Dallas's ACL SUrgery.

by Dallas Malone
(Eugene Oregon)

I am 14 years old and recently tore my ACL. i Play soccer full year round and play ODP (state team) and i play club. I was practicing with my high school team and we were playing on long grass. Im used to short turf so i was caught tripping on the ball alot, running and then the ball gets left behind ect. We were doing 1V 1 drills and i started off with the ball, I dribbled and beat the girl, running and left the ball behind me. As an attempt to turn a round and chase back I planted on my left foot (kindof on its side) leaned to my right to stay on balance and as i looked down i watched my knee pop out of place swing around and snap back into place. This never happening before, i was in complete shock of what just happened. I instantly knew something was wrong. i could not bend or walk, it felt hot, but i felt no pain. I was carried to the car and went to the doctor the next morning. As he moved my knee it was very loose and swollen, and would shift easily. I also had a small tear in my meniscus The next month was my surgery date, June 11. Being a very active person it was very very hard for me not to do things, to restrain. June 10th the day before my surgery I threw a ball to one of my friends, felt my knee shift, extremely, it felt hot again. went home, iced it, had surgery the next day and turns out i tore the OTHER side of my miniscus, even worse than before, fresh blood and everything in there. It is about 1 month post op. and im almost off crutches. I love the game of soccer and honestly cant imagine my life without it. This knee changed my life. 9 mounths out is gonna be hard for me. But i know not to be stupid and mess it up again, then im longer out. Then thats when you feel like an idiot.