Racquetball Sent Me to the Emergency Room

Well, I was running backwards trying to return an overhead ceiling shot today and suddenly I heard several pops, like stepping on rice crispies.  I wish I could say "next thing I knew I was on the ground."  But I was pinned in the corner of the court and though all I wanted to do in the world was get down, it was awkward trying to do so, so I got a couple more pops as I wiggled trying to fold my body to the ground.  I spent a few minutes on the ground screaming in some of the worst pain I could imagine before things finally backed down to a tolerable level. My screams were loud enough that they called the paramedics.  So I ended up in the emergency room, X-rays, MRI, diagnosis: partially torn MCL.  I jokingly blamed my surgery: after all, no way I would have been playing racquetball so often six months ago.  But the flip side is, at 130 pounds heavier, it was bound to happen anyway, and the damage would have been much worse. Funny thing happened, too.  A nurse (cute, blond, young, thin) came over and was asking me the standard questions, allergies, surgeries, etc.  She asked who did my RNY, and I told her, and she exclaimed, "I love him, he did mine, too!"  Had she not told me, I would have never guessed she had ever weighed more than five pounds over what she was currently. Anyway, I'm finally home and I have Vicodin, so things are OK now, though I'm wishing I had a one-story house.

Get well guy!!  Avoid the Vicodin if you can.  It usually gives me really bad dreams, never a restfull sleep.  Yet for pain, there is not much choice is there?  As winter draws near,  I'll try and get back on the racquetball courts (read my golfing exploites to see why).  I guess we are blessed just to be able to be out there and enjoy the games to begin with.  Brian

I haven't taken a Vicodin yet, the pain is manageable without pills, at least it was after the first night (when the leftover hospital drugs took care of me). I've never been much for golf, a few four-man scrambles where my team was very unhappy to try to pick through two drives of mine that were useable.  Maybe someday when I have too much time and money I'll try it again.

Ard,

Sorry to hear that, it must be painful. Hope you're back up soon and this doesn't affect work and other aspects of life.

Get Better,

Dave

Medial collateral ligament (MCL) — The MCL supports the knee along the inner side of the leg. Like the ACL, the MCL can be torn by a direct sideways blow to the outside of the knee or lower leg, the kind of blow that can happen in football, soccer, hockey and rugby. The MCL can be injured by a severe knee twist during skiing or wrestling, particularly when a fall twists the lower leg outwards, away from the upper leg.

Oowwww! In a knee brace for a bit? You’ll have to sit out till homecoming now! Take care of it, or you’ll have to be ‘red-shirted’ And drag this all out through a 5^th year! Hope you’re back up and going soon! Best Wishes- Dx

I'm in a long knee stabilizer for now.  The ER doc was averse to the idea of me wearing a flexible brace later to play sports.  He says it's a crutch you'll depend on (yeah, that's why we have crutches I thought).  But I'll see a specialist next week who'll decide the continuing treatment, etc.

Way to get out there and be active although I'm sorry to hear about your injury. I really screwed up my elbow recently when I fell down playing basketball on a concrete court. I also blame WLS because I so awkward after losing nearly 300 big ones. I'm like a flippin drunk out there. Wouldn't trade it for anything!! Best of luck with your recovery, ard. Boner