Ankle Saga

The pain in my ankle gets worse each day. I fought my stubbornness and went to the doctor yesterday. Fortunately my wife had done the hard work of registering us for a specific doctor. They don't seem to be called doctors offices here, they seem to be called surgery offices. Maybe they perform surgery in the offices as well, I don't know.

I drove up to the building which was more of a house than an office building. The first room looks like a pharmacy. The second door is a registration and checkin area. They had my name from when I called in the morning, so they allowed me to take a seat in the waiting room.

The first sign I noticed said "time to get your flu jab". The flu is bad enough, but they punch you too? Just kidding, I realise that means flu shot, but that was my first time hearing it as a jab.

There were only 2 other people in the waiting area, which had about 30 separate chairs. Names were being called over a speaker system in the ceiling, and I instantly realised I had no idea where I was going after they call my name. 

10 minutes pass whilst I visually study the signs, corridors (hallways) and doors. My name is called and I act confident as I walk through the door that the two other people previously went through. I thought they said "platt room", so I was hoping for an obvious sign. After 2 long minutes of searching, someone walked by and I asked where the platt room is, somehow they understood I meant "black room" and they said "the black room is right there". 

The door was closed and like a haunted house I had no idea what to expect on the other side. Narnia went through my mind. I half knocked and pushed through, not even faking confidence this time. 

There was a white man, probably in his 50s, leaning back in a chair at a desk just inside the door. I said hello and outstretched my hand. He shook my hand and asked me to take a seat. 

He wasn't interested in exchanging pleasantries so we got right to business. I explained the hospital visit, he looked at my ankle and confirmed its not broken. He said that doctors "and a third party" review X-rays at the hospital so they would have notified me if they found anything. 

I asked "do you think the pain is increasing due to swelling, or tears in tendons, or tears in ligaments". He used paper and pen to draw the bones, tendons and ligaments in an ankle. He said it will take 2-3 months for it to heal and probably 12-18 months for all pain to subside. He did offer orthopedics, but I declined (back to my stubbornness).

So I left feeling better that it really shouldn't need any special treatment, but it sure will hurt for awhile. 

As I hobble for miles each day, it's bringing new perspective for me. It's easier to ascertain your environment and situation when moving at a slower pace than you're used to. I suppose that's stating the obvious, but it's a new distinction for me.