Pu Pu Platter Post

I haven't blogged in what feels like years. Oops. Needless to say, this blog post is going to be an amalgam of sorts...

Love
I was with a gentleman the other day when I discovered what I feel about love: it's fluid. We were talking and suddenly, it kind of just came to me. I've always kind of held that I haven't ever been in love because I've never felt that "thing"...that hopeless, can't-live-without-you, need-you-to-breathe kind of qualification in a relationship. I've had boyfriends, sure. And after their conclusion, I'm always a bit salty and think, "Oh, it wasn't love because it didn't stick." But, I think love changes as we change; our definition of love is ever-evolving. Love means something different in each relationship we have and that's part of what makes that relationship special and unique. Sure, the underpinnings are similar. But, what love meant to me at 20 is certainly not what love means to me at nearly 28 (Sidebar: When did I get so old and how do I make it stop?).

Joint Predicament
I am breakable. I write that because apparently, I need a reminder.

On February 26, I was in my friend's kitchen when I tripped over my own two feet and fell, landing on my left knee. I knew immediately that I had seriously done something wrong. I could tell that it wasn't broken; it felt like there was something wrong muscularly. I couldn't move it and could barely bear weight.

I went to the emergency room at Froedtert the next day, on my way home from said friend's house. The PA had my knee x-rayed (which I thought was a waste of time, but whatever), told me nothing was broken and that I just had a bad sprain. She said I should see my primary care physician in two weeks if things didn't return to normal.

I waited 10 days because I couldn't take it much longer. My doctor ordered an MRI. Keep in mind that at this point, I had just had the neurostimulator implanted (a procedure that was "technically" a surgery) in my back for the 1-week trial and in a few days, it would be removed (this is a crucial fact). When radiology called me to schedule the MRI, they asked if I had any surgeries or implants. I stated that I had two plates and 18 screws in my right leg, as well as a surgery to implant the neurostimulator, but that it would be removed in the office in the next few days. The radiologist then informs me that because I had surgery, I could not come in for my MRI for six weeks. I asked what the reasoning was and the only answer I could get out of anyone was, "It was the doctor's orders." So, I schedule my MRI for exactly six weeks from my surgery date. During this six-week waiting period, my knee is constantly dislocating and I even fell and landed on it two more times. 


The MRI date finally comes around and everything goes smoothly, until that afternoon. I get a phone call from my doctor literally one hour after I leave the hospital. She says that the radiologist called her immediately because my MRI was so bad. As it turns out, I dislocated my patella and my PCL is no where to be found. When my patella dislocated, it shaved quite a bit of cartilage off the femoral condyle. I have bone marrow edema and a lot of fluid in the joint. Awesome. Then, my doctor asks why I waited so long to have the MRI done. I explained the runaround I had with radiology and my doctor was none-too-pleased (with radiology, not with me). The next day, I met with an orthopedic surgeon who put me in a long-leg stabilizer for three weeks, as well as assigned me to PT. She performed the posterior drawer test on my knee and was able to push my tibia behind my femur. Pretty gross.


Well, after three weeks of PT, I can tell it really isn't helping with the pain (it wakes me up at night). Don't get me wrong though, I can tell my quads are getting stronger (makes sense, since I'm basically just strength training). The orthopedic surgeon wants me to get a second opinion on having reconstructive surgery. So, on May 19th, I'm meeting with an orthopedic surgeon at Froedtert who specializes in sports medicine. The reason she wants me to see him is because PCL tears are rare, but when they do occur, it's most often in sports (usually, football). She said the rehab for ligament reconstructive surgery is long, so she doesn't want to do it without a second opinion. Also, not really how I planned to spend my summer.


Wow...that was a mouthful (Or...a handful? Since I'm typing? Whatever...)!


At the Moment
What I'm loving right now...

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

The Voice on NBC.

Smucker's Simply Fruit Red Raspberry.

I know I said it was one of my goals to blog more often and I definitely have been on a decline. Sorry about that. In my defense, school has been crazy (but, next week is my last of the semester!). And, this knee-business has not been much fun, either. But, I will try harder. I know, I just need to make an effort to do it.