On Friday I started to worry. What if my swollen knee wasn’t due to a sports injury? I made an appointment with my family doctor later that afternoon to go get it checked out. As the morning progressed I started to feel some tingling in my lower leg/toes. I decided to go to the ER instead of waiting for my appointment with my family doctor.
As my husband and I walked through the hallway to emergency I started to feel really nervous. It has been awhile since I’ve been in a hospital and I don’t deal very well with blood and guts type trauma! I stood in line to check in. Thankfully lunch time on a Friday afternoon seems to be a not so busy time to go to the ER so there weren’t too many people in front of me. Before long someone else got in line behind me. I didn’t turn around but I could tell that this guy was really nervous. He was bouncing from one foot to the other, breathing heavily and holding his hand over his head. I did not want to turn around. In a few minutes his buddy arrived (from parking their vehicle I presume) to keep him company in line.
These two guys work in construction and one of them had managed to cut themselves pretty badly on the jobsite. To keep things light hearted the uninjured buddy started to share stories of other guys that have injured themselves even worse at work. I’m already nervous and worked up standing in line for the ER and listening things that make me want to pass out is a terrible combination. After listening to a ridiculous amount of stories about workplace safety being thrown out the window I actually had to turn around and ask them to change subject for fear of barfing/passing out.
After being admitted it was off to wait for minor emergency and finally after awhile we were shown a bed. A super nice medical intern came by to examine my knee and then we waited for the ER doctor to arrive. I think they maybe wanted to admit me to the psych ward for signing up for Ironman but instead they decided to just x-ray my knee instead. The x-ray was clear and the doctors ruled out septic arthritis (or else I would have been in a significant amount of pain). They offered to drain my knee if I wanted, but otherwise they suggested I follow up with the Acute Knee Injury Clinic here in Calgary. I decided to forgo the knee tap as I didn’t want to introduce the risk of infection and the doctor was very sure that the cause of my swelling was not due to bacteria.
Instead I went home and filled out the online questionnaire to find out if I was a candidate for the Acute Knee Injury Clinic instead…
Oh my gosh Leana! So you were limping that day I saw you in Bankers Hall! Sorry to hear you are having knee issues. Sure hope you get into the knee injury clinic and they can figure out what is going on and get you back on the road to training!
The knee specialist that I go to is really good. ART, chiro, massage, references, all sorts of stuff. The problem for you is that his office is Macleod Trail and Southland drive. Look up Dr. MacDonald and tell him I sent you.
There’s such a thing as the Acute Knee Injury Clinic? I would live at that place…….
Eeeek but at least there is a knee specialty clinic nearby.
Hope it gets better really soon.
Yes, I was limping! It was really awful that day too. Luckily things seem to be improving and I think I’m walking more normally now.
Thanks for the tip Keith. I’ll let you know if I need a referral. Waiting to see what my physio says tomorrow. You mentioned you were looking for your next business analyst contract. SAP type stuff or something else?
Thanks Alisa, me too!
There is! I had no idea…
bummer that the ER didn’t give any results, but at the same time — good thing they didn’t find anything serious!
i work in construction too (well, construction & engineering, on the office-side obviously) and we are very big on safety. hopefully our guys out in the field are taking it seriously, unlike these guys!
Glad nothing sinister turned up at your ER visit. But I hope someone can give you an answer soon 🙁
Oh gosh, I would not have been able to handle that conversation either! Yikes.