Hi.  I've been looking on this board since I dislocated my right patella 3 and a bit weeks ago (first time) and would be grateful for any advice.  A summary of what has happened so far.  Not sure how I dislocated my knee, one minute I was getting in my car, the next I sort of stumbled and fell to the ground.  Anyway, knee was bent, could not straighten it, kneecap visibly out of place.  Ambulance arrived 30 mins later and they only partly straightened the leg (it hadn't completely reduced.)  2 hours later the doctors reduced it again and x rayed.  They said the kneecap was back in place.  However, I could not put my leg down to the floor without extreme pain.  Discharged with richards splint and crutches and hobbled out of the hospital.  As this all happened whilst on holiday, I was told to go to my local fracture clinic when I returned home 2 days later.  Again, the clinic x rayed and said all looked OK but as I could not do a straight leg lift or put my leg down when getting off the couch/bed, they took ultrasound of my knee.  Again, no significant damage, just swelling, dried blood etc in my knee.  Doctors told me to keep my leg in the richards splint for the next 3 weeks and to go back in June (6 weeks in total.)  However,  should I be concerned that i still can't put my leg down without supporting it due to the pain?  Is this normal? For example, I have to put my left foot under my right foot to keep my leg supported in order to lift it and put it down.  Without the support it is extremely painful. Once I'm standing, I can put my right foot on the floor without any pain but cannot fully weight bear.  Doctors have also told me not to bend my knee - is this right?  To be honest, I don't want to as my ligaments/muscles feel really tight around my knee (and I still have sharp pain behind and below the kneecap) so I know bending it will be extremely painful.  I'm hoping all this is normal (and I only have a low pain threshold!) and I just have to rest for the next 3 weeks but any advice would be gratefully received.  Also, I was never told to elevate the leg and ice so have not done this until this week when I read this board - hopefully swelling will go down quicker and may help - or should I be using heat to try to relax the ligaments/muscles?  Sorry for the long post and thanks for your help.

Thanks for the advice allyd. I've started to notice the difference with swelling and pain since icing and elevating the leg.  Wish I'd done this sooner (common sense when I think about it but nevermind!)  I will call the fracture clinic to confirm the advice re: bending the knee.  I've been trying to keep the muscles moving in my knee and leg by doing very simple quad, calf muscle excercises (subject to knee pain) and this is getting easier.  Thanks again for your help.  

Hi Daniel4

Sorry for the late posting - hope your recovery is going well. 
When I went to the fracture clinic they were a little concerned that I could not do an SLR so they sent me for ultrasound.  Good news is that as of yesterday, I can now do a straight leg raise!  It doesn't always happen, I have to concentrate pretty hard, but atleast now I know it will!  I guess the swelling, bruising and shock to the knee had to subside.  Despite advice not to bend the knee, I have been trying but it just feels as though there is a steel band across the knee and it also feels like it may be locked (there's alot of clicking, tightness etc.)  I guess this is to be expected and some hard PT will sort it out. Good news is that I don't feel any pain when weight bearing (not fully weight bearing yet) - it just feels wobbly.  Again, to be expected.
I've found all the posts and threads on here really useful - there are some things that the docs do not tell you or warn you about (such as the leg turning red/purple when you put it down  but it's OK when raised or lying down) so it was good to read on here that it will be OK once I start weight bearing again. No doubt I'll be checking in to the rehab thread for advice when I start PT.

I hope you have been able to put in some revision time for your exams - it's tough that you have to wait until August to do them, but fingers crossed all will go well with them and your recovery.

I wish you all the best!