Manhattan Hates My Left Knee
Yes, I realize that is a very silly statement to make, but its the truth. They don't get along at all. And I'm the one that suffers. The city just goes on being the city that never sleeps. Me, I get the pain and the swelling and the probably inevitable knee surgery. A little history for you, in November of 1997 I went with Seth and his brother to see 311 in concert at the Roseland Ballroom. I walked into the place, and left out the back on a stretcher. Towards the end of the show I was jumping around and I must've lost my balance or just came down wrong on my knee, because my left one completely buckled on me and I hit the ground like a ton of bricks, as I felt and heard my knee go Rice Krispies on me, (snap, crackle and pop). I limped to the back of the place and just sat and waited for the show to end. I tried to walk out of there, but couldn't. Enter the paramedics and a three hour visit to the Emergency Room at some hospital in the city.
I didn't get home until about 8 the morning and spent the entire weekend laid up on the couch. Did I mention it was also Thanksgiving weekend? And my birthday? And I got a fake doctors note from my mom to get out of taking a test so that I could go home for a full week instead of just a few days? Yes, I know the concept of karma now, and karma kicked me in the ass that weekend, or more like it swept the knee Karate Kid style. Too bad I had no Mr. Miagi to massage it and make it all better. So after being incapacitated for a weekend I saw the doctor and got an MRI. That was Monday. Tuesday I got cleared for surgery by one of the doctors in my mom's office and Wednesday I had arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn cartilage in my knee. Fun stuff. Thursday was Thanksgiving, and Friday my birthday. I got to go back up to school on crutches for the next two weeks and then a month of physical therapy while I was home on winter break. Fun times I tell you. NYC and my left knee, there's a history.
Fast forward eight and a half years to last night. I head into the city to meet the girl I went to Pearl Jam with for drinks. We had a great time sitting in a nice little bar, eating, drinking and talking, although I did most of the drinking. Her friend met us there too, so we were just having a good time. 11 PM rolls around and they headed home, looking obviously exhausted. Me, being still somewhat buzzed, was not ready for the night to be over, so I call Seth, and find out that he's heading out to meet some friends at a bar close to his apartment, so I meet him there. Had a beer or two more and then he headed home, and I headed for Penn Station. I should've taken the subway, since it was raining, but it was also hot, so I thought the rain, and the walk would do me good. I should've listened to Seth, he said to take the subway, walking was a bad choice. I got to about 8th avenue and 42nd, right around the Port Authority bus terminal, about 8 blocks from Penn Station. I was walking on part of the sidewalk that was basically all metal grates. Metal, plus rain, plus me somewhat under the influence was a bad combination. I slipped on the slick grate, my knee buckled and did another milk in the Rice Krispies effect and I went down. I got right back up and started walking, albeit painfully, and I knew it was not good. I just kept telling myself, just get to Penn, get on a train, and get home and all will be fine. I somehow managed all that, despite the pain and trouble walking. I got home, only to find that someone put the safety chain on the front door. I nearly went ballistic. Thankfully the back door was chain free, but the staircase going up to it is a little more treacherous, even when you can walk on both legs just fine.
I went to bed and woke up and of course nothing felt better. I put in the call to the parents and headed to my moms office to get looked at by the doctor she works for, who said get an x-ray. I could've just gone to a radiologist, but they would've just snapped the x-ray and no one would've been able to read it until Monday, which is kind of pointless. So it was off to the Emergency Room for me. Got x-rays taken which were negative, a nice knee brace and crutches. Hopefully on Monday its a trip to the orthopedic doctor and an MRI to see the extent of the damage. Everything this time around feels exactly the same as the last time around, so I have a feeling I'm in for more of the same, like surgery and physical therapy. Fun times.
Like I said, Manhattan hates my left knee, with a passion.
Comments
Ow! Hope it feels better soon!
Posted by: Jenniy | June 26, 2006 1:25 PM
OUch, I could barely read your post, for some really odd reason knee injuries & the popping noises totally freaks me out -
Hope you feel better
Posted by: Lori | June 27, 2006 8:34 AM