Sunday I took my first ambulance ride, with Ricky. We went from the soccer field to the ER. Just 20 minutes into the game, Ricky went up for a high kick trying to score and fell to the ground in pain. After 4 hours in the ER yesterday and another 4 hours today in the orthopedist office, the tentative diagnosis, pending an MRI, is a dislocated patella and torn meniscus. We won't know if surgery is required until after the MRI, but physical therapy is starting tomorrow. Meanwhile, he's wearing a brace that keeps his right knee immobile.
Ricky was in a lot of pain, so much so that he was dripping with sweat, until the EMTs gave him some painkillers intravenously. While he rated the pain a 9 instead of a 10 after the meds kicked in, he started talking loudly non-stop instead of gasping for breath. He asked the EMT when the painkillers were going to work and the EMT just smiled and said, "Keep talking, Ricky." In the ER, Ricky took over answering the questions in a very loud authoritative voice and then fell asleep.
I just hope we discover the injury is minor and he is not afflicted with knee problems throughout his adult life. He's more concerned about the delay in getting his driver's license and dancing at the prom in several weeks.
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