Working to Walk Again, I Thank the Real Pro's

_{This has basically been my view the past few days. (D.Hixon - Photo)}

This past Tuesday I had ACL Reconstruction surgery, using a piece of my own hamstring to rebuild the torn and frayed ACL that had been flopping around in my left knee. I suffered the injury back in Mid-March playing basketball in my Corporate League. I've never had knee problems before as traditionally my injuries were ankle born, and I never knew the pain, nor effort, that was required to fully recover from an ACL injury. I've suffered some pretty nasty ankle injuries, and have even been hit by a car while in a crosswalk, but no pain has come close to what I felt when my left knee shifted awkwardly trying to save a loose ball early in the second half of a game. I went down in an instant, and it took biting my own hand to quell the pain from being expressed too loudly throughout the gym.

Looking at past knee injuries to Boston athletes such as Tony Allen, Wes Welker, and Tom Brady, I now garner new respect for them being able get back to playing at the level they do. It's truly inspiring. I've also gained an immense amount of respect for physical therapists, who do some amazing things on a daily basis to help people move regularly again. I'm using the Cambridge Branch of the Sports and Physical Therapy Associates and they've been absolutely excellent. My good friend Mandy is a part of this group, so I knew I'd be working with good people, and they've already helped push me to new levels, despite me lapsing for a week when feeling sorry for myself and my lost summer. The smart, talented, and inspiring therapists coupled together with the top notch staff and surgeons at Beth Israel, which is after all the official hospital of the Red Sox, has been a great match thus far. And I feel like it's up to me to see how well and fast I recover now.

My road is just beginning, but thought it was important to note the work needed, and the people supporting that work in order to heal after serious sports injuries. From a fans point of view, we lose perspective as we sit on the couch with beer in hand, and feet on the coffee table, as we bemoan the play on the field. We sort of understand how hard it is to hit a baseball, although I think we often lose perspective on that as well, but we rarely think about the work needed, or the pain received, when an athlete gets injured. We clap as they limp off the field or give a thumbs up, and then move onto the next play, when in reality, that athletes next play may be never, and if it is down the road, it's only due to a strong support system, and a Team of talented professionals, such as the ones they have at Sports and Physical Therapy Associates and Beth Israel.

All it takes is losing your ability to walk correctly to realize how much is taken for granted, including the recovery process, and if I'm thankful for one thing with my injury, it's realizing there's people like the ones I'm working with now, who help strangers recover and get their life back each and every day. Can't think of anything more admirable than that.

Comments

[Kris Chandler]

Welcome back to the land of the living. I'm glad you don't have a zombie ACL.

[Caffeinated Joe]

My best to you for a speedy recovery!

I know the pain of which you speak. I was born with leg/hip/joint issues and had surgery at age 2 so I could walk. Flash forward 30 years and my joints were worn to the bone. I have since had both hips and the left knee replaced and there is nothing like the pain I went through with that knee. The hips were a walk in the park in comparison!

Stay strong and keep exercising and doing your PT. Gotta keep it moving and working!

[SawxBlog]

Thanks for the kind words Joe, sounds like you've had to go through a heck of a lot worse so some great perspective. One thing I learned in prep for the surgery is that PT is your friend!

@Kris, the whole reason I had the procedure done so quick was so I'd be fully healed for the Zombie Apocalypse, duh ;-)

[Flex]

I have had major knee problems my hole life including an acl strain so I can imagine what it was like. I feel for ya man and wish you a speedy recovery. You WILL be faster and stronger BIONIC stylee. I will say that the siatic problem I had 4 years ago is a pain rivaled by few injuries. So I def know what it's Like to be hobbled like a gimp. I only hope u never experience that. The difference with that though is it's fixable in a short amount of time for some people and you will have a long and winding road. Wings style. Chin up