The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 273

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 273

Go Youngsik came to the Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic two days later, timing his visit with my treatment day.

“Yesterday I also did planks for 30 seconds, 5 sets, and did all the exercises you taught me!”

Was it my imagination that he seemed to have developed military discipline?

He reported his exercise situation before I even asked.

“Oh, you did them properly.”

Though we met in the treatment room with him lying face down, I could tell whether he had exercised or not just by touching his lower back.

“Phew.”

It’s not like I would scold him if he hadn’t done them, but Go Youngsik was visibly relieved.

Why was he so scared?

“Haha, I looked up information about you the day before yesterday, Clinic Director, and you’re quite an amazing person…”

“Hm? My name has become somewhat known, I suppose.”

What did he see?

Though it had died down somewhat now, there were still plenty of records from when conspiracy theories were spreading like wildfire.

I wondered as I inserted the acupuncture needles.

“Um… would it be possible to have a brief consultation after we’re done?”

Was it an article about medical activities?

No, I’m clearly just an ordinary Korean Medicine Doctor.

Naturally, if articles were written, they should be about that, but why should I be relieved!

Anyway, it was good.

Besides his noticeable body type, there must be other symptoms he was worried about.

I agreed to the consultation, and after the chuna treatment ended, Go Youngsik sat down properly in the examination room.

“Hello, Clinic Director. It’s nothing major, but I wanted to consult about ACL rupture. It’s not about me… it’s about an acquaintance’s problem.”

“Ah, yes. I treat many knee problems.”

“I saw Kim Ijin’s interview. She suffered for months going from hospital to hospital, even talked about surgery, but after meeting you, Clinic Director, she improved in less than a month.”

It was an interview I wasn’t aware of.

In the TV interview I saw before, such details didn’t come up?

‘I should look it up later.’

Wouldn’t people think ACL ruptures heal easily, or misunderstand that I was making exaggerated claims?

“Kim Ijin was a special case. Usually when the ACL ruptures, surrounding ligaments or cartilage are damaged together, but Lee Jin had an isolated posterior cruciate ligament injury. It was a partial tear that wasn’t too severe, so I recommended non-surgical treatment, and the patient had exceptionally good recovery ability, so she could return to sports quickly.”

It was because she was Kim Ijin, because of her Heavenly Martial Body, that she healed unusually fast.

It would be problematic if ordinary patients expected such a short treatment period.

“Ah… she recovered quickly because she’s an athlete? Still, she didn’t improve with treatment at other hospitals but got better quickly after meeting you, Clinic Director, so you must be particularly good at treatment, right?”

“I can draw out a patient’s recovery ability to the maximum.”

Rather than because she’s an athlete… it’s a bit more complicated, but.

I nodded.

Even if I can’t make the impossible possible, I’m confident I can make what’s possible happen faster and better than anyone else.

“What’s your acquaintance’s condition like? Did they get an MRI? Were they recommended surgery?”

Ligament ruptures definitely had areas where non-surgical treatment was impossible depending on the degree of damage.

After all, I couldn’t heal completely severed ligaments with acupuncture.

“Yes. They’ve had several scans. It’s a complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture and surgery has already been done.”

“Ah, post-surgical rehabilitation?”

So surgery had already been performed. Then it would be much more manageable.

“How long ago was the surgery?”

“About 10 months ago.

…I thought, but quite a bit of time had already passed.

“Have they continued rehabilitation treatment?”

“Yes. They’ve been diligently going to a rehabilitation hospital and faithfully doing the recommended treatments, but… they still can’t bend and straighten it properly.”

“Hmm, it’s difficult to return 100% to normal after ACL rupture surgery. Medically, it’s considered normal if flexion reaches only 130 degrees.”

“Uh… I don’t really know about the angles. I heard that bending only works if you force it down, and when trying to straighten it makes clicking sounds. They also mentioned quadriceps weakness or something.”

Since it wasn’t about himself, I couldn’t assess the condition accurately, but the recovery was clearly very slow.

Ten months should be enough time for not only normal walking but also some degree of exercise.

Not only was it not exceptionally fast like Kim Ijin, but it was worse than average.

I answered carefully.

“Originally, the rehabilitation period is considered 6 months to 1 year, and during that time there’s considerable room for function to return. If we treat for about 2-3 months to make walking comfortable and expand the range of motion, it should work out somehow.”

“…Would dancing be difficult?”

“Don’t tell me they’re an idol…?”

“An idol trainee. They almost made it.”

I thought it was a company employee around Go Youngsik’s age since he called them an acquaintance.

“Actually, it’s a friend whose debut group was confirmed internally, but they got injured right before the public announcement. The schedule was postponed by 6 months, and they said if it was fast, they could even play soccer in 6 months, so they didn’t give up hope… but eventually another member was brought in and debuted.”

“Ah…”

It was a very heartbreaking story.

“Since they were the first friend I contacted when I started this work and really prepared hard, it’s very… Yes, honestly, I feel really bad about it too. That group’s debut album activities are over now, but still, if their knee heals, there might be another opportunity…”

I carefully comforted Go Youngsik.

Just hearing the story, I could feel the patient’s heartbreak.

“I’d have to see directly to know for sure, but joint contracture is originally a difficult area to treat. Even if the initial rehabilitation progress is good, 100% functional recovery is difficult, so I can’t speak hopefully about the current situation.”

I could make it better than it is now.

But whether recovery would be possible enough to handle the intense choreography of an idol was something I couldn’t rashly guarantee.

“…I suppose so. The kid is already struggling, and if he gets his hopes up only to be disappointed, it’ll be even harder. Should I just… not bring him? It’s unfortunate, but maybe another path.”

I pondered for a moment.

In fact, that would be the safe and easy choice.

