All right, the tennis season is over for me. Prematurely. I had a "big match" set up for Friday evening a week or two ago. What do you do to get better? You practice.
So the Monday before the match I was playing a practice match, it was hot, like one hundred degrees hot. It was humid, like, 90% humid.
So there I was, back, on the ad-court side. A well placed passing shot was hit diagonally cross court. It would've been hard to get to, but a little hustle would do the trick. As soon as I took off, I felt a "pop" dead center in the middle of my calf muscle. My leg gave out and I hit the court. Of course it's embarrassing because everyone within a court or two comes rushing over to make sure I'm not dead.
After a minute or two lying on the 150° court surface I tried to stand and couldn't put any weight on it. I chilled on the sideline for a while, in a lot of pain, but thinking I just had a bad cramp or something. After about an hour however I knew something was wrong and a trip the emergency room was in order.
So after a follow-up visit to a sports orthopedic doctor it turns out I had a "partial tear in my medial gastroc". Sounds impressive, but apparently no big deal. The big deal however is that if it tears anymore, it means surgery.
Consulting the diagram to the left you can see the smaller of the two calf muscles, the Medial Gastrocnemius. See where it meets the white Achilles Tendon? That's where my tear is. If it tears the rest of the way, the tendon and muscle separate entirely and that's not good.
So for the next 4-12 weeks I have this huge, immobilizing power-armored moon-boot that prevents my ankle from any motion. It's quite awkward actually.
The main reason I've been playing tennis these last few months is to get exercise. As you can see from the photo (a sad commentary when you're taking a photo of yourself in the ER because you know you're eventually going to blog about it) I don't have abs of steel, but I can't help but think that if I had just stayed home that night, laying on the couch, enjoying a beverage, and watching television this wouldn't have happened.
Mind you, with that plan of action I'd just be in the ER with a heart attack ten years from now.
That sounds like it must hurt like crazy. Sorry about the moon boot. Maybe you can mount rockets on it or something.
ReplyDeleteHad the same thing happen to me when I was in my early twenties. Put paid to my military career, as my tear went all the way down. So I know how much pain you're in. Good luck with the recovery and take it easy. I rushed mine and wound up with niggling difficulties to this day. If I even think about running to catch a bus, I wind up with a twinge. So please, take it even easier than the doctors say for even longer than the doctors say.
ReplyDeleteWell, not quite the same thing. I got mine from stumbling into a rabbit hole rather than playing tennis, but you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteThat really stinks. Try to do well by your body and it rebels. Hopefully rest and rehab and you will be better than ever.
ReplyDelete@Christian and Brad: Thanks guys, I'm looking into rocket boosters as we speak.
ReplyDelete@Dangerous Brian: I'm taking your words to heart, I don't want any long-term nonsense over this for sure. It's one of those things where when it doesn't hurt, you forget how bad it is. Sounds like you've been right there though, thanks for the tip.
Ouch! Hope you have a speedy recovery! Don't overdo it!
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better buddy !
ReplyDeleteSorry to here you are on the DL. Maybe you can do some upper body work while you wait. I'll go run a lap for my homie.
ReplyDeleteNo probslems Mike. Good luck with the recovery.
ReplyDeleteBlitzer Mik has a bead on the bouncing ball, just needs one Go For It... And Mik has rolled a 1! Team Re-roll to prevent the turnover... and a 2. Fortunately, Mik's got some armor, but no. The other team's rolled a 10. And the injury roll - 54. A disastrous result for Mik! Mik's being rolled into the Apothecary's Tent and we'll await word.
ReplyDeleteThe Apothecary's Goblin has emerged with news... No permanent loss MA loss, but Mik is definitely MNG. A tough blow for his team.
Seriously though, take care and when the boot comes off, do your rehab.
Thats a real bummer. Take it easy and get some stuff painted :)
ReplyDeleteI love the recap Brian! Thanks for the well wishes, I'm pushing forty and not exactly in the best shape of my life, so I just pushed it too much and my body couldn't keep up. I certainly don't want a niggling injury for the rest of my life, or surgery, so I'll be adhering to doctor's orders as much as I can.
ReplyDeleteBugger - this is rather saddening! Hope you're resting it and that it doesn't get any worse! I feel your pain with the half a dozen knee ops I've been through, always seemed to be the smallest of things that set off the bigger injuries! I could do with losing a few pounds - I'm going to have to get on that as soon as possible.
ReplyDelete