I was actually born with something called Nail Patella Syndrome.

I don't think that had caused me much problems, other than my kneecaps floating around in a way they're not supposed to. But, I never had problems walking from it. I didn't even know I had this until one day in the late 90s I decided to google something. I'm missing the fingernail on my left index finger. Been like that since I was born. (it's actually called a split nail. I have two little tiny bits of nailbed that little bits of fingernail grow out of). That's one of the big signs of NPS. I just thought it was weird, and didn't think it was going to cause me any problems. I don't know if it has anything to do with what's going on with my knees right now.

I haven't even been officially diagnosed with nail patella. But, I have some classic symptoms of it. The fingernails is the big one. Plus, I can trace it back in my family to my paternal grandfather. It's genetic, and it doesn't skip generations. I know that I have it, my dad's younger sister had it, and two of her grandkids have it.

I never knew my grandfather, but I have a couple of photographs of him, and he's got the classic elbow problem that some people with NPS get. (he couldn't straighten them). My dad's sister-in-law said that she thinks my dad's brother had it. She said he had problems with his elbows too.

It affects more than just knees, fingernails, and elbows. It's a connective tissue disorder.

Never pursued a diagnosis for it, because I never thought it would cause me any problems, and my dad didn't think it was a good idea to let the insurance companies know about it. (preexisting conditions)

Maybe it's why my knees are being so weird now? Putting that stupid brace on maybe exacerbated a potential problem?