So for a month or so I have had a very swollen knee that has given pain and necessitated frequent visits to a long queuing clinic for draining. See: https://quietripple.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/crystal/

The very nice doctor there refused to believe that I had damaged my knee but appeared to be convinced that I had gout. I tend to be very trusting but some weeks later as I dragged my wooden-leg-like leg to work I thought it would be a good idea to consult my learned brother Ian who is a distinguished medical person.

He came back with a diagnosis of  a torn meniscus and suggested a MRI scan. Today I do just that.

What fun! A visit to a Japanese medical clinic is always worthwhile, if not for the treatment, then for the experience.  I do not mean to say that the treatment is bad – on the contrary – but more that each visit is an adventure. First, I have an X-ray.

The doctor, the learned Shima sensei, said I had a beautiful knee for a man of my age. I blushed.

Then I have a MRI scan. I have never had one of these before and I realize the medical world offers a whole new range of first time experiences. A new bird in ornithological activity is very rare these days but the medical forest is pulsating with first views. I did not know that a MRI takes a long time and of course I fell asleep. I was  in the midst of a complex burial on the West Of Scotland that involved me, as a young boy, hiding under a horse-drawn hearse, when I was shaken awake by grinning MRI guy.

OK, this is a slice across my knee generated by the MRI. Thank you physicists. In the gap between the two bones, on the right hand side, you can see two black areas. essentially they should be one such as you see on the left hand side of the gap. This indicates a bucket-handle tear to the meniscus. How cool is that?

There’s a hole in my bucket.

This means surgery. They want me to go to hospital for 2 days! I think I will ask Ian for a second opinion as I rely on my health to do my job well and frankly I do not trust doctors.

Anyway, seeing as  I am  there, I get my weekly knee drain. There is a wonderful nurse, Satoko san, who has the same camera as me. She offers to take the pictures.

Satoko san, the Hollywood nurse.

Shima sensei sucks out the venom

In the former clinic the doctor just produced a syringe and stabbed it into my knee. This time it is much more elaborate with careful disinfection and  a carefully placed cloth that masks my grotesque knee.

Grunt

Looks like olive oil

The much beloved Satoko san makes charade style movie signs, she kindly understands that I am handicapped in Japanese.  I say Hai!!  Here is the result.

http://youtu.be/40W40DUIRXY

You can’t beat the Okinawans when it comes to fun and  kind devilry.