Under the Scope and Scalpel
Last week I had arthroscopic surgery on my left knee to repair two tears in the meniscus, a pad of cartilage-like material that separates the upper leg bones from the lower ones and absorbs some of the force as you walk and run.
Thanks to such Colorado activities as mountain climbing, mogul skiing, and trail running I had abused the dear meniscus until finally it gave way. Frayed ends stuck into surrounding tissue like hangnails, causing pain every time I took a step. I lived with it for a few weeks until finally, on a long international flight, my knee announced firmly that it had had enough.
Having a knee scoped is something like a rite of passage in Colorado, mainly because of ski injuries. If we had a state surgery to go with our state flower and state animal, it would be repair of a torn meniscus; the clinic I used does some 400 per year. Brits call the procedure “keyhole surgery,” with good reason. The 
doctor makes three tiny incisions, pumps saline solution into one to expand the working area, then inserts ingenious devices that resemble a plumber’s snake into the other two. Staring at a computer screen with nary a glance at the patient, he guides one camera-equipped cable on a tour of the ballooned knee, while the other instrument snips loose ends here and there, smooths arthritic bones with a tiny burr saw, and vacuums out the debris.
Apparently the clinic’s main fear comes from the possibility of operating on the wrong knee. I had to circle the left knee on a diagram, write a big “YES” with an indelible marker on my left thigh, and have it signed by two attendants before they sent me into dreamland with general anesthesia. Even so, as a failsafe the clinic schedules all right knees together, then all left knees—the drugged patient, after all, can’t answer questions and most knee injuries aren’t visible from the outside.
Nicky Gumbel, vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton in London, told me he had been “scoped” three times, the third under a local anesthetic that allowed him to watch the progress on a monitor. I’ve observed some surgical procedures while researching the books I wrote with Dr. Paul Brand, but I’m not sure I’m ready to watch one in real time being conducted on my own body.
(In Mumbai, India, in 2008 I stayed with a surgeon who knew Dr. Brand and asked if I wanted to assist at a liver surgery the next day. When he sensed my hesitation he said, “Don’t worry, we’ll have you in scrubs and antiseptic. At most I’ll have you hold a retractor to help keep open the area I’m working on.” He cautioned me that he’d given the honor to several other guests who found it challenging. Some grew squeamish immediately; some kept loosening their grip, which narrowed the area he had to work in. “One man was remarkably calm, though. He kept up strong pressure on the retractor the entire time so that I had a wonderful window into the body. When I finished I looked up to congratulate him and told him he could let go. Nothing happened. It seems that sometime during the surgery my friend had fainted. The weight of his body leaning backwards was what was keeping the retractor taut!” I never got to test my own fortitude because that was the night of the Mumbai terrorist attacks which killed more than 170 people. The city went under lockdown and the hospital had to cancel all non-emergency procedures.)
As I lay in the recovery room after my own minor procedure last week, I breathed a prayer of thanks for whoever invented the devices that allowed surgeons to maneuver inside my knee without leaving ugly red scars on the surface. For most of human history, people with a torn meniscus or a thousand other ailments would simply have to live with the pain. And especially I am grateful for physical therapists. I worked with one for several months after a broken neck in 2007, and learned that physical and occupational therapy training may include as much basic anatomy as might be offered in medical school. More, therapists have close and extended contact with patients, whereas doctors are under constant pressure from insurance companies to limit face time. Any honest surgeon will admit the limits of the craft: healing and full recovery depend on what happens after surgery, and in that process the physical therapists play an indispensable role.
As it happens, my physical therapist also climbs mountains. We’ve both summited the 54 14,000-foot mountains in Colorado, and as he massages and manipulates my knee we relive our exploits: lightning storms, hail and snow, close calls from rock falls, animal sightings. If all goes well, and I follow his instructions over the next few weeks, I’ll eventually tackle a few more—with renewed gratitude for modern medicine which has mastered the art of repairing that marvelous structure that creates a necessary hinge in the legs that move us through life.
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19 responses to “Under the Scope and Scalpel”
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About Philip Yancey
For Yancey, reading offered a window to a different world. So, he devoured books that opened his mind, challenged his upbringing, and went against what he had been taught. A sense of betrayal engulfed him.
Your books too have helped me tremendously, being a scientist and having a chronic illness that is a little more unique your book The Gift Nobody Wants on pain has helped me overcome a great number of serendipitous emotional and physiological pain. I tend to like your joint writings with this doctor as they are a little less emotional :). But, please keep up the good work. My bipolar has been kept more ‘in check’ with these writings, still half-way through your new book on prayer. Loved Chapt. 6! it has helped me understand more the God whom we are not always sure of and encouraged me to continue with my walk with the Lord on a great number of occasions. Which is good for my husband as he wants to become a pastor and/or chaplin. Sometimes people forget they (men of authority) are human and so are their wives and the insecurities of ‘crisis of faith’ invade all of our lives.
I didn’t know you had had surgery, Philip. I am glad it went well and agree that physical therapy is quite important in the recovery process and long term prognosis. We truly live in a marvelous age, for as you intimated, up until recent history, people just had to live with these kinds of problems (though I suppose with average lifespans being decades shorter than today that less of the middle-aged and elderly were around to “enjoy” such things as meniscus tears or osteoarthritis.) Blessings on you.
I pray you’re recovering quickly Phillip.
I searched out your website this morning because I’ve been revisiting your wonderful book, What’s so Amazing About Grace… It sits at home on my bookshelves with your other titles and a few days ago I promise you the binder screamed at me 🙂
The ember of ungrace that’s always present in me has gotten out of control and through your book, God is reminding me of how sweet it is to live in grace.
So, Phillip Yancey, thank you.
