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The dangers of walking

Last updated on 21 Jun 2018

I have long said that exercise is dangerous: that 100% of all those I know who are physically active injure themselves. But I never expected that just frigging walking could be so problematic and fraught with danger!

I was on my way to meet some folk for lunch (Lygon Street, Carlton, a famed Melbourne eating place), when I stepped in a slight depression on the footpath and rolled my left ankle. This happens to me a lot, since I squashed my left foot in a motorcycle accident 30+ years ago, but I usually recover quickly. This time I didn’t.

As I fell I heard, and felt, a loud “snap” in my left knee, and by the time I hit the ground I was screaming in agony (worse than the accident above), Lovely bystanders came to my aid and one asked “Should we call an ambulance?” I didn’t hesitate for even a millisecond. “Yes!” I gasped in between sobs and screams (I am nothing if not expressive when it comes to pain. If I have to be in it, others must know that I am).

So, after five hours of morphine, x-rays and solicitous ER nurses, doctors, paramedics and radiographers, I discover that I have ruptured my anterior and medial cruciate ligaments, and the meniscus (did I get those names right? I can’t look it up now, as the morphine is making me very inattentive to detail).

Short story: I am now unable to walk for at least six weeks, and probably will never walk properly again. I can look forward to three years of rehab, and possible surgery.

This is a perfect outcome to cap off the last 18 months. I expect that my flat will be hit by a falling jet engine soon, and I won’t get the five foot scary rabbit first. Thought you all should know why I am going to be very bloody grumpy over the next little while.

Update: Pix!

IMG 0173

On the day

IMG 0174

This morning (with the pressure bandage leaving ribbing marks).

47 Comments

  1. DiscoveredJoys DiscoveredJoys

    You have my sympathy.

    I have two wonky knees. They each hurt (not nearly as much a snapping ligaments) for several weeks, and recovery has taken over 6 months each time. I have to be careful in the choice of footwear to avoid stressing the knee joint.

    It’s not the pain that matters most (trust me) it’s the restrictions on normal life while you recover, and the caution afterwards. Thank goodness for the consolations of philosophy, eh?

  2. Commiseration!

    This once happened to me in a busy shopping street near the university of Frankfur am Main. The grill of a basement window was dented, probably by a lorry delivering wares to the shop at that point of the street. Anyway, my injury wasn’t half as bad as yours and a pharmacy was just across the street.

    What really annoyed me was that the staff in the shop with the dented basement window grill did not think they had anything to do with my accident and did not do anything to prevent other passers-by from the same fate. Okay, the staff does not own the shop, I guess, but they should at least have put some warning sing around the pitfall and called the person in charge to repair the window. Nothing had hapened a day later.

    Remembering my anger about the negligence in turn gave me the idea that maybe you can sue somebody for compensation. I didn’t for just a bruised ankle, but 18 month of rehab and never walking properly again seems reasonable cause for that.

  3. Jeffrey Shallit Jeffrey Shallit

    I tore my ACL back in the 1980’s and had reconstructive surgery. For 20 years it was reasonably OK but now I have arthritis in that knee and may eventually need half-knee replacement. Also had arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus tear. All this to say that you have my sympathy and best wishes.

  4. I’m really sorry to hear about your accident and I understand how painful it is. I also understand your frustration at such a miserable run of bad luck. Nobody deserves that, even a philosopher.

    But I can’t help but wonder … were you chewing gum at the time? 🙂

    • Larry, don’t be silly. I’m not a biochemist.

  5. John the Plumber John the Plumber

    Atheist conference in the offing – proof of vexed God – no. – It would have been your neck not your knee. – Much sympathy offered.

    • It occurred to me that God hasn’t forgiven me for not believing in him…

      • Aaron Clausen Aaron Clausen

        Yes well He is a touchy sort, if He exists, and I’d He doesn’t, well then He has all the more reason to be miserable. To be on the safe side I recommend praying to all the gods, with special attention to those responsible for beer and healing (likely the same).

        • “Suppose we’ve chosen the wrong god. Every time we go to church we’re just making him madder and madder!” –Homer Simpson

  6. First of all, much commiserations.

    I fractured my heel about a year and a half ago and had to use a walker for about six weeks and then crutches and a walking boot for another six weeks. I still use a cane.

    I was given an option to have surgery but didn’t absoluely have to because the alignment was pretty good. Since I wasn’t planning to audition for “Dancing With the Stars” (an awful Mercan TV show which hopefully Oznians have been spared) , I passed.

