Home sweet Home!

Hello, I thought since this is my first full day at home that I would write here and things!
I don't know if any of you are interested, but I thought I would tell you what happened to my knee during the surgery since I think it's interesting!!!



above is a normal knee.. you can see the important parts labelled.

Causes
One of the more common causes of knee pain is a problem with the way the patella moves through the patellofemoral groove. Basically, the little kneecap thing, sits on the outside of the knee, on the groove... as in the picture below.


In some cases one side of the patellofemoral groove may be smaller than normal. This may cause the patella to actually slip out of the groove, causing a patellar dislocation. This is not only painful, but can cause degeneration of the patellofemoral joint if dislocation repeatedly happens. Hello my injury!! :D


Symptoms
If you have patellofemoral problems, you may feel like the patella is slipping (like me). Sometimes you may have pain around the front part of the knee or along the edges of the kneecap. These symptoms may be related to the way the patella lines up in the femoral groove (again like me!). In other cases you may notice a dull pain in the knee that isn't centered in any one spot. Typically, if you have patellofemoral problems you may experience pain when walking down stairs or hills. Keeping the knee bent for long periods, such as sitting in a car or movie theater, may also cause pain. The knee may also grind, or you may hear a crunching sound when you squat or go up and down stairs. IS THAT ME OR WHAT?!?!?! haha.
If there is a considerable amount of wear and tear, popping or clicking may be felt when the knee is bent. This happens when the uneven surfaces of the underside of the patella and the femoral groove rub against one another. The knee may swell with heavy use and become stiff and tight. This is usually due to fluid accumulating inside the knee joint... ok so I had all the symptoms.... why not operate earlier you say...

Treatment
Treatment usually begins by decreasing the sweeling in the knee through rest, pain relief and usually splinting. Physical Therapy usually helps and in most cases is sufficient to fix the problem. So what happended during the operation???

Surgery
My problems were caused by misalignment so this is what they did... A lateral release is done to allow the patella to shift back to a normal position and relieve pressure on the articular cartilage. In this operation, the tight ligaments on the outside (lateral side) of the patella are cut, or released, to allow the patella to slide more towards the center of the femoral groove. These ligaments eventually heal with scar tissue filling the gap created by surgery.

For problems of repeated patellar dislocations or severe patellar malalignment, the doctor may also need to realign the quadriceps mechanism. In addition to the lateral release, the tendons on the inside edge of the knee (the medial side) may have to be tightened.
If the malalignment is even more severe, the bony attachment of the patellar tendon may also have to be shifted to a new spot on the tibia bone. Doctors can change the way the tendon pulls the patella through the groove in the femur by surgically removing a section of bone where the patellar tendon attaches on the tibia. This section of bone is then reattached on the tibia closer to the other knee.
All of this was done to my knee as one was not sufficient.


So that's what happened during my operation! Interesting eh, I got most of the info from Doctorish Site

Well, I am getting betterish, I slept through the night for the first time since the operation last night, from 11:30ish-6am. This is fantastic!! The saddest thing is that my brother's graduation is today, and I can't go because I would be too tired, but lucky for me, one of the ladies from church is coming over to look after me while mum & dad are away.

Oh well I might go now and post this before it gets too long.
Love Jen xxx ---> any questions about the surgery or anything place in a comment and I can try to answer :-)

Quick post

Hi everyone,
I thought I would really quickly post before I head off to bed. Tomorrow I go into hospital, to have my knee all made better (i hope). I think it would be fair to say that I am feeling a little anxious about it, but I know that so many people are thinking of me and praying for me, which makes me feel sooo much better. So thankyou to all of you.
I wanted to just post a little so that you don't all get bored while I'm in! You better all post comments now - otherwise I might just feel completely unloved!!!