Robin
And once your insurance company says you’ve had enough PT, you’re welcome to come to Niger, west Africa, for OT. While we’re a little short-handed on mountains, we’ve got plenty of sand dunes you can run up and down! (The books you co-authored with Dr. Brand helped pushed me of the fence when I was deciding between a life in photojournalism or physical rehabilitation . . . so thanks!)
May our dear Lord grant you good recovery from your recent surgery. Thank you for sharing your experience. As an old nurse, the account and pictures were appreciated.
You write in your book, “Prayer” in Chapt. 1, “More than anything else in life, I want to know God.” The relationship is pure grace, and begins here and now as promised in both the Old Testament (I Chron. 28:9,10) and the New Testament (Matt. 7:7,8)–“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you….” May He also continue to reveal Himself to you as you seek to know (yada’) Him more and more, reading His word.
Blessings,
Dear Philip,
I am glad everything is OK now with Your knee!
Have You heard about a case with three young women in Moscow, who are imprisoned for 3 monthes already because they dared to protest against Putinin the Cathedral of Christ the Savior? They’ve dared to call Mother of God to expell Putin. President, it seems, is going to put them in jail for 7 years (although according to the law they must only pay 15 dollars for violating the church’s silence.) The trial will be in June (althoght Putin is cruel enough to prolonge the “investigation’.) Many people speak in their defence, but mostly in Europe (as a chairman of the European Parliament) and mostly from secular position. Christians are afraid to defend them, there is a risk of sharing the reputation of “bad boy” and blasphamous person. I write a lot in their defence here and I thought may be You can give some attention to this case, which is not only about human rights, politics, freedom of speech, but also about Christian understanding of sacred. Here is some information about them in English – http://www.change.org/petitions/president-vladimir-putin-free-pussy-riot?utm. I think some voice of Christians, American Christians as well, will help to show that Christianity is not with despotism and paranoya. Here in Russia Protestants as well as Roman Catholics generally don’t want to criticize Putin to keep their own status safe.
Yours
James
Thank you for the good word you put in for physical and occupational therapists! I am an OT specializing in adult rehab. I also have had scope surgery and two knee replacements so I’ve been on both sides of the “therapy equation”. My struggle with arthritis has gained me a lot of credibility with my patients. May your recovery continue to be uneventful and I hope you can soon return to all the activities you love.
I have read many of your books and am currently re-reading your book on prayer. Thank you for asking the questions that need to be asked. I appreciate your candid thoughts. Your writings have been a source of encouragement for me for many years. May the Lord continue to bless you with such wonderful insight!
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I trust for a full recovery.
I would like to let you know that your books have changed my life. I have read a number of them and am currently reading Soul Survivor. You are my favorite author of all times, other than the Holy Spirit, (the greatest book ever written – the Bible).
Thank you for being so transparent in sharing your life, the good and the bad. Reading your books have made things so much clearer in my mind about God and how to live this life victoriously.
May God richly bless you in everything.
Diane Reinhardt – Durban, South Africa
Hope to see you when you get better !
God bless you Philip !
As a nurse I was particularly intrested to read your account and see the photo’s.
So glad you are on the mend.
Enjoy your next trip.
Philip,
Thanks for sharing and know we’re praying as you recover!
Your climbs are such an example to us…as we sit here looking out at Long’s Peak.
(It calls John constantly. 🙂
Love & prayers from us both,
BBF
Thanks for posting this. It’s encouraging to hear what other biomedical engineers have invented. Modern medicine/technology rocks!
Glad your surgery went well. I had my left hip replaced about 8 weeks ago and left with a keen appreciation for doctors, their instruments and especially their anesthesia. Loved the bedside manner of the physical therapist who helped me too. Great blessing. As for assisting during surgery, the closest I want to get to that is carving up the Thanksgiving fowl. Hope you’re back on the mountains soon!
Glad your surgery went well. I had my left hip replaced about 8 weeks ago and left with a keen appreciation for doctors, their instruments, and especially their anethesia. Loved the bedside manner of the PT who helped me too. Great blessing. As for assisting during surgery, the closest I want to get to that is carving up the Thanksgiving fowl. Hope you’re back on the mountains soon!
[…] Yancey pays the price of frequent mountain climbing in Colorado and undergoes knee surgery. He also explains what they do to make sure it’s the right correct […]
unrelated to this articule ** I am writing and hoping to publish some devotionals. I am talking to Inspired Voices (Guideposts). Is this a good place to start? I am retired, have read your book, and have grown through a very conservative background. I try to address words and their meanings to encourage thinking. “Do I know what I think I know?” (My theme) PS I am not formally educated in writing or the Bible. Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks !! mel
Sorry to hear about your knee, welcome to the 60’s
Ann Kelly
Australia
I like the idea of the knee scope being the state surgery! ha! Praise for your scope that went well! And thank you for the great respect that you paid to physical therapists(I am a physical therapist). Now, go do your PT homework!!! heehee!
Great words! Thanks! I recently had some repair surgery as well. On April 19th I returned from the Dominican Republic after 8 days with the gracious Dominican people. I was one of 37 SC Singing Churchmen there on mission. The evening we returned I was riding the Atlanta airport “plane train” from terminal to baggage pickup, I prevented an elderly gentleman from falling as the train took off. As he fell backward I reached to catch him with my left arm. In the process I felt a painful tearing sensation in my left elbow. I tore my left distal bicep tendon. May 3rd I had surgery to repair it. Doing very well. A couple more weeks in a half cast that I can remove to shower and exercise it. Go back on the 29th for my second follow up. I was where I was supposed to be and I’m grateful the man I helped didn’t get hurt. I did, but God has His hand catching me and has placed me in the hands of skilled doctors and nurses who will help heal my arm. Thanks again.