[ali12]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to update you all as to how my PT appt went today.

The PT session today was extremely painful. It had me in tears as the pain was so bad!!!

As some of you know, I posted a message a few weeks ago now about the pain in my knee. There were 3 PTs today and they all took a good look at my leg and took the time to listen to me about my knee pain. During the last few weeks, have have noticed a creaking in my knee so my PTs felt my knee. They couldn't believe how bad it was and said it looks as though there is inflamation on the knee cap from the creaking I am getting. It's really hard to describe - the only way I can describe it is as though someone has put some froaks under my knee as it 'croaks'!!!!

My PT's decided to take things easy today. They wanted to get my leg into the splint but decided to try and get my knee to bend and saw even that was too much for me as it was really painful and I kept getting bad cramp which made me cry.

When my mum asked them if the splint could have caused some of the problems, they said that it could have and that it seems as though I am in a major pain flare at the moment. They don't think that the knee pain is RSD but that it is some underlying condition that due to my RSD, has been made worse ... which is what I thought also.

My Neuro PT mentioned a condition called Femoral Pattela which I believe someone mentioned on the forum earlier. We did some research into it and I do have most of the symptoms but obviously would have to see my dr to get it diagnosed and treated.

My mum has to call my PM Dr tomorrow to try and get some pain meds for me. My PTs want me to take the highest dose of meds I can at the moment to try and help me through this flare.

I have an appt on Monday with my GP to rule out other possibilities and have to see my PTs again on Wednesday. I'm hoping that by then things will be a little easier as i'm really getting sick of this now and it's getting to me that I cant do most things that normal teens do.

I was due to go into hospital for some inpatient PT soon but my PT's are having staff issues and also dont want to do too much with me until we figure out what is going on with my knee so I guess that is on the back burne for now.

I want to thank you all for the support - I really appreciate it and will keep you posted! Have to go and lay down as i'm really hurting and have school tomorrow!!

Alison

[bobber]

Ali
your in our prayers,,,,the bad thing with rsd ,,it unables us to be active,,6 months ago i was a ball player,,,today,,im in bed watching tv and eating pills,,,,,i,ll be glad when i can move again,,i,ll keep you and everyone else in here in prayer too,,mobility is a wonderfull thing..when im active,,theres no pain ,,when im not active,,,more pain,,,except with rsd ,,,after exercising,,,the pain sits in,,,,,,keep moving and keep your hopes up,,,God is watching,,,he will get us all thru our problems,
bobber
p.s
plus your one of our senior members and are always there to encourage and cheer everyone up,,,,, now its our turn to return the favor.........you go girl !

[aj822]

Ali,
I am so sorry you are hurting so bad. You are such a sweet inspiration to all of us that it breaks my heart to hear that you are suffering so much. I hope that you can get some relief soon! You are in my prayers.

[kilikina]

Hi Ali,
Hang tough Sweetie! I know it can be hard to remember that PT's are our friends when they cause us pain. A true love/hate relationship. Keep us posted, and remember to smile!

[ali12]

Thanks guys, for your help and support!

I had another Physical Therapy appointment today. The PTs took another good look at my leg and basically said that it doesn't look any better than it did last week and that I am in a bad flare with it. I still have the creaking in my knee which is inflammation that could possibly be caused by either an infection of some kind or the RSD.

They took things careful as they didn't want to do too much but even the small exerices they did were really painful.

After speaking to them, it was decided that I need a break from PT as they can't really do anything at the moment until they get my knee problem sorted out. They seem to think that I need a break from PT to see if that will help any.

I have to see them again in 2 weeks and they are going to look at my knee again and see what they think needs to be done. In the mean time, we have to call my doctor to try and get some pain meds that might help.

I was supposed to have an appointment with my GP on Monday. We got ready, went down to the doctors office and were told that we were half an hour late even though we were on time! The stupid receptionist had given us the wrong time! I can't get in to see my GP for another few weeks now which is pretty pathetic so i'm not sure what we will be doing.

I have to go for a meeting tomorrow with College about the Health and Social Care Course that I will be starting in September. We should find out all of the info we need to know then and hopefully get to meet all of the tutors and other kids on the course.

Hope all is OK with everyone!

[Dew58]

Thanks for updating us on your progress. Sorry that you GP's receptionist is in the same category as my PM's receptionist ...Life goes on.
Be excited about school...love you

[daniella]

I am so sorry about more pain and problems. You are in my thoughts and I am just a PM away. I know for me I have had bad PT experiences but have worked with myself to do more and push as much as I can. I wonder if there are some ways you can do that to? I think some and not saying yours but PT people do one size fits all treatment and that is not always the right way to go. I know how bad it is to want to be "normal". I guess for me I am trying to focus on the things I can do and develop new outlets. You are so strong and I am so excited for you about the schooling in Sept. That is a happy thing to look forward too.

