As I’m recovering from my second ACL surgery, I can’t help but come up with a list of regrets from the first one.
1. I should have continued going to the gym. As much as my second injury was an accident, I can’t help but blame myself for being lazy, not maintaining the gym protocol.
“Laziness is simply resting even before you are tired”
Resolution: I will do therapy religiously, then still go to the gym even after I’m cleared. Friends, I’ll need your help with this. I hate the gym. I think the first time I did weights was when I got to UP, and our school’s weights room kinda traumatized me a little. It was this dingy, rusty, dusty old place. I tried working out at the Palms or the club, but I get utterly bored in such a small area. The only thing that made it fun was having to do weight training with the whole team.
2. Really learned a new sport/hobby/ found something I could connect to as much as football.
I sort of did with Makeup and all, but it’s not like there’s Makeup teams and competitions and stuff. Well actually there are, I just haven’t gotten into the whole community yet.
Suggestions would be welcome- I’m thinking triathlon, mountaineering? Crochet? Baking?
3. Quit football, so I wouldn’t have had to endure this second one. Scratch that. I would never have stopped playing back then.
Here’s how my day went on May 2, 2011. I woke up at around 7:30, showered then got dressed. I chose this green dress that’s easy to slip on and off. I also put on my basic face, just so I’ll look more presentable. Concealer, foundation,powder, blush, eyeshadow, mascara and lip tint. No eyeliner because it will smudge. ACL tip #1- Wear a dress to surgery. The first time, I wore shorts and it was a hassle dressing up post op. ACL tip #2- Look pretty for surgery. It’ll make you feel a little bit better.
Wearing a dress for surgery makes for easy dressing after
My mom and I pass by Asian Hospital to pick up my MRI scans, that Doc Canlas doesn’t really need. He just told me to get the MRI so my parents could see I was really injured I guess. Then we get to St. Lukes at around 10:15. Ate Donna is already there.
Mom and I walking around St. Lukes
We were supposed to go straight to the OR but we went to Dr. Canlas’ office by mistake.
Outside the Main OR
Mom fills out forms, then the nurse tells me to leave all my valuables and jewelry. My camera can’t come with me so I don’t have pics of the operating room. I get changed into a gown, booties then walk to the OR at around 11:30 Dr. Lim, the anesthesiologist is there. After I lay down on the operating table, he hooks me up to an IV, then curl up into a fetal position so that they can inject my spine for the waist down anesthesia. They stick these dots on me for the ECG monitor. I get knocked out after that, I just remember waking up halfway, looking at the monitor showing the inside of my knee. Dr. Canlas is there with Dr. Gandionco, who is from UP Diliman too. She graduated a year ahead. Nice and perky doctor.
I try to sneak a peek past the sheets they put in front of me, but the nurse makes sure I cant see. I can hear drilling, and feel the table move, but that’s about it. Music plays in the background, I think I requested it, but I can’t remember what was playing. I can hear the doctors talking, giving directions. I think by 12:30 they’re finishing up. Catheter goes in -ick. Then I get wheeled into the recovery room.
I’m shivering all over despite being under a blanket, I think it’s the anesthesia. Nurse Ruth gives me a heated air blanket. It was so cool warm, and that got me nice and comfy. Back to sleep. I have to be lying down flat and not lifting my head. Disobeying would mean headaches. At 1:30 pm I still can’t feel my legs. I ask for nurse Ruth for my phone and snap some photos.
In my green gown and oxygen mask. See, the pre surgery makeup is good for times like this.
ACL tip #3- Don’t wear nail polish. I had a manicure and pedicure done on Saturday, to make me feel better but it turns out you shouldn’t have any nail polish on when you get surgery. The nurses had to remove polish off my left thumb for the little monitoring thing. Nurse Ruth said I must have some special pull with the doctors that they didn’t remove all the polish off my toes too, since apparently if anything goes wrong during surgery like if your blood isn’t circulating properly, your toenails will show changes. Or maybe they just forgot.
Don't wear nailpolish to surgery
At around 4:30 I was wheeled out to the waiting area where my mom and dad were hanging out so I could eat something. My last meal was dinner the night before so I was so hungry. I inhaled a Junior Whopper with cheese and onion rings from Burger King. My knee is still not painful.
