Teens in Chronic Pain

The past week and a half has been pretty rough for me. My knee buckled at work resulting in a minor knee dislocation, sprained LCL, and possibly torn lateral meniscus. I then moved home after spending 10 wonderful weeks in Chicago. Between the concern over the insurance denial, a pending lawsuit, and then the injury, it hasn’t been the best week for me.

Someone suggested that I watch the Larry King Live interview with the Chapman family. If you like to listen to Christian music, you will recognize the name of Steven Curtis Chapman. Sadly in May 2008, his son Will accidentally ran over his younger five-year-old sister Maria, who passed away en route to the hospital. It was a horrific accident and I can only imagine how hard it must have been on the entire family.

Well, they decided to go on Larry King Live to talk about the accident and how their faith helped them get through this troubled time. It was just under an hour interview and was truly inspiring. I actually started tearing up during portions of the interview. The strong faith displayed by not only the parents, but the three older children was amazing. You can view the first of six parts of the interview by clicking on this link.

In part four or five, Steven commented on something Caleb Chapman had told him earlier and it really stood out to me.

“When you stand too close to a mural, you don’t really get it. But as you step back, you see the bigger picture.”

This comment was in regard to how this tragic death seems completely awful and maybe even pointless when you stand too close to it, but if you step back and see the big picture you’ll find a reason for it. When you are going through a rough patch, it’s hard not to just stand too close. But it’s important to remind yourself that there is a bigger picture so try to take a step back.

I have one last shot at getting approval for my required medial meniscus transplant. We can send in any documentation that we feel shows why I should have this surgery to the insurance External Review Board. This board is “above” Blue Cross Blue Shield so what they say goes, but apparently this board rarely overturns the insurance company’s denial. Along with letters from my surgeon, pain specialist, and physical therapist, as well as studies showing how meniscus allograft transplants can improve one’s quality life, I’m sending the following essay:

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Christy Hammond, and I am a 21-year-old student attending the University of Michigan. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan recently denied my request for a medial meniscus transplant for my left knee, which my surgeon Dr. Frank Noyes believes will reduce my pain level by half. I am writing this letter to appeal to you and personally ask for you to please reconsider through the External Review Board.

While growing up in Michigan, I was the definition of a tomboy. I lived to play sports and was active around the clock and year round. Like many young kids, I wanted to become an Olympic sprinter. As I grew older, I soon realized that I would never be fast enough to achieve that dream. However, my love for the sport of track and field persisted. I ran the 100m dash and started the 4×100m relay in sixth grade and continued through tenth grade. As a freshman in high school, I took sixth place at regionals for my division.

In my sophomore year of high school (2003), I tore my ACL during the first hour of basketball tryouts. After a lot of hard work in rehab and countless hours in the weight room, I was able to return to my beloved sport. While my 4×100m relay team finishing fifth at regionals was certainly great, my proudest track accomplishment was actually improving my 400m time by nine seconds following my ACL reconstruction. Unfortunately, that race was my last one.

In the summer of 2003, my knee buckled while I was on vacation, and I was never able to run again. I do not know if I can ever accurately describe the emotional pain that I feel when I watch my friends and former teammates run. Running is such a beautiful joy that I miss terribly. When my surgeon told me that at the age of 17 it was unlikely I would ever run again, I cried and begged God to let me run again.

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You know you’ve been on crutches too long when… [as compiled by myself and others on the KneeGeeks forum!] There were more than those listed below, but I chose only those applicable to me.

1) People are surprised to see you without them

2) Your arm muscles are in the best shape ever

3) You use them like chopsticks and don’t have to bend over to pick something up

4) You have developed calluses right below your armpits and on your palms

5) You decorate your crutches for special occassions (ie. green and red ribbons for Christmas)

6) You have friends/co-workers/teachers sign them because you can get more messages/autographs than any cast!

7) You crutch faster than you walk

8) Strangers always marvel at your speed and agility on crutches

9) You dream of “pimping” out your crutches (ie. adding rhimestones and color)

10) You’ve learned to dance on them (or in my case, when you’ve gone to two Homecoming dances on them and with an immobilizer)

11) People call you gimpy because you are never without them (all my high school friends called me Gimpy)

12) You wish you could use the crutches because they help with pain, but your OS (orthopedic surgeon) won’t let you because your quads atrophy too much

13) Your friends get bummed when you don’t have the crutches because they can’t play “crutch and field 2004″ and use the crutches to pole vault over couches, etc.

14) It’s easier to push your way through a crowd because you can just hit people. This was great in crowded high school hallways.

15) It becomes a good luck charm on your high school track team.

16) When, as a senior in high school, friends can’t remember you ever off of them even though your freshman year was the only year you never used them.

17) You look at them and feel at home.

18) You absolutely have no problem opening doors or stopping them from closing much to the amazement of friends and family.

19) You get sad when your PT or OS tells you to wean yourself down to one crutch because it slows you down.