PT

Its funny really, I thought PT meant Physical Training. Like as in Army PT!

PT= Physical Therapy. As in rehab. So I went to my first Appt yesterday. Initial impressions were good. Nice quiet place. Looking out the window of the main "workout area" is a small stream and trees. It's a nice scene really. Very relaxing.

So the diagnosis is exactly what I had originally suspected. Torn PCL, MCL and potential meniscus damage. Also the potential for further meniscus damage is increased with the joint in its current state.

This all explains the sensation of my tibia/fibula "hanging there" while swimming or running. Talk about creepy!

So I'm feeling confident with the therapist. He gave me a list of exercises to do 3-4 days a week. And he seemed confident based upon initial exam that I could snowboard again with PT and a brace. Mostly for protection. Soccer, not so much. At least not playing like I used to. I can probably return to coaching kids by next year. (I like to run with the kids)

As for taking snaps for the Buffalo Bills, they will just have to wait and see! ;-)

The Doc

So today Laura and I went to the Docs to see what he could see. "What should look like a dark black thick rope, is a sort of gray blob..."

So the journey begins. The Doc thankfully recommends Physical Therapy first. He is pretty confident that it will be enough for my non-professional sports playing self. I tend to agree. I'm going to hit it hard and see what I can accomplish.

The way I see it, worst case scenario I can't play soccer anymore. That doesn't mean I can't coach! Also Laura and I discussed snowboarding. That will probably require a brace mostly for protection. The Doc tells us that in the case of a PCL tear a brace helps only minimally. I've found conflicting reports on the internet. But since I'm not exactly going to be taking snaps for the Buffalo Bills I think I'll be allright with the PT.

I'm also convincing myself of these facts as much as I am sitting here describing them to the internet. I've read easily 100 articles covering everything from the various procedures to the pros and cons of non-surgical vs surgical treatments.

What it really boils down to is the feeling of being less than 100%. My entire life I've spent thrashing away at my body and pushing it to its physical, mental and emotional limits. So I have probably been taking it for granted over the last decade. And now I have to face the fact that I won't be 100%.

This is not going to be easy.

Change window

So here I sit on a Sunday night, at work by myself waiting patiently for a change window that seems like a million miles away. Sounds dramatically distant doesn't it? HA! 70mins to go. It will probably go by quick once we get started. It always does.

In any case tomorrow I have the first appt after the MRI. Hopefully I will learn that only my PCL is torn and that with some dedication and a bit of physical therapy I'll be fine. Or at least good enough for Govt work! I already picked out a sweet carbon fiber knee brace. Its only $500. No big deal! hopefully I can convince the Doc to prescribe it and Ill get a decent discount.

If surgery is something I have to look at I'll probably wait until after we finish acquiring Verizon. I think my work mates would be mighty pissed if I suddenly had to take a couple weeks off.

I guess that's all for now. See you tomorrow night with the results. And maybe I can con a jpg of the MRI from the Doc that i can post up here! That would be sweet!