Thanks to everyone today who helped distract me from the inevitable! haha. We went on a picnic to the Botanical Gardens. It was a lovely day, frisbee throwing (me standing stationary, not moving it's all good), card playing, eating, walking, talking, laughing - you know... the usual. There was Sarah, Bec, Mel, Andy, Alistair, Mike, Jenny and Tom (and me). It was a lovely day - and it definately helped me not think about tomorrow! It was something I was so looking forward to, and it did live up to my expectations fully! - except for maybe my nephew and niece fighting a lot, mind you their mother sorted them out. Mind you I do love my nephew and niece dearly, they are lovely children - fill my life with humour and love (everyone goes ::awww::)!

Oh well, it's 10:04, and I have to be up at 5am tomorrow morning, so I want to get some rest now. Thanks again to all of you who are praying, I'm sure I will be ok, but they are appreciated so much, the girls will be able to tell you (mel, bec and sarah) that I appreciate them heaps. (We were at bible study, and my "brave face" was slowly fading...). But yes! Must stop talking!

Night night,

Love you all
Jen

P.S. If I die, Bec and Mel don't forget my diary is for you guys!!!!! (hehe). and sarah, you can have my ... my... i dunno.. something ,.... alex?????
hehe.

Love
Jen (again) :-P
ok ok ok.... i'll shut up!!! hahaha.. byeee xox

"I'm not scareddddddd"

Hi all,
Contrary to the title of this post, I am scared!
I went and saw the surgeon for my knee today and he has decided to operate.... next tuesday! I mean that is good because I get it done soon, except he explained the whole procedure, and it's just a little scary............. like quite scary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I actually have to go now cause I have class..... so I'll post more later...

Your friend who is being fixed!

Jen
xoxoxox

Touch Footy, the cat, the Bell's!

Hello everyone... (Bec, Sarah, Tamara, Jess)
Well today I went to touch footy, we got to our church hall at 7:25am to leave at 7:45, that was good cause the kiddies got there rather soon after.


(Touch footy practice)

We had a war cry " 'C' is for cookie, that's good enough for me... cherrybrook, cherrybrook, cherrybrook starts with 'c' "... it was funny because all these people kept looking at us with very vacant expressions...
Our team did really well, I was so proud of them... we had some super players and everyone did so well - on and off the field - It's nice to have a team that cares and supports each other.
We ended up winning the "wooden spoon" competition, which was very cool.. we got chocolate.. not that I was playing.. I was just chief cheerleader! The day had it's fair share of laughts... a couple of cries when footballs went flying into my knee.... PAIN!
The car trips were funny.... i think i sufficiently embaressed myself infront of strangers, 1. when i turned round to make an "L" with my hand to Lachie, Steve who were behind us, and discovered it was a different car, and 2. when I looked out my open window to the car next to me and said "just because you're wrong" [i was talking to Bec] and the lady in the car next to us asked if i was talking to her....

WOOOOOOOPS!

Lots of other amusing things happened throughout the day, like Rockdale/Bexley amusement... was funny...
After touch Sarah Liz and I went back to Lachie and Steve's house where we played with Freddy!!!! Freddy is a very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very ok i'll stop now... cute cat!!!!!!!!!!!! I think i'm in love :: swoons :: So sweet.... awww........ haha.. I'm sorry all those who I was in bond with who don't like cats that much.. but i'm converted... just so sweet.. and awww...........

ok.. i'll stop now
I think we also managed to amuse Lachie's friend Mike.. was kinda cool. Anyway I'm sooo sooo tired... i'm just becoming quite random.. so I think I ought to sleep. --- quick question.. do you put the "ought to" or just "ought"?????? someone help!

Love Jen
xoxooxox


(Bec, Jen, Caro and Sarah is there somewhere at the easter show)

what the?!?!

A BABY?!?!?!

We just found out that one of our (sarah and mine) dear friends is pregnant. We'd just like to extend congratulations to him... well done.. and we hope that we make good family members to this little bundle of joy......

