On Wednesday 4th of May while bicycling to work I had a mishap which toppled me. In the fall I apparently twisted my leg to the point that I was unable to walk. I immediately notified my employer that I would not be in due to a accident on my commute (I had been told several times over my stay in Germany that an accident during a commute is considered a workplace accident and has more extensive insurance coverage than any other routine mishap).
My wife had visited an orthopedist not far from the accident location, so using my (damaged) bicycle as a support I hobbled over there without an appointment. It's not their fault that my German is so weak, but the people in that office have minimal English, so communication was not free-flowing. At any rate, the doctor saw me.
At each stage I emphasized this happened during my commute to work. They took x-rays (which are called Röntgen, corresponding to the Japanese word for x-rays, so I understood) and after a while the doctor told me - the good news is no bones are broken; the bad news is there is damage to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and perhaps the cruciate ligaments as well.
He prescribed an analgesic called Novalgin, had a nearby orthosis shop bring a pair of crutches, told me to get an MRI (called MRT in German, the T being for tomography), and said he would see me again after the MRT.
First problem. I tried to arrange the MRT, and the facility he suggested had no openings until early June. So I searched and found they had other branches, and one had an appointment the next day. Booked online, because that allows me to compensate for my language failings and translate things. But when I went for my appointment, it turned out I had booked a different branch. Yikes! But the receptionist was VERY friendly and rebooked me for that facility on Saturday. This place was relatively nice because it is so accessible by public transportation (my ability to walk was severely limited), so I went ahead.
Saturday the MRT went mostly as expected. Check in, and go to one waiting room. Later be ushered to another waiting room closer to the MRT machines. Dump all metal-containing objects in a locker and lay down on the MRT platform. They did not fully support my leg, so once the procedure started I could feel that I was trembling a little bit. After about ten minutes, done.
Tuesday I saw my orthopedist again. No surgery needed. Prescription for a knee brace orthosis. Instructions to put limited weight on the leg, if I don't feel pain.
This has been draft for three years. I'm fully healed. I may edit this later. I had to switch to an Unfal doctor (accident) because it was a work related injury. Found a good doctor in Bockenheim (not far from me) who was teach doctor for a few professional teams, and same building had a PT guy, Schmidt. They were good. Back in USA, not much from PT people, but on my own began regular Pilates and TRX work, and my knee is back as good (or better?) than before.
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