By Scotti on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 03:58 pm:

Hello, my name is Scotti. I've only dislocated my kneecap once, but it has slipped off my knee many times. The first time it happened, I was playing t-ball when I
was 6. I was running into home and my knee cap slipped. It has slipped at least 10 times since then. Once, when playing basketball, it slipped, but hurt more than
normal. It turned out that I had torn some cartilidge in my knee and I ended up having arthroscopic surgery. Just recently, I slipped on a wet floor and my knee cap
dislocated all the way. I got it relocated before the ambulance came, but it hurt like you know what. I had x-rays for it, but nothing was ever done about it. Will I
have to end up having a total reconstructive knee surgery? I am almost scared to play any kind of sport that involves running. I was born Pigieon-toed and had to
wear casts for the first year of my life, if that helps anything. Does anybody else have this problem? If so, what ended up happening?

By Sue C. on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 03:58 pm:

I just posted a lengthy reply to: "Went to the Orthopedic Surgeon" that I think will help you.

I've had several different knee cap dislocation in the past 20 years. I would guess over 200 total. Most involve the (permanently subluxed) knee cap sliding out of the
groove, then popping back in a few seconds later.

Let me know if you have other questions. Good luck!

By Dave on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 03:59 pm:

I know how you feel, I have suffered the same from age 8 but again with only once staying out of joint. I often get a deep ache inside the joint caused by the kneecap
moving laterally and the muscle behind the kneecap becoming sore. I too am scared siff of slippy floors and icy conditions. I steer clear of sports that involve tight
turns or uneven floors (yes is does rule out a lot of sports). The best advice I had when I couldn't even cycle for the pain (feels like an arthritic ache) was to stand on
a low stool, ie step height, with feet pointing outwards like flippers. take a fairly slow step off the stool with one foot, stop, and step back up onto the stool(ie the
other foot remains on the stool). Do the same for the other leg. Difficult? Lower the step height if you feel your knee cap is unstable. Start at 20 on each foot working
up to 100 on each, increasing 10 a day. The doc told me to do the exercise every day for two to three years! I stopped after 18 months when I had reached an
acceptable level. The exercise strengthens the muscle on the inside of the knee which stops the kneecap from sliding sideways as the knee flexes. It wont cure the
mobility problem but it certainly helped me. Best wishes

By Melissa Kilminster on Thursday, June 29, 2000 - 06:44 pm:

Hello, my name is Melissa and I am 17 years old.
Last year whilst playing hockey my left knee dislocated. Since this time I have undergone 4 Patella Femeral Reconstructions with no success.
I recently have been told that my patella might have to be removed. Firstly they want to do another operation involving tightening all my muscles with a 50% chance of working.
I have been unable to play any type of sport and I am constantly building my muscles in my leg.
Does anyone else have this problem?
If so what happened and please help me?!

By Ryan Nagle on Tuesday, September 12, 2000 - 12:21 pm:

Hi my name is Ryan and I am 17 I have an extreme case of hms and my ligaments are approxamately 3 times the length of the avrage ligaments. Every joint is effected I've had 17 right knee dislocations and 13 left knee. I had two surgeries on each knee but it didn't stop it just made it so it occaisonaly dislocates as opposed to it popping out while walking. I can do no sports I can't lift, push, pull, run, start, stop, jump, move quickly etc... without the fear of yet another shoulder seperation or shoulder dislocation, elbow, finger, rib, jaw, etc.. and im only 17. It's very upsetting, does anyone have any advice?? As to the person who started this thread its nice to know im not alone.

By Lin on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 01:34 pm:

ryan, i would realy like to talk to you... i am 15, have had many problems in everything slipping out of place because of loose ligaments, never been diagnosed with anything until now... chrondomalacia patella, where my knee dislocates and has been wearing away the cartlidge underneath, i am very active and love to run and participate in sports, and this all hurts. i would like to talk to anyone that could help me through this! my e-mail address is lin_171@hotmail.com

By Emma G on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 04:29 am:

Hi
I dislocated my kneecap two years ago and had physiotherpy. The physio told me i had hypermobility and told me that the flexibility in the joints would lessen in time.
I wondered if anyone had neard this before?
Also I wondered if anyone had any advise for knee pains?

By Margareth on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:16 pm:

I have HEARD physical therapists and lots of docters SAY that the hypermobility (and the problems related) will lessen in time. I have NEVER heard of anything like that actually happening.

By Az on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 03:38 pm:

Hi Margareth alledgedly HMS improves with age due to the collegen naturally tightening up as it would in a normal person, but who said we were normal eh? From what I have read from other ppl with EDS we do not always get better with age we can get worse. Now on to the knee problem as an earlier poster was explaining (I think) a good excerise for knees is to sit on a chair and to try push your foot into the floor. This gentle exercise works the muscles around the knees and strenghens them greatly. Just make sure that while you are doing this your foot and knee are straight. I for one know how easy it is for feet to turn out without our knowing it, so if doing this excersise keep a close eye on your posture and positioning
Az