I love being a great aunt. Sarah loves being a grandma..... :-) (haha great... aunt.... great.. as in good... aunt.. haha)

Jen and Sarah.


we did a search for stork... and this is what we found....... disturbed? we are too....

Sarah's foot.... jen's knee

You know how like funny it would be if my knee was on your foot?

How funny would it be if we were both on crutches and like threw them into the backseat and then started to drive..

I'm no wog woman..... what are you talking about................................... it's funny cuz no one will understand this except me and sarah..... muahhahahah jen je nje je nej nejen jen ejne etc.
ahhh the random ness..

Jen.

Dear Tamara, Bec & Sarah

Hello!
Hehe... i think this is a good way to work out who actually reads my blog :-P
Well, what has happened in the alst 24 hours... I suppose I should just jump to the big thing....
Was warming up for touch footy and pop crack pop goes my knee.... yes yes....i have dislocated it 3 times now............
I will probably have an operation now... because it's the 3rd time.

Time to go... watch monarch of the glen....

byeeee
xox
jen

Dear Bec and Sarah

I am sorry bec, I am glad you read my blog :-)
I won't write a lot today because i have sore arms... I went to the chiro today and was crying cause i hurted so much.... so not a lot of typing for jenny jen jen jen jen...

but yes I am sorry that I gotted it wrong bec... i am the happy you read... unlike the rest of the ppl's out there....

Love Jen


Dear Sarah...

I'm addressing this blog entry to sarah as it seems that she has read my blog - and since she is the only one who commented it also seems as though she is the only one who reads it!
I am currently at uni, sitting in the computer lab - which is in the middle of level 2, in a corridor.... almost anyone could read my screen if they wanted.... there is no feeling of security like there is at home in my little corner at my desk. I have my ipod resting in the canals of my ears with the familiar sound of "You Belong to me" by Jason Wade.
I can here the occasional cheery laugh or conversation of those passing by, the occasional dance call of those practicing their dance in the nearby music rooms, and of course the sound of tapping on the 'emac' computers. My bottle of coke sits beside me. The black death gently moving as wrists bump the table. The soaring violin line of 18th Variation from "Rahpsody on a Theme of Paganinni, op 13" gently uplifts me, and a small smile is brought to my face. There is a brick wall in front of me with a random slab of concrete hanging from the ceiling. The worn 'school green' carpet rests under my bare feet. Welcome to Kuring-gai UTS.
I just thought I would give you that small insight into my feelings at the moment. I ought begin my assignment so I'd better go do that now.
But thankyou Sarah for commenting, maybe some people will follow your example like good little sheep...

Love
Jen
xox

Felt like blogging again

Hi Everyone,
Since I only posted lyrics last time I thought I should actually post post. Well, first things first, Uni is great! I have just started a topic in science and technology on "Space"! It's totally cool. Fits quite well with my obsession with the sky. I feel a little silly in the fact that I don't really know anything, but I'm going to work my but off researching in the hope that I will do ok. I think it really helps that my lecturer is sooo passionate about the subject - it makes it so much fun to go to each class, cause I know that even if I am feeling terrible I am bound to have fun because she is always so bright and cheerful.
I wrote a poem in English today, people are telling me it's good, but I'm not so sure. This isn't a ploy to get good comments... it's just a silly self esteem problem I seem to have developed over time, but it goes like this.

Frosted Glass
Looking out a window, covered with frosted glass,
A man sits all alone.
I wonder if he's got no friends, no family at a home.
He gazes into the distance.
Does he lead a single existence?
Is his life a lonely trail?
He looks so old and frail.
He holds his stick as though it's all he has left,
Looks toward the sky, looking bereft.
It becomes dark,
The owlet cries, hark!
Time passes so fast,
Looking out a window, covered with frosted glass.

