An Orthopedic First

[Drillagent]

About a month ago, I was preparing to run the first ever Highland Games for my unit's Organizational Day. After creating my own implements, I decided to practice the 42lb WFD. I was getting good until my foot stuck in a hole. Needless to say the weight kept going around, but my foot didn't. After a doctor visit and MRI I have been diagnosed with a completely torn ACL and torn medial meniscus.

My doctor referred me to the renowned orthopedic surgeons at the Sports Medicine department at the University of Virginia. The walls of this place are covered with autographed pictures of famous athletes, to include Bruce Jenner. This gives you an idea of the level of experience here.

So without looking up from my file and MRI film, the doctor asks me how I hurt myself, to which I answer that I was practicing for the Highland Heavy Athletics.

He actually stopped what he was doing, put his pen down, gave me the RCA Dog look and said "What?" So after a lengthy explanation, the lightbulb goes off over his head and he says, "Oh, the guys that throw trees."

And then he actually said, "Well, that's a first for me." Evidently, with all of his experience, I'm his first Highland Athletics casualty. Anyway, I thought it was funny.

[BEEDEE]

Well you'll find that if you finish up in a cast, the kilt is just the most convenient garment around.

From personal experience.

Brian

[ForresterModern]

(Doctor hat on)

Tore my ACL ten years ago and had it fixed 8 years ago. Two keys for fast recovery are "pre-habbing"--doing good PT to put yourself in good strength and shape before the surgery (you are probably already there), and then really pushing yourself to do the post surgical rehab as prescribed, no more, no less. You will almost certainly be in a breakable walking splint, one which can go from rigid straight to flexible in degrees at the knee, for several weeks after the surgery. This will definitely be kilt friendly, but not regimental friendly. Work hard to regain your range of motion as fast as you can and the strength (if not already still there from the pre-habbing) will follow with repetitions. if you are in good enough shape to be throwing a 42 pounder and they do your surgery sooner rather than later you should do fine.

(Doctor hat off)

Good luck with it. It is a long but usually successful road to recovery. you should be back to near normal from the ACL repair within a year, although the medial meniscal tear may leave some lifelong lingering effects, depending on its severity.

never give up, never surrender, no matter how painful it may be to do it, no matter how down you may get about your situation and limitations. you will get better.

Sounds like you've got good surgeons. Good PT folks tend to run with them.



jeff