Leanna's Rugby Accident

by Leanna
(British Columbia, Canada)

When I was 17 my highschool rubgy team went to California for a tournament against a couple US teams (we were from BC, Canada)
We had one every single game and were on our last game of the trip. As soon as it started I was running to tackle, and my foot got lodged in a pot hole in the grass. Obviously I tried to keep running but my foot wasn't going anywhere.

I hear a loud pop sort of like a cap gun going off, and right away I was on the ground, screaming and crying in INTENSE pain. My coach carried me off the field and instantly my knee was black and blue and about 3 times the size. The paramedics arrive shortly after and checked me out. They gave me a brace and some crutches and told me to see my doctor as soon as I was home (which would be a 27 hour bus ride later to BC) After icing it and keeping it elevated it didnt hurt so bad on the way home, I mostly slept on the floor of the bus so I could keep my leg straight.

When I got home my mom took me right to an orthopedic surgeon and he didn't even have to take an MRI to tell it was a tear, considering he could move my leg sideways away from the rest of my thigh with complete ease. My mom gagged when he did it, it looked so gross, like I had no bones. Haha.

Anyways I decided not to have the surgery right away because we were in the middle of moving and I didnt want to have to pack and drive 4 hours post surgery to our new house, which we had to renovate anyways.

Once we moved, the winter was difficult, my knee would constantly give out and swell and bruise more and more. So after 2 years I had enough. Now, I just turned 20 and had my surgery yesterday!

I don't wanna scare anyone, but I have never experienced pain like this in my life.. and I have broken many bones and had many different sets of fractures and stitches. I cant move my leg at all, its very stiff and very swollen. I cant ice it becasue my bandages are so thick and if I undo them, the pain is worse without the compression of the tensor. Anyways I can slowly feel it getting better and Im staying on top of my pain killers (oxycotin) So I'm hoping tomorrow will be a better day. How long did everyone else have severe pain for? I almost went into the emergency because I was crying my eyes out.. But all in all I'm really glad I had the surgery and wouldnt take it back if I could. I'm nervous about PT because I'm worried I wont be able to bend or flex my leg at all. Also, I've lost 7 pounds in two days, which is kind of an upside haha. Anyways any advice from others who had it? about pain and how long it lasts? What will my leg look like when i take the bandages off in 2 days? Any advice will help!! thanks!