HAPPY NEW YEAR! This is a bit of a personal post so if you prefer to opt out, I’ll be back to posting cute baby pictures again later this week 🙂
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Exactly one year ago today, I had a fall on a ski hill and suffered a tibial plateau fracture. It led to surgery, 3 months off my leg in a wheelchair, and several months of rehab before I could walk and resume my everyday activities.
{See other updates here: First update Six-week update Ten-month update One-year update Three-year update Five-year update Six-year update }
Today is my “a-knee-versary” and I wrote this post yesterday while sitting in the same place where I was injured one year ago: at the ski hill where my son is taking his ski lessons. Up until three months ago I thought I’d be skiing by now. But then the fall season hit and I didn’t keep up with my strengthening or physiotherapy as much as I should have. When I should have been ramping up my weight training and getting a specific “return-to-ski” program, I got swallowed by my work, went on a Disney vacation, celebrated the holidays with lots of eating (and skipping the gym), and as such I’m not ready to return to sports just yet.
But it’s okay. Two of the most important things that I’ve learned last year is to be patient and consistent. My body will not move on to the next step if it’s not ready, and it won’t ever be ready if I’m not consistent with my training and persevere through the times when I feel nothing is improving. This whole process cannot be rushed or sped up. It’ll take the amount of time that it needs to take.
For those of you who have found this post and are going through the early days with a TPF, my experience is that things definitely improve with time and hard work. I’m optimistic, but I’m not positive that I’ll ever be back to the strength and flexibility I had before. All I can do now is work towards a new, acceptable, normal.
Right now, I’m able to take part in low impact activities like cycling, rowing, weight training, and walking with no discomfort. However, activities like running, jumping, and anything that involves high speed and high impact still cause significant pain (MUCH less pain than just a few months ago, so I’m quite sure it’s mostly a strength issue and not a complication from surgery or the metal implants.)
Last year, as I was lying in my bed or sitting in my wheelchair for the entire winter, I remember telling others and myself that I just want to be able to WALK again. And that if I could do that, I would never take it for granted again. So this year, I start the year with gratitude; I am SO VERY THANKFUL to be able to walk. I am also very thankful to ALL OF YOU who have supported me and waited for me to get better so I could photograph your families. I am forever grateful because I would not be able to stay in business and help support my family without you.
I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions because I find they are always the same things that I try to work on all the time, but THIS YEAR, I am adding to that regular list: by the end of 2019, I will be able to run and ski (without pain)!
Happy a-knee-versary to me! This time next year, I aim to be on the slopes instead of on my laptop!
Here’s a snapshot of my little guy yesterday before his ski lessons. I hope to post a picture of the both of us in our ski gear next year!
