Last October the unthinkable happened. During a friendly roll with my teammate, my knee popped… more than once. The result was a torn ACL. Below are a few lessons I’ve learned through this experience. Maybe this will help you, maybe it will give you comfort, maybe you just had surgery two days ago, your knee is on ice and you think I’m an asshole.
A little background, I’m a 50-year-old purple belt. I’ve been training consistently and occasionally competing for seven years. Until this moment, I felt mostly invincible. Sure, I’ve had occasional minor injuries, but I’ve been fortunate and able to train consistently and intensely with very few issues.
Until now…
So here are my 5 takeaways….
1. If the pain persists, see a doctor, even if it doesn’t feel severe. I thought a major knee injury would feel a lot more dramatic. After it happened, I rolled 4 more rounds and trained (albeit with difficulty) for the next two weeks. At best, my knee felt like it was slipping in and out of place. At worst, there was pain and the knee never had full range of motion.
2. Surgery can be a good choice. In order to return to 100%, surgery was the best option for me. The ACL handles knee stability. For people who don’t choose the surgery route, many return with further damage to the meniscus and other ligaments. For people who do contact sports, martial arts, skiing, etc. the stability is essential.
3. Surgery and its aftermath suck. The stretching portion of physical therapy should be regulated by the Geneva Convention. Wearing the brace the first few weeks is a huge pain in the ass. The knee will ache terribly for at least two months. If you’re in New York City, you’ll learn that the only people who will give you their seat on the subway are women over the age of 30. Stay positive. With the work ethic and tolerance for pain you’ve developed through jiujitsu, you’ll ace this.
4. Keep showing up. I was on the mat 4 days after surgery. I wasn’t training, but I was watching and helping to teach. I kept showing up, twice a week at first, then after 2 months, I returned back to my regular schedule. Sure, I couldn’t train, not even a light drill. But I was able to watch, dissect movement, technique, and weight distribution. I could see the details with more clarity. The small details became important, even crucial.
5. You will come back better. At the five month mark, I've had a handful of light rolls (please don’t tell my doctor). I feel…. Better! The analysis I was able to do has changed my game. My body feels strong, balanced, rested. Details I’ve been preaching and teaching have been added. We will see how it goes when my teammates turn it up but so far, so good.
Look, it’s not all gummy bears and rainbows but I really have to say, the net result has been largely positive, cost and pain aside. If you have a knee injury, take heart. If you don’t, go lift and do yoga to balance out your jiujitsu, for fuck’s sake!
P.S. I’d like to thank my wife for her unwavering patience, attentive care giving, and for making me walk the dog 5 days after surgery.
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