Good Karma

Earlier in the week, my friend, Delilah, gave me a good kick in the backside and told me to see a Sports Medical Doctor. Well, that is easier said than done as I couldn’t easily get a referral from my family doctor who is impossible to get an appointment with in the summer. What made this even more frustrating is I had the name of a good sports med guy as well as an orthopaedic surgeon but couldn’t do anything with them.

In a moment of frustration, I decided to call their offices anyway. Problem #2: I had the name of the sports med guy – but his surname and city only. In fact, I wasn’t even sure it the good doctor was a “he”. I searched for him on Canada411 but Dr. Elliott came up as D R and Dr and, sure enough, none of them seemed to be the real Dr. Elliott.

Then, I decided to Google him: Dr. Elliott…Sports Medicine….Burlington, Ontario. He came up within a second: The Elliott Sports Medicine Clinic. Jackpot! Not only is this guy excellent (so I was told), but he has his own clinic. I called and the first question I asked was “Do you need a referral from a GP?”

Double jackpot!! I didn’t need to see my family doctor first and the appointment is still covered under Health Care. I let out a sigh of relief and booked an appointment with one of his associates – as Dr. Elliott is very busy and it would be weeks before I could see him – for this coming Monday.

Yesterday was my last day of Summer School. I dropped off the two university students – both former students of mine- working as Teaching Assistants and was a bit envious that they were still going to be employed for the last two weeks of July. It didn’t seem fair; I got them their jobs, made the commitment to drive them to and from school, and they are working longer. However, it is what it is and I was looking forward to spending time with my own boys.

This morning, though, I got a phone call from the Summer School Principal who wanted me to work for the rest of the month. I jumped at the opportunity and thought about Good Karma. But when I hung up the phone, I realized what I had done: I had to reschedule my appointment on Monday.

I called the clinic, thinking that I could easily get a different appointment one afternoon next week. No. One of the doctors is away and they are fully booked. I let out a long sigh and took the first available appointment – the last week of July.

But Good Karma visited me again as this appointment is with Dr. Elliott himself, not one of his associates. Suddenly, waiting an extra week wasn’t an issue at all.

And while waiting, I’ll continue to ice, cycle, stretch and be patient. Physio is a given. Every few days, things seem a bit better. Yesterday, for example, I leaned on my knee without feeling any pain while strapping LI into his carseat; I couldn’t do that two weeks ago. Every little sign of progress gives me hope that I’ll be able to run soon.