Hi all!

I haven't been on much lately because I haven't ridden my bike in over 2 months now. I was having some problems with my knee and went to see an orthopod who diagnosed me with a tight IT band, a luxating patella, and weakness in my VMO. It only affects my left side and we've been over my bike fit a million times to make sure it's not the source of my issue. But riding is painful for me now and so I'm staying off the bike (probably why I've been getting a bunch of colds and feeling blue lately) for now.

Today I went back to my doc after 3 weeks of PT and he was not happy with the results. Although my patella is more mobile now and my IT band is nicely stretching, my VMO is not responding/getting stronger. We're giving it another 3 weeks of targeted VMO exercises in PT 3x/week, but if it's not better then, he wants to do a lateral release arthroscopically.

I was wondering if any of you ladies had ever had an arthroscopic surgery done before? I've done it/seen it done in animals before, but not in people. He says that the main problem is the extreme swelling after surgery. I only ask because I live alone in a third floor apartment and I have no family/friends here who could help me out. Is this something where I could manage on my own or do I need to start planning to fly my mom out to come help me out? How about going back to work right away? What's the pain like afterward? I'm pretty much a huge wimp so I am dreading this if it has to be done.

Thanks in advance for any insight!