Wednesdays are our biggest orthopedic day. We take care of people getting new knees, new hips, new shoulders, ACL repairs, carpal tunnel releases... you name it. I had a patient on Wednesday who was having her knee replaced. She was pushing 70 years old and seemed like a nice lady with very little health history except some high blood pressure. She said she didn't understand why her knee had given out.
"Did you have an injury?" I asked
"No"
"Were you ever a runner?"
"No"
"Did you have a job where you had to stand all the time?"
"No."
"Well, hmmm," I started reviewing her chart. Turned out she was 5'4" and weighed 203 pounds.
"Are your hips bothering you too?" I asked.
"Oh yes. After I get my other knee replaced. I'll have to get my hips done too."
Oh my. American health care in a nutshell.