Wow! So lots has happened since I tore my meniscus about a year ago. So I figured I may as well give a little recap about how rehab went and everything!
I tore my meniscus almost one year ago and got surgery soon after. I had to be on crutches for four weeks post-surgery which meant that I was on crutches for the rest of my fall quarter of school. This meant going to DG Formal in crutches (yes I was a trooper and yes it was still a ton of fun!), suing my crutches to get to all my finals, and having a very kind friend help me out with my bags and crutches when I went to the aiport to fly home for winter break.
While I was at home, I passed my 4 week mark and began practicing walking with the straight leg brace. It was very strange to be walking after having done so little with my knee but it was just so nice to be able to finally retire the crutches! I continued doing rehab exercises that my trainer sent to me and was even able to go to the gym and try biking for a bit!
I went to my high school alumni soccer game and it was kind of depressing to show up to my high school in a knee brace once again. Watching the game on the sidelines felt all too familiar to the second half of my senior year when I was out with the ACL tear.
Returning to school in Janurary, I happily returned the crutches to the training room and continued my rehab. Lots of strengthening exercises and eventually more biking and elliptical machines! I started running soon after and all was going very well.
I remember running the first time. We set up on a treadmill and set the pace to like 5.5 mph and I started jogging and it was so so exhilerating. I could feel my knee the whole time - I think I was hyperaware of anything going on there - but it was so cool to be finally running! I slowly worked up my minutes and soon there wasn't any discomfort or throbbing and I was running comfortably.
I was working my way up so I would be completely healed and ready to play by our Spring Soccer Season. Unfortunately, once Covid hit, my plans for that ended. It was disappointing to now have our season but I knew that this would mean even MORE time for me to prepare and come back strong for our fall season.
The highlight of this recovery was coming back to Chicago in summer and playing pickup soccer with my friends. It was incredible because I hadn't played soccer in SUCH a long time and it just made me so happy to be able to compete on the soccer field again. We played about twice a week for most of the summer.
I even brought my spikeball net out and we played a bit! If you remember my post: https://christinapirrotta8.wixsite.com/myacljourney/post/the-dangers-of-spikeball you'll know that I have quite a history with the spikeball net. I'm happy to say I am now past that:))
In August, I was playing pickup and tweaked my knee a bit. I took about a week off to rest and slowly worked back into biking and running and playing soccer again. I was all set to return with my team when we started our season at the end of October. While our "season" was just trainings and in-team scrimmages, it was amazing to be able to take part in it!
Overall the meniscus surgery was quite an experience and I've learned from each step along the way. More than anything is my growing appreciation for the game of soccer and my continued gratitude for having the physical ability to play.
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