PurpAnd

I help coordinate a football game every Thanksgiving holiday. We’ve played each year for the past 16 years or so (I’m not really sure when the tradition started), and we’ve typically had good turn outs - 12 - 18 players. One year we even had over 30 players and had to have two games simultaneously.

This year was a banner year. We had 16 guys show up for the game on Saturday following Thanksgiving. As we’ve gotten older, the games have become more serious - people wearing cleats, skin tight clothes, mouth guards, etc. And the offensive and defensive schemes have become pretty sophisticated with actual plays being called instead of ‘just get open.’ We’ve had full playbooks and we play will full offensive and defensive lines, when the number of players permits. With a total of 16 players, some coming and going at different times, we had at least 7 on 7 most of the day. I had hoped for 15 or so and it worked out great.

The weather was sunny, but extremely windy, and it was not warm. Once we picked teams, we made our way to the field and play began with the opposing team starting with the ball on the 20 yard line (we elected not to have kickoffs because of the wind). They struggled on their first possession and we intercepted the ball after a few plays.

Over the following 2 hours+, we traded scores and I was having the game of my life: two receptions for touchdowns, two rushing TDs, and an interception. Then… it happened. On a running play to me up the middle, i zigzagged my way through the line and was tackled at the knees by one of their cornerbacks. (Ha ha, if only this were true). See, we no longer play tackle because we’re old and we want to avoid injury. The reality in this case is that on my team’s very first play of the day, I took myself out of the game when I planted my feet then tried to shift directions. POP… Down I went… under my own weight.

I knew immediately it was not good. I clutched my left knee and tried to stand, but learned quickly that standing was not possible. I was carried off the field and given ice and advil. For the next three hours I watched the swelling grow above my knee as the guys played out a close one. Afterward we went to get pizza and beer, as we’ve done now for several years (I insisted that I tag along because I at least wanted to participate in something). I struggled through the uncomfortableness of the injured knee, hopping to the bathroom, and making friends grab food for me.

I spoke with my doctor-friends and they suggested I keep the leg elevated, use ice frequently, and just take it easy. So that’s what I did Saturday night and Sunday. Then on Monday, when not much had changed, I went to see the doctor. Xray says… avulsion fracture of the tibial spine. I guess I broke a small piece of bone at the top of the tibia that helps guide ligaments into/through the knee joint. I was given an immobilizing leg brace (see example below) and crutches, both of which I get to use until early January. Score!

The unfortunate thing is that I may have also damaged my ACL and/or one of the menisci in my knee. I won’t know until my MRI this Friday. Over the past week I have been learning how to use crutches, been sleeping, working, sitting with a straight leg, and working on my flexibility so I can eventually put on my own sock. I am not in a whole lotta pain, but I am reminded occasionally that there is damage when my knee feels like sending my brain some pulsing pain messages. I’m able to sit at a desk with my leg propped up on a box. I am able to drive, thanks to my dad who traded me his automatic for my manual transmission. I am able to get around with the help of these damn crutches (ya, we’re best friends), which brings me to the headline of this post… anyone know where I can sign up for crutch racing? I’m not talking Special Olympics cuz I would get my ass kicked, but something more along the lines of an underground gambling society where people bet on crazy events. I figure by the end of my six weeks I’ll be pretty quick on these pegs and I’ll be looking to make a few bucks.

Anyway, that’s the latest from here.