Not in a Good Mood

I'm not in a good mood these days. You see, I'm a reformed soccer, turned field hockey, turned rugby player. But as of late, I've been sidelined and I've come to realize that I need to chase some form of ball around a grassy/astroturf field to get the adequate exercise that I need. The problem being the following list. I thought I was at lucky number 13, but alas I don't think its time to stop.

1) Left knee, ruptured 2 ligaments Anterior Cruciate (ACL), Medial Colateral (MCL) and tore cartilage (medial meniscus) all known as the O'Donahugh's triad playing soccer at age 15. Surgery #1 sophomore year of high school.

2) Right knee, ruptured ACL as a result of over-rehabilitation of left knee's prevous debacle, surgery #2 junior year of high school.

3) Right knee, removal of a plica (odd tissue buildup). surgery #3 summer between HS and college.

4) Left knee, cartliage tear and debridement. surgery # 4 sophomore year of college, played a week later.

5) Left knee, SOOOO NOT MY FAULT, torn ACL, yes again for the second time when an ACC rival tackled me from behind. surgery #5, college soccer career ending event spring of junior year.

6) Right knee, torn ACL, yep that's both knees, totally my fault playing hide-n-seek on wet grass with neighborhood kids. surgery # 6 summer after graduation.

7) Left and Right knee cartliage debridements...moving into maintainence phase now and yes I had both knees scoped at once and hobbled around on crutches like a fool. surgeries #7 and #8, both legs at once counts as two events in my book before heading off to grad school.

8) Right knee, torn ACL again, field hockey...astroturf is not good for bad knees. surgery # 9 summer between first and second year of grad school.

9) Left knee, dis-unified ossification of the left tibial-tuberocity (bone chip that separated from my shin where the quadracepts tendon inserts into the lower leg) from being struck in the shin with a field hockey stick...stupid lesbian. Surgery # 10. First year in DC.

10) More maintainence right knee cartilage debridement, surgery # 11. Last year of the free world known as Democratic Leadership in the White House.

11) Big whopper, right knee hyperextension playing rugby when I was running full stride and a guy dove in front of me, pinning my foot to the turf and me pitching forward at the knee. Torn ACL, Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), MCL and Laterial Collateral Ligament. That's right I took out the only four ligaments available in my knees at once. Introduction of Ed and Betsy (my cadavar ligaments for the ACL/PCL) cause there was nothing left to take as a substitute ligament, 9 months of physical therapy and one unhappy Mr. Scott. Summer of 2001 surgery #12.

12) Scott's definition of asphalt diving. While actually attempting to run on the streets, I got hit by a car. You guessed it, the introduction of Sue, the ACL cadaver ligament in my left knee and surgery lucky number 13.

Well as you can see, I'm bringing this all up because I think it's time to move on to number 14. My right knee has been acting out lately and is not cooperating with the fun activities left to me such as the eliptical trainer and walking in a straight line. On top of that, I want to chase a ball again. So, if y'all see me hobblin around the streets of DC on my trusted crutches that have served me for 18 years, please don't steal my pain killers. I need 'em.

Ok, so off to see the doc in a few weeks. I swear I've single-handedly put both of his kids through Duke.