If you're going to rip several rows, just take the needle out, then insert the needle however you can as you take out one more row stitch by stitch. Some of the sts may be twisted, but you can turn them whem you reknit that row. These pictures at the Lion learn to knit pages should help you see how the stitch should lay over the needle correctly.
http://www.lionbrand.com/faq/84.html?language=
http://www.lionbrand.com/faq/85.html?language=
http://www.lionbrand.com/faq/86.html?language=