First meal of the day from BK!Mom, dad plus my get whale soon card + baloonsI hate needles.
We wait a bit more, then the nurse administers antibiotics via the IV, then painkillers. She then wheels me back in the recovery room to remove the catheter then I’m done. They take me to the waiting area in a wheelchair, I get dressed out of my hospital gown then I’m off to the car!
Carefully entering the front seat. I don't know how taller people fit with the immobiliser
FAQ:
1. What surgery did you get?
Arthroschopic ACL reconstruction (hamstring graft) with MCL trephination of the left knee.
Here’s the description on the record of operation. my notes in italics
Patient placed in supine position under SAB – I can still remember this
Pneumatic tourniquet applied on left proximal thigh – I’m knocked out by now
Asepsis and antisepsis done, sterile drapes placed
exsanguination done, tourniquet inflated to 350mmHg –EXSANGUINATION??? sounds scary- google it.
incision made over pes anserinus
gracilis and semitendinosus identified, isolated and harvested –my hamstring parts?
graft prepared, 4 strands measuring 7 x 110 mm
anterolateral and anteromedial portals created – this must be when they were drilling
ACL stump debrided – it means they cleaned out the remaining torn ACL out.
Tibial and femoral tunnels created- more drilling?
graft inserted and secured at femoral end using RCI screw 7×25 mm and secured at tibial end using RCI screw 8x25mm –
ROM done and noted no impingement- range of motion
negative for Lachman test and anterior drawer. Tourniquet deflated
Trephination of medial collateral ligament on the left knee done-
Copious irrigation done- wow, they irrigated it copiously
Wound closed in layers: Vicryl 2-0 for fascia and subcutaneous tissue, Monosyn4-0 for skin -its absorbable!
sterile dressing applied, knee immobiliser in place
Patient tolerated the procedure well – yes, I did!
Tourniquet time:40 mins.
Phew. Thanks Google for providing clarifications on a lot of those terms.
2. Does it hurt?
During the surgery, no. The first thing that’s painful is the needle for the IV, then the feeling of the liquid going in, but as soon as the anesthesia kicks in, I can’t feel anything from my stomach down. I’m knocked out once the spinal injection is done.
3. Are you asleep during the procedure?
Yes, but you do wake up in the middle of the operation. I could talk, watch the monitor, listen to what was happening, but I would fall back asleep. The doctors ask me things.
4. How long are you in the hospital?
I was there at around 10 am and we got to leave at around 7pm. 9 hours tops.
5. When does the pain start?
A couple of hours after I got discharged. I was able to have dinner out with my folks at Lugang Cafe- post to follow. It was around 10 pm that the pain started getting bad.
6. How painful does it get?
On my pain scale of 1-10 it goes up to a 12. It’s this constant intense pain that demands for your attention. At the worst part of the night I just cry and pray to fall asleep.
7. What painkillers do they give?
I’m not sure what they administered via IV before I got sent home, but orally I took 120 mg of Arcoxia the first night, then for the next two days.
8. How much was your hospital bill?
46, 184.00- 7,389.44= 38,794.56 PHP for hospital charges. Doctors fees and the screws for my knee are to be paid separately.
Thanks Mom for taking care of my hospital bills. This would completely wipe my savings out. Although I did ask her if she wanted me to pay for it, but I don’t have a checking account, soo… Thanks mom. I love you for waiting through not one but two of my ACL surgeries. I love you for never saying that I should stop playing just because I got hurt.
I can’t sleep, so I’ve laid out what I’ll need after surgery tomorrow.
Immobiliser and Crutches are both doing a repeat performance. They’re the same ones I used five years ago. They are well depreciated by now.
The reusable ice pack is new-ish. I bought it a couple months ago when I started training with/trying out for the national team. I knew I would be needing it to ice my bruises, bumps and right ACL knee after practice but I didn’t think I’d need it for left ACL knee rehab.
I can’t eat or drink anything after 3 am so I’ll just drink all the water I can until then.
I should submit my patient history to studies being done on female ACL patients. I’ve taken note of when during my menstrual cycle my injuries happen and take a look at the dates.
