Chapter 353: Get Him Convinced
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Claude smiled bitterly. He knew that Nelson had misunderstood him.
"Prof. Nelson, you've misunderstood. Coach Li is not my assistant. He is a fitness coach, just like me. Also, exercise rehabilitation is what he is good at," explained Claude.
"He is also a coach? He looks even younger than any of those medical interns! I'm not a coach, but as far as I know, a coach, just like a doctor, needs an accumulation of experience," Nelson went on with his doubts, "And Asian coaches are not the best in Europe."
His words meant that he thought that Dai Li was too young to be experienced and moreover, that he was doubtful about the ability of Asian coaches.
"I'm not an Asian in Europe. I'm Chinese," said Dai Li.
"Chinese? Then I won't let you touch my patient! The medical technology of you Chinese is, at most, in the second tier in the world!" Nelson became serious suddenly.
"Prof. Nelson are you a racist?" Claude questioned angrily. It was obvious that he was not comfortable with the attitude of Nelson.
"No, I'm not a racist. A lot of my patients are minorities, and I spare no effort to treat them," Nelson added, as he shook his head, "But I'm a doctor, who must be responsible for my patients. I have to make sure that all treatments are going to help him recover, instead of worsening his injuries, as long as I am his attending doctor."
"My massage will only make Helheim better," answered Dai Li.
"Who can guarantee that?" Nelson shook his head contemptuously.
"I can guarantee that," answered Dai Li at once.
"Your guarantee is not trustworthy!" Nelson took a deep breath and said calmly, "Coach Li, to tell you the truth, it is just the second time we have now met each other, and I don't even know your name. For me, you're just a stranger with a familiar face, so I can't trust you. And I will never allow you to do massage for Mr. Helheim."
Nelson was quite frank. He, a bald, old man, seemed to be extremely stubborn on this issue.
Dai Li said calmly, "The reason I'm so sure of this, is because the body of Helheim can fully take a normal muscle massage."
"Why are you so sure?" Nelson stared at Dai Li.
"The clinical manifestation of Helheim's arms is Level-3 muscle atrophy, and the clinical manifestation of his trunk is far worse, probably close to the Level 2 of muscle atrophy, but in fact, his arms are just suffering from Level-4 muscle atrophy. The muscle atrophy of his trunk is only Level 3. That is to say, the actual condition of his body is not as terrible as those clinical manifestations. Am I right?" Dai Li asked.
"How do you know?" Nelson, somewhat surprised, involuntarily turned his eyes to Corinna, who he thought had revealed Helheim's condition to Dai Li.
"It's not Mrs. Helheim who told me," Dai Li shook his head and added, "Don't forget that I am a fitness coach. I can tell what's going on with Helheim by observing and touching his muscles."
"That makes sense!" Finally, Nelson became serious.
Helheim's clinical manifestations were really bad. As an example, he could only raise his arms slightly. In medical classifications of muscle atrophy, it is Level-3 muscle atrophy if one's body can overcome gravity. But Nelson had found that Helheim's muscles were in the stage of Level-4 muscle atrophy, based on a series of examinations, including electromyography, muscle circumference detection, muscle tone examination and a MRI. That was far milder than what was indicated by Helheim's manifestations, and was more in line with the clinical manifestation of a patient who had been on bedrest for a long time.
Nelson couldn't get such results without medical examinations. But Dai Li reached the same conclusion only by observations and touches. That was what made Nelson finally treat him with some respect.
Dai Li continued saying, "Helheim's actual physical conditions are better than his clinical manifestations. Therefore, his muscles should be able to endure a normal massage, currently, in terms of either medicine or rehabilitation exercise. Am I right?"
Nelson nodded grudgingly. Dai Li was right. Helheim behaved as if he was very weak. It even seemed that he had difficulties moving slightly, but his muscle strength was not low at all. In other words, Helheim's body was strong enough to go through a normal muscle massage.
Dai Li went on speaking, "It is mainly a neurological problem, in the case of Helheim, isn't it? Part injuries of nerve roots, nerve plexuses, and motor neurons. I think you know much more about the causes of such injuries than I do."
"You got that from your observations, too?" Nelson asked, finding it hard to believe. What Dai Li just said is true. but Nelson got those results by measuring nerve conduction velocity and detecting evoked potential.
"I judge by experience," said Dai Li.
"What else can you see?" asked Nelson seriously.
Dai Li squinted enigmatically and then whispered, "Epilepsy!"
On hearing the word, Nelson's expression changed suddenly.
How did he know? Even I didn't know, until I got the report this morning! Not even Mrs. Helheim knew about it! Does the young man know divination?
Nelson wore a much more serious expression, staring at Dai Li.
Helheim had been showing anxiety and fear for a while, which had long been considered by Nelson as a psychological problem caused by trauma. Later, Helheim experienced occasional visual hallucinations and frequent auditory hallucinations, all of which met the primary symptoms of epilepsy.
Nelson knew that epilepsy was common for a lot of patients after brain surgeries. So, he arranged the examinations, including cerebral angiogram and a nuclide brain scan for Helheim, particularly. The examination results given to him today finally proved that Helheim had been showing signs of the early stages of epilepsy. Nelson's visit this day was, in fact, to tell Helheim's family about the new issue, and to decide the treatment plan.
However, Dai Li told everyone before Nelson started the topic! Dai Li knew so much because of the detector, of course. The detector would tell Dai Li accurately, as long as athletes had defects, whether they were physical or technical, including this epilepsy, the brain surgery's sequela, which only showed early symptoms recently … and the doctor diagnosed it before.
But when Dai Li spoke about the results of the detector, he convinced Nelson totally. Nelson's expression also showed what was in his mind. Seeing Nelson's expression, everyone there understood that Dai Li was right at once.
"Prof. Nelson, would you trust my expertise now?" asked Dai Li with a smile.
"Coach Li, I admit that your experience and judgment are indeed very good, I despised you before, for which I apologize to you now," Nelson continued, "But an expert like you should know that a normal muscle massage could only help smooth Helheim's blood circulation. The main problem now is neurological damage, which calls for a pretty long recovery process that cannot be replaced by a simple muscle massage. Muscle massage has almost no therapeutic effect on his current condition."
"My massage can stimulate the nerves of Helheim and accelerate his recovery," answered Dai Li at once.
"Coach Li, I hope you're not joking," Nelson replied with distrust again, and then said, "Almost all the great experts over Europe came here for a consultation for Helheim, and they have given many solutions. We have tried low frequency electrical stimulation, nerve nutrition, electroacupuncture stimulation, and even the most advanced laser treatments, but we didn't see any effects."
"It was because nothing else worked that I decided to try my method," Dai Li said, as he pointed to Helheim's arms, adding, "Start with his arm first."
"Coach Li, I admire your confidence, but do you think your methods will work, when even the best experts in Europe have been at a loss to do anything about it?" Nelson sneered. He thought Dai Li was too conceited, and Nelson didn't like a young man like that.
"Try, and we'll know," Dai Li answered confidently.