It’s amazing how things your life can change in the split second. It is even worse when it is not your fault.
On Wednesday, March 2, while skiing, I was hit in the back by someone going down the mountain too fast and out of control. I double released out of my skis, was thrown forward and landed hard on my knees and chest. The forward momentum on impact caused my knees to hyper flex. The weight of my ski boots and the angle of the impact caused my left knee to go a little too much into flexion. I didn’t hear or feel a pop, but I definitely felt more impact on my left knee. I rolled over and sat in the snow. I collected myself, felt around my knee and nothing hurt. I moved my knees and there was no pain. I thought I got lucky, until I stood up. I felt a shifting motion on the inside of my knee. I sat down for a few more minutes and tried to stand again. When the same thing happened I knew that I had a significant injury. I waited for the ski patrol to take me down on a sled. I was evaluated at the medical center and was told it looked like an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear.
I was at Whistler in the Canadian Rockies, and at that point, all I wanted to do is get home and be evaluated by my orthopedist. I was issued a brace to protect my knee. I was able to change my flight for the next day. I also scheduled an MRI for Thursday evening, and was able to get an appointment with Dr. Brian McKeon, first thing Friday morning. As difficult as flying cross country with a knee brace and crutches, I was impressed on how accommodating United Airlines was in assisting me with a wheelchair at the 3 airports I had to navigate through.
Dr. Brain McKeon is the only orthopedist I refer my patient’s to for knee and shoulder issues. Between the MRI and the exam, it only took him a few minutes to diagnose me with a torn ACL ligament, and told I needed surgery, which was scheduled for April 7. At that moment my life changed. The tables turned from me being a health care provider to a patient in need of surgery. A role I luckily until now I had no prior experience with.
I was not able to weight-bear on my left leg 2 days post-injury. I asked Dr. McKeon when he thought I could go back to work. He said on Monday, (3 days later). I questioned his answer, and he told me, “If you do everything I tell you to do you will be able to work on Monday”. That was all I needed to hear. I am a motivated patient. I wanted to get back to work and life as soon as possible! I was 100% compliant with Dr. McKeon’s recommendations and sure enough, on Monday I went to the office. When I woke up Monday morning, I wasn’t so sure how I was going to do it. Once I got to the office, the more I moved the better I felt! Those of you who are patients of mine know that I move all day at a pretty quick pace. Yes, my pace has been a little slower, (and still is), but I am still able to perform and provide excellent care to my patients.
A mantra I say every day in the office is “life is motion”. It has never rung truer.
Now I have a better appreciation for my patients who put their trust in me. New patient’s come in not because they want to, but because they have too. Whether it is pain, the inability to work or do a sport, they are looking to uncover the cause and find a solution. For those patients with functional issues, I offer a functional solution. If I feel I can help, I explain the cause and provide recommendations to get them doing the things they need to do, or enjoy doing with goals and expectations. (For example, if you follow my recommendations, you’ll be able to run again within 6 weeks). These motivated patients follow through and usually meet or exceed our goals and expectations. Of course, if I don’t think I can help the patient, I refer them to one of the many exceptional providers I have aligned myself with, including Dr. McKeon.
That is where I am now. Dr. McKeon at my pre-op appointment last week gave me realistic expectations. Yes, I can return to work 4 days post-surgery. I should be able to run by 3 months, but tennis will have to wait 18 months. The tennis news hurt, because I usually play a few time a week during the summer months. At least I know the expectations, and hopefully being the motivated and compliant patient that I am being, and will continue to be, I can exceed these expectations, but not without following the advice of my health care team.
In addition to Dr. McKeon, I give thanks to Steve Crowell of Rebound Physical Therapy who did my pre-op evaluation and gave me exercises to do to prepare myself for surgery. I already have my 6 weeks of post-op PT appointments scheduled. Thanks also to Anita Luck,of Body Trio, my Performance Movement Specialist, who has given me functional movement exercises to do now and I will be seeing post-op as well. Thanks to Bernadette Lehmann, our massage therapist, who has been helping take the knots out of my muscles. Special thanks to Drs. VanNederynen and Ball who have been adjusting me and providing ART® regularly. It is amazing the collateral damage that occurs from wearing a knee brace (now only during office hours) and walking with an abnormal gait. Their adjustments have kept me moving and feeling much better.
The lesson from this injury is that I am now an even more understanding and compassionate doctor. I can literally put myself in my patient’s shoes. I am even more humbled by the trust and respect my patient’s put in me. I also have a better understanding of the commitment it takes to make and keep my appointments, and of course learning how to navigate the insurance industry .
My surgery is April 7. I’ll keep you posted on the experience and my rehabilitation. Now I need to stay compliant and get back on the exercise bike!