April 26, 2008
The Countdown Begins
I saw my surgeon yesterday and it was a good visit. In six weeks I will see him again and he will order me my custom acl brace that I’ll need to officially return to karate. As soon as I have my brace and as soon as I feel ready, I can return. The only limitations I will have are the ones I put on myself. My surgeon recommended a few: no sparring for a while (quite a while), and find another way to bow to the shinza. He said my kneecap will still feel "crunchy" for a while, possibly forever. Right now, there is absolutely no way I can be on my knees at all. I’m also very nervous about pivoting and kicking and will need to discuss these issues with my PT in the weeks to come. I need to build up my confidence and I want to do that in the PT room under a watchful eye, not in the dojo.
I found out yesterday that my surgeon is a black belt in Shotokan karate. He got his black belt when he was in college. I didn’t know I had a black belt for a surgeon, but knowing that made me feel really good about all the decisions that he has helped me to make. He knows what it’s all about and he understands the types of things I want to be able to do.
We talked for a bit about how all the knee replacement people come and go and I’m still there, busting my butt in the PT room. He said that the difference between them and me is that they have plateaued while I continue to improve. That made me feel good too.
I went to PT after my appointment and asked my PT about adding back into the routine the single leg press. I’m now pressing 100 lbs with both legs and 25 on the single leg press. The key to avoiding knee irritation with the leg press is to press with the heels, not the toes. I was able to make it through three sets of the single leg press without any issues. We also upped my weight on the leg extensions and on the pulley apparatus, where I get to walk away with the harness around my waist and then stand on my ACL leg for 5 seconds at a time.
I am more determined than ever to build up this leg muscle and get back to the dojo training floor. I will definitely need to start slow and my instructors will all need to know my limitations (because I am not tearing this ACL again and will not be doing anything I’m not completely comfortable doing); but I am counting down the days now until I can return. I can’t wait to put that gi back on.
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Excellent! Keep up that black belt spirit!
I’m glad for you! I love your attitude about the situation also! My neighbor tore her ACL doing karate and after she healed up she gave up. Have a great day!
Oh congratulations!! That is wonderful news! How lucky for you that your surgeon understands what you want to do and why and is supportive!! That is great news!!
By the way…you may not have *officially* tested yet, but you ARE a black belt already–you’ve got a fabulous attitude that many people don’t have!!
Indominable spirt is one of the things that is on a banner on our dojang wall. You’ve got that!!
Congratulations! That is great news.
Marvelous! You’ll be kicking butt again in no time.
Way to go, feels good to be on the back slope of this big ol’ mountain, eh?
If I’m a good, disciplined boy, I might just beat you back to the mat…
🙂
Junebee: I’m trying. It’s getting easier the closer I get to returning.
Jamie: Ack! Don’t tell me that! I don’t think I can quit. I just love it too much.
Marguerite: You are too kind. Thank you.
Michele: Thank you.
Karl: Better behave yourself at Tequila Con or I’ll have to test the kicking butt waters. 😉
Hack Shaft: It certainly does. And you go right ahead and beat me back. I am taking my sweet old time and want to make sure I’m totally ready. I’ll be anxious to hear about your return!
Ah, it’s exciting to hear that you’re getting close.
Cool about the surgeon being a black belt. Who better to tell you when you’re ready than someone who really knows what’s going on inside and out.
I never had a doubt that you would have this type of attitude. You are one tough cookie grasshopper! We’ll have to have a big blogger party once you get your black belt.
I am so happy for you! This has been a long time coming, and I’m just grinning at your go ahead to start your countdown.. You must be dying to get back to the dojo – but I’m glad to see you’re going to pace yourself and take it easy until you’re comfortable. Oh, but SO many congratulations from my side. I’ve been reading your blog for ages now, and I remember when this happened – and I know I was worried you’d not come back, you’d quit, or just drift away from the blogging AND karate world. I am so happy to have seen that you’ve not. 😀 As much as I’ve loved the posts in the meantime, I am eager to hear about your karate adventures once again. Congratulations!
I can understand the layoff from sparring. But how does kata feel on your knee? That’s one really good thing about kata, you can gauge your own intensity level without worrying about hurting yourself. (Are you kneeling in seiza when you bow to the shinza? We just stand and bow.)
Chad: Yes, very cool. I wish I had known before.
Chris: A party sounds fabulous!
Sarah: Thank you. You are so sweet!
John: I don’t know how it feels yet and I won’t know until I have my brace on. I’m not pushing it or testing it until then. There’s too much at stake. We do kneel in seiza but I think I’ll just have to stand and bow for a while.