    The good news is that, not being an active person either, it hasn’r really bothered me much and even has helped some in the form of handicapped parking and a modicum of greater consideration from some of my fellow humans.

    Get well soon!

  7. Sorry to hear of your accident.

    I broke my leg in a fall in our house a few years back. I screamed in agony and asked my good lady to call an ambulance.

    “How do you know it’s broken?” she asked.

    Not one of her brightest questions. I gave her a decidedly Anglo Saxon response.

  8. John the Plumber John the Plumber

    It’s clear that God’s not ready to call you yet – probably still reading up on the philosophical nature of the meaning of existence so that he keep up with you in the ensuing argument when he does – knowing its an argument he’s got to win – otherwise it would be a right old mess. – There’d be no meaning for God’s sake and that would never do.

    I’d never have believed how many people have dodgy legs and are not very good at a vertical posture – unintelligent design – of course we were never really designed to walk – just sit about under trees eating bananas and things and going for the occasional swing – anything beyond that is just delusions of grandeur.

  9. afarensis afarensis

    Wow, that sucks! I hope your recovery goes without complications.

  10. Coming in, after being alerted to your predicament by Eric Michael Johnson, to send sympathies. I have a bad (arthritic, with drifted quads) R knee as a result of persisting in activities I shouldn’t have (running, high heels — though not together). Knees are a bitch. Good luck.

  11. Thanks everyone. I appreciate the sympathy.

    John, when I meet God I’m going to have some things to say about design standards. Why, it’s almost like he jury-rigged our anatomy from parts he had lying around…

  12. Bob O'H Bob O'H

    Owwwww. You have my sympathies (and Grrl’s). I hope the recovery goes well.

    You don’t think God is just trying to protect PZed’s atheism from your agnostic views do you?

  13. John the Plumber John the Plumber

    So PZ’s a sound atheist, your a crippled agnotsic, I’m an ape – and we’re all made in the same iamage out of spare parts of somethings else. – I can’t cope – I’m goung for another banana.

  14. John the Plumber John the Plumber

    Goung is an ape word – its like saying ook three times – then you’re in the furure..

  15. John the Plumber John the Plumber

    Cobblers – future.

  16. John Vreeland John Vreeland

    Losing a cruciform ligament causes arthritis. So there is something to look forward to in twenty years.

  17. Raving Raving

    Black Knight’s Song: Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.

  18. Michael Fugate Michael Fugate

    Your life is starting to take on qualities of a country song – I thought of this chorus from the old US HeeHaw series in the early 70s:

    Gloom, despair, and agony on me
    Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
    If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all
    Gloom, despair, and agony on me

    Buck Owens & Roy Clark

    • Yeah, although I see it as the Cream song: Been down so very damn long that it looks like up to me.

  19. Ian Wragg Ian Wragg

    “So, after five hours of morphine, x-rays and solicitous ER nurses, doctors, paramedics and radiographers, I discover that I have ruptured my anterior and medial cruciate ligaments, and the meniscus (did I get those names right? I can’t look it up now, as the morphine is making me very inattentive to detail).

    Short story: I am now unable to walk for at least six weeks, and probably will never walk properly again. I can look forward to three years of rehab, and possible surgery.”

    Possible Surgery!!!!!!!!!
    I would suggest that you are up for a full knee reco mate.

    • snaxalotl snaxalotl

      agree you are up for a reconstruction. it seems to be quite common for people to be told that if they are not going to be particularly athletic they can get away without an ACL; but as someone with two reconstructed knees (and who never fully returned to the culprit basketball after the second one) i can tell you that getting the repair with leave you walking like a normal person for the foreseeable future, without your knee occasionally buckling under you and without the loose joint gradually grinding away and getting arthritic. as a melbourne resident i can also tell you i had both operations done privately (two excellent results by prahran surgeon david bracey), without insurance, for around $2000 after all the applicable rebates

  20. Louis Louis

    Crikey John. I’m sorry to read about your recent troubles. I hope you can get about at the GAC (if you’ve gone) and that the quality of drugs you are getting for pain relief is tip-top. Get well soon, mate!

    Louis

    • I’m feeling much better after lunch with the wonderful Genie Scott, then drinks with PZ Myers and Aronra and various others. I no longer feel so alone. My drugs leave a lot to be desired, but that’s life. I’ll blog the GAC afterwards.

      • Louis Louis

        The drugs are no good? Luckily you have contacts. I shall have the Evil Atheist Conspiracy: Chemtrail and Pharmaceutical Division ship you some.

