I broke my left arm when I was four while doing stupid tricks on the swing set. I cried like a banshee. But the bone healed stronger than it was before. That was the only body part I’ve broken in my life. Until now.
This past Saturday I played in an Indoor Ultimate Frisbee Hat Tournament in Erlangen, which is two hours away from Munich. Three facts should have prevented me from giving it my “all”:
I’ve never played in an Ultimate Frisbee tournament, I’ve never played any competitive sports on an indoor court, and I haven’t been exercising this winter like I should have. But when I play with a team, I somehow forget my limitations. We were slated to play 6 games for the entire day with 30 minute breaks between games. However between Game 5 and 6 there was no break. I wanted to sub out in the middle of Game 5 but the other team had three girls and one player short, we had to make it fair. We won Game 5 then immediately started on to Game 6. Maybe five minutes into the game, I ran across the court but this one seemingly normal step caused me to fall and clinch both sides of my left knee in agony. Nobody saw anything unusual, I just fell. I really expected the pain to go away after a few seconds and I’d allow someone to give me a hand up. But it hurt so bad I didn’t want anyone to move me. I didn’t cry. Really I kept thinking what an idiot I am for making such a dramatic scene. Finally as Alex was by my side, I cried a little. I hate to cry especially when I’m playing sports because it just affirms the stereotype.
I wish I had better news. I wish I could happily report about my first Ultimate tourney but this is how it ended up. The orthopedic surgeon says it looks like I may have torn my ACL [Kreuzband]. But luckily from the X-ray I didn’t splinter the bone in the process. We’ll know for sure next Monday with an MRI scan. Apparently an ACL tear can only be repaired (replaced) surgically, but most people get by with muscle strengthening around the knee and always wearing a brace while playing sports. It’s a strange realization that I can break a body part of mine and the original can’t be healed again. This bums me out.
Oh I know just how you are feeling! What is it with knees?
I hope you didn’t tear anything. I hope it is just a strain. Meanwhile, ice and elevate and immobilize.
Keep us posted and I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Ow…I hope you’re feeling better soon.
Oh, ow! Take really good care of that knee. The ACL is nothing to mess with and you’ll want that to heal as thoroughly as possible.
Okay, so I glossed over the last few sentences and though you said you opted for the surgery. Any notions on which option you might opt for?
Surgery is definitely a last resort for me. But I want to see the MRI results before I make any decisions. Although I’m pretty convinced that it’s torn because there is 12 mm of movement between my Tibia and Patella, compared to my right leg with only 5 mm. Ugh, the thought just makes me queezy.