new fractured patella patient

[Pat_A.E.]

Rhonda, I have been running on a treadmill, but for short bursts - 1 to 2 min.  I was NEVER a runner so I never did too much more then that.  I prefer walking and this morning is was short 25 sec. of my 15 min. mile goal.  My limp is gone 98% of the time.  Some days when I push too hard at my workout by the end of the day I find myself limping a little.  Then I slow down and think about what the PT told me about planting my step correctly.
I think today will be my last PT visit for awhile.  I'm self-employed accountant and tax season puts a real strain on my time.  I figure as long as I can get to the gym 5 mornings a week I'll take a pass on the PT.  Once I get out in the spring and starting gardening and doing more outside activities I may find the PT will be beneficial.  I'll actually miss my therapist.  When we first met I got the impression he thought I would be a whinny middle aged women and since this was the first patella fracture he had ever worked on he was skeptical I would get this far.  We've worked well togther and I give him alot of credit for my progress.  Funny thing is - he's Italian!

[dwalsh]

Tonya
How coincidental we both fractured our patellas ice-skating. I don't even have the zamboni to blame ..tripped over my own foot! I'm sure ice rinks can't be sued-so many people must injure themselves there. Can't believe you hobbled to your car. I could not walk at all..ambulance came...big embarrasing scene. Loved your picture. So jealous of  the warm weather and swimming, I really can't take much more of this northeast snow and cold.

Pat and Rhonda
It's so amazing you both can run. I still cannot. I feel like the leg gets stronger everday and the pain gets less though. Still only have about 100 degress of ROM so I think that is the biggest problem. Hopefully after the wire removal this will improve. I'm on the fence about PT lately. Everything I do there (ride the bike, weights, balance exercises) I could do at my gym. My PT does do some deep tissue massage and trys to physically bend the knee further (hurts!) but I don't think it is all that helpful. Trying to decide whether to conitinue.

well back to work!
Doreen

[Analee]

Thanks to all of you for the support. Yes, this grocery is a large national chain with "deep pockets" and doesn't carry any liability because the burden of proof of NEGLIGENCE is on the person seeking help !! Proof is...they KNEW the green bean was in the floor and neglected to remove it.
I am certain most folks just turn around and go home and try to forget it, and pay the bills. I CAN'T !! Expenses are now at a level so high I will have to file bankruptcy. And I am still not well enough to be up on my leg for more that a short time.
Attorneys decline such cases UNLESS the $$ to recover are high. Perhaps mine will qualify. They cannot afford to spend so many hours on a case, filing fees, court costs, etc. and then not prove negligence. This is what I have been told about the state of Tenn. and that I should go home and get well before I get involved in this matter as it becomes "consuming"....That was told to me by a lawyer after Christmas, and I grabbed it ! I can see how "not worrying" has helped, but now comes the "wolves at the door" as the savings account is going down !! Stay posted in the coming weeks for what happens with my entire future !! Not kidding.....single, no family support......what does one do
I directly attribute any sanity I have to my faith in God. And NOT trying to understand any of this. Just dealing with TODAY. That's all I can handle.....

Thanks.

[Pat_A.E.]

Analee, Have you talked to a legal aid group.  In our communities there are attorneys who volunteer their services for those who don't have the means to pay.  Also, if you are a member of a church, talk to your pastor because they often have resources that they can refer you to.  Seems hard to imagine you couldn't at least have your medical expenses covered.
Regarding the 1 year your doctor said it will take for recovery, don't dispair.  I was told the samething and what I think it actually means is 1 year for total recovery.  That means no pain, discomfort, etc. but the reality is you will probably be able to do most everyday activities (sometimes with modification)within 6 months or sooner.

Doreen: Getting better ROM is important for running but since you probably don't spend most of your time running just focus on walking without a limp.  I found once I started using the gym in addition to PT I started making real progress.  It is just way too expensive to ride the bike, etc in PT.   I now use PT to beef up my workout rather then the other way around.  I count on the PT to tell me the correct way to do an exercise and reassure me I'm not doing any damage.  I've been going weekly this month but backing off to every other week starting in March.
Getting the hardware out did improve my ROM but it was already at 123 before the removal. There is no easy way to improve ROM except to keep working at it.  I sit almost everynight and pull on my foot to keep forcing the knee to bend more.  The closer it gets to 133 the slower the progress seems.  I'm at 130.

