Help...Should I Go To ER?

Hi, I do have metal hinges at the bend of the knee.  Metal at top of thigh and bottom shin.  My knees are hypermobile-- medial and lateral, Thanks for the advice of keeping leg straight.  I hadn't thought to do that; I just try to avoid movements that send shockwaves of pain.  Thank you so much for answering my distress call.  It was a better day today and tonight, well I haven't tried to lay down to see.  At night is when it hurst the worse.  

You are so welcome,I do hope you get to enjoy some parts of your vacation, the other thing is footware, if you don't care about fasion; try crocs, really ugly but oh so comfortable. You dont get that pain radiating u your leg.  There are other types and brands out there that have the same cushioning effect and at times prove to be real sanity savers

I actually wear orthotics my podiatrist prescribed and have to wear orthotic friendly shoes which I've found to be the better made shoes and help my feet.  I was told years ago to wear good supportive shoes for my knees, especially with these braces.  The fashion ship sailed a long time ago. hehe  We are enjoying the Smithsonian museums.

......and they are free!!!

The Smithsonian I am really envious about. Whenever I have been in the vicinity something either always happens that stops me, or plans change :-(

There are quite a few "stylish/trendy" shoes on the market now, some of them have those little dimples underneath that give you the impression of walking on air, no more expensive as it is now a trend.  

Have you tried: (1) Reflexology inner soles.  They are pitted on one side to coincide with the pressure points on your feet. They are based on the Chinese philosophy, but I am sure a good pharmacy would sell them.  You are not supposed to wear them all day (the pointy bits can get a bit painful after a while), but then you can just turn them over. Lasts for years and are completely washable.

(2) Lidocaine patches.  The prescribed ones, so long as you are not allergic to plasters, work + you can use them alongside your normal medication.  Not sure what the ruling is in the US, but doctors over here don't really like prescribing them as NICE have deemed them expensive.  Jeez, they have a price on pain, whats the next thing!!

You can buy a less effective type over the counter.

(3) Under your brace, can you wear those KT Tape Full Knee Support. You can get a surgical version (again from pharmacy). Comes it 2 parts; one part you position just under the knee cap.  Either you sit down with leg straight out so that you can push knee cap up a little, or slightly bent, depending on what you aht to do, then you hold that in place with the second tape. Does not have to be tight, but it repositions your knee cap while stabilising your your joint. Sounds weird, I know, but I used it when bone on bone, and for a good part it worked ( have double checked on google and there is actually a youtube thing that tells you how to position it (so I guess you may even find it in a good sports shop). Those combined should help alleviate your pain enough for you to enjoy museum browsing whilst I am sat here in an office with the sun blazing down outside.  Enjoy!

Mary, yes it's free, but the food is picey.  We caught a cab today and he could speak very little english and we were in the car with him for a hour because he was lost.  He turned off the meter after he took us to the wrong place.  We paid and then road aroung with him until he finally found our destination.  We didn't stay because the line was outside and it was raining.  So I hopped on crutches until we found another cab.  He took us to a restaurant and then I hopped the rest of the afternoon until we caught the Metro to our Hotel.  This day was crazy but me and hubby enjoyed being together and that is all that mattered.

*pricey

Sue, it has rained 12 straight days.  We had our raincoats and were ready for anything but a snow storm.  Thank you for all the suggestions.  I've never heard of the Lidocaine patches.  That is something I could use at bedtime as the pain is worse at night.  Never heard of Reflexology inner soles either.  Very valuable information.  I hope you can come back to D.C. and enjoy yourself until your heart's content!  It is quite pricey here., though. When shopping they even charge for the carry out bag that you place your contents in---  .5 cents for a plastic bag.  The cheapest place to eat is McDonalds.

That is not good news, though it is a good excuse to visit museums.  But then again everyone else will have the same idea!!  Do you find in crowded places you become invisible when you are pin your crutches.  I find that when out and about with my cane.  Sometimes I do get rather cross, so when they bump into me or push me out of the way my stick just accidentally goes a little sideways.  Oh the dirty looks I get, then they see the cane and then the "oh sorry, didn't see you". Makes me so mad.  The lidocaine has the same sticky back as plasters, so hope you are not allergic, they are prescription only over here, so I guess the same would be where you are as well.  I think everywhere you go is expensive nowadays, especially when it comes to travel, and that oil prices are on the rise!!!!!!  We have to pay for bags  here. The excuse is we were not recycling. Huh I did!   This weekend the sun is supposed to be out and no chance of rain, so the bbq will be used for the first time this year.  Think the garden needs some tlc, grr to those pesky weeds.  I hope you are beginning to enjoy being out and about and your pain beginning to be bearable (if pain ever becomes bearable)

take care

So what is in pain.  You bum, your cruciate ligaments. If you are in pain why not take medication 

Wow, hope you get the help you need.  I understand your frustration.  I've had pain and surgeries throughout my life, but nothing comes close to this pain.  It is the worse.  I'm scared as I don't want another surgery, but what choice do I have.  Physical therapy is good if you can do it.  I've been doing in home pt exercises but the pain is getting to the point that I cannot do very many excercises anymore.  So sorry you have been through so much.  Hope things turn around for you.

Where do you live Wall that you have to wait on an X-ray?

I get it taken in one room, doc immediately reads it another.

In the UK