Can you sue for only pain and suffering if you can't prove negligence for personal injury in California?

I was skating with family. My daughter fell on my right side. I did not fall. I bent over to help her up (more like lending a hand). We both stood up in a stance to resume skating, next thing you know I was holding a part of my left knee with my hands. My left knee dislocated and I felt every part of it! As a result of that injury, I haven't fully recovered. After all treatments, I'm still not able to walk up or down stairs properly because I can't bend the knee. Although the knee bone is in place from the inside, the outside has a bulge and I am not standing straight. I am not able to do a lot of things. I can't sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time due to leg swelling. I am depressed about not being able to do anything. I am afraid to go skating. I am being tormented about the incident. No one caused that sort of injury. It has been almost two years. I'm being told that I have to prove negligence and at this point it is harder. I just want pain and suffering. Can I do that?