Marshmellow Fluff

I’ve been limping for almost two weeks and have been in constant pain for just as long.

At my soccer game I was going for the ball when my leg came out from under me and I heard a loud pop which was followed by excruciating pain.  As I was rolling on the grass I had one clear understanding about life – why they shoot horses.  I’ve never given birth but I describe the pain as pushing a soccer ball out of my knee.

After I was dragged off the field I tried calling Paul.  It was clear that I needed a ride to the ER and more importantly, I needed sympathy.  What I got instead, was his voicemail. So there I sat contemplating how I was going to get to the ER and cursing myself for not discussing the “always answer your phone”, policy with Paul prior.

By the time I arrived at the ER Paul had also arrived.  I was wheeled back, put in a hospital gown (for reasons unknown given they only needed access to my knee not my naked derrire.)  I sat in the bed trying to ignore my pain and Paul took pictures of me on his iPhone…we were clearly having two very different experiences.

After a few hours, a shot for pain in my butt and another shot in the other cheek for nausea I was sent on my way home.  The pain shot worked…the nausea one did not and I spent the next few hours bent over a toilet with my bad knee in a brace throwing up.

Turns out I have a torn ACL and meniscus and in a few weeks I will no longer be able to say I’ve never had surgery.

I started physical therapy this week.  The first thing I noticed was that, given the clientele, I had no business being in a physical therapists office.  I say this because I was not an old man nor was I an avid athlete.  I am a girl who dabbles in community recreation once a week on a co-ed soccer team.

My life has changed a lot since I have been wounded.  For one, I no longer receive the weekly soccer emails from our team captain.  It was like once I left the field they hung up my jersey and made a pact to never talk about “her” or the “incident” again.  I have a walk that says, “here is a girl who is clearly white but has the soul of a black man.”  I am often refered to at work as “poor thing”, which I assure you has no upshot.  I had to trade my high heels in for dumpy flats and I no longer give off the presence of a tall statuesque woman but rather a oompa loompa minus the purple hair. My apartment is clean from the waist up but a wreck from the waist down.  I eat only the things that I find in my general vicinity…for lunch today I had 10 Rolos and a peanut butter cup.

Last night I was doing my homework exercises that they gave me from physical therapy.  While I was doing them and watching an episode of Bridezillas, I realized that I felt the carpet on the back of my knee which only meant one amazing thing, I was finally able to fully extend my leg!  It was moving mountains kind of extraordinary considering my leg has been frozen in a claw-like state for over two weeks.  I have big plans to be able to bend my leg next so stay tuned people!

Tagged: health