Progress.

I was delighted to discover that I had almost all movement back in my knee this morning. The exercises I had been doing to improve my range of movement were working. I was even more surprised that I had walked down the stairs to let my aunt into the apartment and back up the stairs without a second thought. (Granted, I was half awake, but still, this cannot go unnoticed.)

I was so happy to be able to walk the stairs again that I did it a few more times today. I worked on some quad exercises to improve its strength before the surgery as well. For now, I can only revel in the fact that my knee has recovered without an ACL. I know that in a few weeks, this ability to walk will be taken away from me again, so I'm taking advantage of it as much as I can.

Now that I think about it, it was relatively easy for me to tear my ACL. The day I had done it, I was practicing a 360 roundhouse kick at TKD. I had done several off of my left leg (kicking with the right), and my tiredness probably played a part in the tear. I can see myself getting lazy and not retracting my left leg all the way, so when I put it down, it wasn't lined up properly with my body. Then, POP, and I was down. In theory, my foot could have gotten stuck on the mat, but it was most likely my improper landing that did my leg in.

I'm hoping that I can start driving my car again (it's a standard shift with a relatively heavy clutch). I know that I'll be either walking or taking the bus to work tomorrow afternoon, depending on how my knee feels. I'm hoping I can walk to save the $1.70 ride.

I just need to keep up with my quad exercises till the surgery date. I can't forget to do them.

Almost a month.

It's been almost a month since I tore my ACL, and I haven't done any physical exercise since then. I can feel myself atrophying, but the problem is is that I have little to no motivation to attempt to do anything (which is really bad).

I've decided that walking is out of the question, considering my inability to actually utilize my left leg. But I think I need to start doing some weights with my upper body to maintain my physical shape. I did discover I can go up and down stairs now with less trouble than I've been having these past few weeks.

I've read a lot of posts of others' experiences with a torn ACL, and I'm frankly afraid of my own experience.

What concerns me most at this point is whether or not I'd be able to start my MBA program by August 23rd. The campus is really out of the way from public transportation, and it's not like I can get someone to drive me around. In fact, it's really not disabled people-friendly.

I need to start planning to incorporate recovery into my life after the surgery.

Update on the knee.

I went to my appointment with my surgeon/orthopedics doctor today. Basically, I was told that the best option for me is to get ACL reconstruction, since I'm young and will continue to be active in sports. I was also told that the recovery is going to be painful and long. The tendon replacement is going to come out of my hamstring.

I was then prescribed a physical therapy routine and have to start that ASAP so that I can get some movement back in my leg and strengthen my quad that seems to be incredibly weak. My next appointment is July 14th (a Monday) and my surgery date has been tentatively set at July 22nd, which gives me 4 weeks on crutches - just in time to recover enough movement to go to class on August 23rd.

Fantastic summer this is turning out to be.

Second opinion.

My relatives have been bombarding me with phone calls about this potential surgery that I'm getting, and would rather I go get a second opinion.

I'm not opposed to that, but I have no idea what my insurance limits are, and this just takes more time out of my life. If anything, I'd opt not to have surgery, if I can still do my sports, but I have a feeling I can't compromise my sports for lack of surgery.

Besides, living without an ACL means that I would have arthritis early on, along with meniscus problems and far too much reliability on my other ligaments.

All I can do at this point is wait to speak with the surgeon and see what my options are. I will get a second opinion too - perhaps someone who can read MRIs well and not quickly.

ACL reconstruction is a painful and long process. I don't want to have to get it unless absolutely necessary . . .

June 4, 2008: Left knee ACL injury

On June 4th, I twisted my knee and had to go to the ER. Melissa convinced me to go, after I had felt that I'd be okay to go to work that night. It turns out that there was a lot of swelling, and since then, I haven't been able to walk/stand/drive.

A week later I went to orthopedics and they couldn't make a confirmed diagnosis on my knee. They knew something was torn, but couldn't tell me what. So, I had to get an MRI done.

I went to the doctor again and they informed me that I had indeed torn my ACL, and that I would need reconstructive surgery if I wanted to play any sports that required pivoting quickly.

I have an appointment with a surgeon next Thursday to discuss my options.

We'll see how it goes.