Bending the knee

I am at zero to thirty degrees

You may not be very thrilled by the saga of my broken patella (a pretty name for my plain ugly old kneecap). I am not thrilled either. But the experience has provided me with some fascinating insights into the UK’s National Health Service; although I had not expected or wanted to be introduced to its wonders and mysteries almost immediately on my arrival in the UK… But life throws curve balls, etc.

Earlier this week I attended the Fracture Clinic at the hospital. It wasn’t as grim as I expected. It was all bright and white and supervised by a cheerful blonde woman at a computer. I waited just a few minutes before being called in to see the orthopaedic surgeon. Surgeons are a “Mr” rather than a “Dr” - an important distinction in the UK, although they are still doctors, aren’t they?He gave me about five minutes of his valuable time - I got a sideways glimpse of my X ray on his screen - and then I was whisked off to see an amiable nurse/physiotherapist, who put a contraption on my leg.

it’s hard to describe the Contraption. It’s complex, consisting of several adjustable straps and a great deal of Velcro. The most important part is the positioning of two dials, one on each side of my knee. The nurse set these dials to thirty degrees - the maximum amount I can bend my formerly unbendable knee. Above the rasping sound of Velcro, we were instructed to reset the dials every two weeks, until we reach 120 degrees. Then it will be time to see the Mr. again, and he will decide my fate.

I waltzed out of the clinic feeling slightly unbent and lighter on my foot. We retired to the hospital café, where a latte also lifted my mood. I had expected something worse than Velcro.

I sadly reflected that a public hospital in Jamaica could never offer latte and sandwiches. You would be lucky if the X ray machine was working.

Meanwhile, I am testing at thirty degrees.

England is experiencing unusually warm weather and there were some attempts to cool the hospital with these large, noisy tubes. Here’s one hanging out of a window, like an animal trying to escape.