Yesterday I almost broke down in tears of joy when I realized how frightened I was last Oct and then after surgery when it seemed I would never regain my life.  As hard as it was I keep asking God's guidance even though it didn't seem like the answers were coming.  The whole ordeal has been a lesson in humility and patience. I have a new found respect for those who are permently handicapped.  I am chair of the building committee at our church and believe me it will be accessible because if there is ever a time when people need to have access to their church it is a times like these.  

[lizl]

Analee,

Make some phone calls before you spend any more time worrying.  I think that the store is responsible for accidents that happen on their premises, even if they were not negligent. I'm not a lawyer, but I think even a homeowner is responsible for accidents that happen on their property. That's why such things are covered by homeowner's insurance.  

You need a lawyer to help brainstorm for things to investigate in terms of negligence. For instance, a lawyer may first ask for copies of work orders at the store to determine how often the floor is swept. Perhaps the store was short staffed that day, and some custodial chores suffered. You never know.

In any case, don't go to the lawyer who advised you to go home and heal. Find someone who is more aggressive than that.

Do you have any evidence that the store knew the bean was there and yet did not clean it up? I know that's a stretch, but that would go a long way toward proving negligence.

By the way, you don't have to actually prove they knew there was a problem with the floor, only that they should have known (the absence of regular sweeping of the floor might prove that they did not care if there were hazards).  Also, let's say that a produce worker restocked the fresh green beans an hour earlier and dropped some of them, which then were not swept up. Perhaps the display often has over-flowing beans and creates a hazard on a regular basis (this is probably the best case scenario). If this is the case, you might have someone take a camera with a time-date stamp function and snap a few photos to show to a lawyer. Be sure NOT to use the flash, however, as that will attract store security (they'll be watching through their secret camers, as always). No store wants you to be taking photos inside it, so your helper needs to be in and out quickly.  

Of course, the store has security cameras in place, and your accident was probably "caught on tape." (That's another reason to act soon.  Any such tape may not be available for long, and it may help prove your case.)

Please, please, talk to another lawyer--either a very good one or a very hungry one!

LizL

[Analee]

Thanks for reply. Yes, our homeowners ins. is for our protection if someone gets hurt on the property and so is our auto liability ins if there is injury in accidents. And if we DON'T carry these coverages people who try to collect from us have to take us to court and prove our negligence and obtain our assets. As I have been told recently by this atty. this is what MUST happen in my case. He said large companies like Kroger & Walmart choose not to carry the liability ins. and will make a small "nusance payment" offer to someone and hope they take that and just go away. And with a small injury it usually works. They KNOW how much $$ is involved in having to file a lawsuit and that burden is on people like me, NOT THEM.
Again, thanks.

[wofford99]

Hi everyone-
  I have had 12 knee surgeries including bilateral patella realignments.  I am in pain management on narcotics for chronic knee pain management.  About 3 nights ago (Thurs night), I was mopping my tile kitchen floor and fell right on top of my left kneecap(my worst knee).  I developed a huge red (very red) bruise all around my kneecap. I had a lot of pain, trouble straighening/bending my knee, and could barely walk.  Also, I fell on the top of my tibia where I had the screw removed from my realignment about a year ago.  That area is very tender.  
  My orthopedic surgeon was on vacation and they told me to go to the Emergency Room Friday morning.  I didn't want to deal with the wait there so I made the mistake of going to my general doctor.  I saw his physician assistant who x-rayed it, etc.  She was not experienced in complicated orthopedic x-rays- she did not have access to my old x-rays because she is in a different hospital. She took a sunrise x-ray where my knees were bent and on that one she saw either a "fracture" or "blood vessel" on the medial part of my kneecap.
    After showing it to my doctor, they agreed it probably was a fracture-looked like a zipper.  She told me to wear an immobilizer and crutches until I can see my orthopod on Tuesday.  
    I know that this is not a severe fracture;however, with my history it is concerning.  I have searched the internet and haven't found much about the symptoms/signs of a longitudinal patella fracture and the treatment.  I didn't think a blood vessel could show up on an x-ray but I could be very wrong.  I wonder if I should go to the emergency room and have an orthopedic surgeon look at it before Tuesday.  I am in a lot of pain.  Thank you to anyone with input! Margaret in North Carolina  

[Pat_A.E.]

Since it is only two more days before you see an OS I would wait rather then take my chances at the emergency room.  I am assuming the OS is one of your choice, correct?  The treatment for a fractured patella always involves imobilization and non-weight bearing whether or not surgery is involved.  I found that once my knee was imobilized and I kept weight off of it the pain wasn't unbearable.  Since you already have pain meds I'm surprised they aren't helping somewhat.  Please try to keep your leg elevated, iced and non weight bearing until you get expert advice.