Knee Saga Part 2--The Mystery

In order to find out what that clicking noise in my knee was, I decided to go to a doctor, not an easy thing to do because I'd been under the exclusive care of a specialist for an entire year, and so was out of touch with other doctors.  I stopped in at one of those medical clinic facilities that was open on Saturdays, and the doctor I saw ordered on-site x-rays.  The doctor read the report at the same visit.  He was very kind and sympathetic, which is kind of disturbing in a doctor.  He advised me to see an orthopedist or, even better, a rheumatologist.  So I did, making an appointment with one from all those years ago when I'd had temporary knee swelling. The doctor still had  my records, 10 years ago as it turned out, and, after reviewing the forwarded x-rays,  he said something about being surprised that I was still  walking around.  I still wasn't in any real pain, but agreed to the glucosamine supplements he suggested.  I did try them for a while, but I never really believed in them as any real cure for knee problems.  So after a few visits, I stopped going to that doctor. 
   After some time passed, I developed a new knee problem:   they started to ache at night, interfering with sleep.  So I made an appointment with an orthopedist, this time in Clifton Park.  He was all business. After I'd undergone extensive x-rays, again on site, the doctor entered the room and the first thing he said to me was, "What is the worst thing I could tell you?"  He went on to give me the answer:   bilateral total knee replacement, which to his mind was a rather simple matter.  After a few months, I'd be in great shape.  "Let me know," he said.  "You need me more than I need you."  I can't remember what I thought about undergoing the surgery, but I knew this was not the time for it.  That doctor did administer 2 sets of cortisone shots, which, miraculously, ended the knee pain from that time right up to the present.  No more night time aching.
   While I was then too young for Medicare, I was covered by employee health insurance, but since I was considered to be a part-time employee, and paid only for the hours worked, the result would be that if I couldn't work, I would not be hired for the next year, and would not have health insurance.  At the time, I was fighting a battle for eligibility for health insurance as a retiree, something no one in my employment category had ever achieved, I was told.  I thought logic was on my side, and as it turned out, I did later succeed in getting health coverage in retirement, after some help from the teachers' union and after the business manager who had denied my claim retired.  A hard fought victory, but one that took time.   TBC