[weegreenlassie]

Hi All!
So I didn't realize it until a little after St. Patrick's Day, but I guess I'm "known" as the Irish Dancer!
I've been dancing, technically, for 10 years, but I've been training amazingly hard since last summer to build up strength, technique, and dance-stamina to try to better my education, potentially go for certification, and become a generally stronger person!

So... Wednesday, I went out Roller Skating (my other love), and I took a friend with me-- we were having fun, but we got into a little "amateur RollerDerby" moment, and I took a HARD spill-- My skate took my right leg out to the right, off to the left, and back underneath me-- THEN I landed on it.

I went to the ER the next morning, and they told me that I have a "ligament sprain" in my knee, and if it doesn't get better in the next week, I should go to another doctor/specialist to see if I messed with any of the cartilage.

When I put on my brace today, my leg was extremely swollen, and just TOUCHING my poor kneecap sent waves of pain up and down my leg I'm seriously terrified that this stupid spill has ruined my Irish Dance Career (in the sense of dancing, and the sense of owning my own school and having to give it away/close it).

But beyond that, I'm also terrified that it will take away the one thing in my life that has kept me happy and healthy!

~MY~ Irish Dance teachers are being super sweet and adding elements to class (like ab workouts) that I can still participate in

But what if this knee thing is so bad I can never dance again.... (sorry to be melodramatic)
I guess this was more of a rant than anything else, but... How do you stay fit when you're "bed ridden"?

[chris313]

I would HIGHLY suggest you go to an orthopedist ASAP. My daughter is a college soccer player and she had turned quickly and fell in a game. Like you, she is very physically fit with strong legs. Because she was so well conditioned, she didn't think her injury was too bad. Having been through this before, I immediately took her to the orthopedist. She had an MRI which showed she completely tore her MCL and had 2 tears in her meniscus. She's scheduled for surgery this Wednesday. Don't take the advice of en ER doctor. Waiting only allows things to get worse. Hope you're feeling better soon.

[yoyomadness]

I agree with Chris313 and would add that you might seek out an orthopedist who specializes in sports medicine.

Good luck!

[weegreenlassie]

Thanks I'm going to the University of Washington ASAP to see if I can get in with someone who specifically works with Dancers -- since that's what my career depends on (though I wish I didn't have to expense this! ugh!!)

I know I should be sitting around with my leg propped up, but I feel SO helpless and lazy... (and it's very trying on my poor boyfriend who has been SO good to me these past couple of days..) I want to ~do~ something, but my arms are so tired from the crutches (which I'm not used to!), and my left leg is so tired from hopping!!

Tonight I'm going to dance class (to take notes!!!), but the instructors said they would modify some Ab Workout stuff for me, which is exciting Even if I'm doing a couple of crunches, I know I'll feel better

Golly.. I know it's normally a good thing to be this "twitchy" and always up and doing things, but when it's for the best to stay put... It's so annoying! (but more, it's frustrating knowing that I can't be helpful at all..)

Thanks for the well wishes!
And sorry for the bummer-i-ness of this post...!

[mandalinn82]

Sit on a bench (or better, a stability ball so you have to use your core muscles). Punch - fast. It can get your heart rate up. It also relieves a lot of frustration. So punch, jab, block, do some faux speedbag...all of it will get the heart going and burn off some of that energy.

Don't underestimate the cardio power of crutches, either.

Oh, and some gyms have an arm bike. Good for cardio when you can't use the LB at all.

Let us know what the specialist says. Knee injuries CAN be managed, and you CAN come back from them (even bad ones). I've had surgeries on both knees by age 25, have some serious issues still, but can do anything but kneel. Just make sure you find a good specialist/surgeon, and that you get an even better physical therapist.

In the meantime, keep working your arms. You'll need lots of muscle there, not only because it'll keep your calorie-furnace burning, but because it'll help you with the crutches. If you don't have a formal UB lifting program, now's the time to start!