High Level Soccer Player's ACL

Currently I am 16 years old and being recruited by many division 1 schools to play soccer, which is really the most important thing in my life. I play at a very competitive club level soccer in the spring and, truthfully, our high school is not very strong at soccer so I really do stand out.

At the beginning of the season, every thing seemed great. We had a great start to 5-1 and 3-0 in conference, overcoming our rival and another tough game. I was so confident that we would make it to our first trip to state. Unfortunately, thats not how things worked out.

In a game we had under definite control, I simply fell trying to turn directions and landed on the ground. I tried to get up, and did, then proceeded to fall down once realizing I could not walk, no doubt because I did not expect not being able to walk. The odd thing I thought at first was, "Hey, I have no pain at all." I was helped off the field and the next morning went to the doctor to get it checked out. They did a few X-rays and an MRI and it was confirmed on September 18, 2008 I tore my ACL.

This really really sucked. Especially when you want to play everyday, like I did. The good news was that everything else in my knee is and was intact, and the only thing in my knee hurt was the ACL, which was completly torn!

I had surgery on October 2nd after the swelling was down (although there really was not much at all). After surgery I was prescribed with medication if I needed it for pain. I have not had to use any of it, and have had absolutely ZERO amount of pain through all of this, which I find kind of weird. They used the patellar tendon which seemed like the most logical move in my position.

Since then, I have been flying through the rehab. I was off of crutches in 6 days, and out of the brace in 3 weeks and 6 days.

Currently I have full range of motion and it feels almost exactly like it does before it was torn. I know I still have a long way to go, but the main thing I have to say is that just having a positive attitude will help you so much. Realize there is more to life and put in good, hard work everyday just like I have and it will pay off.