Monday, April 30, 2007

A first I could have done without

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.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am SO sorry! I bet it was really scary :(

We'll be praying for him. And you.

Kylee Baumle said...

I'm so sorry to hear about Ricky's soccer mishap! Grinning about the painkillers, though. They make me chatty, too. LOL.

Did he happen to go to ONE in Ft. Wayne? Our youngest daughter is an AT there.

I hope Ricky gets up and about soon!

Earth Girl said...

Lucy, can you believe I thought of one of your posts while in the ambulance, wiping the sweat off Ricky's head and murmuring softly for him to take deep breaths? It was a post about going bonkers on little things but being calm and in control when it's something major.

Kylee, what's an AT? He is seeing Dr. Stephens on ONE. So far we are driving across town SW but the next appointment is on Clinton when he gets the MRI.