea. Actually I ended up using something with both SAM-e and glucosamine since that was the only way I could find enteric coated glucosamine at the time. I believe these helped me. My doc didn't prescribe pain meds so I was willing to try anything to help.