I’ve had two kneecap dislocations in the past and I’m scared I’m going to have a third.
I (26 f) had two kneecap dislocations in my late teens. The first dislocation happened when I was 17. I was going down a ladder and my left foot was twisted when I stepped on the floor and it suddenly dislocated. The pain was excruciating and they had to take me to the ER to move it back in place. I got lucky during the first dislocation and I didn’t get any cartridge damage from it.
The second dislocation happened when I was 18 and I wasn’t as fortunate . I was at a Zumba class when it happened. We were moving side to side very fast and my legs were moving laterally. My left knee suddenly dislocated and the pain was so excruciating that I screamed and cried the whole time I was being transported to the ER. The second dislocation was more severe.
The ER doctor told me that part of my kneecap was ripped off but it’s not serious and I can recover. He said that it would become a problem if I get more dislocations over the years and that’s when it turns into a problem. They did an X-ray. I don’t know the full extent of the damage.
My left leg was swollen for a few weeks and it took me a month to recover. I was considering surgery to strengthen my ligaments. I seen a specialist and he told me that I have mild knock knees and he doesn’t recommend surgery because my ligaments would go back to baseline because of my anatomy.
I’m now 26 and I haven’t had a third dislocation but I’m noticing weird feelings in my knees all of these years later. I was on a 10 hour flight recently and my left knee was aching and sore the whole time but my right knee was fine. It made a clicking noise after the flight whenever I walked. Both of my knees, even the dislocation free knee makes a clicking noise when i walk up a flight of stairs.
My left knee can’t handle weight loading very well and tires out easily compared to my right knee. I go to yoga regularly and my left knee is less tolerant than my right. Is this normal after my past? Am I developing arthritis? Could I be at risk of a third dislocation? I love yoga and I really don’t want to quit it.