Bad News Knee
Called the doctor, and was able to talk through things over the phone (thus negating the need for a doctor's visit and a co-pay, not to mention a trek to the hospital!). Bad news. The MRI results show that I have an acute tear in my ACL.
The ACL is one of the ligaments that does not heal on its own. It would require surgery to be fully repaired, but whether not it needs to be fully repaired is kinda left up to the individual. A person who never walks does not need a fully functioning ACL. A top athlete definitely does. Everybody else is in the middle somewhere and has to make that decision for themselves. Some people feel very unsteady without it, some people are fine. I suspect that I'll opt for surgery, if only because I'm not going to limit my future abilities (not that I think I'll ever be a top athlete) if I can choose otherwise. I dunno. Anybody out there with knee problems who can offer advice one way or t'other?
In the short run, this is what it means. Six weeks of physical therapy to get the full range of motion back and to get the swelling down, etc. No martial arts during this time, because I can't freaking use my knee. Then I'll have to decide about surgery. I had my appendectomy last year around this time, and I really don't want to make it Abra's Annual Surgery!
In pleasanter news, they finally gave me a painkiller scrip, and I successfully signed up for USI Wireless.
Counting my blessings:
1. Health insurance, yay!
2. I've been granted permission to push things a little.
3. I might not have to have surgery, depending on how stable the knee ends up being on its own.
4. I have a desk job, so this doesn't actually hinder my ability to work at all.
The ACL is one of the ligaments that does not heal on its own. It would require surgery to be fully repaired, but whether not it needs to be fully repaired is kinda left up to the individual. A person who never walks does not need a fully functioning ACL. A top athlete definitely does. Everybody else is in the middle somewhere and has to make that decision for themselves. Some people feel very unsteady without it, some people are fine. I suspect that I'll opt for surgery, if only because I'm not going to limit my future abilities (not that I think I'll ever be a top athlete) if I can choose otherwise. I dunno. Anybody out there with knee problems who can offer advice one way or t'other?
In the short run, this is what it means. Six weeks of physical therapy to get the full range of motion back and to get the swelling down, etc. No martial arts during this time, because I can't freaking use my knee. Then I'll have to decide about surgery. I had my appendectomy last year around this time, and I really don't want to make it Abra's Annual Surgery!
In pleasanter news, they finally gave me a painkiller scrip, and I successfully signed up for USI Wireless.
Counting my blessings:
1. Health insurance, yay!
2. I've been granted permission to push things a little.
3. I might not have to have surgery, depending on how stable the knee ends up being on its own.
4. I have a desk job, so this doesn't actually hinder my ability to work at all.