Today marks one week since I tore my ACL.
Here’s what it felt like.
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.
- Will start doing quad sets.
I can’t imagine if that happens to me. Hope you’re recovering well Bertha! 🙂