December 30, 2008
Getting Nervous
Yesterday the surgery center called me to do my pre-op interview. She asked me all kinds of questions that were easy to answer until she asked, "What's your pain tolerance like?"
"I don't know how to answer that," I said. "I had natural child birth twice and that was fine. ACL reconstruction surgery, however, was a completely different story."
"I'll just put 'I don't know' down," she said.
She then went on to tell me that she doesn't want me to be in pain so I should let them know if I'm in any pain after the surgery next week. She doesn't need to worry about that.
She also said I should bring along my crutches. I do not want to be on crutches again and the whole thought of all of this stuff is bringing back bad memories from last year. I want it over with in the worst way, and logically, I know that I'll be better afterwards. But I am ACL traumatized and the dread that is beginning to envelope me is a feeling I wish wasn't so familiar.
So where would you rank the child births with the ACL? Just wondering the next time someone throws up ‘childbirth’ against my 4 ACLs.
Get cane, much more friendly than the crutches and as long as you have a brace.
They probably tell everyone to bring crutches in case they’re old or weak. Let’s face it, you don’t really fall into that category, and even if you need them for a day or two it won’t be long. Remember how well you recovered from the ACL? Remember the physio being amazed at your progress? Same thing, but with a much less severe operation.
You’ll be great, and back in busting your butt at the gym before you know it :).
Hang in there – I’ll be thinking of you!
What’s your pain tolerance like? I would’ve said -3!
Compared to your ACL ordeal this will be like getting a hangnail removed. It’ll be over soon.
Happy New Year!
Jed, that’s not really very fair, because childbirth is different for every woman. I could compare labor to ACL pain and be accurate…but others might not. (I also have a high pain threshold.)
Let me put it this way. . . with childbirth, you know there’s a HUGE reward at the end (in my case way “huge” because my kids had heads that were in the 95th percentile). The pain of child birth is excruciating at times, but it’s not bone pain. Bone pain and having holes drilled in your leg is completely different. It’s difficult to compare the two because they are so different, but personally, I’d rather have another child than go through another ACL recon anyday.
BBM
Here is praying that this time, you will not have any problems, and healing will be quick and easy. Truly you deserve a GREAT start to your New Year.
Wishing you success, good health, and happiness to you, and those you love.