I am sure that if I had a semi-pro goal set (such as returning to H.S./College sports) I would be a bit closer to being fit for competitive action. Then again, look at Derrick Rose and his progress. One day people think he's ready to come back, another day they hear that he's not so sure anymore. And when I see people (a certain few negative Nancy's) bashing him on blogs and in the comments sections on ESPN, I shake my head in disgust.
Coming back from an injury like this is tough, especially when you know you tore it when you went down. For example, I (and I'm sure Mr. D.Rose himself) felt the horrendous pain when I went down with the injury that for the next couple of weeks my body literally cringed in pain when I replayed the thought of my knee twisting and hearing the pop at the same time. I couldn't sleep because of it and I almost felt sick to my stomach too many times - really, sick to my stomach. However, there's also less extreme cases, such as the one with Rajon Rondo. He hyperextended his knee and played the rest of the game. Only days after did he find out he has a partially torn ACL, something that would only result in further injury if he played with it. So his experience with it was more gradual. He never felt the incredible pain that comes with tearing you ACL. All he has to deal with his recovering after surgery and I predict that his situation will play out very similar to Adrian Peterson, where he will be ready to start the season.
And now, when I am in the position where Im at, I am nervous about having to deal with that torture again. To be able to walk without a limp and without feeling my knee give out is something I appreciate to the fullest now. Being able to run is also a great feeling (well, at least until I start dealing sharp pain in the front and side of my knee) and something I do not want to have to stop doing again for a long period of time. Even rolling around in bed and twisting up in my blankets during the morning battle with my alarm clock is something I try not to take for granted (my doctor told me how one of his patients tore his graft because he twisted his leg awkwardly in his sleep).
Having said all that, it is important to note that even though I feel the best I have in months (almost a year actually) I still lack the confidence and power on my leg to be able to participate in sports. As much muscle as I have tried to build up since I lost all of it after surgery, it is still not enough to keep my knee from giving out in high intensity settings. Strengthening my hamstring has been easier than getting my quad as bulky as I'd like. As a result, I become nervous when I think of 'cutting' or 'exploding' off my right leg.
From the moment I found out when my surgery would be scheduled, my goal was to return to snowboarding this winter. As of today, I have yet to even touch my snowboard or even drive past a mountain. We still have about a month (MAX) of snowboard season left but the more I think about it the more I think of the consequences of pushing myself to hit the slopes. I lasted all winter without it and I don't think that going once or twice and possibly hurting myself again is worth the risk of dealing with this another year. I had decided to set a new goal for myself and that is to return to soccer by May 2013. On May 25th, 2013, I hope to write about how excited I am to be curling a soccer ball into the upper 90.
As for now, I'll stick to my usual leg workouts at the gym but I am going to try to work out with friends to push myself and see how my leg fares against my buddies. I'll start running more consistently and obviously picking up the pace as well. In less than two weeks, it will be my one year anniversary since my injury so we will see how far along I have come on that day. Stay strong ACL family and stay safe.
Ciao Ciao!
