Eek! I dislocated my patella...can I start nursing school in the fall?

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Hello everyone,

I recently dislocated my patella and am concerned because I still have not taken a CPR class or met with my doctor for a physical. The CPR class and physical have to be completed by august 1st 2010 and my appointment for both of these are scheduled for next week. I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow. Do you guys think I will be able to start the nursing program in the fall?

Thanks

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think you will need to wait and see.

However, I wish you the best and bet you have some answers tomorrow.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

There is no way we can predict if you will be able to attend school in the Fall. As traumaRUs said, you'll have a better idea tomorrow.

Good luck and hope you get well soon.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

It is hard to tell, because your surgeon has to tell you based on MRI if you really do need surgery or not. I had surgery on both my knees because my patella would dislocate for NOTHING. I mean, I would literally sit and it would happen. But that might not be your case. Hopefully not. :(

Can you walk at all? A few months after my first surgery I went to get my CPR, but I told them I was unable to kneel, so I was able to work on the dummy on the table.

Maybe you will only need physical therapy. I hope he tells you its all you need.

In case you DO get surgery.... Knee realignment surgery is very painful.... I won't lie. I started school only 2 weeks after my second surgery. Needless to say very often, for about a month, it was horrible to sit 2 or 3 hours through class. I wanted to die. But if you take your meds an hour before class and do everything your DR tells you, YOU CAN DO IT(well, if you decide to. It was my second surgery so I knew what to expect--however your case is different).

At home, I put an ottoman under my desk so I could study but still have it elevated. I didn't study as much as I wanted to, because I was high a lot, but I did get in a few hours and my grades were good. Also, I got support from other students. My doc put me on oxycodon but I cut it out after 3 or 4 weeks and used ibuprofen so I wasn't high through class or while studying.

Always sit in the back seat in the car and if you can get a wheelchair to use in school(if you decide to go--only you and your DR will know eventually). My mom or aunt would go with me to carry my books/bag. Sometimes the teachers would let them sit in the room but sometimes they would go outside and eat on campus to wait for me. It was also nice because if I really wanted to go home, I could go and didn't have to wait for them to pick me up(since you obviously wouldn't be able to drive).

I wish you the best of luck, and don't be afraid if he tells you that you need surgery. I got pampered a lot and got almost anything I wanted for the next few weeks lol. I did have to miss a trip but no biggie. If you totally decide to go, see if there are online alternatives to one of the classes. If you decide not to go, don't worry, nursing school isn't going to disappear. It would be awful for you to have knee problems during clinical. Your health MUST come first... Good luck. :)

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Thank you guys for your replies! I just came from the orthopedic doctor and he said that I will just need physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support my knee. I am so happy because I have worked so hard trying to get a's in all my pre-reqs...I didn't want to have to wait another year! on eagles wings :yeah: I commend you for working so hard to complete nursing school dispute all the obstacles you had to overcome.

Thanks for the advise about the CPR class. I called my CPR instructor and she said that she will make accommodations for me :D.

Oh, and I have had problems with both of my knee caps for awhile now. If I turned the wrong way they would clunk in and out of socket, but this time it clunked out and stayed there:eek:.

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Sorry had some typos :confused:. I'm sitting in an awkward position typing on my iPad,lol. I meant despite.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

UGH! I know what you are talking about... once I it stayed out and the paramedics came and took me to the ER and they had to put me to sleep to put it back in. :'( It was horrible. LOL :| I am so glad you only need PT. By yourself some athletic knee braces to keep around at school/clinicals. Good luck!!!

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I feel your pain! I have patellar subluxation--basically, my knee caps are constantly dislocating. In my case, surgery was recommended, but not required. Due to sports and school, I declined. I can usually work mine back in to place--practice makes perfect! :D

In regards to passing CPR and a physical.. I think it will depend on your personal situation. If surgery is needed, you might have several weeks recovery time. If you can work this out with your nursing advisor--great! Sometimes clinical doesn't start for a month of so in to the school year. But they may not work with you, in which case you would need to post pone. If surgery is not required, a physical and CPR classes are definitely doable. I just wear a very supportive knee brace--it gives my knees the support they need, and no one asks questions.

Basically, communication with your nursing advisor and physician are key!

Best of luck to you!

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My friend and I completed our CPR class 2 weeks ago. My friend is recovering from knee surgery and could not kneel next to the dummies, so our instructor put the dummy on the table for her. No problem.

Hopefully the PT works to strengthen your knee come time for the program to start. I can't imagine standing on my feet for a 12 hour clinical shift with a bum knee. Good luck to you.

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I can usually work mine back in to place--practice makes perfect

:eek: Oh my goodness! My knees' partially dislocate every 2-3 years, this is the first time my knee cap ever stayed out of socket and I was crying like a little baby when it happened :crying2:. I experienced my first ambulance ride and dosage of "Michael Jackson drugs" because of this experience. How can one practice relocating their knee, if you don't mind me asking Jivane? :confused:

My Orthopedic doctor did not recommend surgery. He told me that surgery could cause more problems than solutions-- knee surgery may cause chronic knee pain (which might become more painful than any patellar dislocation).

Hopefully PT will work because I was a cheerleader, ran track and participated in show choir while in high school and my knee cap did not dislocate the entire time, possibly due to my strengthened muscles.

I'm so excited about entering the nursing program this fall! On eagle wings I will wear a knee brace on both knees, to every clinical, because I don't want to be the one who pops their knee out in a clinical setting, how embarrassing!

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Specializes in IMCU.

I started nursing school with a terrible bum knee having had a lot of work done arthroscopically. It was painful for months and I couldn't actually kneel at all. I happen to teach CPR and had been making modifications for learners for a wee while. So I can teach you CPR if you can only kneel on one knee or if the person is on a table. Check with wherever you are getting tested.

Make sure that you learn AND PRACTICE good body mechanics to protect your knee without messing up your back. Do this now with a physical therapist.

Good luck.

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Glad to hear you will be able to start your nursing education. Just be careful with yourself at all times. Good luck in school.

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