Chapter 104 - Backpain [2]

Chapter 104: Backpain [2]
Ganghyuk went to the clinic where he had originally seen the patient.
The patient with back pain was sleeping on the futon.
He gave him a painkiller before he went to the patient who was shrieking.

Heum

Ganghyuk examined the patient closely.
He moved his body constantly.
But there was no sign of pain on his face.

Eum. If the medicine worked well like this, he might not need an operation.


Ah, good…

Heo Jun moaned.
He seemed to feel sorry because he missed the opportunity to see a back operation.
If he knew how to do disc operation, he would not show such an expression on his face.
‘Disc operation is different from other operations… It is better not to have it, if it can be avoided.’
It needs to break the back spine and touch the nerves.
Moreover, it should not touch the part where the nerves in the spine are, which is the most important nerve in the body.

Hey. Wake up.

Ganghyuk tapped shoulder of the patient who was in a deep sleep.

Eum

Ganghyuk tapped him several times to wake him up.
It seemed like he had a good sleep thanks to the effect of the painkiller after a months’ pain.
Although he was forcefully awakened, he looked very happy.

Oh, sir. I am sorry. I fell asleep here.


No, it is ok. It took too long.

Ganghyuk looked out through the door.
When he left the patient, it was just past the lunch time but now it was nearly sunset.
He used up half of the day for the eye operation.

The medicine that you gave me is really wonderful. I took those two pills and I don’t feel any pain.

The patient pointed at the medicine that Ganghyuk had left as spare.
As a matter of fact, they were simple painkiller and anti-inflammatory.
It was not an injection but pills for oral administration.
Therefore, they do not have big effects.
But they made such wonderful effects.
Ganghyuk felt thankful.

Really? But you must take care. Your disease is not a simple muscle pain.


You told that before…

The patient scratched his head with the face that he could not understand.
It was too difficult for a person in Joseon to understand the pains out of disc.

Eum. Lie down.


Yes, sir.


Face down.


Ah, yes.

The patient followed his instruction.
There was big difference in their classes and he got the wonderful medicine from Ganghyuk.
Thus, there was no reason not to follow his instruction.
Ganghyuk let the patient lie down on the futon slowly and looked at Heo Jun.
It might be difficult for Heo Jun to understand disc.
Fortunately, he experienced carpal tunnel syndrome some time ago.
Disc can be said similar to the carpal tunnel syndrome, if he may say so.
If he mentioned the carpal tunnel syndrome, he might understand disc more easily.

Dr. Heo, did you remember that I cured the wrist of Gwanghae?


Yes. I have seen the pictures that the Artist Jeong had drawn repeatedly.

Heo Jun pointed Yeoju who was preparing the painting in the corner.
Heo Jun was one of the people who knew Yeoju was a girl and a niece of Jeong Yeorip.
But he always called her Artist Jeong and never told what he knew to anybody.
Ganghyuk thanked Heo Jun for his careful attention.

The back pain that this patient is complaining is not much different. The bone here stays but the structure inside is swollen or protrudes. That is why it becomes narrow.


Aha, then the things inside become pressed.

Heo Jun was a genius.
He understood the essence of the disc.
Ganghyuk nodded his head with satisfaction.

Yes, you are so smart that you understand way beyond what I teach you.


No, you are a good teacher.


Haha. Yes, my teaching is excellent. I had good scores in the professor evaluation.


Ah, yes.

When Ganghyuk praised himself, Heo Jun did not listen to it carefully.
He did not ask what he meant with scores and professor evaluation, even though he did not understand what he had said.
Heo Jun knew it would pass soon.
As expected, Ganghyuk came back to teaching mode soon.

But this time the structure which is being pressed by the bone is very important.


What kind of structure is it?

Heo Jun and Yeoju understood nerves, blood vessels and muscles to some extent.
Therefore, Ganghyuk could explain the process more easily.
He did not need to explain one by one.
‘Makbong could not understand at all even when I explain the process in detail with some examples.’
He listened to Ganghyuk very carefully.
But when Ganghyuk asked questions, he could not answer them.
Once Ganghyuk wondered if his ear holes were blocked so he examined them.
But he found that his ear holes were large and straight, he could check his eardrum with his pen light.
He did not have any difficulties in hearing at usual.
‘He is not a dumb, though.’
He became frozen when he was with high-ranking people, but he was smart otherwise.
It seemed that Makbong was not inferior to others in terms of intelligence.
‘He is not interested in medicine at all.’
Compared to him, Heo Jun was a really good student.
He listened to Ganghyuk’s class faithfully and sincerely, so Ganghyuk had to do his best.