        We specialise in {ahem} recreational analgesics. I have some lovely cocaine on offer, don’t worry, it’s Fair Trade cocaine hand-made by named technicians. And we do a marvellous line in ethically sourced opiates. All guaranteed to be CIA Director to Corporate Banker grade purity. Nothing but the best in our conspiracy.

        I am glad that alcoholic analgesia is available and the excellent placebo effect of good company seems to be having some results. Take care and use your inability to get up as an excuse not to go to the bar! That’s what PZ is for. After all he’s on that massive Liberal Professor Gubmint money we all hear about from the Tea Partiers. Put the man to use, tell him I said so!

        Louis

  21. I haven’t got round to commiserating/taking the piss yet so consider both now done.

    I think Larry M made a comment that can’t be topped so I’ll just repeat it

    But I can’t help but wonder … were you chewing gum at the time?

  22. zackoz zackoz

    Bloody awful news John.

    Best wishes for a quick recovery.

    We baby boomers get no luck at all, do we!

  23. John the Plumber John the Plumber

    There’s always ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’
    Pavement in your case.

  24. Ribozyme Ribozyme

    I’m sorry that has happened to you. At least you are going to be in great company that will cheer you up. I hope your recovery is minimally unpleasant.

    “it hasn’t really bothered me much and even has helped some in the form of handicapped parking and a modicum of greater consideration from some of my fellow humans.”

    John Pieret really knows how to look at the bright side of things! 😀

  25. Ribozyme Ribozyme

    Besides, that’ll make you remember to always keep at least one knuckle on the ground! 😀

  26. Ian Musgrave Ian Musgrave

    Yikes! I should pay more attention to tweets, that’s the second time I’ve missed a friend doing something horrible to their legs.

    Gute Besserung as they say. Drug consultations available

    • John S. Wilkins John S. Wilkins

      Consultations? What about actual drugs? Those top sekrit neuropharmacological things we all know you guys have in the lab?

      • John S. Wilkins:
        What about actual drugs? Those top sekrit neuropharmacological things we all know you guys have in the lab?

        Wot U need is a couple of keys of ganja an a Peter Tosh album.

  27. Jeb Jeb

    “Been down so very damn long that it looks like up to me.”

    The Doors, gloomy bunch. Try this you may also find inspiration in John Lillison, just look what he achieved!

    http://historyfrog.wordpress.com/

    Hope you are running about soon.

  28. I am sorry to hear about your continuing misfortune. After the words “Curmudgeon. Punster. Fatso.” in your profile you now need to add “Disabled.”

  29. Stuart Weinstein Stuart Weinstein

    Ouch. That hurts just lookin’ at it.

    I hope you have a full recovery.

    I also hope you have a number of pretty physical therapists.

    In which case, take your time. Its not like you’re playing football or anything.

  30. Ian Ferguson Ian Ferguson

    I ripped my ACL off while playing soccer (“football” for all you folks outside of the USA and Canada) and messed up the knee cartilage a bit. It was repaired years ago and I have no regrets: I hike, play hockey, and generally get around with little impairment (though I tend to stay away from soccer and basketball now). Go for it.

  31. Just found out about this at PT, John. I hope you’re in less pain now, and will be able to get the knee replaced.

    If it’s any consolation, I became a huge fan of yours just yesterday. I was searching for details on Williams’ “Deducing the consequences of evolution: a mathematical model” (1970), and got sidetracked reading your fantastic “tautology” series. It did so much to help me clarify my thinking. I’d regarded the Dembski-Marks treatment of fitness functions as clear-cut reification, and I’m glad to have learned, before shooting off my mouth, of legitimate efforts to render them physical. Best leave philosophy of biology to the pros.

    What got me searching was a lecture by Greg Chaitin on his “metabiology,” in which he claimed that there had been no proofs about “Darwinian” evolution. I was astonished to hear him refer to a program as information. Promiscuous use of “information” is one of the things I’m most interested in addressing (guilt is a motivation). I was extremely pleased to find that I have been thinking along the lines that you have, and, more importantly, that you can fill in some gaps for me. Then I remembered that I had a paper about “deflation of genetic information” on the disk drive of a computer that died. Oops.

    I haven’t been publishing, but may manage to turn that around. At any rate, you’re helping a computer scientist along. There’s no telling the full extent of the impact of your philosophical posts. Keep on keeping on, guy.

    P.S. – Christopher Timpson argues in his dissertation (2004) that quantum information is best regarded as an abstraction. I’d like to know what you make of his work.

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