In the fall, while playing flag football (see article where I'm quoted) during a play I planted my foot while pivoting and a player from the other team collided with me. Covered in little black rubber specs from the intramural field, I had to be carried off to the training room where I was iced and bandaged up in a foam leg brace from my quad to my ankle. They sent me off with crutches and an appointment with the orthopedic doctor the next day. 
The next day the doctor did several manual tests on my leg, but everything hurt. He couldn't get an end-point on my ACL (the Lachman's test), but that could have been because of the swelling. I hobbled around on crutches and hardly used my leg, fearful that I would hurt it more. After the initial swelling went down, I started physical therapy. Since I had not walked on the leg for almost two weeks, I had so much atrophy of my muscles and couldn't straighten or bend my knee. The doctor suggested an MRI, but he also said I might have just stretched my ligaments. and I could just wait till all the swelling went down and I completed PT. About 2 months after the initial injury, the doctor did another Lachman test and was able to feel my ACL, so he thought I did not completely tear the ligament.
The next day the doctor did several manual tests on my leg, but everything hurt. He couldn't get an end-point on my ACL (the Lachman's test), but that could have been because of the swelling. I hobbled around on crutches and hardly used my leg, fearful that I would hurt it more. After the initial swelling went down, I started physical therapy. Since I had not walked on the leg for almost two weeks, I had so much atrophy of my muscles and couldn't straighten or bend my knee. The doctor suggested an MRI, but he also said I might have just stretched my ligaments. and I could just wait till all the swelling went down and I completed PT. About 2 months after the initial injury, the doctor did another Lachman test and was able to feel my ACL, so he thought I did not completely tear the ligament.It took almost 6 months to get my knee back to "normal". And this spring I felt good enough to play intramural softball. Even while running around the bases I didn't feel too bad although a few times it felt weak and wobbly. Kneeling down was also harder than it had been before the injury.
On Sunday May 18th, Nathan and I went to softball practice to prepare for Summer session I intramurals. After a nice warm-up we started playing. I was playing shortstop and a ball was hit my direction. As I was going to catch it, I planted my foot in a normal straight-forward running direction. I felt the top part of my knee move without the bottom part of my knee moving and I collapsed. After having what I coined as an adult tantrum because I was so mad that I had done this again. I was carried off the field by Tim and Toby. Thank goodness Nathan came to practice even though he is not on the team! He drove me home and I spent the whole evening moping.
The next day I went to the same doctor who dealt with me in the fall. He remembered my injury. After testing my knee, he recommended an MRI, saying he thought I had torn my ACL and my meniscus. I had to wait until Thursday. On Thursday, I went to UNC's hospital and had my MRI. I spent 45 minutes in the big machine. It was so loud! I was prepared to not move for 45 minutes... but I was not prepared for the noise. I was hoping to get the results soon after
the procedure, but I had to wait until Tuesday of the next week (1 wk 2 days after the injury). On Tuesday I got the news that I had actually torn both the ACL and the meniscus. I was really upset and was feeling completely down on myself. Unfortunantly I got this news on our 1 year wedding anniversary... Nathan helped me put it into perspective but allowed me to be a little down on myself, and after a short cathartic cry, I felt much better. I dawned the dress I wore at our rehearsal dinner and my knee brace and we went out to dinner then watched our wedding video.
On Monday June 2nd, I met with the orthopeadic surgeon and talked about my options. We decided to do the surgery mid-August after our trip to the Galapagos. I started prehab immediately to get my muscles strong enough to stabilize my knee while walking in the Galapagos and to get the muscles 110% before the surgery so there would not be as much atrophy.
The next day I went to the same doctor who dealt with me in the fall. He remembered my injury. After testing my knee, he recommended an MRI, saying he thought I had torn my ACL and my meniscus. I had to wait until Thursday. On Thursday, I went to UNC's hospital and had my MRI. I spent 45 minutes in the big machine. It was so loud! I was prepared to not move for 45 minutes... but I was not prepared for the noise. I was hoping to get the results soon after
the procedure, but I had to wait until Tuesday of the next week (1 wk 2 days after the injury). On Tuesday I got the news that I had actually torn both the ACL and the meniscus. I was really upset and was feeling completely down on myself. Unfortunantly I got this news on our 1 year wedding anniversary... Nathan helped me put it into perspective but allowed me to be a little down on myself, and after a short cathartic cry, I felt much better. I dawned the dress I wore at our rehearsal dinner and my knee brace and we went out to dinner then watched our wedding video.On Monday June 2nd, I met with the orthopeadic surgeon and talked about my options. We decided to do the surgery mid-August after our trip to the Galapagos. I started prehab immediately to get my muscles strong enough to stabilize my knee while walking in the Galapagos and to get the muscles 110% before the surgery so there would not be as much atrophy.
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