BACKGROUND INFORMATION
I tore my right medial meniscus playing basketball in 2002 and had arthroscopic surgery. I haven't had any trouble with it since... until now. So hey, I got 10 years out of the deal.
WHAT DID I DO!?
This time, something in the back of my right knee popped during a Tae Bo work out and I stopped the workout immediately. Though I felt quite a bit of discomfort the next 10 days, I was still able to be pretty active--hiking, walking up stairs, etc. Around day 10, I could barely walk and decided to stay off of it for a few days.
I elevated it, iced it, and stayed in my apartment for an entire week and it got worse. I used crutches to walk around my house, so I wasn't using it much. During this time, my left knee also became very painful and I was hardly able to walk or stand on either. Standing was really difficult.
FIRST DOCTOR'S VISIT
In China, there are not doctor's offices, just hospitals. So if you have a cold, you go to the hospital. I still struggle with that terminology. My heart always skips a beat when I hear someone went to the hospital... and it turns out... their nose is just a dripping faucet, that's all.
So, I went to the hospital. And I ordered my own MRI. Because I just guessed that's what I needed, and that's how things are done here, if you want them to be. So... I've done this before, right? And I've worked in an MRI facility. Figured I had some torn cartilage or ligaments, and in radiology school, I learned that you use MRI's for that. So I ordered myself an MRI.
I went back 2 days later to see the orthopedic doctor who was going to read my MRI. So, picture yourself at the DMV. I had my number. And I was just a number. Understandable in China, I guess. But frustrating. So there were several of us standing in line at the doctor's door with our MRI. We knew who was next by looking at screen with our numbers on it. Each person walked in and was out in less than 5 minutes! I just couldn't believe it.
So, I walked in with my 3 translators. :) We were a good team by the way! And the doctor had absolutely no interest in looking at my knee. He basically looked at my films and said I may have some cartilage damage. He did say my medial meniscus was fine, but could not rule out a lateral meniscus tear. He told me to rest it for a couple of weeks... which I had been doing and it obviously wasn't working. My friend had to ask the guy to look at my knee! Still--diagnosis--- you are okay, go home and rest...
Considering I couldn't walk, I obviously was not satisfied with these results.
2ND DOCTOR ENCOUNTER
One of the Western family doctors here was very kind and came to my house and did a physical knee exam. This was very painful and caused my right knee to swell and hurt for the rest of the evening. He suggested that I either see an ortho doctor (which I'd already done ), or immobilize my leg for a few weeks.
But school is starting soon, so I had to keep trying!
3RD DOCTOR'S VISIT
-After I called all over the country, seriously... I called Hong Kong, Korea, Shanghai, and Beijing! I ended up visiting a knee specialist in Beijing who did x-rays on both knees. He concluded that I had cartilage damage in both knees on the backs of my kneecaps. He also said my knee caps are crooked and my Left one is higher than it should be. He wanted to scope both knees and smooth out the cartilage on my kneecaps.
My problem with his diagnosis is that none of my pain is related to my kneecaps. I have had severe pain in the backs of my knees, especially when straightening my legs and standing flat footed (I've found myself walking on my toes). Also, the outer tendon/ligament in my Right knee hurts severely when I turn my foot inward or pivot.
I was scheduled for TWO KNEE SURGERIES and somehow was convinced that I needed them! I'm very fortunate I had a day in between my visit and the actual surgeries... which I really tried to push up a day!
I really wasn't at peace about the whole situation, so I sought a... 4th opinion?
4TH AND 5TH DOCTOR ENCOUNTER
I Skyped with an orthopedic doctor who lives in China but is currently in the States and he was able to discuss some of my options and give me his opinions on things.
Three hours before I went in for pre-op, a surgeon from my church in Texas Skyped me. I didn't know him and was SO GRATEFUL to be able to make this connection! I was able to send him my MRI and X-ray images. He advised me not to do the surgery and to start with a Cortisone shot and oral steroids.
This was a really HARD DECISION to make 3 hours before going in for surgery! Especially since I was supposed to fast. I was trying to squeeze in my last bite before knowing if it was actually going to be my last bite. haha
I definitely didn't feel at peace about the surgery after my Skype conversations. I finally had 2 doctors agree on something, so that was comforting! So, I canceled the surgeries, and we had a friend look for airplane tickets for us. We were almost certain we couldn't get out that day. Our friend called back immediately and asked if we could get on a plane in 2 hours, so we did!
God was saying, "Get out of there!"
6TH AND 7TH DOCTOR'S VISIT
I went to a small Western Clinic here in Shenyang, hoping to get the Cortisone shot. It took 2 visits, but I finally got the shot yesterday and am feeling much better today. He also gave me a couple of exercises to do, so I started those today, as well.
My concern is that the Cortisone is only a temporary relief. Since no one was able to rule out a lateral meniscus tear and many of my symptoms lean toward that way, I'm not sure what to do to avoid hurting it worse. I will be going back to the States during Christmas break, so if I could hang on until then, that would be great.
I walked without crutches and knee braces for the first time today in about 2 weeks, so that was a GREAT FEELING!
I am SO THANKFUL for EVERYONE who has been praying, encouraging, cooking, babysitting, listening, visiting, checking in, translating, escorting, making phone calls, and carrying me up the stairs!
I COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT ANY OF YOU!
School starts in FOUR DAYS, and I will be there!
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