ACL Tear #1: February 5, 2006. My period starts 4 days after injury.
ACL Tear #2: April 17, 2011. My period starts 3 days after injury.
Two other ACL tear friends of mine tore it also at the late luteal phase, which is before you get your period. Now I wonder about all the other girls who have torn their ACLs.
It has something to do with how lax your knee joint is during this time. Related article here:
I know it still could be purely coincidental that both injuries happened at the same phase in my cycle, but after I do rehab and if I do start playing football again, I’ll be extra careful when I know I’m due to start my period.
Surgery will happen tomorrow at noon. This is how I think it’ll go:
3:00 am last snack and water until the operation
8:00 am leave the house for St. Lukes
10:00 am arrive at hospital, get changed into gown, mom will fill out forms,
10:30 am hook me up on an IV, catheter (not nice), anesthesia to get injected in my spine
12:00 nn- Dr. Canlas does the routine ACL reconstruction
12:30 pm – surgery is almost done, he’ll wake me up to tell me to watch the screen to see whats happening in my knee
12:45 pm- surgery finished
1:00 pm- in the recovery room,waiting for anesthesia to wear off, given painkillers via IV
5-7pm- get wheeled off to the car, go home
8 pm- get home, agonizingly climb up stairs to room, eat dinner- I think I’ll crave for a hamburger. or ramen.
10 pm- IV painkillers wear off, Ponstan painkillers not strong enough, worst pain ever.
12 mn- still can’t sleep, knee is uber painful,I curse the day I learned how to play football and discovered how much fun it is …. I’ll remember how the injury happened, curse the person I tried to dispossess of the ball. curse myself for trying to get the ball back, should’ve just let him have it…. wishing I played chess instead,or the violin, or something else.
3am – struggle to go to the bathroom, try not to faint
6am- finally get to sleep
I really hope it won’t be too painful post op. I suppose thinking about it now, anticipating and exaggerating how painful it is will ensure that later on when it actually happens I’ll be prepared and it won’t be as painful as I imagined.
I’m walking a bit faster now, the swelling has gone down but not yet to the point that both knees look the same. Surgery is on Monday. What’s frustrating is the fact that it’s just starting to normalize then I’ll have to be back in pain. Surgery is quick, thank God. My OR booking is at noon, and I was told I’ll be able to go home by 7pm.
We ate at Urameshiya in little Tokyo today. yakiniku yum!! Plus chocolate cake from Chef Vicky for dessert.
Highlight of my day- Half Moon Cake from Pendy’s Bacolod. It’s really light chiffon cake with amazing custard on top. It’s not too sweet so you can eat two of them in a row. Yummy!!!
See the lag on my left knee. I'm not trying to bend it
ACL Patient Update:
I didn’t wear my immobiliser as I went to work this morning. It’s been more than a week since the ACL tear and the swelling has gone down a lot.
I was up all night reading Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, one of my favorite books growing up and I’m hoping to find a copy of the movie adaptation, or maybe a modern day remake. It’s such an easy read with such clear imagery that I always feel transported into Judy Abbot’s world when I read it.
Driving to work I spoke to my dad about studying again and I’m now looking at my options. I meet with our President, Jerry, my sister Donna and our Air21 Run for Clean Air Organizer, Princess at 10am. Then I excuse myself for another meeting with our IT department.
I’m hazy for lack of sleep and it’s annoying to go to the bathroom. It takes me twice as long to move around.
One thing that cheered me up was Princess asking what mascara I was using. I use the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus, and I love how it makes my lashes nice and pretty. Got this tube when I was in Tokyo not knowing that it has a cult like following. I picked it because the packaging was pretty. I’m superficial that way, and it turned out to be a great tube of mascara. I’m glad to know that it’s available locally in SM department stores.
Longer lashes with MJ Lash Expander.
After the office I head off to Toastbox Greenbelt 5 for dinner with my girlfriends. I wear my immobiliser since my knee felt a bit tired and I wanted a bit more support walking around the mall.
Toastbox for dinner!
