Life so far
So this is officially the fourth day of break and I'm laid up on the couch because I had surgery on my knee that I have been planning for a long time now. I may have written earlier about my knee troubles, but the doctors at MSU gave me a cat scan and found that both patellas were laterally displaced and tilted in medially which doesn't work very well mechanically speaking.
They did a lateral retinacular release and took out the medial plica which was mimicking a torn medial meniscus.
For those of you who are wondering what the hell I'm talking about, a lateral release is detaches patella from lateral soft tissue structures, including lateral retinaculum, fibers from tensa fascia lata muscle, & joint capsule. If you're still confused, you can look it up or ask me.
Medial plica which are remnants of the fetal stage of development where the knee is divided into three compartments. The plica normally diminish in size during the second trimester of fetal development, as the three compartments develop into the synovial capsule. In adults, they normally exist as sleeves of tissue called synovial folds. The plica are usually harmless and unobtrusive; Plica Syndrome only occurs when the synovial capsule becomes irritated, which thickens the plica themselves (making them prone to irritation/inflammation, or being caught on the femur). Plica Syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed as Patello-femoral Syndrome. Diagnosis is often complicated by the thin structures of plicae, fenestrated septum or unfenestrated septum all being too fine to resolve well even in MRI.
So that's what they thought I had and is now what I think has been the cause of the pain in my right knee as well. I'm hoping to get that one worked on before I'm not on my parent's insurance anymore. Possibly this summer before Fall term.
I got into grad school and have been working towards my doctorate in Physical Therapy. The first semester of regional anatomy, pharmacology and human development were easy for me despite others struggling. I can't say the same for my second semester as I got a 58% on one of three neuroanatomy exams and managed to pass it by the skin of my teeth. I needed to get an 86% on the final and I got an 85.3%. I doubt he'll hold me back for that 0.7%.
I also got a puppy this summer during my break between semesters. She's a cream colored Pomeranian named Zilla who looks like a blonde minature huskie. She is very cute and well behaved and pictures of her can be seen on my facebook page. Her registered name is Mozilla Firefox. I'm not kidding.
So I've been very busy this break already working on my research project, painting Matt's christmas presents while he's at work, getting surgery yesterday, crocheting a blanket and pimping out my crutches. I also hope to do the dishes, wash the dog in the sink (she's 5 pounds and I can do that) and do some laundry along with my bandages.
My lovely neighbor Sarah, who is in the audiology program at Central is going to come over and hang out with me this afternoon after her Biolife appointment and told me that she is on call before that if I need anything.
So yeah, other than that stuff, Matt got a very cushy job in his field in Mt. Pleasant working for Michigan Oil and Gas News. He is getting lots of experience and has crazy amazing health insurance that he doesn't have to pay for and gets paid per mile when he has to travel all over Michigan and for cell phone expenses and other random stuff. They make a weekly, monthly and yearly magazine. I am very proud of him.
So that has been my life for the past several months. If anyone is in Mt. Pleasant and has the urge to come and visit me, I welcome it, as Zilla is only so entertaining- she sleeps most of the day next to me on the couch.
I hope everyone else out there is doing well!
They did a lateral retinacular release and took out the medial plica which was mimicking a torn medial meniscus.
For those of you who are wondering what the hell I'm talking about, a lateral release is detaches patella from lateral soft tissue structures, including lateral retinaculum, fibers from tensa fascia lata muscle, & joint capsule. If you're still confused, you can look it up or ask me.
Medial plica which are remnants of the fetal stage of development where the knee is divided into three compartments. The plica normally diminish in size during the second trimester of fetal development, as the three compartments develop into the synovial capsule. In adults, they normally exist as sleeves of tissue called synovial folds. The plica are usually harmless and unobtrusive; Plica Syndrome only occurs when the synovial capsule becomes irritated, which thickens the plica themselves (making them prone to irritation/inflammation, or being caught on the femur). Plica Syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed as Patello-femoral Syndrome. Diagnosis is often complicated by the thin structures of plicae, fenestrated septum or unfenestrated septum all being too fine to resolve well even in MRI.
So that's what they thought I had and is now what I think has been the cause of the pain in my right knee as well. I'm hoping to get that one worked on before I'm not on my parent's insurance anymore. Possibly this summer before Fall term.
I got into grad school and have been working towards my doctorate in Physical Therapy. The first semester of regional anatomy, pharmacology and human development were easy for me despite others struggling. I can't say the same for my second semester as I got a 58% on one of three neuroanatomy exams and managed to pass it by the skin of my teeth. I needed to get an 86% on the final and I got an 85.3%. I doubt he'll hold me back for that 0.7%.
I also got a puppy this summer during my break between semesters. She's a cream colored Pomeranian named Zilla who looks like a blonde minature huskie. She is very cute and well behaved and pictures of her can be seen on my facebook page. Her registered name is Mozilla Firefox. I'm not kidding.
So I've been very busy this break already working on my research project, painting Matt's christmas presents while he's at work, getting surgery yesterday, crocheting a blanket and pimping out my crutches. I also hope to do the dishes, wash the dog in the sink (she's 5 pounds and I can do that) and do some laundry along with my bandages.
My lovely neighbor Sarah, who is in the audiology program at Central is going to come over and hang out with me this afternoon after her Biolife appointment and told me that she is on call before that if I need anything.
So yeah, other than that stuff, Matt got a very cushy job in his field in Mt. Pleasant working for Michigan Oil and Gas News. He is getting lots of experience and has crazy amazing health insurance that he doesn't have to pay for and gets paid per mile when he has to travel all over Michigan and for cell phone expenses and other random stuff. They make a weekly, monthly and yearly magazine. I am very proud of him.
So that has been my life for the past several months. If anyone is in Mt. Pleasant and has the urge to come and visit me, I welcome it, as Zilla is only so entertaining- she sleeps most of the day next to me on the couch.
I hope everyone else out there is doing well!