I tore my left ACL (knee ligament) in the early summer of 2004 attempting a flying side kick. Yes, yes, that wasn’t the wisest of things for an overfat woman in her mid thirties to try. I know, I know.
I didn’t even realize the ligament was ruptured until the lack of stability was causing me problems a couple of years later. I got an MRI and was cautioned that surgery would indeed help and probably solve my stability issues, but that it wouldn’t solve any issues of pain I might have — in fact, I might have more trouble in that area.
Pain, I’m used to. The lack of stability was not something I’m okay with. So I got the surgery and wound up having the medial meniscus repaired at the same time. (We didn’t know it’d been torn until they opened my knee up). Lack of mobility freaks me out, and recovery from the surgery has to rank up there with the scariest experiences in my life after a couple of incidents where my children were severely ill or injured.
It’s been a year on since I’ve had the repair done.
I still never do anything much that requires jumping or torque on my knee, even though that ligament is probably stronger than the one I was born with. Because I’d had to spend so much time being cautious on stairs and uneven ground, it’s become an ingrained habit. In the winter, I walk on ice as if I were in my eighties rather than half that.
I’m starting to plod rather than leap. I’m not light on my feet. This isn’t a weight issue. I’ve been quite light on my feet at considerably heavier than I am now –probably not as strong, either! Hell, I’m not even doing dance moves that I used to.
I’ve been playing a little with plyometrics and doing (careful!) jumping exercises on my stairs. Thing is, it’s a hit or miss, catch as catch can type of thing. I think it would be useful to develop a definite program with gentle progression and make it a habit.
If I get used to certain moves, maybe I’ll be getting my physical courage and faith in my body back.