So that's my poem. I think it needs work, but hey.
Other news... hmm... oh my flute teacher wants me to do my AmusA in September. That's my diploma of music on flute. I'm excited as there are peices which I get to learn that I've admired for ages, but it also means 2 hours of practice a night. That makes one tired Jen. I am already getting up at 6:30 and going to bed at 10.
Oh my junior flute ensemble performed for the first time on Wednesday. I couldn't be there to hear them, but apparently they played super well and there were lots of positive comments! That is sooo good considering it's a new employment!!!!! I am so proud of the children. What conscientious and hard working flute players they turned out to be!!!!
Oh well I must go. I have to face my senior flutes at 7:45 tomorrow.... and if they haven't practised they get a nice and cranky Jen. Not something you want to have!! Haha. giving off to kids is such an art.... and if you pull it off, they actually practice!!!

Oh well. Time for me to go.
Welcome to my blog new readers! and thanks for reading older ones :-)
Love
Jenny.

P.S. for more teaching escapades check out http://jenyager.blogspot.com ta.

I can fly,
But I want his wings.
I can shine even in the darkness,
But I crave the light that he brings,
Revel in the song that he sings,
My angel Gabriel.

I can love,
But I need his heart.
I am strong even on my own,
But from him I never want to part,
He's been there since the very start,
My angel Gabriel,
My angel Gabriel.

Bless the day he came to be,
Angel's wings carried him to me.
Heavenly.

I can fly,
But I want his wings.
I can shine even in the darkness,
But I crave the light that he brings,
Revel in the songs that he sings,
My angel Gabriel
My angel Gabriel.

Gabriel, Lamb

The storm part 2

She gazed at the sky. The blackness seemed to stretch further than her mind would allow her to imagine. The occasional flash lit up the night sky and lingered on her mind. Lightening never ceased to amaze her, it provided her with a moment of hope in her dark world.

She let her thoughts wander. Moments incomplete.

Fragmented.

It opened up doors of pain she had tried to wash away. If only scrubbing at her pale and worn skin took away the pain she was scarred with inside. She tried to wish it away.

The sky flashed its brilliant white again as images momentarily came to her mind. Her mother. She in her mother's arms. Perhaps that was what she longed for, what she needed to fill the empty gap in her life. Human embrace. Love was not something she thought of often, afterall love and hate aren't compatible. She had believed she didn't need it to bring her through. After all, life was solitary wasn't it? We are born alone, we die alone. But why did she feel so empty now? Why did her own life feel like a storm, her heart like a black sky of nothing, with the ocassional flash of lightening to pierce into her already broken heart.

Maybe if she didn't try so hard to hide everything that was important to her she could make it. But that wasn't how she was taught to live. Life was personal, solitary, singular. Other people could not be trusted. Everyone she had once cared about had left her deserted...

cold...

and crying in her brokenness.

She didn't cry anymore, it just made her pain obvious to the poeple around her. It was much better to be a part of a masquerade. She went to the sky instead of people. It seemed to understand, and would send her a flash of lightening to give her a moment of hope.

She was frail.

Pain and hurt wasn't something that had hit her suddenly, it had taken a lifetime. Her lifetime. At first she had almost believed it was her friend, but it had lied to her just like everyone else. Blaming other people had once seemed the perfect way to alleviate pain, but now she could see it had just opened more windows and more reasons for her to hurt.

Part 2
She no longer wanted that pain. It was time for her to rise above it. The clock had ticked over. She had to take that knife which was cutting deeper and deeper into her skin and throw it away forever. She had to take that flash of white brilliance and hold onto it for a lifetime to give her hope.
Life's hardships could be over come, she could become the person who she wished she was - not the mere shadow she saw as she gazed on her life at night before sleep. Perhaps her sleep could even stop tormenting her with it's constant nightmares. Perhaps her mind could finally rest at ease.


She reached out to the sky.

The sky flashed.

She felt a thrill of hope.

And then it slipped away to nothing, as did she.

Soft on the grass she lay...

and soft on the grass she would stay.