Thanks to everyone emailing and Facebooking me with concern for my knee these past few months. Before my Quoobah trip, I was finally able to get insurance, MRI film and scheduling worked out and visited my first doctor.
GOOD NEWS
As I suspected, my ACL is not torn. Lord knows I know what that feels like, so no surprise there.
MEH NEWS
He identified all my knee knots. The one on the left is fluid build-up. The one on the right is a hernia. The one in the middle is a bone spur and the one on my knee cap has a fancy name that pretty much translates into “debris.”
BAD NEWS
I have the knee of a 60-year-old. That is not good. When I lifted my skirt (sounds dirty, but I had shorts on) he cried out, “Geez! What year did you have that surgery?” He looked at my film and said it was a mess inside there. My ACL is like a loose rubber band. He thinks that it is being stretched out from the hernia and fluid.
I have two solutions:
1. He will go in and suck the fluid out. This is a series of three appointments. He sucks the fluid and replaces with some goo that is supposed to make me feel less pain. If this treatment works on me, I come in every six months to a year for the procedure. Probably for the most of my life he said.
Or
2. Surgery to repair my bone spur, remove the hernia, tighten the ACL and generally clean out the crap that’s floating around in there. The bone spur removal will add a nice new scar down the front of my knee, so my dreams of being a leg model are out the door. There will be a six-week period of wearing a straight leg brace (you know how I love those) and no driving.
He told me to continue on the elliptical and swimming because “motion is lotion” and to not jump or run whatever I do.
After dancing salsa with a rather cute island boy two weeks ago, I was forced to explore the shot option because I was in a lot of pain. I called the doctor and he called in a prescription…for the shot. Was I supposed to give it to myself? No. I just pick it up and deliver it to the office. Even though I thought this was strange, I went ahead and took it to Walgreen’s. The lady asked me if I realized that the shot was not covered by insurance. I told her I didn’t know that and inquired how much said shot would be on the old pocketbook.
$875.
I don’t think so.
I decided that maybe it was time to get a second opinion. I visited another doctor. The whole time I was chanting, out loud, “Please don’t be torn. Please don’t be torn. Please don’t be torn.”
He told me it was not torn and I shouted “YES!” And then came the but. “But your ACL is not functioning. At all. That is why you have the sensation that you need to pull up your knee cap. It’s because there is nothing supporting your knee. It’s just jiggling around in there.”
Perfect.
Basically this means that I need surgery. Unfortunately, it’s not smart to have surgery when you knee is swollen. He put me on anti-inflammatory pills and I’m supposed to ice every night before bed for three weeks. Then I go back in and if the swelling is down, we schedule surgery.
That puts it around the end of September. I have a church commitment at that time and the first weekend of October is the Civil War re-enactment at Hallsville Western Days. Of course I will NOT be missing that crazy fun. So I think it will be mid-October.
I’m looking at (worst case scenario) six week in a straight leg brace or (best case) three weeks. My boss is pretty cool with the fact that I won’t be able to drive and he is willing to make my co-workers schlep me around. It pays to have seniority at the firm!
I’m in pain but it is manageable. I’m not supposed to do anything other than rest for the next three weeks. It’s probably not smart that I danced tonight at a wedding, but there were moments when people circled around me and the guy.
It was totally worth it.
I’m sure my stories post-surgery will be highly entertaining. The last time I had ACL reconstruction, they put me on Vicodin and I saw Care Bears.
This should be fun for everyone!
Do you have an ipod for swimming- they are the bomb!!
Ouchie. I’m so sorry.
Well – EVen though you are in pain – your leg looks nice and skinny in the picture! best of luck!
No running or jumping, huh? Well, here’s hoping you don’t get chased on a bumpy road in the near future.
Good luck with everything!
I’m a fellow knee/ACL veteran, had surgery in April, and running in a swimming pool before and (eventually) after has helped! Also, if the goo that replaces fluid is synvisc, go for it! The company that makes it only claims temporary relief but I know people who have had such long lasting results that they could call it permanent. Sometimes it takes several injections of the goo to get there. On the illustration I was shown, the goo was a lovely blue color. Good luck!
I wonder if we could get Reid or Kypie to be your nursemaid?? Kypie could just lift his shirt and you wouldn’t need any pain med’s!! Just a thought…
Sorry to hear about the knee. I suspect if you have surgery, you’ll have lots of time to blog about the haps with your fav tv shows, and stuff like bachelorette, bachelor. I love love your writing. I loved the dedication for John Hughes! Get better soon.
Girl, Been there. Done that! I had ACL surgery in 1996 (tore it 9 days before opening night of the play I had the lead in….. still went on with the show) and basically what I call “maintenance” in 2006. I completely feel your pain- both the literal and the figurative. Praying for you!
so who was the guy you were dancing with at the wedding??? Just kidding, good luck with the knee. We look forward to reading IHGB when you’re recuperating
I agree with 3, your leg does look super skinny. Either that or you have ginormous hands, which I doubt, because in other pictures you look like you have normal-sized hands
Sorry to hear about the surgery, that TOTALLY sucks. We need to get you pimped out before then so you can be pampered by your new man while you are immobile (milk it for all it’s worth, I say.)
Take care Lincee!
Lincee, I have to say your blog made me feel a little faint with all of your details.
OUCH! That hurts just reading about it. My mom had the same thing. She opted for the goop in her knee. Since she doesn’t drive, I just drove her around more.
We all pitched in and got her a nifty scooter that she used to get around her tiny house. Do you need a scooter?
