A bit of bad news from me… I tore the ACL in my right knee, so I won’t be dancing for some time. It’s not a catastrophic injury, but I do need to get surgery to reconstruct the ligament and the recovery time after that is something around eight months.
I’m not sure why it happened. It was just a little thing. A tiny, pedestrian hop in rehearsal and then there was this loud POP! and that was it. Really painful. It’s always those little things for me. I’ve only ever had minor injuries (sprained ankles… that’s about it, really) before, but they always happen when I’m doing the smallest, simplest things. Maybe I’m tired or distracted or not quite as warmed up as I should be. There’s just something humbling about it. I mean, if I was doing some crazy fall to the ground or a huge grand allegro it might feel, if not justifiable, then at least excusable. But a hop!
I’m doing some P.T. to regain full mobility of the joint before I go in for surgery. It’s a pretty intense workout for my one leg… Maybe after the whole process I’ll be lopsided, with the bad leg stronger than my good leg!
At least they give you your MRI with a pretty picture of the Golden Gate to cheer you up, right?
My doctor told me that I could keep doing barre until surgery, if I was careful. So yesterday I was taking barre, not turning out very much and moving slowly and basically focusing entirely on keeping my knee stable. We were doing something on one leg and between one moment and another my knee collapsed out from under me. I fell flat on the floor. It was the strangest feeling; my leg was under my control and then, suddenly, it wasn’t. It felt like my leg was made up of two blocks balanced happily on top of one another and then something came along and jerked the bottom one away. Bizarre. Also mortifying. If it hadn’t been painful it would’ve been comical. All the little marionettes marching along and then one slips on a banana peel.
I’m trying to find things to keep me occupied during my more sedentary months. I’ve signed up for National Novel Writing Month (50,000 words in the month of November!), I’ve been seeing movies (am utterly obsessed with the soundtrack from The Darjeeling Limited), I finally read Atonement (wonderful), and just today I received my season three DVD set of Doctor Who (who knew pinstripes could be so exciting?). I even started a blog to whinge about my non-dancing time. There are all these things that I can do with the my suddenly empty schedule, but it’s just not the same, you know?
susan kim
oh no!!!
i’m so sorry, megan. that blows (no pun intended, i promise) big time.
i’m sending healing thoughts northward!
Nov 09, 2007 @ 07:49
Ben
Major bummer. Good luck on your recovery!
Nov 09, 2007 @ 12:07
scarlet
Oh no! So sorry to hear about your injury. It happened to me two years ago. The first few days after surgery are a little tender, but you’ll be surprised by the way the body heals. I found that PT and then pilates and simple gym exercises went a long way. Honest! Good luck!
Nov 09, 2007 @ 14:16
sasha
so sorry! good luck on the healing, you never know what positive things can come out it though. all the best for a speedy recovery.
Nov 09, 2007 @ 17:12
megan
Thanks for all the well wishes guys! I’ve gotten so much support over this and it’s really great. I have a follow-up appointment with my ortho guy on the 21st, so hopefully I can just schedule my surgery and get started on recovering! (Scarlet, thanks for the reassurance… it’s good to hear from people who have been through the experience already!)
Nov 09, 2007 @ 21:59
Cathy
so sorry to hear that! I really hope you get better soon! injuries like that simply suck…
I attempted on reading atonement when i was like … 13 and it wasnt exactly interesting to me at the time. now me and the book have been exchanging looks and maybe its time to give it a try again?:
Nov 09, 2007 @ 23:59
miki orihara
Sorry for your injury. Things happens with no reason but the things are meant to be happening on you. ( that is the way I see it) I remember talkking to Susan Kim about this too…Somebody is telling you to slow down? or sit and read! or something.
just to let you know I have 2 prpfessional dancer friends who 1: she had a big accident-was dropped on her knees, and has no ACL both knee and still dancing beautifully, 2:she had minuscus problem for a long time that she has to wait to get surjury and then found out on that day of surjury her ACL was completely torned by then.
SO it is possible. but yet of course if you could have it done and recover, that the best.
Take care well!!!
Nov 10, 2007 @ 15:41
Georgia
OOOhhhh-so sorry to hear about your knee. I had a reconstruction w/ an allograft 2 years ago. My PT and surgeon said to get strong before the surgery. The recovery went well because of it. Take care or yourself and email me if you have any questions. Good luck!
Nov 11, 2007 @ 16:25
Dan Schert
Megan,
I am a Rehabilitaion Counselor working with Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine cases.
With your dance background you will do well with your rehabilitation.
Do you know John Michael Schert a dancer in the San Fran area?
Best Wishes,
HDS
Nov 11, 2007 @ 20:03
susan
Just something ACL-related that I heard through the grapevine:
A well-established, much-reknowned dancer (I’ll let him/her remain anonymous, so as to not start rumours) recently tore his/her ACL and repaired him/herself by surgically replacing his/her ACL with his/her hamstring.
Apparently, his/her knee is much more pliable and functions better than before the surgery!
I’m not much a risk-taker myself when it comes to the body–especially when that body is mine–but I thought this was interesting and share-able. Kinda scary, though!
Nov 16, 2007 @ 17:21
Bruce M.
Sorry to hear that your recovery will take so long. Saw “Icarus/Rise” last night at the Artaud (Nov. 16th) and was really impressed. Only way it could have been better was if you were in the line up. At least, you have your literary outlet. When I got a herniated disk five years’ ago, all I did for nine months was make plastic models. Best wishes. Get better soon.
Nov 17, 2007 @ 21:41
Beverly
Hi I hope you heal to 100% of your former self if you click my name you will find lots of mri info.
Dec 03, 2007 @ 04:44
liz
good luck with recovery. sad to say i am envyous. i have had a torn acl for a year now. it really isn’t good i actully had to leave my job can’t work or anything but hopefully my layers now good thing. best wishes!!! dance on
Mar 18, 2008 @ 00:24
Dan Schert
How is your knee doing ?
Dan Schert
Valdost , Georgia
May 09, 2009 @ 01:12