If he came all the way to Busan to attempt treatment but didn’t recover enough to dance, his disappointment would surely grow even greater.

He might even resent Go Youngsik or me.

‘Why am I thinking of that person.’

Choi Eunhee’s face briefly flashed through my mind.

Actually, if I wanted to practice medicine with peace of mind, it would be right not to start cases like this.

“No, bring him. Let’s try as far as we can.”

Whatever, I’ll just handle it.

When have I ever chosen the easy path?

“Thank you, Clinic Director. I’ll discuss it with Dohyun and the company!”

* * *

Ha Dohyeon had nurtured his dream of becoming an idol since childhood.

He thought he had not only personal interest but also quite a bit of talent.

He religiously watched music broadcasts every week.

He would quickly learn and follow along with complex idol dances just by watching TV.

He was also quite good at singing.

Wherever he went, whether school or academy, he was told he was the most handsome, and he took pride in having natural talent.

“Alright, give it your all!”

His parents didn’t stop his dream and sent him to a dance academy near home.

Ha Dohyeon decided he would audition once he felt adequately prepared.

“Dohyun’s dancing is the best! In the video, I could only see Dohyun. To be this good at such a young age, your future is incredibly promising!”

Before that could happen, a major entertainment agency came looking for him after seeing a video the academy posted.

Ha Dohyeon began his trainee life at the young age of sixth grade.

The entertainment agency was different from school or academy. There were many children who aspired to be idols just as much as Ha Dohyeon and were overflowing with talent.

So he worked himself to death.

Individual choreography practice, group choreography practice, vocal training, strength training. Even foreign language study.

He gave his all to every lesson and evaluation that came his way.

Practice, compete, and win.

Some days he’d fall behind, practice like crazy, and win again.

It was a repetition of such life.

Except for minimal school life and sleep, he packed his days, weeks, and years full with efforts to become an idol.

To his supportive parents, to the teachers in charge of his lessons.

To the fans he believed without doubt he would meet after debut.

He spent six years that would be shameful to no one.

“The debut group is confirmed!”

And so, the opportunity finally came.

The debut he had hoped and hoped for.

Now he thought he would finally taste the fruit of his long efforts.

Snap.

But without any warning, suddenly.

Despair came calling.

One sound from his knee took away everything Ha Dohyeon had.

“It’s a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. The medial ligament and meniscal cartilage are also partially torn. This absolutely requires surgery. Let’s schedule it as quickly as possible.”

His knee was swollen and painful.

He couldn’t dance.

Completely torn? It doesn’t seem that serious?

Just a little while ago, he was practicing the title song choreography with the other members.

Why, why this?

This doesn’t make sense. It can’t be true.

“You need surgery.”

“You’ll need to focus on rehabilitation for at least 6 months…”

“After surgery, you can return to daily life in 2-3 months at the earliest. Ah, but dancing or intense exercise…”

“If you don’t have surgery quickly, even early degenerative arthritis…”

Unable to believe it, he went to other hospitals, but the conclusions were similar.

The treatment period and recommended surgical methods might differ slightly, but the most important part was clear.

He needed surgery.

And he absolutely couldn’t make the debut schedule that was right around the corner.

“We can’t just remove the main dancer entirely.”

“How about putting Ji Hwan in instead?”

“Anyway, even if we replace a member, we’ll have to redo everything from filming…”

The entertainment agency postponed the debut schedule by 6 months.

‘Right, the company wouldn’t want to drop me either!’

Ha Dohyeon still held hope until then.

Maybe, if he miraculously recovered incredibly fast.

Then wouldn’t he be able to debut without any problems?

If only that could happen, all of this would become just a passing hardship.

“The surgery went well, but the rehabilitation speed is quite slow.”

But reality betrayed Ha Dohyeon’s expectations.

Unlike the doctor’s words that he would recover faster than average because he was young.

For no particular reason, the rehabilitation just wasn’t going well.

He was confident in his efforts.

Even though he endured the pain and desperately did the rehabilitation exercises he was told to do.

“I know Dohyun is working hard and doing well. But we can’t postpone indefinitely… I’ll make sure to debut you as a solo artist later.”

In the end, with indefinite promises.

“Among us, you worked the hardest… It’s really unfortunate. But we can’t wait indefinitely either… I’m sorry.”

“In whatever way, you’ll definitely succeed.”

The friends who were once in the same debut group disappeared far away.

“…”

There was no more hope.

Ha Dohyeon spent his days in silence.

He hated sounds. He hated music.

Whether singing directly or playing it as background music while dancing, his life had always been with music.

But now it was all nothing but agony.

He didn’t go out either.

At first, even while doing rehabilitation, he went to the practice room on crutches, saying he wouldn’t forget the choreography and would at least sing.

But after the group debuted, he completely stopped going.

Turning twenty and graduating from high school, there was no essential reason to go out.

As for the hospital… what was the point? Ha Dohyeon canceled his rehabilitation hospital appointments too.

‘What would I do even if I got better now?’

It was a male idol group that debuted from his agency after four and a half years.

There was no telling when the next debut would be. Even now, new trainees were overflowing.

Even if he tried to terminate his contract and go to another company, it was impossible with his current knee condition.

If he tried harder, would this knee heal someday? In a few years?

There was also a limit to the age when one could debut as an idol.

Now he had neither the passion to try nor the confidence to compete and win.

Along with his cruciate ligament, the previous Ha Dohyeon had disappeared.

He had lost all motivation and hope.

He hated both sympathy and comfort.

While blocking all contact from school friends and agency people and shutting himself away alone.

“Dohyun, let’s go to Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic for treatment. The company said they’ll support it!”

Go Youngsik came to his house.

The first person who said Ha Dohyeon had talent, that he could become an idol.

The one who had spoken with conviction.

He once again planted hope in Ha Dohyeon.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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