I was slipping my right shoe off, toe to heel, as most people do, when I heard (and felt) a “pop” in my left knee.Pain filled my knee as I tried to stand.
Why me?Why now? I thought. I just got through the car crisis of last week. For those of you who read last week’s post, I had to replace my catalytic converter. Ka-Ching!
I had just come in from walking Lucy before heading out the door to an Oregon Basset Hound Rescue meeting and Sunday Brunch. Not great timing for a knee situation.
I hopped to a chair and considered my options. I Googled knee injuries. Based on my symptoms it was 50/50 as to whether I should see a doctor. I decided to go to the meeting, then the doctor. I hopped to the closet where I stored the crutches leftover from an ankle sprain several years ago, then headed out the door.
When I finally saw a doctor, he manipulated my knee and declared it an “internal knee derangement” and possibly a meniscus injury. He told me to do the things I already knew to do: the PRICE treatment (Protect Rest Ice Compression Elevation), referred me for physiotherapy and to an orthopedist.
The crutches are torture and I’ve only been on them 2 days. Fortunately, my teaching partner met me at the doors of our school with a wheelchair and wheeled me to my classroom, where I spent the day on my rolling chair.
It hurts less today. I can almost straighten it and I can put my foot flat on the floor (though I’m not ready to also put pressure) so I hope I am not on crutches too long. Please indulge whatever practice you prefer: pray for me, cross your fingers, send positive energy. This 50-year-old is too old for crutches.