Wednesday, December 06, 2006

A New Blockbuster: Tearing the Meniscus


You know all those compelling movie titles that start with the present participle? Like Saving Private Ryan, Raising Helen, Finding Nemo, Saving Silverman, Driving Miss Daisy? Not to mention great dramas like Waiting for Godot? (Can you think of some others? There are about a thousand, I believe).
I'm not sure what exactly is the appeal of the ing form, but here's one I'm going to write: an action flick called Tearing the Meniscus. It's what I've done, you see. My doctor told me today. The meniscus is this little thing between the bones of the knee, sort of a little carpet that keeps them from rubbing together. Mine is torn, and so my knee gives me considerable pain when I A) sit or B) stand back up again. It also adds a popping sound for some dramatic flair. (I'd like to say that's my leg in the visual, but all I can say is I WISH).
So now somehow I have to arrange X rays and an orthopedic visit and then apparently my two choices will be A) a steroid shot into the knee, which involves a humongous needle that I think they used to use to torture people in the Middle Ages or B) surgery. I'm not loving my options, and frankly I'm not on speaking terms with my meniscus (at least not the left one).
Ironically, though, in my latest book my heroine has a broken ankle, and I've been pondering whether or not some of her reactions and feelings are realistic. Now that I am hobbling about, I feel it can at least provide some research for the novel, but I'd prefer not to be such a method author.

6 comments:

Bill Cameron said...

I used to have meniscus, but all I have now is the orthopedic equivalent of a dried crust of bread.

Julia Buckley said...

Why us, Bill? What did we ever do to our knees? Well, okay, I did make mine carry some extra fat around. I guess knees hold grudges.

Bill Cameron said...

Well, I played football in high school...

Julia Buckley said...

Hi, Lonnie--
I would love to eat plentiful choccy to heal my wounds, but I've also been ordered to lose some weight to take pressure off the knee. Gol darn it. And this is Christmas cookie season, too! Is someone testing me?

Unknown said...

Good luck with this. I've had both a big enough tear to require surgery, and a smaller one that a shot cured. The latter was earlier this fall, it took about 22 hours to kick in, and now 10 weeks later it still has never hurt again!

I've enjoyed reading your interviews.

Julia Buckley said...

Thanks, Lois!

I just had it X rayed yesterday, but it's not hurting quite as much, so I'm hoping that either a shot or some time will cure it. But what a yucky reality, to know your joints are slowly decaying. :)