In a few hours, I will finally be going on my New Zealand trip. What this really means is my declaration to getting back to living a normal life. Knee surgery takes it out of you. Confides you. Isolates you. Frustrates you. Confuses you. Puts weight on you. And changes you. While your knee may be snapped, it’s really how you choose to deal with it that makes or breaks you. When I was doing PT in Chicago, they had pictures of people–famous athletes, average Joes and kids–who signed their pics with inspirational messages for recovery. I’ll never forget this marathon runner who signed his with this message: “Bones may break, but nothing can shatter the human spirit.” It might be a famous quote, but it’s so true. I gotta throw in one of my favorite baseball quotes, too. From the great Jack Buck, “Things turn out the best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.”
Your recovery is entirely up to you. Somedays you can’t crawl out of bed–and somedays you don’t want to. Sometimes you skip excercises and stop after a few squats. And somedays you really feel hopeless, but it gets better. Your knee finally starts bending, your gait starts looking normal and people stop telling you they feel sorry for you. Keep your mind strong, your excercise schedule strict, and before you know it, your knee won’t even bother you. I’m three months, two weeks post-op and can go through the normal day just fine. No running or contact sports yet, but that’s just another goal to reach for. My first goal was getting back to normal life, and that officially starts today.
I wish the same for you–and in an even speedy manner. If you have stories of what, or who, got you through rehab, please share them! We can learn from each other and grow stronger for it! Brighter days are certainly ahead.
Very inspirational post!
Have a good NZ trip and blog lots about it when you’re back.
M.
Greast post!! I love the quotes!! Something that helps me get/got through recovery is putting a different inspirational qoute on my white board everyday, and also knowing that this will make me appreciate and love being active even more!! Currently on my board is a quote by Confucios, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” I also made the background on my computer a couple quotes I found really inspirational and it keeps my spirits up. Also,whenever I’m feeling down and not willing to push myself I listen to inspirational/happy music and I just try to get into it. Have an awesome vacation!!!!!
here are some more great quotes:
“Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.”-Leon J.Suenes
“Some men succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.”-Greame Clegg
“Better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”-Chinese Proverb
“To wish to be well is part of becoming well.”-Seneca
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”-Elizabeth Kubler Ross
“God places the heaviest burden on those who can carry its weight”-unkown
“Fall down seven times stand up eight.”-unkown
Hope these inspire you to rise above whatever challenges you may face!!!
Hi YesKneeCan,
I hope you are having a blast on your New Zealand. I can’t wait to read about it when you get back. I’m Hua, the director of Wellsphere’s HealthBlogger Network, a network of over 2,600 of the best health writers on the web (including doctors, nurses, healthy living professionals, and expert patients). I think your blog would be a great addition to the Network, and I’d like to invite you to learn more about it and apply to join at http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger. Once approved by our Chief Medical Officer, your posts will be republished on Wellsphere where they will be available to over 5 million monthly visitors who come to the site looking for health information and support. There’s no cost and no extra work for you! The HealthBlogger page (http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger) provides details about participation, but if you have any questions please feel free to email me at hua@wellsphere.com.
Best,
Hua
Very inspiring. Sad to say I will not opt for any ACL surgery since I don’t have any money. I am planning to strengthen my knee and avoid my favorite activities. I’m very happy for your recovery.
Hey! I am exactly four months post op! Hope you had a good vacation! Excited to read more of your posts when you get back.
Hi, I`m a norwegian girls who got this website from my american friend who are living with me for a moment.
I´ve just had my op 2 days ago, and don´t quit now how I´m suppose to feel. Soccer was, is my life, and I hope I will get back to it. I will do everything to make it again.
I know it is a long and hard jurney, and it takes alot of you to come back. Reading this lets you know you´re not alone in it, and other people had made it before you.
I´m sure I´m gonna come out of this a stronger person, how strong is up to me, and I wanna be strong. Right now I am waiting for the pain to take over for the painkillers:) But I´m gonna handle that to. If it does not kill you, it can only make you stronger
Thanks for your blogg, hope your trip was great and that you are back to were you wanted to be