I'm 33. I was relatively healthy and had been doing running and weightlifting since 19 years old. I was never ripped but I maintained healthy routine. Then I fucked up my knee in January.
I'd never gone skiing before but a buddy of mine who is kind of a crazy adrenaline junkie wanted me to go on a ski trip with him. I said why not and I've always wanted to try skiing anyways. He taught me the "pizza slice" slow down routine for about 30 minutes then took me to the top of an intermediate slope right away. I was scared shitless and tumbled my way down the mountain slowly. Somehow I didn't get hurt. He thought it was hilarious. I spent the rest of the day of the beginner's slope by myself. Gained some technique and felt good about the whole thing.
Next day my buddy was impressed with my skills and took to me to the advanced beginner's slope. I was terrified but somehow made it down. We went up again before he left me at the top to go down a more advanced course. I was feeling tired and very sore in my legs and should've quit right there but decided to go down the slope anyways. At one straight section I sped up too fast and started losing control. To the right was a near vertical fall into the woods and the left was a snow bank. I went straight into the snow. My skies caught the edge of the bank and acted as an anchor while my body was still flying at full speed. I immediately felt a pop in my left knee and a flash of pain.
Somehow I made it back down the mountain but my knee was shot. It didn't swell too much but became very stiff. Over the next few days I couldn't walk. About a week later I could limp around. Three weeks later I went to see a general practitioner doctor and she identified it as an MCL tear and recommended rest and NSAIDs. It got a little bit better but still felt very stiff and hurt at night and in the mornings, especially when I straightened my knee all the way out. Over time it was getting better slowly. I had an x-ray done and she said there was some calcified cartilage near my MCL which indicates a previous injury which has healed, but my knee wasn't improving. She didn't want me to go to an orthopedic specialist and try physical therapy instead but it hasn't come through, maybe an issue with my insurance.
Weird thing is since the x-ray my knee has gotten worse. It hurts in a lingering dull pain all day. Waking up in the morning I feel there is sharp pain. I'm getting frustrated and I messaged my doctor I want an MRI and a consult with an orthopedic surgeon. I'm suspecting a torn meniscus. I think my MCL has more or less healed.
I guess I'm lucky that overall I still have stability in knee and it doesn't lock up. And it looks like I escaped with my ACL intact.
I'm used to having regular exercise 2-3 times a week. It was my stress relief mechanism for well over a decade. And I'm starting gain some weight and feel flabby. I also have a shoulder injury from the same fall and unable to do pushups. Needless to say this is starting to become a major depressant and downer in my life.
What do you guys think? Have you dealt with limiting injuries? What are some mental and physical strategies to dealing with this?
Advice: Health is the most important thing guys. Especially as you get older do not take unnecessary risk by doing sports or other activities that you are not used to.
I'd never gone skiing before but a buddy of mine who is kind of a crazy adrenaline junkie wanted me to go on a ski trip with him. I said why not and I've always wanted to try skiing anyways. He taught me the "pizza slice" slow down routine for about 30 minutes then took me to the top of an intermediate slope right away. I was scared shitless and tumbled my way down the mountain slowly. Somehow I didn't get hurt. He thought it was hilarious. I spent the rest of the day of the beginner's slope by myself. Gained some technique and felt good about the whole thing.
Next day my buddy was impressed with my skills and took to me to the advanced beginner's slope. I was terrified but somehow made it down. We went up again before he left me at the top to go down a more advanced course. I was feeling tired and very sore in my legs and should've quit right there but decided to go down the slope anyways. At one straight section I sped up too fast and started losing control. To the right was a near vertical fall into the woods and the left was a snow bank. I went straight into the snow. My skies caught the edge of the bank and acted as an anchor while my body was still flying at full speed. I immediately felt a pop in my left knee and a flash of pain.
Somehow I made it back down the mountain but my knee was shot. It didn't swell too much but became very stiff. Over the next few days I couldn't walk. About a week later I could limp around. Three weeks later I went to see a general practitioner doctor and she identified it as an MCL tear and recommended rest and NSAIDs. It got a little bit better but still felt very stiff and hurt at night and in the mornings, especially when I straightened my knee all the way out. Over time it was getting better slowly. I had an x-ray done and she said there was some calcified cartilage near my MCL which indicates a previous injury which has healed, but my knee wasn't improving. She didn't want me to go to an orthopedic specialist and try physical therapy instead but it hasn't come through, maybe an issue with my insurance.
Weird thing is since the x-ray my knee has gotten worse. It hurts in a lingering dull pain all day. Waking up in the morning I feel there is sharp pain. I'm getting frustrated and I messaged my doctor I want an MRI and a consult with an orthopedic surgeon. I'm suspecting a torn meniscus. I think my MCL has more or less healed.
I guess I'm lucky that overall I still have stability in knee and it doesn't lock up. And it looks like I escaped with my ACL intact.
I'm used to having regular exercise 2-3 times a week. It was my stress relief mechanism for well over a decade. And I'm starting gain some weight and feel flabby. I also have a shoulder injury from the same fall and unable to do pushups. Needless to say this is starting to become a major depressant and downer in my life.
What do you guys think? Have you dealt with limiting injuries? What are some mental and physical strategies to dealing with this?
Advice: Health is the most important thing guys. Especially as you get older do not take unnecessary risk by doing sports or other activities that you are not used to.