[Dubious]

Originally Posted by ali12

Thanks guys, for your help and support!

I had another Physical Therapy appointment today. The PTs took another good look at my leg and basically said that it doesn't look any better than it did last week and that I am in a bad flare with it. I still have the creaking in my knee which is inflammation that could possibly be caused by either an infection of some kind or the RSD.

They took things careful as they didn't want to do too much but even the small exerices they did were really painful.

After speaking to them, it was decided that I need a break from PT as they can't really do anything at the moment until they get my knee problem sorted out. They seem to think that I need a break from PT to see if that will help any.

I have to see them again in 2 weeks and they are going to look at my knee again and see what they think needs to be done. In the mean time, we have to call my doctor to try and get some pain meds that might help.

I was supposed to have an appointment with my GP on Monday. We got ready, went down to the doctors office and were told that we were half an hour late even though we were on time! The stupid receptionist had given us the wrong time! I can't get in to see my GP for another few weeks now which is pretty pathetic so i'm not sure what we will be doing.

I have to go for a meeting tomorrow with College about the Health and Social Care Course that I will be starting in September. We should find out all of the info we need to know then and hopefully get to meet all of the tutors and other kids on the course.

Hope all is OK with everyone!

A patellar strapping, taping procedure, which your PT should be able to do would be a cheap, fast and safe way to help determine if you have patellofemoral syndrome

[ali12]

Originally Posted by Dubious

A patellar strapping, taping procedure, which your PT should be able to do would be a cheap, fast and safe way to help determine if you have patellofemoral syndrome

Thanks Dubious for the suggestion. I hadn'theard of the patellar strapping but will bring it up to my PTs when I see them next.

My mum called my PT's in the week and they said that seeing as though my knee is still extremely painful, they want to leave PT for a few weeks and I am to see them on the 29th of July. I'm glad that I am getting a little break as it's hard going to PT every week and I hope that once we stop messing with my leg, it will settle down and stop being so painful.

I had a meeting with the school yesterday to see if they could transfer me over to the school centre full time. They want me to try and go into mainstream school as they feel that it would be best for my exams but have agreed that I only have to go in for Science and Life Skills as they can't do that in the school centre due to not having enough space to do any science praticals.

I'm not sure how to feel about going back to school. I will only be going for about 4 lessons a week but even that scares me and i'm not sure if I will be able to cope. My teachers said that all of my lessons are near eachother but I have been out of school for 2 years now and the thought of going back is a little scary. Plus, my friends could care less about me - they have Facebook, my cell number, email address etc etc but NEVER get in touch to see how I am. When I tried going to school at the beginning of this year, it was too much and I ended up going into a flare and my so-called 'friends' just left me on my own during breaks!!

My teachers seem to think that if I tried coming back to school even for a few lessons, my 'friends' will start understanding and help, even though we made it clear that they hadn't been in touch for nearly 2 years now. One of the teachers had the cheek to tell us that if I started going back more, they could force them to be my friend - I DON'T want to force them to be my friend! You can't force someone to be your friend if they don't want to be and i'm not sure if I need them in my life after all the hassle they have caused!

From September, I will be going to the school centre 3 days a week, college one morning and 2 afternoons to do my Health and Social Care Course and then school for a few lessons.

I'm hoping that it will all go OK and we have a meeting with the college to see if they can do anything to help me through my placements. I will have my first 10 day placement in October/November - not sure what area in health and social care it will be in but i'm looking forward to it. The college tutors also said they could try and get me a placement in Psychology seeing as that is what I want to do so i'm hoping they'll be able to.

Thanks again and i'll keep you posted!!

[daniella]

I think regardless if you can finish the course or make it through school right now you are a success because you are trying and pushing though the barriers. Many in your state would be too scared to even try and you are not which is amazing and very strong. If the time would not be right then it may be in time ahead. People finish things later these days. I have friends late 20 or even 30's going to college and if I get well I want to as well. As for friends like I stated I can relate. I wish I had a way to make it easier but unfortunatly people are more self absorbed and in their own lives sometimes. There are some good people though and some TRUE friends that will be there through thick and thin. So I hope you still take the chance to open up to people and try. That is what I am doing it is hard though. Keep us updated and it is ok to be scared and nervous but you can only do the best you can. My pain doc said something to me that has helped. He said you are young and you need to try to live life. So on the days you can do do and on the days you hurt do the best you can. Trying to remind myself that as I want to chop my leg off from pain today. There will be good and bad days. Hopefully soon the better will outweigh the bad. Many thoughts