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Disclaimer: This is my first post aside from an introduction on ShadowSpear. Its a topic that is currently effecting my day-to-day life and I'd imagine, given the sort of membership ShadowSpear has, individuals on this board would have experienced similar and far worse issues and that through their experience perhaps they can post some insight, advice, or words of wisdom for me. Maybe share a similar story. I'm not writing this post for any other reason than what I've mentioned. Thanks.
A week ago I dislocated my right kneecap during my BJJ class doing a simple warm-up exercise (side-shuffling of all things ... after already haven taken an hour class prior) and following that I've been battling what's become somewhat of a fear. I've never had any real physical injury before so the process of recovery, while simple and likely insignificant in respect to what many others on this forum have experienced, is considerable for myself. I lay in the back of the car seat and always have to elevate my leg, wear a brace, and am gimpy due to a limp. Day-to-day its a relatively painful experience (this first week walking around from class to class again, by Friday, was very sucky).
But I've remained mindful and realized that in life these sort of things happen. There is no reason I should fear this "recovery process" and I just gotta take it day by day. I ice it, take some pain meds, move on. The issue I have is what if it happens again?
Logically speaking, I know that probably won't happen. Physical therapy will strength the knee and I'll have the guidance of a therapist and doctor to rejoin physical activity. But its not impossible and I'm told its more likely to slide back out of place again because its now done it once before. I had never encountered the sort of physical pain I did when I dislocated my knee, and I very much fear it reoccurring. I fear doing the movement I was doing ever again because I relate it mentally to injury.
So, to combat this fear, I setup a plan of action.
Otherwise, I'm very lucky in that I had no fractured bones or torn ligaments. I'm odd in the sense that this occurred in a very normal and common movement. I wasn't in a car crash or anything. While I cannot do anything in the way of physical activity I do have a Netflix subscription, so that balances out.
Thanks ShadowSpear.
A week ago I dislocated my right kneecap during my BJJ class doing a simple warm-up exercise (side-shuffling of all things ... after already haven taken an hour class prior) and following that I've been battling what's become somewhat of a fear. I've never had any real physical injury before so the process of recovery, while simple and likely insignificant in respect to what many others on this forum have experienced, is considerable for myself. I lay in the back of the car seat and always have to elevate my leg, wear a brace, and am gimpy due to a limp. Day-to-day its a relatively painful experience (this first week walking around from class to class again, by Friday, was very sucky).
But I've remained mindful and realized that in life these sort of things happen. There is no reason I should fear this "recovery process" and I just gotta take it day by day. I ice it, take some pain meds, move on. The issue I have is what if it happens again?
Logically speaking, I know that probably won't happen. Physical therapy will strength the knee and I'll have the guidance of a therapist and doctor to rejoin physical activity. But its not impossible and I'm told its more likely to slide back out of place again because its now done it once before. I had never encountered the sort of physical pain I did when I dislocated my knee, and I very much fear it reoccurring. I fear doing the movement I was doing ever again because I relate it mentally to injury.
So, to combat this fear, I setup a plan of action.
- Remain mindful. No doubt the thought of "what am I going to do about this?" will enter my mind. Let it run its course and move on.
- Talk to the doc when I see him this week. Hopefully start PT. Keep following current instructions: ice, pain meds, brace.
- Re-watch "The Office" for proper dosage of laughs.
- I injured myself in a way that's new to me. Its been a difficult adjustment but I'm very fortunate and have access to a lot of resources.
- I'm having trouble dealing with the fear of re-injury.
Otherwise, I'm very lucky in that I had no fractured bones or torn ligaments. I'm odd in the sense that this occurred in a very normal and common movement. I wasn't in a car crash or anything. While I cannot do anything in the way of physical activity I do have a Netflix subscription, so that balances out.
Thanks ShadowSpear.
