Kneecap Dislocation

I dislocate my kneecaps 2 or 3 times a night. My tendons and ligaments are all loose, so if I roll over in my sleep wrong my eyeballs fly open, and then they pop right back in. Both my kneecap and my eyeballs. And I go back to sleep. I'll pop them out during the daytime a couple times a month.

It's a lot more awkward when you have tight joints that perform normally. Same pain, but more swelling, and you aren't used to the pain and it lasts longer because of the swelling (I have a few tight joints I've dislocated, and you have to be careful with them for about a week or two... no biggie).

I not only:
- Swim
- Snowboard
- Surf
- Sail
- Ride horses
- Hike
- Gymnastics
- Dance

But I have the definition of an 'active kid'. I've been chasing after him and playing with him for 9 years.

Yeah, every once in awhile mom gets laid up, and I have to sit on the bench at the park instead of hanging upside down and chasing him. He's fine with that. More often than not I prefer to 'play goalie' when we're doing soccer stuff.

I figure, even if I'm in a freakin wheelchair, I can play with my kid. So anything less than that? I'm golden.

I don't think you are wearing a prosthesis - I would believe you have a Don Joy brace to keep your leg stable. A prosthesis is a fake limb for people who have lost limbs.

Talk to an orthopeadist and get a 2nd opinion.

i've had 9 knee surgeries and I need to get my right knee replaced one day - but not in a rush to do it.

get a second opinion,.

I have had a mess of things happen to my knees including surgery, never had that. Not even sure what would cause that since your kneecap is meant to float around.

Have you seen an orthopedic surgeon? That just doesn't sound right.

get nothing less then 2 opinions. Then when they make a recommendation of what you should do follow it as it seems you are one to push the recovery process. If they say rest for a period then do that, if you are supposed to do physical therapy then do it(don't call and cancel appointments), if you are supposed to have surgery then get it done and over with. I failed physical therapy and needed surgery, but I followed every step of their instructions and was back together in the prescribed time frame. If you have any weight over or under work on that from your rest position. Now is the time to eat as healthy as you can so the tissues have their nourishment. Extra weight even 10 pounds can place stress on joints. Underweight, and you may not have enough muscle to support the ligaments and joint structure.

I have dislocated my knees multiple times and needed surgery a while back. Most recently, I did when my daughter was two months old and it was horrible. Post this injury, I am working hard to build up my quad muscles through swimming, biking and the elliptical. It is tough with working full-time, but I find time to go the gym after my kids are asleep. I would ask your doctor for some physical therapy. I did, and it was so helpful. This may not 100% prevent future surgeries, but it may make recoveries from surgeries easier. Good luck and hang in there.

Hi, I had my left kneecap dislocate a few times when I was a teenager, and then the final time (when I did nothing more than step backwards), it dislocated again, but this time the cartilege was torn, so I had surgery on it. I have had it dislocate a couple more times (I hate walking on the ice or slippery surfaces) but in general it's been ok. I know they told me in physical therapy that i would have to do some form of workout every day for the rest of my life, and they taught me to brace the muscles around my knee each time I set my foot down. and believe me I can feel it if I don't! I would say your best bet is to do some physical therapy (or weight training, leg lifts and that sort of thing) so you can strengthen the muscles around your kneecaps, and for now try bracing those muscles each time you take a step. Soon it will become second nature and you won't even think about doing it anymore. Good luck!