I thought today was going to be a slow unwind from our two weeks with the kids. It started slow enough, but suddenly switched gears. Judy headed out for a haircut. Her afternoon plans involve taking a serious look at our packing for our 4-week jaunt to Northern Europe and US. I start making plans about how to knock items off my own to-do list.

My knees have been killing me, especially my right knee with all the walking we’ve done. I take ibuprofen regularly but it hasn’t helped that much. I’d planned to visit a doctor back in DFW, but realized our medical insurance isn’t any good in the US. I get an appointment for 2:00 pm to see if I can find relief for my knees. I also need a haircut. It works out that I can get my haircut before the doctor, but I’m going to have to hustle. The schedule works, and freshly shorn, I arrive at the doctor’s office ½ hour early.

I got distracted by this McClaren on my way to the barber.

There’s no waiting. I fill out a short form, they take my insurance card and passport, and I’m off to see the doctor. She’s sitting waiting for me (now that’s different). We talk about my issues, and then I get an x-ray. Not too much later, we look at the photos, and sure enough, much of the cushioning is gone around the knees. She suggests I see a bone doctor and schedules me to see him at 5:00, at this office.

I ride a rickshaw to Sanlitun for a late lunch and shopping for items we need for our cruise. Back at the medical center, the orthopedist arrives, looks at the x-rays, and makes a few suggestions. I’m thinking I’m getting a little cortisone shot with some lidocaine, which I did, but he also decided to pull fluid off my knee. I missed that part of the discussion. Two full syringes later, he puts a band-aid on it and calls it good. I’m supposed to see him when I get back to Beijing in August for the left knee. The cost for all this: $8.00 USD. Yeah, $8.00!

On my way back home, I’m testing the knee. I keep waiting for the pain to return, but it doesn’t. If this holds up, those guys at the table tennis club better watch out!