It’s been a little over five weeks since my knee surgery. Recovery has been going really well and I’m even weeks ahead of schedule according to my physical therapist… but that doesn’t mean that I can walk without crutches just yet.
I have to see it through with these six full weeks on crutches no matter what. The good thing is that I’m almost there. The “bad” thing is that I may or may not be completely cleared come my doctor’s appointment this upcoming Friday. It’s possible that I may only get downgraded to one crutch (like a cane almost) but I won’t know until my doctor tells me. These six weeks have felt so long- I’m beyond ready to be cleared!
It might be a bit of my pride, but I honestly feel like my knee has been doing so well that I’m ready to be back on my two feet again (with caution of course). But I have to take a step back and follow my doctor’s orders so that I won’t have a relapse. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Regardless of how Friday goes, I’ve been experiencing a bit of loneliness while on crutches. Summer is practically here so that means more and more functions are happening on the weekend while I’ve been sitting inside the house scrolling through Instagram. The surgery itself was on my non-driving leg, so I’ve been able to get around in my car to an extent. But my activities are still pretty limited. I never knew how much I took casual walks or runs to the grocery store for granted until this season of life. I’m so excited to get back to my normal routine, but seeing everyone else out there living life has made me a little sad.
I’ve done my best so far not to slip into a depression. The loneliness hits harder on some days but I’ve kept my head held high through it all. In the grand scheme of things, I’ll be able to look back on this period and realize how short it was. But in the moment, it just doesn’t feel that way. On the bright side, I have a fun summer planned starting in June, so I have that to look forward to. At least my surgery happened on the tail-end of spring rather than in the middle of the summer.
I can also be grateful for what this time has shown me- that I need to embrace being outside the house more often. I’m only in my mid-twenties so it’s time for me to explore, live my life, and stop being so scared all the time. I’m a natural homebody, but sometimes, I think I stay inside too often for my own good. However, I think this summer will be the perfect time for me to embrace some change as I continue to embrace my healing journey.
Mental Health for Athletes 