August Happiness Challenge -- Day 15

My 2024 Happiness Icon

Today's happiness: I made myself heard.

I've been seeing the chiropractor for more than two weeks now. My left knee is killing me. Actually, it's the back of my knee that hurts and there's inflammation on the inside. 

I usually like my chiropractor and appreciate her skills. Earlier this year she properly diagnosed my heels spur and between her adjustments and laser treatments, I was fine in no time. But this time, she hasn't been as successful.

Worse than that, she's been dismissive. When I told her Monday that the pain made walking any distance unbearable, she said she'd "bet nobody else would think it was so bad." 

In real time, I felt like she'd slapped me. I was shocked. I said that she had to understand that since I don't drive, I have to walk everywhere and the knee pain left me feeling vulnerable. She said, "I get it." But I don't believe she did.

I thought of my mom. My mother never questioned her doctors, never pushed back. After all, they were learned, they had degrees, so they knew best. I loved my mom, but I'm not her. Any doctor, dentist or chiropractor has many patients, but this is my one and only body. So my care is naturally more important to me than it is to them.

And so I kept turning what my doctor said, over and over in my head. I won't be dismissed. It's not fair and it's not helpful. I am in pain. It's her job to help make me well. I'm going to insist she do that job.

So today, instead of laying down on the table for my customary adjustment, I sat upright and pointed to my knee. "I'm wearing shorts so you can look at my knee." I told her it felt warm to me, not to the touch but from the inside. And it still hurts to walk. "That means inflammation, doesn't it?" I asked.

She did today what she should have done Monday when I reiterated the knee pain. She palpated it. She compared my painful left knee to my functioning right one. She agreed that there is something "up" there -- possibly a Baker's cyst or a ligament injury. Neither is that serious (after all, I'm still walking), but diagnosing them requires imaging equipment she doesn't have. So she's referring me to an orthopedic clinic.

If I hadn't spoken up, she would have just given me the adjustment and sent me on my way. So I am happy that I took control and made myself heard.

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.