As the basketball season rolled on at NB and girls started to tear their ACLs, I thought to myself what words of encouragement could I give? What did I learn from the experience? What advice could I give? Now that my sister has joined the group, I feel I need to get my thoughts down.
I didn't have the what's wrong factor some people go through after doing something to their knee. I knew it was the ACL and Kurt, my PT, and Dr. Jones, my surgeon, fully agreed. And then it was time for the pain and work to get back.
One of the first thing Kurt told me was that if I came in with a negative attitude, he would not work with me. That was blunt, but he told me it was going to be tough and that I needed to be positive if I was going to get back. There lies the 1st lesson: Optimism
During reconstruction and rebuilding your strength, you work with a lot of different people each wants to get you back to your full ability in the quickest timeframe, but they know you have to be back at a reasonable strength level and with a low chance of re-injury. However, at times you feel they aren't doing enough because you are feeling good, but this is what they went to school for and it's their reputation on the line based on your success. Which brings us to the 2nd & 3rd lessons: Listen & Trust
ACL reconstruction can take months, 6 months is the typical statement. It may be more it may be less, but it will take time and you will feel it at other times in the future as well. That's a lot of time to stay focused, keep working and having patience that you will get back. After surgery the muscle in your surgery leg seems to disappear, it is crazy. You want that leg muscle back and it's painful, but you can't rush and you have to work through some of the pain, you've got to take the necessary time to get back and make sure it heals properly and is strong enough. This is a time to learn proper form, learn the game you are going back for more throughly, it will make you better as a whole. The next lesson is three-fold: Perseverance, Hard Work & Mental Toughness
As an athlete, you are a member of a team, most likely an active member if you got hurt. You have a role you filled and now it's changed. You can't just jump out and play, you've become a the injured reserve. This can be incredibly hard, but you've got to find a way to be positive and encouraging to your team, you can't sit and sulk and feel sorry for yourself. This is your chance to express how much you can support your team, learn the game further, offer advice to a teammate, but remember to be active. WANT to be a part of the team, injured or not. Final lesson: Be a Team Player
Through the rehab process you'll meet people who are going to support you and drive you to get better. You'll have to take rehab on head on and commit your efforts and focus into improving each day. Celebrate the small things like bending your knee a few more degrees, getting to full rotations on the bike or adding weight to your squats. No 2 rehabs are the same, so don't compare your progress to someone else going through the same process, you've got to go at the pace you can handle based on your PT's advice. Frustrations will come, as will tears, but how you react will determine your success. But remember, that knee has to get you through the rest of your life, take care of it!
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