What it feels like to tear your acl?
Tearing your Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) can be a painful and frustrating experience. This is one of the most common injuries for athletes who engage in high-impact sports such as basketball, soccer, football, or skiing. The injury occurs when the ligament that connects the thighbone to the shinbone tears due to undue stress or sudden movement.
It’s not pleasant at all. In fact, it sucks big time!
If you have ever experienced an ACL tear before or know someone who has gone through it, you’ll understand how much it can affect your life both physically and mentally. Not only will you lose your mobility but also your confidence, especially if you are an athlete whose career or passion depends on being active.
In this article, we will explore what it feels like to tear your ACL from a humorous perspective because let’s face it; laughter is good medicine even during tough times.
Oh No! What Just Happened?
The first thing that comes to mind after tearing your ACL is ‘Oh no! WTF just happened?’ Sudden pain shoots up from within creating intense discomfort and loss of control over normal leg movements. You feel something snapping internally; imagine somebody staging a coup d’état inside their knee!
You immediately try to get back up but realize it ain’t happening unless you’re ready for more excruciating pain…and probably make things worse in the long run.
A Little High-Tech Investigation Inside Your Knee Cap
After some sobbing (maybe), shock(duh!), nociception (fancy term for pain perception) and disbelief sink in…you start investigating with self-diagnosis by performing quick ‘roll-calls’ on each extremity’s movability…’Ok toes move.. ankle too..good good…moving upwards now….knee bend ….wait what’s going on? It won’t go straight back…It’s wobbly!’
That’s when you realize you’re in deep trouble. The next step would involve scheduling an appointment with a medical practitioner for ‘a little high-tech investigation inside your knee cap’ known as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-Ray or Ultrasound.
Knee Brace Superstar
After the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe some painkillers, crutches and of course, a Knee Brace. This is not just any ordinary brace but like Bob Marley said “The superstar version!”
You learn to love it eventually, especially since without it, walking becomes impossible. Its mission is to hold your injured knee in place creating extra support while allowing easy mobility using crutches or other assistance devices until surgery takes place.
Immobility Blues
Due to extreme immobility caused by tearing your ACL; getting around heads up on top of rest given that one has limited movement capabilities. You’ll have to rethink how you do things quite drastically like.. :
- Using non-slip mats
- Anytime shoes except those with laces
- Avoiding cramped places
- Always try finding seats vs standing at events
To make matters worse, even the simplest task such as getting out of bed can become one major ordeal like attempting gymnastics post-move which includes somersaults-o-plenty.
Surgery Is Inevitable
Tearing Your ACL will inevitably lead up to surgery—ACL Reconstruction Surgery; where damaged tissue gets replaced using a tendon from another section part of the body. With modern healthcare techniques, this process has become much simpler than before(‘cause no long incisions required). Before jumping into an operation table however expect:
1) Pre-operative tests including urine tests blood work blood pressure checks &
2) Anesthesia risks (major concern during any health management).
Additionally you will be assigned a physical therapist whose job is to help you get back on your feet during the post-operative phase. However, despite their best efforts soreness does linger and even with medicine some movements feel like standing in for someone at Crossfit under near brutal conditions.
The Return of Physical Therapy
After ACL reconstruction surgery, one must attend physical therapy sessions essentially to regain mobility expertise which was there before injury transformed it from easy-pzey-lemon Squeezy to…well..Not. These sessions target strengthening muscles around the knee joint; that way reducing likelihood of another bummed-down situation in future or recurrence.
It’s tough work as extreme rehabilitation undergoes both mental and body healing:
- Regular visits (2-3 times weekly)&
- An hours worth moves including agility training &
- Of course those Leg curls – so much dreaded by many clients
The good news is when done successfully—These participants become experts inclosing homemade equivalents exercising regimens
Tearing Your ACL isn’t something anyone would wish upon themselves or their enemies…well maybe just an enemy! In all seriousness however recovering from this injury requires tremendous strength and determination.
We hope we have helped paint a lighthearted perspective on what it feels like to tear your ACL while still keeping things realistic enough. Remember laughter may not necessarily remove every ailment but its effectiveness in accentuating recovery mechanisms can never be questioned!