We can't bank sick days, my disability insurance only kicks in if I would be out and unable to work for at least six weeks, which means that I would use up as many of my my six annual sick days as necessary then go back to work. Most of the cost of the procedure would probably be covered.

I can't run, jump or ride a bike. I can live with that, it's just when it affects walking around my own house that it really gets to me. My kneecap likes to pop out of place and slide up about an inch and a half, effectively locking my knee into a scream position, generally when I am going up stairs. I found that wearing a simple band above the knee helps keep this from happening, and if I have to do something that will put a lot of strain on my knees like cutting and hauling firewood, I also wrap them with ACE horse bandages (thicker and wider than the ordinary kind). I just try not to aggravate things.