Lets Start with the Facts
According to the data, in the United States there are between 100,000 to 200,000 ACL (https://www.uptodate.com/contents/anterior-cruciate-ligament-injury) ruptures or tears each year. This seems small when you compare it to the estimated 6.8 million broken bones reported each year (https://www.schwebel.com/practice/broken-bone-injuries/statistics/). With that said, you are not alone, especially if you are athletically inclined. Any injury has the potential to be downright devastating. Injuries are physical setbacks that will stop you sometimes dead in your tracks from competing and achieving your goals.
So, why do I even write about it?
Seriously. Why dredge up the memories of my injury and print my recovery journal? Why would I want to relive that painful process? The simple answer is because it changed me, for the better. When I hurt myself I desperately wanted someone to tell me I wasn’t alone. I wanted some guidance as to what to expect. I wanted to tap into the community of people that had been here before or that were going through it with me. I’m athletic but nowhere near professional-I just love running, CrossFit, and the occasional pickup flag football game. I wanted someone that could understand the pain, physically and emotionally, that I was going through as a fairly athletic person facing an injury with a 9-12 month end to end recovery time.
When I look back, I can see a clear delineation in my life before and after my injury. It has changed and challenged me in ways I never would have expected. An injury like this is not only physical but also mental. This process has tested my grit and empowered me to forge ahead with grace and appreciation for the machine that is my body. I have broken out my account into two main sections, before surgery and after.
Disclaimer
I want to note that my injury and recovery story is just that, mine. This is my truth and my experiences – they could be different from yours. The weird thing about any injury is no two will ever be exactly the same. Additionally, I was fortunate that I came into the injury relatively strong and healthy. I also benefited from being able to work remotely and had access to friends and family members that could help out. I have recovered as well as I have to this point because of the team I’ve surrounded myself with.
It is my hope that even though I am no longer going through the most difficult part of my recovery journey that I can somehow do some little part to make another person’s a little bit easier. This is the club nobody wanted to sign up for. But, here we are, on the same team, cheering each other on. If you are reading this blog because you’ve been injured, I am sorry. I know it sucks. If you’re reading this because you know someone that is dealing with this injury, thank you and I hope this helps you better understand what they might be going through.
Be kind to yourselves, be brave, and hang in there!
Metzy