In your shoes I would do a combo of remote work and online classes to finish my degree.

There are CS jobs (the best I know of is tech or financial sector) and often part of the benefits are paying tuition (think first republic or fidelity).

In addition to the usual benefits (medical, dental—fidelity starts from day 1).

Has your doctor declared you 100% permanently disabled? If so, they should be able to point you in the right direction as to your next steps.

I doubt this is the case, though, as there are tons of people out in the workforce in wheelchairs, with one leg, with zero legs. Can you look into entry-level call center roles or roles where you can sit? Some grocery stores, etc. will allow you to scan items/check out customers while seated.

Edited to add: Your edit makes this sound even sketchier. Your doctor “listed you as disabled” before they attempted to replace your knee? Have you had a replacement? None of this, medically, makes much sense.

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I'm not sure that a torn ACL is going to qualify you for any government assistance.

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/

I'm not sure how an ACL surgery would make it so you couldn't go to school or work either.

If you had this surgery and stopped going to school and work because it was too hard...I mean.....you're just going to have to pick yourself up try harder.

You aren't disabled, you are injured. I tore a major ligament 25 yrs ago and they weren't able to repair it. I relearned how to walk. It has given me challenges but I am living a fine life. You can go to college on crutches (I did) You can get lots of sit down or remote jobs.

Ya I doubt you would get full disability from this but I am far from an expert here.

No idea what OP's plan was as far as degree and career but it sounds like a desk job would probably be what OP should be focusing on. Tons of ways to make a good income that doesn't involve being on your feet or walking much.

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Time to move on.

Get a disability lawyer. If you have a job that can be done entirely sitting down great. But if your only prospects are physical jobs... Lawyer.

They tend to charge from the winnings.

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Honest question. Do you think you cannot work at all if you were confined to a wheelchair b/c you can't walk w/o pain?

Oh yeah, I’d definitely recommend OP finish whatever degree they were working on. I got the sense that they needed a job with benefits NOW, which is why I suggested the entry level stuff.

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In which case I'd focus on building up your education/job skills in a field that would allow remote work from home. Or, while you mention crutches, accept that a wheelchair might be a necessary option, and look for in person jobs that can accommodate you getting to/from the place in a wheelchair. I'm not naïve, and it will certainly be harder than it was before your injury. But people thrive in work/life with similar mobility issues all the time.

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Contact the public transportation authority where you live. There may be a program that sends a mobility van to your doorstep and takes you directly to your destination. This would greatly improve your options for employment if the transportation piece is solved.

Have you consulted any medical malpractice attorneys? It may be worth it to walk them through your situation, specifically the misdiagnosis.