This knee gets worse and worse — now swollen and very painful. It is agony to get up out of bed, and once out, it’s painful to get up again, so I’m spending most of my time taking the path of least resistance and staying in bed, which is incredibly boring. I have to get up to use the bathroom, but then my wife got me a bed pan, so even that incentive has been lost. She’s hovering over me all day long because we both know how catastrophic it would be if I were to fall.
I have an orthopedics appointment on Monday morning. I fear my travails will not end at that point.
The solution is obvious and simple — bionic limbs like The Six Million Dollar Man.
May you get well soon PZ.
Messed up knees are about the worst. I’ve had knee problems since I was 4 years old. Not a pain-free day since. 4 surgeries on the bad knee, one on the “good” one.
Please ask for a referral to a Physical Therapist who specializes in knees. They can help with exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the knees and help you learn ways to minimize stresses on your body.
I wish you the best and hope your knee heals completely.
Ouch.
Hang in there, life is long and this is acute, not chronic.
It’ll get sorted out one way or the other.
(Keep calm and carry on)
Feel better PZ. My partner’s like you, hates to stay still.
Me, an “authorized” day in bed is a pleasure. Lie there and read and snooze, read and snooze. Maybe listen to an audiobook. Read and snooze.
zzzzz…
Had synovial fluid – the liquid in my knee drained – when my knees were particularly badly swollen years ago. That happened in a hospital aftera very long wait and night. Later had arthroscopy to remove foreign bodies from my kjneees. No fun. Dunno if any of that info helps.
Again, best wishes from me and hope you feel better soon.
One of our multimedia artists created a short, interesting, educational, parody video.
While we are certain it is not accurate in every detail,
we thought PZ and some of you commenters might find it interesting.
It deals with a lesson in taxonomy:
theartsinarizona.org/advtaxonEmuskrat.mp4
More importantly, we hope PZ gets some serious treatment and pain alleviation, SOON.
I just broke my shoulder from a fall when my knee gave out. Boring and embarrassing it may be, but better the extra time in bed now than add a broken bone or three to your concerns.
From where I brokenly lounge, you’re doing everything right.
Remember the Principle of Least Action is the nearest thing we have to a Theory of Everything!
Crip Dyke, ouchies.
Breaking a shoulder is, I inagine, yikes! for a wheelchair-bound person.
We had some whining about the link I posted, So, here is the full CORRECT url: http://www.theartsinarizona.org/advtaxonEmuskrat.mp4
I cut and pasted it (again) and it works.
Are you putting ice on it? That’s my immediate go-to with pain+swelling.
@9 Crip Dyke, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden : Ow! That sucks. My best wishes for your recovery being as fast and smooth as possible too.
Oh dear.
CD, I hope you heal quickly and soon.
“Are you putting ice on it?”
I suspect that what is in his knee is blood and not serous fluid, and any Orthopod worth his money will stick a needle in it on Monday to find that out. So probably a bit late for ice. :-(
Is this a seasonal ailment? If so, why?
I want to express my best wishes to @9 Crip Dyke. I hope your recovery is as quick as possible, given the difficult circumstances. Take care, as best as you can.
@PZ
I’m so sorry, what you are experiencing isn’t fun.
I’m not a doctor, but immediately start RICE:
-rest
-ice
-compress
-elevate
Layer on the baseball treatment to reduce swelling: triple dose of ibuprofen, three times a day for a week, or at least until your ortho visit on Monday. (I prefer naproxen at a regular dose, it’s easier on the insides)
On Monday plead your orthopedist to order an MRI, your team needs data to determine what likely and specifically tore inside your knee. An xray isn’t sufficient.
If you want to fix your existing knee (sans replacement) and can cruise down to the cities, consider seeing Dr. LaPrade:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._LaPrade
Lastly, a device called a Game Ready will bring relief to your knee pain, but it won’t repair the underlying cause. You’re welcome to borrow mine, let me know.
toughguy#19 – Did Dr. LaPrade write that Wikipedia article?
This is sorta seasonal. I spend the school year as a studious little scholar, and then when school gets out for summer, I get rambunctious and break things. I’d hoped this year would be different, because I took care to ease into the outdoors gradually, but if something is going to go wrong, this is when it all breaks.
Unfortunately, I’m on some statins that preclude certain painkillers. I was about to get a toradol shot yesterday until the doctor looked at my medications, and thought better of making me bleed out.
Fortunately, you’re faculty at an university; so you aren’t using painkillers that are precluded by circumstances.
I imagine there are rather knowledgeable colleagues there who can advise you, and I also infer you are using painkillers sensibly.
(Hang in there)
Dammit PZ. I was all happy for you with the sabbatical. It sucks some crap like this has you down again. I would say you should enjoy some tots and pears, but I can’t image those going together in a tasteful way. We are all thinking of you and hoping you pull through this ordeal though can imagine your frustration. For me it has been my back and I don’t want to recall that. Still too soon.
“Put some Windex on it!”
My sympathies to both PZ and Drip Dyke. And yes, bed rest can get boring real fast, but it’s much better than overtaxing yourself too soon, falling, breaking something (else), and having to go back to the hospital all over again. I know one person who got major surgery, went back to work way too soon, fell, and had to be operated on again. MORE THAN TWICE. Please don’t be like that guy.
Sorry, it’s CRIP Dyke…God’s balls, I gotta edit my one riting beter…
rabbitbrush#20
I don’t believe LaPrade wrote the entry himself and self-editing is likely against the spirit of Wikipedia, right? Here are editors I found:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_F._LaPrade&action=history
@PZ
If anti-inflammatory drugs are out of consideration, a Game Ready or equivalent cryotherapy device should at least help you get some relief during this period of initial swelling.
It all seems a bit like Goldilocks. Too much. Too little.
Both PZ and Crip Dyke
Get better soon and be sure to make use of a good physical therapist.
I know from experience what everyone is talking about with the medications. I tend to over-react to drugs.
So do three of my four daughters. They have all been diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, which explains the over -reactions.
My doctors refuse to acknowledge that MCAS even exists, so no diagnosis for me.
I have an extremely severe reaction to any opioid (even poppy seed dressing!), so no strong painkillers for me.
Doctors in Texas had me taking Ibuprofen 800 daily for way too long, and it did damage to my stomach.
I live with chronic pain and can’t do anything about it, so I’m terrified of falls.
Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery, PZ and Crip Dyke!