...This time, I was out getting in a quick walk with the dogs. The roads were dry, no problem there. It was approaching darkness and I just wanted to let them stretch their legs for a bit, get some sniffs in, and take care of business. Our only obstacle to a peaceful stroll would be one of their cousins.
Over the past few months, a new dog has shown up in the 'hood; a brown shaggy-looking mutt that is very territorial of his section of road. Usually he just comes down to the edge of the yard snarling and barking. The problem is when his weiner dog brother is in the yard with him. That yappy little dachshund gives the mutt an extra dose of courage and he ends up in the road, baring his teeth while my large dogs pull forward silently, wishing that I would let 'em at this annoying duo of canine bluster.
On this particular evening, I'd had enough of their threatening charges and decided that a small rock on the backside would put an end, once and for all, of this daily harassment. I heard them coming through the woods, so I stepped into the roadside ditch to find said rock and found nothing but leaves and dirt. They were coming rapidly so I aborted my search to get back up on solid pavement for the latest face-off.
I stepped up onto the pavement with my left foot, which my dogs mistook as an invitation to lunge at their fellow canines. While the entire weight of my body was on my left leg, my right still lifting up out of the ditch, my dogs surged towards the source of irritation. The problem this time was all of the pea gravel left over from the snow events. Ironically, this material is spread to provide traction in icy conditions; when the snow and ice is gone it becomes an impediment to traction. My left foot slid forward while my body stayed behind, bending my knee joint in an unnatural backwards trajectory.
The pain was instant with white flashes showing up in my eyes. I fell on my right side while refusing to let go of the leashes. Rocket and Tobey continued forward not bothering to realize that they were dragging their beloved master, all 300 lbs of me, across the asphalt. After about ten feet they mercifully stopped allowing me to writhe and moan in a singular location. This is what I fear most, a hyper-extended knee; an injury that often ends with torn ligaments that require major surgery and a long period of inactivity.
Finally, I shook off the agony enough to remember that there were hostile dogs about that would love the opportunity to attack the throat of their enemy laying helpless on the road. I looked around, expecting to see teeth inches away from my face. Instead, the dog was just standing there about twenty feet away, looking at me curiously and not making a sound. Finally it gave a half-bark, then turned and walked away. It was almost like it wanted to make sure I wasn't hurt too bad before going back home.
I considered calling Jennifer on the cell phone to come help me get up off the road. But, I decided if I could get up that I could hobble my way back to the house. It was a long trip, but I made it without further incident. For the next few days I was certain that I did some real damage to my knee due to the pain that was not subsiding, that combined with the sensation that my knee joint felt weak and kind of floppy.
Day by day, the pain has eased and things now feel pretty much back to normal. I did discover that intense knee pain is a cure for nagging neck pain in that it made me focus on something else for a while. Warmer days are coming, hopefully no more pea gravel will need to be applied to the roads so that I can enjoy firmer footing. Brown mutt and weiner dog still come out to harass, but neither have ventured into the road anymore. Maybe they too have decided it just isn't worth all the fuss. I'm ready and eager to get back up on the steep slopes.
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