Hainanese Chicken Noodle Soup
I actually walked all the way to Toastbox but after we ate I decided it was time to get a wheelchair. So we borrowed one from Customer Service. I just had to leave my ID with the guard and they lent me a wheelchair. It’s a great way to go around the mall. 🙂
Erin's turn to push Pat and I.
The nice thing about going around the mall in a wheelchair is that I don’t get tired, I don’t get left behind because I walk slow and I don’t have to carry my bag. I just put it on my lap and zoom around thanks to my ever-supportive friends. Thank you Erin, Cara, Pat, Sam, Pia and Guada for the company tonight.
Sam called me Artie, like the character from Glee. I thought it was hilarious. We had fun walking around. Steering the wheelchair by myself was fun. I did turns and stuff. I’m so lucky this isn’t permanent. As much fun the wheels are, it leaves me a lot shorter that the crowd.
By the way, my friend Sam Bermudez is the best female wakeboarder in the Philippines and she’s giving lessons this summer. I wish I could try wakeboarding, but I think my knees won’t ever be up for it. ;-/ Visit Pinoy Wake Camp’s facebook page here.
Crouch down for the photo
They have a beer, I just join the conversation. Alcohol will make my knee swell. I can feel my knee getting tight. I still can’t walk properly and I moved it the wrong way getting out of the car a while ago, but that’s because I wasn’t wearing the immobiliser.
I’ll double check with the doctor if I should or shouldn’t be wearing it anymore tomorrow.
By the way. My ACL reconstruction is scheduled at noon next Monday. Last week of a scar-less left knee starts now.
Day 1- Sunday, April 17, Alabang Country Club/ Araneta Coliseum/ Apartment
I was trying to get the ball back during the game when I my foot got caught on opponent’s foot/the ground. My knee twisted, I felt the pop/crunch/tear happen. I fall to the ground, cursing out loud because I had a terrible feeling that I tore my ACL. PAIN LEVEL 10! I’m unable to straighten my left knee. I try to relax it but it’s difficult. Sharp pain in my knee. It’s so familiar.
I try to breathe deeply. People gathered around me kinda step back a bit.
Finally get up and hobble off to the side. Change out of my football shoes. No swelling yet.
Drive home, take a shower. Apply cold compress
Drive to Araneta Coliseum to watch Air21 vs Talk n Text. Painful.
Swelling starts
Spend the night at the apartment, cold compress
Couldn’t sleep, pain keeps me awake. Forgot to take painkillers. Cry.
Day 2- Monday, April 18, 2011 Ayala Greenfields Golf Club/ St. Lukes Medical Center/ Asian Hospital
Ride with the Flaviers, pass by Mercury drug for Ponstan. Knee is painful. On a scale of 1-10 its on a 6. Cold compress
Papa’s birthday golf tournament.
Was supposed to host program but cannot due to knee.
After tee off, I head to St. Lukes to see Dr. Canlas, my orthopedic surgeon, sports doctor extraordinaire.
Papa’s driver, drives Rizza and I to the hospital. The Skyway makes the Laguna-QC trip fast. Start writing about injury
Dr. Canlas confirms my diagnosis. ACL/MCL tear. Just like five years ago. He’s not happy to see me again. I’m not either. I have to wear immobiliser for a week, drink Ponstan for the pain.
head back to Greenfields with my news. Break it to family. Dad says stop playing football. The rest are sympathetic. Hugs all around. Try not to cry.
Everyone asks about knee. Torn ACL, surgery to follow.
Drink more Ponstan.
Hitch a ride with Dr. Madayag to Asian Hospital, where I get my MRI done.
Fall asleep in the MRI machine
Go home. Justin brings me the immobiliser from Sam. I wear it. =(
Day 3- Tuesday, April 19, 2011 Office/ Apartment
Go to the office with Ate Sheila. Can’t get anything done. Uncomfortable in my chair. Not really painful. Just uncomfy.
No need for painkillers.
Get dropped off at apartment. Eat leftover ramen from Ramen Bar and stay in bed all day watching tv.
America’s next top model is my favorite reality tv show. I seriously think there should be one for the Philippines’ next Azkals. Follow the mens national team’s tryouts and training.
Still sad. Cry. Eat steak to feel better.
