Week I

This first post will be a long one to try and summarize all that has happened the past week -

On Sunday, March 15th, a couple friends and I wanted to get together and do something, anything in the afternoon. In the spirit of the NCAA selection show, we decided to go to the local rec center and pay the $7 and play some basketball. Once we arrived, we shot around for a while and then joined in on a full court 5 on 5 game.

About 5 minutes into the game is when it happened. I came down with a rebound and at the same time someone from the other team crashed into the outside of my right leg at the knee. I fell back and to the right. When I was going down to the ground, if my knee had knuckles, it felt like I popped every one of them. I immediately grabbed for my right knee. I had never injured my knee before so I had no way of knowing what a serious injury felt like. I was more scared than anything that it wasn't going to be pretty.

I left the rec center and was dropped off at the ER which was probably a waste of time looking back on it. I was x-rayed and their diagnosis was a sprained knee. They advised me to go get looked at by a specialist.

It was difficult, painful and scary to get around the house. It is probably more psycological than anything but it it just felt like the knee was going to give out. I was able to get in and see an orthopedic specialist the next day who was reccomended by my wife (who is a PT and I know will be a huge help through this process). The ortho asked that I get an MRI that night.

Tuesday (the morning after the MRI), I got a call at work from the ortho office to make sure that I was on my crutches.....probably not a good sign. I met with the ortho again on Wednesday. Going into it, I was encouraged because I felt like I was able to put more weight on the knee and was walking less like Frankenstein. The swelling had gone down and I was getting some of my lost range of motion back. But the Monday appt with the ortho and the MRI didn't sound very promising.

I got my diagnosis Wednesday morning.
*Complete disruption of the ACL
*Grade II contusion of the LCL
*Grade I contusion of the MCL and PCL
* Possible Meniscus tear and bone fracture

Not good news... I have surgery scheduled for April 23rd. I want to get going on this as quickly as possible. I started PT with my wife :) on Friday. Although, she would probably rather be playing tennis or riding bikes with me than seeing me as a patient. I think it will be good to have her work with me as we will be able to work on some stuff at home and at the gym.

I guess the focus is to get better and get stronger in time for 4/23. I have a friend's wedding on 4/4 that I would like to be able to walk around for without the aide of a brace or crutches if possible.