Don't tear your ACL!

I have now had all my pre-op appointments and I'm on for surgery on Dec 13. I got all the gory details about how they're taking a piece of my hamstring and jamming it into holes they drill into my femur and tibia. They also will be either scraping or sewing my meniscus. It all sounds so bad when they describe . . . but not as bad as not racing cyclocross again. I do get some great drugs - some valium before the surgery (that was some good news) and some narcotics afterwards (the kind you have to sign for at the drugstore).

I also got my brace the other day which is miserably uncomfortable and I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to be able to sleep with that thing on. The good news is that if all goes well I will only need to use the crutches for less than a week but I will have the brace in the fully straight position for at least a month. Oh, did I mention that I get two weeks off from work! Now that is a positive benefit of surgery for sure.

The doctor at the pre-op also emphasized to me that I would not be skiing or snowboarding this winter at all. He also said that although I would think I was fine to start back to doing my normal activities after maybe 3 months that I wouldn't be. He said four months and I could jog in a straight line on an even surface. Six months and I could start returning to the things I love. I guess I better get used to going to the gym and riding my bike on the trainer as I have a long haul before I'm back to doing all my favorite outdoor pursuits.

My advice: don't tear your ACL. If only someone had told me that I'm sure that I would have heeded the advice.