History dec 17th 2010
I was warming up for a regular game of 5 aside. I was barely walking, without another player within 10 yards. that's when my knee went backwards after planting my foot. It was painful immediately and I knew I was in trouble. I hobbled back to the changing room and sat contemplating my 1 hour 40 minute journey back home as the swelling increased. My wife was not best pleased as I would be limping around at Christmas and we had a full house. I eventually got a taxi to Waterloo station and cursed the commuters who made the limp across the concourse particularly painful.
I had no idea what I had done. I thought I'd be playing again in 8 weeks...
Dec 24th
My second trip to the fracture clinic. The docs were all rushed off their feet as the cold snap had meant an influx of slips and breaks. They still had no clue what I'd done. I got told cart. Tear or ligament damage. They eventually booked me an MRI for February. Felt sorry for the chap next to me who had fractured every finger on his right hand. I have never seen a man in so much pain before yet he was still holding a conversation and being polite. made a mental note to be that gracious if I was ever in that much pain...
March 2011
Booked in to see the man mountain that is mr Sean o'leary, my newly assigned doc. I got my private medical sorted once I realised this might be a bit more than an 8 week layoff. He didn't even look at the MRI before telling me. He knew immediately. "You've ruptured your acl" he said, matter of factly. I was devasted. My experience of cruciate ligaments was confined to stories about footballers who's careers were ended because of it. He mentioned rehab and a possible op. I wasn't really taking it in. All I could think was that I would not play again.
I must point out at this point that I have a history of depression. I have beaten it, through a mix of will power, being optimistic and five aside football. I have played sometimes up to 4 times a week since my early twenties, settling to just once a week now I have a young family and more of a career. I can't explain how much I love it. I'm not the best but I am there every week, loving it, waiting for it, replaying every goal in my head after the game.
Mr O'leary had no idea. I sat there and cried. He was a bit confused and sat looking awkward. Ex-rugby playing surgeons aren't renowned for their empathy.
Football was my mental crutch and now I would have to cope without it for some time.
March to September 2011
I returned from the appointment, booked in some physio and decided that I would return to playing whatever it took. Several months of physio and my knee was almost normal. I could hop, jog(although I had some aching), and the only action that caused me pain was kneeling. I had full ROM. My physio said some people could return to sport without surgery so I decided to try. Turns out I wasn't one of those people...
I played in a very friendly game letting everyone know I was taking it easy. I was playing for 5 mins. I managed to score twice and then disaster. I ran and cut a little too hastily and boom!
One collapsed knee later and a hastily arranged appointment with mr O'Leary and I booked myself in for a hamstring graft aclr on November 1st.
I set myself a goal of returning to playing before Christmas 2012. Maybe this was ambitious but it seemed like a good target to have!
Nov 1st Operation day
Arrived at 7am thanks to my doting mum who drove me in. She had brought 4 different types of chocolates, sweets and cakes for me to munch on during my recovery. This told me she was quite nervous. I was actually rather calm about it all. I went into surgery at 8am and was awake by 10.30.
I was quite confused after the general. Knee pain was bearable until I felt my hammy. I accidentally massaged it and instantly regretted it. The pain was a constant dull ache but nothing I couldn't cope with. They had me on paracetamol for the first night and a single ibuprofen before I went to bed. I saw the physio and she took me through the exercises. Ankle pumps, easy! Quad tenses, tricky but doable. Leg raises, bring it on. Knee bends, no. Still 3 out of 4 isn't bad.
Nov 2nd
Went home from hospital. No brace, just crutches and tubey grin. They gave me codeine to take which makes me fly so happy times ahead! Pain was ok still, swelling not too bad. Used the ice pack a bit. Should of been more diligent though...
Nov 3rd
My lowest day so far. Knee was very swollen. I tried my exercises and they were all much harder. I thought I'd see progress but I had regressed within 24 hours! Still, reading up on it helped and I took my meds when I could. My dad called from the states where he lives. That was the third call in as many days. He had his cartilage removed in the 70's so expect he knows what I'm going through. I ploughed on with lifts and pumps etc but they were difficult and I couldn't manage them all. Determined to ignore these negative moods. They don't help.
Nov 4th
Woke up feeling great today. Knee still swollen but felt like my lifts were a lot easier. Went to see physio. He showed me a lot of useful tips and was pleased with movement and extension. Aid arrived in form of mother in law who is currently making me lunch. Awesome.
Physio told me to do all my exercises every 2 hours. Must get more disciplined if I'm to succeed. Nearly time for ice then workout. Knee is hurting as I am doing extensions but it's all for the best.
One day at time and all that...
