Cut Cut Snip Snip

About four years ago I decided to be bold and do something new...something exciting...  something 'athletic'... something I have never done before. I tried SKIING.

But seriously within the first 15 minutes in the lesson, I fell, heard my left knee pop and ended up in this...

 And went to here..

I am probably smiling because I know that I don't have to get back on the slopes EVER again!

My 'skiing' days were over. I never tried to ski again, got some physical therapy and was resigned to 'save the table' whenever we went up to the snow.

Fast forward four years to this summer. When I stepped off the motor coach in Rome, the step off was much higher than I expected so my knee went out as I stepped on the ground. Thankfully I brought my knee brace with me. So I trudged on with the pain, to explore the ruins of the Roman Empire, Great Colosseum, and Vatican City. After we got home from our Europe trip, I again went and got PT to rehab my knee. And it was getting better but still not the same.

Fast forward a month into August, I turned in the kitchen and accidentally ran into my little daughter and again my knee went out. This is the day before we headed off for Disneyland. So again I walked all through the happiest place on earth with a knee brace. And again I went back to my PT but this time it wasn't getting better. It was swollen, sore and slightly painful. She thought that I had a ACL tear. So I was referred to Orthopedic.

One month ago I saw an Orthopedic PA and after looking at my X-rays she said I probably had a meniscus tear. The first step to try was to get a cortisone shot. This steroid would lessen the inflammation and hopefully give relief to the area. It was a huge needle (reminded me of when I got my epidural) but it did relieve the inflammation and stabilize the area.. but it was still weak and even though it was not inflamed nor in pain, I felt I still could not confidently walk on it.

So.. I had a MRI and the results indicated that I did have a meniscus tear in my left knee and I will be getting surgery to fix it. My ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is supposedly fine and still intact per my doctor (but my PT says otherwise. She thinks my ACL is injured.) But I am relieved that it isn't since it can take up to 6 months of recovery for a replacement ACL.

I am hopeful that this arthroscopic surgery on my meniscus will help me regain the normal use of my left leg and that I can finally walk 'normally' again!

My doctor is pointing to my ACL (which goes vertically) and the dark thin piece to it's right is the PCL (lateral view) on my MRI.

My Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Vinh Bui, told me that the surgery is a simple and quick one, around 1 to 1-1/2 hrs, in and out of the hospital in half a day. I would only need to use crutches for a few days and the whole healing process would take no more than 6 weeks. I am currently strengthening my knee so after the surgery it will hopefully recover better.

I am thankful that I have wonderful friends, Angela & Rachael, (who have gone through knee surgery before, ACL replacement and meniscus tear respectively) and Nancy (a future PT and current student) were able to give me encouragement and all the 'scoop' of what I will go through.

So where is the meniscus?

Below is the view of the back of a right leg (my injury is on my left leg but you can get the picture). The arrow is pointing to your meniscus, the patty shaped cartilage that cushions the knee joint.

Now when you peel back the knee cap you can see the kidney shaped meniscus along with the ACL (vertical ligament) across it. My tear is on the inside part (where the arrows are pointing) of the meniscus. The 'tear' is similar to a hangnail on your finger nail. It's just hanging there and gets moved and rubbed against when the joint moves. If you ever had a hangnail, that tiny thing can cause quite a bit of pain on your finger. Just like in my knee. The surgeon will trim off the tear to make it smooth so that it won't be irritating again.

This is the medial view of my knee and the doctor is pointing to the meniscus tear. I can't tell but I'm glad he can.

So that's your quick Orthopedic Lesson 101!

Fast forward a few weeks since I started writing this post.

POST-SURGERY.. Today.

Well I was unbelievably calm throughout the whole ordeal. And at peace! Amazingly not nervous and chatting with the friendly staff who took care for me. The wait time for getting into the prep for the surgery was long. The waiting room, changing room and then sitting room on a recliner (dressed in the beautiful paper gown, socks and hairnet) took 3 hours. Thankfully I passed my time texting my friends. (Thank you ladies for sparing your precious work time to keep me company from afar). I am so thankful for all the praying friends and family who asked God to keep me calm and relaxed throughout the whole procedure. It was my very first surgery so I should have been quite nervous and anxious.

Then it was a blur of walking to the operating room, lying down on the surgery table with it's full on lights on the ceiling and the numerous medical assistants in the room. I couldn't even recognize who my doctor was because everyone was wearing masks. I felt my doctor 'mark' the place on my knee where he was going to cut,  one of them slipped on the oxygen mask, and I was ready to start praying for everyone on my prayer list. I closed my eyes and waited for the 'sleep' to start and I didn't think I started Dear God yet.. and then they started to take my mask off. I asked when they will start and she said.. "Nope.. you're all done! Finished! ready to go!" I thought I was awake the whole time since I heard lots of noise but they said I was sound asleep. I guess it's like taking a nap while the kids are talking and TV is blaring in the house. So sorry.. I didn't get as many prayers in as I wanted to. The surgery was less than an hour.. probably 30 minutes.

I was in recovery for another hour, they gave me diet 7-up and graham crackers for lunch and then sent me home by 3:00pm. I even got home before Hannah did! I was welcomed by my parents who cooked a real lunch and a delivery of beautiful edible fruit arrangement from our good friends in Xian, CHINA!

 Thank you Matthea for taking Hannah home and the beautiful flowers.

As Matthew was waiting for me at Kaiser he bumped into our Pastor and some friends from church who were visiting another friend who was not doing well at all and apparently took a turn for the worse.  I was deeply worried for his health. My surgery is so minor compared to his.

Our body is so precious! We really need to take good care of the vessel God gave us!