Damn doctors. First thing they reach for is the scalpel. [View All]

[Redstone]

Two years ago, I had a lump on my leg, so I went to see an orthopedic surgeon. After having an MRI done, he said "You've torn the little bit of cartilage you have left in that knee, and it's produced a cyst. We'll just go in there and remove it; we can replace it with an artificial cartilage pad. Or, actually, you'd probably benefit more from a knee replacement." (I already have a Nylon kneecap on that side.)

I told him thanks a bunch, and that I'd get back to him. Two years ago, as I said, and I still haven't taken him up on his offer.

Today, I went to see a hand doctor because there's a bone spur at the base of a finger that I broke many years ago. On reviewing the MRI films, the doctor told me that what he'd like to do is to replace that finger joint with an artifical one. As before, I told him thanks a bunch, and that I'd get back to him.

I think I'll do what I've done for the last two years with the knee: Exercise and ignore the pain. It's worked well so far on the knee, and whenever the cyst shows up I give it a good whack with the heel of my hand and it goes away for a month or so.

The point of all this? Just to show you why you should never let them cut you until you can't take care of the problem any other way. You'd be surprised how long you can avoid the knife with a bit of work.

Redstone