Sleeping with immobiliser is awkward.
Day 4 – Wednesday, April 20, 2011 Makati
Eat a hardboiled egg for breakfast.
Stay in apartment the whole day. Watch more tv. Still sad.
Justin’s friends and family text me, telling me to hang in there and feel better. It works. I still cry since I’m so touched by their gesture. It’s happy tears though.
Dinner with my family at Sugi. Sukiyaki, Salmon Sashimi, Salad
Red Mango froyo with mochi and crushed graham crackers to cheer me up.
Day 5- Thursday, April 21, 2011 Alabang
Drive myself home to the south
Get a sticker for my car at the Country Club
Steak for lunch at home.
Cake and ice cream count as my carbs.
More tv for me. Still sad.
Play Angry Birds on the iPad.
Day 6- Good Friday- April 22, 2011, Alabang
Happy Birthday Ate Rose! Family lunch at home prepared by Chef Kenneth. It’s a seafood fest!
Fish Fillet- ala People’s Palace, Grilled Prawns with Mango Curry Sauce.
More cake and ice cream
Day 7- Black Saturday – April 23, 2011, Alabang/ Makati
Happy Birthday Papa! Family lunch at the Palms. Japanese again
S&R shopping
home to write
watch Limitless. If I had the drug NZT, I would learn Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, Thai, Korean. Then learn how to play the violin, program, play poker. Become a lawyer, an accountant, programmer, then president of the US.
ate at Nanbantei. no carbs yet.
Side note- Tiger Woods played with a torn ACL and a stress fracture. WOW.
Get hungry watching tv in apartment. Order Dominos pizza and their choco lava cake. Yum! If you’re in Makati, dial 7543030. Get the thin crust pizza. It’s nice and puff-pastry like. The lava cake is cheap but good. Not too sweet.
Have some of those Lindt peanut butter truffles.
ZZZZZ. Not so much swelling.
NOW – Easter Sunday April 24, 2011
Knee isn’t as swollen, no pain unless I move it around.
Happy Easter everyone! After the Nega list (Negative), here’s the silver lining to my dark ACL cloud.
1. I will now have ACL surgery scars on both knees.
2. I get to ride around in a wheelchair if I don’t want to walk, like today in S&R.
My Lolo pushing my wheelchair around S&R
3. I will be forced to go to the gym for rehab.
4. It encourages me to stay home and rest instead of going out and drinking.
5. I will have more time to do makeup jobs. I scheduled my surgery to accommodate this airbrush makeup class I want to attend.
6. It’s forcing me to look beyond football for athletic activities. I’m thinking of trying triathlon since it’s all forward and no lateral movements. First I have to learn how to swim. My mom wants to run marathons. I hope to be running with her when I recover.
7. It’s making me to look on the brighter side of things. That’s why I’m writing all of this. It’s going to serve as my therapy journal.
8. It’s a sign for me to try new things.
9. Everyone sees me injured and instantly feels better about themselves. Admit it. 🙂 Schadenfreude!
10. I’m hoping it’ll make my legs shrink a bit so I can fit into my old jeans.
On a side note, I was watching TV earlier and saw this guy Masazumi Soejima win the Boston Marathon’s wheelchair division. I researched and discovered another Japanese won the women’s division. After seeing him win I immediately felt so inspired and lucky that I still have both my legs. I’m injured but I’ll recover to run marathons with my mom. 🙂
I’ll give myself a 5 minute time limit to feel bad then after that I have to snap out of it. No wallowing!
Justin and I saw Limitless in Greenbelt today with his officemates and as I hobbled out of the ladies room feeling sorry for myself I saw this lady missing eyebrows and wearing a headscarf. She must have cancer, and again I was reminded of how easy it is to recover from my injury. This doesn’t require medication aside from post-surgery painkillers. I am very very blessed.
One thing my sister Sheila and I worry about is how my knees will be when I’m forty. She says I should probably ask my doctor if I should be taking glucosamine or those other joint supplements.
I’ve always wanted to write more, put my ideas out there and finally with my ACL recovery as the main topic I’ll get to do that. I’m not the best writer, I think in bullet points, blame all the reports for the business classes, so bear with the style.
