How Surgery Changed Me

Quick note: I know this is a pain, but after weeks of trying to understand a different blog site my blogs just kept disappearing and quite frankly I did not know how to fix it! So here I am, One Healthy Dancer 2.0! Everyone cross your fingers...


6 days ago I had an ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal repair. I am so glad to say my surgery was a success! I really can't wait to walk you through this experience with me and tell you are the things I would've wanted to know before experiencing it for myself. Also, lets take the challenge together to find new ways to be healthy, no matter the circumstances.


The first way surgery changed me was that it has forcibly, I repeat BY FORCE made me very dependent. If you know me, you know if I can do it on my own, I will. If I can't do it on my own, I will still try anyway. hehe. I despise asking for help in most manners, so this made my first day home from surgery quite the challenge. You see, I was given a nerve block for two-thirds of my leg so it felt like it was asleep (that awful tingle feeling) and that it weighed about 700 pounds. I couldn't even lift it!! This required a lot of help from many, thankfully I had the best team of nurses out there... my family and my boyfriend.

The second way surgery changed me was that it has required a lot of patience. I am a part of the instant gratification generation and I'll be honest it is much easier to think, " I had surgery, they fixed it, I'm good to go." We all know it doesn't work that way though. I am on day 6, as previously mentioned, and I walked for the first time without crutches yesterday. Its really exciting and it makes life about the little things. I spend 6 hours a day on the CPM, a machine that basically straightens and bends my knee for me. It's long and unruly and not near the physical exercise I was used to, but these are all steps toward my new healthy knee.

Perspective is probably the biggest way my surgery changed me. I am NOT one to pity myself. My life has been filled with trials and tribulations some people never go through in their entire lifespan and I am only 18 years old. That being said, in 18 short years I have been blessed with so many things that some only dream of, and I realize that too. The point being, when you are laid up in bed you cannot resort to letting yourself take pity. I have cried, and I have been angry, because honestly it isn't fair. There is nothing you can say to make it better, and I won't be back to real life in "no time" because that is not reality. However, reality is that life is still great. I am a living testimony that you can accomplish anything you want. I might have a knee injury, but I am One Healthy Dancer. I thought about this a lot yesterday as I realized that many people have it way worse than I do. This is just a speed bump on my path to success. I'm learning to make small fetes a great victory! It's pretty exciting too.

My question is, Is your glass half empty or half full? It may seem cliché, but I promise you it'll make all the difference. Whether you're recovering from an injury, have a weight loss goal, trying to make health a bigger part of your life, or a different goal in your future, it's okay to celebrate the small victories. In fact, its important. Please continue to be a part of my journey because I can't wait to share with you my emotions, and stories, and happiness as I reach full recovery.

Bandages off and swelling going down, now that's a big victory!

xoxo,
Heather