Lincee, I’m so sorry about your knee! I’ll pray for you to be in less pain for the next few months and for your surgery to go smoothly!!!!!!!!!!………and if you need to dance anymore with cute boys just make them hold you!!
With all that you do, I would have never guessed it was all done with a 60-yr-old knee!
I had my own pharmacy shock a couple weeks ago when I was told that a maintenance medicine I was prescribed was going to cost me $377…per month. It’s like having another car payment! Entering your thirties stinks.
Lincee Lincee Lincee, that knee is jacked up. Not to be morbid, but the Army is making some sweet fiberglass legs for the wounded here. Those dudes can run sub-11 second 100 meter dashes! I may get a pair just for the heck of it.
No more Jazzercise?
Well, here’s one for you to enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE1Z-nI4CMI
Sounds like we’re kindred spirits, Lincee — I was given the news that I need both knees replaced, and I’m only 56. There are just so many times you can sweet talk orthopods into cleaning them up, it seems.
Hang in there, and enjoy the legal high while it lasts — soon enough you’ll be squatting with the best of ‘em!
In the meantime, a prayer going out to you…..
Feel better soon Lincee. I have never had the injury bad enough to need surgery, but I’ve been in rehab several times over the last 6 years on both knees.
Wow good luck Lincee, that is going to be rough but I know you can get through it and think how much better you will feel after it is all over. Yeah and the whole Vicodin thing I did not like it plus I think they should really tell you to take it with food.
Loves Waves good luck with the knee replacements as I had to have a total hip replacement last year at the age of 25 and the person in the bed next to me had a knee replacement and I felt lucky to have gotten a hip replacement.
Oh Lincee! I have been reading your blog for a long time but have never posted before. Your knee problems did it for me though. I totally feel your pain! I was told at age 39 that I had the knees of an 80 year old. I had both replaced in one surgery after about 5 years of excrutiating pain and had to have one of them re-done after 5 years. Now I am one year past the last surgery and both are now A-OK and as long as I keep exercising I feel great. (I run in the pool and ride the stationary bike). The surgeries were the hardest things I have ever had to do but totally worth it to finally be pain free! I will be praying for you.
Bonus!! Vicodin should produce some really good Bach recaps! Seriously, Lincee – I truly wish you all the best – you are far too good a person to be in pain! Hugs!!
So sorry you are in such pain.
Care Bears? I had Vicodin after my —— reduction surgery. (How’s that for cryptic??) I didn’t see Care Bears, although I did see Pink Panther under my bed while in labor with my now 19-year-old daughter and on Demerol. Or was it Bugs Bunny? I always get that confused. I guess the memory is a bit fuzzy.
Hope you get that knee fixed and find your Prince.
I’m supposed to have your option 1 (the series of 3 goo injections) soon. My insurance doesn’t cover it either – supposedly it is “experimental”.
I’ll let you know how it goes… I’m queasy just thinking about the size of the needle they’re going to have to use. Eeek!
Check this out though: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/business/16novelties.html?emc=eta1
They have spacer scaffolding type things they’re starting to use, but they insert it inside the bone.
Sorry to hear that
I also tore my ACL a few years back. Its something I would not wish on anyone.
Too bad robot knees aren’t ready.
$875 for a shot?!?! Jeebus, did the needle have a diamond tip and the medicine have unicorn horn dust in it?
Anyhoo, Hope you feel better, and that you are dancing again soon.
Just yesterday a friend who had the goo injections told me it has changed his life. He did them several years ago and has been pain free ever since. He is an athlete who could barely walk to the corner prior to the injections thanks to pain. For me, surgery took away the pain but only after two months on crutches, lots of ice (bless ice!) and months and months of rehab. I rather wish I had tried the goo first! It is pricey, but far less $$$ than surgery.
Having been through 3 knee surgeries and 2 “procedures” in the past two years, one of those being complete replacement at what the doctors tellme is a very early age, I say 2 things. 1) I will pray for you before, during and after, and 2) Everyone is different. No matter what someone tells you about their experience, it doesn’t mean a thing. Pay attention to your body and your instincts and take care of yourself. Oh, having taken Vicodin on and off over this whole experience, I will anxiously await ALL posts after your surgery.
OKCHeather….what is this ipod for swimming you speak of? Is there something to cover a current ipod to make it useful in water? I am very interested as a long-time age group swimmer I can’t get back into swimming because it’s so boring and there’s not a coach there to push me.
oh poor gurl, i hate to hear of your pain, especially since you bring such mirth to the masses. my second thought, after my sympathy for you, was how are you going to go out with the pimp-find dudes when you are 1. in a leg brace, 2. not able to shake your money maker (while on a date), and 3. hopped up on vicodin? i also hope the ABC intern is reading your blog and asking the producers to schedule the next bach/ette to coincide with your recoop time and vicodin-enduced hilarity.
get well! prayers are being sent your way, and I hope you will make the best/least expensive/most long lasting decision for you.
I’ll be praying for you. Had ACL reconstruction myself so I know what it’s like. Bleh …
Wow. Between you (Lincee) and #14 and #23, all I can think of is health care reform!!!! I am not going to wax political here, but I happen to have spent $8,000++ on a year’s worth of health care stuff (insurance included) to be eligible to have my hand surgery (2008) & rehab partially covered. SIGH.
I just moved back to England (where I had my 1st hand surgery in 2007 as a student… completely free)… and I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have great free healthcare again. (Don’t believe the rumors!) I hope they get something thru to help all people – like you Lincee – and others and keep the crazy crazy American healthcare costs down.
Good luck with it!!!!! Heal fast!!!
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