Knee Arthroscopy!

Last Thursday, I went to an orthopedic clinic. Ever since the ball hockey tournament, when I was alternating between running and resting all day long, my knees had felt three times their age. This wasn't nearly as bad as the sharp pain I had in my right knee last fall, but I was feeling creaky and weak, and I didn't like it.

The x-rays didn't show anything, as expected. The doctor suggested two options to me. An MRI for W350,000 or arthroscopy for W150,000. Those estimates are about $315 and $135, respectively. I went for the arthroscopy because it was cheaper. The doctor said it was more accurate too.

I got it done immediately. No waiting, no appointments. They propped me up on a table and a series of nurses and doctors came in and out and did various things to my right knee. It got shaved, then injected, then swabbed with iodine, and repositioned. The camera looked like a small shiny grease gun.

Obviously my knee was all numbed up. I could still sense pressure, though. And I could feel them pushing and popping the camera around my knee as I watched the video images on a TV on the wall in front of me. Getting to watch the inside of my knee was totally worth the discomfort of having a camera jammed up in my kneecap.

It turns out I had some inflammation of the cartilage behind my kneecap. I think some of the other cartilage was a little worn too. Anyway, they popped the camera out after about twenty minutes and cleaned me up. The doctor told me I shouldn't run or climb for 2-4 weeks. I went to the pharmacy and walked home feeling fine.

Here's the worst part though! I don't know what the pills I got at the pharmacy are, but I can't drink while I'm taking them! One week with no beer. It doesn't sound that bad, but last weekend when I was in Busan to watch, because I couldn't run, my friends do a 10K by the ocean, I couldn't enjoy a fresh Hite in the evenings. No drinking on the train ride, no drinking in the sun on the beach, no drinking in the evenings. It was rough. But it did save me a bit of won, and it proves that I'm no alcoholic. At least that's good news!