For me anyway. Had my post MRI consult with the orthopedic doc today. NO SURGERY! He reviewed my case notes and the MRI and pointed out the tear to me (see image below).
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| Click it to big it. My personal info was scrubbed and those are my notes on the slide. |
It turns out (no surprise) I had no idea what I was looking at when I got the results a week or so ago, but then, I am not a radiologist. The doc then performed a physical examination and manual manipulation of my knee. I winced a little for some lateral motion and he said there was no point going further and causing me unnecessary pain. Because I have been basically pain-free for the last six-weeks right after the injury and able to do normal stuff outside of work there is no way insurance was going to pay for what amounts to preventative arthroscopic surgery. He recommended just a cortisone shot, ice if I need it for post-shot pain, and a follow up visit to his office in six weeks. I've never had a cortisone shot before, it felt weird. It was a 3 inch long large gauge needle and the syringe held about an inch of white cortisone. He numbed the injection site with lidocaine and buried the entire length of the needle into my knee joint (smartly I might add) by my kneecap. It didn't hurt at all but I felt the pressure of the juice going in. The doc said as long as I don't firmly plant my right foot and then twist, I should be fine going forward without surgery. He said I still may need surgery at some distant future date, possibly a full replacement because there is some thinning of the cartilage and arthritis that isn't going to get better on its own. Hopefully that will all be after mandatory retirement as an interior rated firefighter. I told him I would do my best to be cautious with lifting and such so as not to repeat this mess.
This means that as of Monday, I will be up on a ladder cleaning my gutters, get out on "The Beast" for a post-injury ride, and get out in the canoe with my FIL to do some fishin'! My next scheduled shift was supposed to be an 18 on Sunday, but that is a day before authorized. Therefore I will be on duty Thursday as my next scheduled shift. I can't wait!
UPDATE 6-14-23 @ 21:00 EDT: I have taken the doctor's advice and put an ice pack on my knee. It's just a bit sore from the cortisone shot, and I figure if I do it now maybe it won't wake me up out of a sound sleep at Zero-Dark-Thirty.
No knife is good news
ReplyDeleteFunny how we don't think about or appreciate our youth, and the ability to recover from sometimes stupid stuff.
ReplyDeleteWho was it that said, "youth is wasted on the young"?
"Who was it that said, "youth is wasted on the young"?"
DeleteThe older fat guy on his front porch in "It's A Wonderful Life" that told George Bailey he should kiss Mary Hatch "instead of talkin' her to death!"
I tore out my ACL when I was a kid and have quite a bit of arthritis buildup. But the one thing I was told, and I stuck to, was to never plant my foot and turn. They said I would need a knee replacement by the time I was 40 but I'm well past that and am doing okay. I just try to keep the muscles surrounding the joint strong and happy. I've now worked up to leg pressing 320 pounds and squatting a little over 100.
ReplyDeleteMidwest Chick