I’ll hopefully be starting social netball again in a few months so fingers crossed that I don’t do it a thrid time!

Jason

This time two weeks ago, I was finishing my usual late shift at work and looking forward to a few beers the next night on the Friday. Last Tuesday I was playing football, slow jog, when I suddenly just felt this pop and I fell to the ground. I couldn’t feel my leg or my foot. It was numb. I couldnt move, and I was pretty shaken up. Paramedics took me to hospital, and I had an x-ray at A+E. There they told me I had a small chip in my tibia, and the muscle was badly swollen, and it all should be OK. They were wrong…

I was referred to an orthopedic as a matter of protocol, where I was examined the next day and advised that what I had done was actually a very serious injury. It went from me jovially telling all on Facebook I had broke my first every bone, thinking it would be 4 weeks or so recovery, to (and Im not being dramatic) my entire life crashing around me. My job, social life, sports, band, everything just crumbled as I was told what I was to face. They advised I had practically destroyed my ACL and would need a minimum of 2 ops to resolve it. Ligament reconstruction surgery. They also suspected I had either severed or stretched my peroneal nerve, hence the no feeling, leaving me with this awful thing called foot drop / drop foot, where I cant raise my foot, just bend it forwards.

Before I could even take in to account what was happening, I got an emergency MRI last Thursday, where it was all confirmed, and an emergency surgery for Saturday just gone. It all went ahead, and I had my knee ligaments reconstructed with parts of other tendons, which I amzingly watched them do as I was under a spinal injection until the last 30 mins where they had to gas me as it was wearing off. The result – a severe injury and complex surgery. And all I did was fall over whilst at a slow jog of 2mph. I wasnt even running or challenging for the ball.

Anyway, Im here now, leg up in a splint at 0 degree for the next 3 weeks, and it will likely be Increased to bend more over a period of 12 weeks. After that, physio lasting around 6 – 8 months for expected recovery. I have to drive a 60 mile trip to work, and I cant drive for 3 months. Im lucky that Ive managed to secure working from home, but (and Im sorry this sounds weak) I am literally just dreading the next few months of recovery. Im housebound using a wheelchair and a zimmer frame to get about, and I have to use a commode and medical bottles to relieve myself. Its literally just upsetting.

the never damage may never heal, and I may be permanently disabled. The “not knowing” part of all this is too scary. Im less than 2 weeks in to this and just dont know what to do, how to act, or how anything. If that makes sense.

Ive rambled a bit. Sorry for that. I seem to have one of the best knee surgeons in my area, who caters for professional football and rugby teams, and Ive started getting pains, but no movement, in the foot – which is apparently a very good sign already. But theres just too many “???” on the whole thing.

My girlfriend is having to do pretty much everything for me as well. I dont like the stress I know Im going to end up causing her.

Matt

Feel good!

I broke mine playing indoor netball. I didn’t learn my lesson the first time! Or second actually, am keen to get back to it again. The 1st time I was just running hard in a straight line then pushed off on my left leg to cut in for an intercept and my knee just collapsed. It was one of those slow mo moments when I knew that my knee was bent at the completely wrong/un-natural angle and something bad was happening. The 2nd time all that I did was jump up to catch a pass and came down slightly off balance and my right knee ripped. Everyone that saw it thought what’s all the fuss about as I was rolling around on the ground in miseary (having known what I’d done again) and pain.

With the first knee I also had a meniscus tear. The bone growth doesn’t sound like much fun. You have to trust you dr to a certain degree and don’t internet diagnos yourself! I was convinced that I had cancer once and what I had was far from it.

Jason.

Thank you for your reply. I was feeling a little down today and your mail gave me hope. I am sorry that you had to go through two ACL reconstructions. I hope that you`re doing well now and fighting the fight. Based on what you have told me, I guess I`ll keep having my girl push my knee down and give me pain every morning ( lol ), and hope that this knee will go down soon. How did you tear your ACL , what where you doing? Did you have any kind of meniscus tear?

As far as patella pain, I can bear that. I also developed heterotrophic ossification on the side of my knee. It`s basically a bone growth; have you ever heard of it? The doctor says not to worry , but it`s hard kind of not to.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks Jason

don’t give up it all takes time, a little bit of courage, and unfortunately some hard work and persistency with the physio.

I’m not sure what you’re doing for physio but an exercyle is also great. I got a cheap 2nd hand bike and have it planted in front of the tv to keep me distracted. If you are finding the physio hard remember that “no pain no gain” is true, so think of pain as your friend when you’re getting to the tough end of your exercise reps. It’s telling you that your doing the work, getting better and are closer to your end goals.

I’ve posted a few times here so am repeating myself but it takes time to get the leg fully striaight, don’t get dissheartened, you’ll get there. Same for the walk, once you rebuild the muscle and your confidence it’ll happen. Part of it’s a physcological game with your head. You think that your knee is really weak and you’re scared of breaking the new graft but, while taking it easy, it’s actually stronger than you think and can handle walking on safe even ground no worries (though please check with your physio about this!).

I’ve broken both ACL’s on seperate occassions. The first time it took me about a week to get off both crutches and 2 weeks to abanden them completely. The 2nd time around, because I knew what was going on, I was only on the crtuches for 1 day.

Everyone’s pace is different though so again don’t get dissheartened, we all know what you’re going through, it’s not fun, not easy, but you’ll get there.

Jason