I am here for elbow pain, he told me. He was an elderly gentleman of 75 years accompanied by his wife, obese, with an unkempt beard, looking in pain.
I don’t know how I got this , it has been hurting me since last few days
His wife interject “ it’s almost a week”
Ya ya he said , it’s almost a week
He was again saying, I don’t know how it happened,
His wife again interjected “ you were sleeping on the wrong side”
I suppose so he said, and he continued to describe his pain in detail, it was constant, it was throbbing,
Now hold on Joe, said his wife “ let the doctor ask you questions and you answer him,
So you see Doctor, joe doesn’t know what he is talking about, I know, he slept on the wrong side.
At this point , I don’t knew what was the wrong side,
May may be said Joe
Not may be, it is, said his wife.
I was not convinced about the wrong side story,
So I asked” Joe did you fall, may be you banged your elbow to a door, you know even a slight trauma at times can cause lots of pain later”
May may said joe
His wife interjected” No Doctor, no , there was no trauma, if it was I could have know it. I watch and take care of him closely “.
Well well joe I said
Let me examine you,
You see Doctor, said his wife, “ I have examined his elbow, it’s swollen , painful to touch”
Ok I said “ Joe can u lift your Right arm.
Oh yes he can , interjected his wife.
Joe lift your arm, said his wife, not too much, now that’s enough, not too much now, so you see Doctor, he can lift it to some extent “
Ok Joe I said
As I examined joe I said
Joe your elbow is warm
Yes I know said his wife
Joe it’s warm too
Yes I know said his wife
Considerable swelling
Yes I know said his wife
It this stage I didn’t knew whether I was examining him or his wife
Well well Joe, I said, I didn’t think it’s a fracture, maybe a contusion, we will need an X-ray if you're willing.
Yes he is willing, said his wife
Well Doctor, Joe opened his mouth to speak, well Doctor, you see.
Shut up, Joe said wife
, Don't talk too much
Joe looked at me meekly ,no words came out of his mouth.
Well Doctor, we will do the X-ray said his wife .
Joe , I will give you some pain killers too,
Ok said his wife, yes he will need pain killers .
As they left the exam room, Joe limped after his wife, his wife walked with a confidence of achieved purpose in life.