So to give you some background information: My name is Nathalie, I'm 21 years old, and I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL for short) exactly 11 days ago, at 1:30 pm on a cold mid-February day while skiing. I've been skiing all my life, but that fateful day, I was a little careless and so was the skier behind me, and suddenly, I was on the ground, my knee twisted in a painful manner, my face straight in the snow.
At first, there was a searing pain and I suddenly thought I was going to be sick. My friend took my ski off for me and I pulled my leg into a semi-comfortable position and just lay there, breathing deeply for about 40 seconds, and then I started feeling better. I was back on my skies a minute later, shaky but still upright and able to ski.
Now usually, I exercise around 11 hours a week, and my legs are very strong and muscular. My doctor later told me that was why the accident didn't really hurt. And that's the first step where one must be cautioned: Tearing your ACL isn't agonizing. It hurt at first, but so does stepping on a lego. I shook off the idea that anything major might have happened based on my idea that tearing a knee ligament must be sheer agony, and I still believe it is for some people, but it doesn't have to be, so don't kid yourself, it doesn't have to be a bullet wound to be a major injury.
Now usually, I exercise around 11 hours a week, and my legs are very strong and muscular. My doctor later told me that was why the accident didn't really hurt. And that's the first step where one must be cautioned: Tearing your ACL isn't agonizing. It hurt at first, but so does stepping on a lego. I shook off the idea that anything major might have happened based on my idea that tearing a knee ligament must be sheer agony, and I still believe it is for some people, but it doesn't have to be, so don't kid yourself, it doesn't have to be a bullet wound to be a major injury.
I went to see a doctor a couple of hours later and got crutches and an X-Ray and a knee brace, and they sent me to the hospital to get a CT (MRI) done. I won't bore you with further details. Needless to say, ski season was over.
Now I love running more than anything else in the world. For someone who hates running, this sounds incomprehensible, but that's the truth. I've never been super into team sports (apart from basketball), I'm terrible at dancing, yoga and I don't particularly enjoy swimming - but running is a whole new story. It's my alone time, my therapy, my outdoor activity, and it's been the one thing keeping me sane throughout high school and college. To sit in a doctor's office and hear him tell you you won't be able to run for the next 6-8 months is heart-shattering. I've been through one sad break-up so far, and to be honest, I think this was worse. I first tried to laugh it off but while the doctor was talking, thoughts started popping up. I'm going to Australia in 4 months time to work on a ranch and to surf. The flights had been booked since December. I wanted to look great by then. I had a marathon coming up end of April. There are still so many ski days to come.
I asked the doctor: "Will I be able to run soon again?"
He looked at me and replied: "Don't worry, we'll have you running by the end of summer."
I asked the doctor: "Will I be able to run soon again?"
He looked at me and replied: "Don't worry, we'll have you running by the end of summer."
That's when the tears started. I couldn't help it, I just started howling. There's no time more beautiful to run than April and May. I'd probably still be limping then.
I cried for 3 hours after the appointment.
I cried for 3 hours after the appointment.
Now in the past 36 hours, I've been working on a game plan.
I need a goal. Running has been my goal so far. My new goal is now to spend my time as an "invalid" building my upper body strength, toning my abs and slimming down.
My new plan is now this:
I will start next week with a "smoothie cleanse", which will entail 3 days of drinking three smoothies, water and tea, but not eating otherwise. I'll then ease out and continue by drinking one smoothie for breakfast, eating veggies and eggs for lunch and then having a soup for dinner. I'll try to go low-carb for the next three weeks and see how this feels. These are not diet fads I'm encouraging, but I've been wanting to try a so-called "cleanse" for a while and now that I'm not able to exercise, I believe it could be the perfect moment.
I'll scale back my gym visits to three times a week and writing out a plan to train my upper body. I'll be doing 30 minutes of cardio on the "hand-bike" every session. I'll take a morning a week in the beginning to swim for an hour while trying not to use my legs. I'll be walking on crutches, strapping my knee brace tight, avoid adding pressure to my knee, and try to ice it regularly. Every morning, I have to take blood-diluting medicine to avoid a thrombosis.
I'll scale back my gym visits to three times a week and writing out a plan to train my upper body. I'll be doing 30 minutes of cardio on the "hand-bike" every session. I'll take a morning a week in the beginning to swim for an hour while trying not to use my legs. I'll be walking on crutches, strapping my knee brace tight, avoid adding pressure to my knee, and try to ice it regularly. Every morning, I have to take blood-diluting medicine to avoid a thrombosis.
My next doctor's appointment is on March 8. Until then - hope and pray.
