There are a few things I remember about my first knee surgery, my ACL reconstruction that I had in January of 2000. I never thought that I would have to have a 2nd knee surgery but here I am. The first thing I remember about it is that I completely had a crush on my orthopedic surgeon! Dr. Frush asked me if I remembered who did my surgery when I unsnapped my tearways to show him my knee.
Did I remember?! Of course I did! I had the biggest crush on him! My 17-year-old self was in love with him! So, when he asked, I’m sure I blushed and smiled as I told him, “Kyle Anderson.” It turns out that Dr. Frush knows him. I could feel my blush deepen and my smile broaden. I explained that when I was 17, I completely had a crush on him! Dr. Frush laughed and told me that he thought that he is the doctor for the Detroit Lions now.
I wrote a blog post a while ago explaining that and Christen (my first physical therapist from years ago) confirmed that. After I found that out, I started paying attention to injured players when I was watching the Lions’ games and sure enough! Dr. Anderson was on the field! He’s older but I still could have a crush on him! He ages like Sean Connery
I tweeted this photo a while ago and posed the question that if my orthopedic surgeon was touching Matthew Stafford because he did my surgery does that mean in a way, I was touching Matthew Stafford? I thought so! At least that is what I tell my self.
The second thing I remember about my first knee surgery is that was the most pain I have ever experienced in my entire life! That includes childbirth but having had a C-section I think I cheated. When asked the question at work how I was feeling, my answer was quick and with a straight face that it was, ” the most pain I have ever in in my life.”
My nephew asked me if I was scared and I paused a moment, told him that knee surgery is the most painful thing in the world and after some hesitation simply said, “Yes.” Dr. Frush told me that this meniscus trim or meniscus repair will not be as painful as ACL reconstruction but somehow that doesn’t make me feel any better.
The third thing I remember from my ACL reconstruction is my follow-up appointment. I got to see Dr. Anderson one last time after the surgery was complete and I was getting my stitches out. He told me that I was lucky that my meniscus was still intact because otherwise, that would be really painful! That statement really didn’t seem important to me because the surgery hurt enough as it was!
Now I sit here with a torn meniscus and COMPLETELY concur with him! This is really painful! It has been painful for over six months now. This really hurts I am not looking forward to surgery because throw a little MS in and I’m not sure what my rehab is going to look like. I know one thing though; it is going to be long and painful!