Knee News

Tonight I experienced the most painful moments of my life. During the last five minutes of a karate practice, I was sparring with a green belt when I felt something pop out of place in my knee, and I immediately hit the floor. It hurt. My fellow karateka tied a brace to my leg, to keep my knee from bending, picked me up and put me in Sensei's van, and then off to the hospital I went. I wasn't able to actually see my knee from the way I was sitting, but the expression on people's faces indicated something wasn't quite right.

Sensei just happened to be the x-ray technician at the hospital, so he and some doctors wheeled me around to the x-ray room, took the x-rays, and informed me that my patella (kneecap) had moved or was dislocated (the language barrier was a nuisance here). I waited for a specialist (orthopedist? I don't know the correct word) and they told me that I lucked out because the one who was coming was the best around. He came, a laid back looking middle aged man, and quickly put his fingers on the most sensitive part of my knee and pushed. Really hard. That, my readers, was the most painful moment I have ever experienced.

He noticed my expression of anguish and the scream I was just barely holding back and decided to inject some local anesthesia. Then he pushed some more. It still hurt, but not as bad. Then suddenly, "pop," and everything felt better. I could bend my knee. I could twist it. To my surprise I could walk. They even told me there was a chance I could still fight in the upcoming karate tournament 10 days from now if it feels okay.

The all transpired in almost exactly an hour. I kept thinking of 24 and all the torture scenes. I, my friends, am no Jack Bauer.