Eum, do you feel these bones?


Yes, it is spine.


Yes. The spine has a tunnel. It goes down to here.

Ganghyuk touched from the cervical vertebral to the tailbone.
It seemed that he had an anatomy considering his face and hand movement.
As a matter of fact, Ganghyuk felt like doing an anatomy.
Even though he did not intend to do it, the human body structure was seen in his brain not in his eyes.
It was some kind of occupational disease.

Yes, indeed. The ligaments, blood vessels and nerves passing the wrist are protected by a little thicker ligament only… But these structures are protected by the bone. They must be very important structures.

Heo Jun had great insight.
Ganghyuk was moved by his professional knowledge and insight.

Yes, you are great. The nerves pass here. They are not simple nerves… The aggregation of the nerves that go to our limbs passes here.


Then, if we have damage on the back spine, will our limbs be disabled?


Yes.

Ganghyuk remembered the patients whom he had seen in the hospital.
They came to the hospital as they had fallen from high location or had been bumped into something strongly.
They would not be able to move without a miracle.
The back spine is very important.

Eum. He may not be ok because the nerves are pressed. Is he ok without an operation?

Heo Jun worried about the patient.
Ganghyuk shook his hand to comfort him.
He tapped his shoulders, too.

No, his status not so bad. The nerve in the spine is very thick. At the moment, he is ok with the medicine I gave. One moment…

Ganghyuk stopped talking and thought of something.
As Heo Jun was already accustomed to it, he did not bother him.
After this, Ganghyuk had an excellent idea or remembered incredible knowledge.
‘I don’t know well about disc. It is not my area. What I know is he may not need an operation considering his current symptoms.’
Ganghyuk looked back at the patient lying face down.
He seemed to feel occasional pain and numb in his legs.
It seemed that he had such pain when he used the legs too much.
He came here because he worked too much for somebody else for money.
Then he might try a non-invasive method.
The problem was that Ganghyuk knew a few non-invasive methods.
He looked at Heo Jun carefully.
‘Chuna manual medicine was from Oriental Medicine. It is not bad to leave this patient to Heo Jun. If I teach him the anatomic structure, he would not worsen the status of the patient.
As he was very clever, he might find a new therapy.
Especially, he might be able to create non-surgical remedies.
Ganghyuk made a determination and opened the mouth.

I will teach the principle of the exercise. Could you treat this patient? I would like to let you do this job.


Do you mean I will treat him?


Yes, the purpose of treatment is not to give too much burden on this part that I am touching now.


I don’t know the structure well.


I will teach you. I will give you my medicine for the treatment.


Eum…

Heo Jun looked at the patient with anxiety.
It was not desirable to make this conversation in the presence of the patient.

Heum…

Heo Jun thought that Ganghyuk was a responsible person.
He would not leave the patient alone without proper treatment.
If he gave him a patient, his disease might not be heavy.
When he thought of this, he did not hesitate any more.

Ok. I will try. I may be able to do that.


Really? Good. As the patient lives near here, we may call him every day. Anyway he must get the medicine.


Yes, I will try.


Good.

The fate of the patient was decided like this.
He would get treatment from Heo Jun, the best doctor in Joseon.
The assistant would be Baik Ganghyuk who was the best surgeon in Korea.
It was the treatment that commoners could not dream of.

Then, take this medicine. Dr. Heo will be your doctor. He is Cheomjeong in the Naeeuiwon. You are honored to be treated by him.


Yes, sir. Thank you.

The patient stood up and hurried to go out of the room.
But he could not go out but was stumbled.
Somebody opened the door and rushed in.

Sir.

It was Makbong.
He was sweating.
There must be a serious problem.

What is it?


One of the patients is…


Fatal?


Yes, Yeoni and Dolseok are taking care of him.

It means that the students were looking at the patient at a loss.
Ganghyuk stood up quickly.

I see. Dr. Heo, let’s go. Artist Jeong, please follow me.


Yes, yes.

Makbong guided them to the lane behind Bojewon.
Ganghyuk asked the status of the patient while walking.

What is the status exactly?


Eum…

Makbong rolled his eyes.
He seemed to know nothing.
It was natural as he was not good at medicine at all.

It is Ok. Let’s go quickly.


Yes, sir.


Ah, is that the room?


Eo, Yes, what are they doing?


Eum

Ganghyuk tilted his head.
Somebody rode on a person and gasped.
‘No… it must not be…