Sarah Kingdom ACL reconstruction blog

At the end of July 2009, I ruptured my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in my right knee. The scourge of all wakeboarders, it was my turn to go through the painstaking rehabilitation process that all wakeboarders dread; precious time out of an already demanding competition season. Last week I had an operation to replace my ACL. Here’s my blog charting the next 30 weeks of recovery!

At the time, I was doubtful it had happened, landing hard on a scarecrow in the European Finals in Finland Ukkohalla. I heard no classic ‘pop’ and it didn’t swell immediately, but with a couple of steps, my knee gave way making me realise that the prognosis wasn’t good; reconstruction surgery then 6-9 months rehab. Aggh! The mild softener was still hobbling away with a Silver medal.

So after getting confirmation that I had, in fact, ruptured my ACL clean through, it was straight to see Tom Williams at Activ8 in order to prepare for the operation in November to replace it with a piece of hamstring.

The priority was to reduce the swelling in order to regain full movement and muscle strength. It was a laborious and frustrating four month process seemingly taking one step forward and 2 back. Every exercise resulted in swelling, but bit by bit, and with a rigorous gym plan and regular deep tissue massage from Andy Colley at Purus Active Health, I built up my quads and hamstrings ready for the operation.

By the end of my pre-op physio, I was battering myself in the gym and in 12 days alone managed to increase my hamstring strength by 42%. As strong as I felt, I was still banned from stepping foot on the water. Now that was the most painful part. The theory was, that the stronger the muscles were before the operation, then even with a degree of post operative muscle wasting, I’d still be strong enough to continue physio fairly soon after.

Week 1 – The operation

After a day spent ‘cripple proofing’ my flat and trying to prepare for the frustration of crutches stealing my independence, I’m waiting in reception at the Runnymede Hospital in Chertsey waiting for Mr. Elliot to render my knee sore and fat once more! I feel like I’m lying to my poor knee, like taking a happy dog for neutering – what am I about to do to it? All for the best seems so far away! On this already four month long road, I’ve just taken a turn down six-nine months rehab.

However, I have the advantage of having been here before 3 years ago when I broke my leg, so I know the drill in as much as I know it’s going to be frustrating and sore to start but the more work I put in, the sooner I’ll be back. I’ve already got three sessions booked at Activ8 and training with Purus, so I’m in good hands over the bleak winter.

Post Operation 12 o’clock

Not what I was expecting at all!! Although I’m pretty drugged up, I’m really impressed with how little discomfort I’m feeling. Mr. Elliot told me in my pre-op briefing that it was vital to get my leg straight post op to avoid the quickly healing hamstring from repairing short and therefore tight. It makes me a bit squeamish that they removed a piece of my hamstring like stringy cheese! Well, the leg’s straight already! I can squeeze my quads and raise my foot a little too, all exercises the physios have given me to do in bed. But the best news was the flurry of well wishing text messages from my army in ‘cripple club’ all having either had their ACLs repaired in the past or currently going through it as well.

Mr. Elliot was impressed with the results and the physios then got me walking, without crutches! Nervous at first, as all my muscles were in “don’t be daft we’ve just been violated” mode, I made sure of engaging my quads to support my leg and with little steps. Concentrating to walk again is very odd, but so far so good! Then I made the stairs, but got worried of doing too much too soon, so took it gently. At that point, I really appreciated that all the hard work in the gym in the build up to this operation has already shown itself to be invaluable. Let’s hope the drugs don’t wear off too quickly and reality hit me like a hammer, it’s only been a few hours since the op after all!

First days home

It’s great to have friends to fire silly questions at who’ve all been in this situation. I remember asking Charlotte Bryant if it was possible to dress myself with a straight leg! I had imagined that I wouldn’t be able to place ANY strain on my hamstring initially so leaning forward or lifting my leg would be impossible. How was I to get changed at all ? Thankfully all of these concerns were unfounded as it’s only in the knee that I can’t bend as I’ve got a massive plaster and it’s a bit fat too. But my friend Nikki Bradley was hugely relieved to learn that she didn’t have to change me, nor wash me, as the plasters are waterproof and shower friendly. Whilst she’s been nothing short of a superstar, I think that would have been a little above and beyond the call of friendship!

Tesco home delivery has stocked up my cupboards for the ‘lock down…recover’ mode, and just as well really as the anaesthetic took a few days to sleep out of my system. My new address, sarah’s sofa, sarah’s living room, slob land. But the benefits of taking arnica, drinking as much water as possible and eating regularly have meant I was only useless for a few days. I’ve been quite the socialite in fact, with a constant stream of visitors…I operate a ‘no chocolate, no entry policy’ at Slob land central !

First outing Christmas tree shopping!

Within the confines of my shoebox sized flat, I was feeling quite impressed with my ability to get about. I’d adjusted to turning, by spinning on my good foot, bending down with my bag leg sticking out behind and perfecting the ‘sofa dismount roll’. But out in the real world (I say real, more like the hysterically exciting Christmas tree shopping experience) steps were a lot slower, uneven surfaces considered and paranoia of slipping, very evident. I wasn’t going to take any chances and used my crutches for every step.

Thankfully Nikki was there to do all the back breaking work, I was enjoying just pointing with my crutch to which tree was going to grace my living room! I also hadn’t realised how quickly I’d get tired, and it wasn’t as if I was actually doing anything! Maybe the excitement of a tree was the exhausting factor! It was probably because I’m so hot! Certainly not in the ‘attractive’ sense of the word; I have a double thickness compression sock from thigh to ankle helping reduce the swelling and chance of DVT, let me tell you, it’s like wearing two pairs of long johns….I imagine!! Best of all it leaves a lovely corrugated pattern all the way up my leg! Never felt sexier!

Well, tomorrow’s my first physio session with Tom Williams and I don’t mind admitting that I’m pretty unsettled, anticipating bad news possibly, pain, definitely and hoping that I don’t get a big back step in this short road to recovery, However, I took the plasters off this evening and for all the drilling and poking and bashing of surgery, I’m going to have hardly any scar at all! I’ve got nine staples in, but they’ll be out next week.

Monday 07 December 2009 | Permalink