Was surgery my worst enemy?
I thought surgery would be my worst enemy because it took my Olympic dream away, instead it reminded me of the things I was missing in my journey to be my best. You know how I have talked about doing the little things well I had my lost of little things but I removed items because I felt healthy. Nooooo! Keep the things on the list that got you to where you are. I didn’t keep all the simple exercises because my hamstrings and knees felt fine. The enemy of great is complacency. I know myself better than anyone else and I know my body needs extra attention in these areas. You know yourself, what have you been neglecting. What are the thing that keep you going but you feel like you don’t have time for right now? Nope, do them now or you pay later like I did.
Things didn’t click like they were just earlier in the year and definitely not the year before. My body eventually told me you need to slow down and then it said stop. STOP! No, I won’t go over that hurdle like you are asking, I won’t drive out of the blocks like you want and I’ll stay on your mind until you do what is necessary. What ended up being necessary was knee surgery. Of course I cried but realized I am human so the demands I put on my body will require me to have certain physical needs. I will have to stay in the weight room longer and have more physical check ups. There is a price to pay to chase your dreams and that for me is TIME.
After seeing my doctor I accepted that I needed knee surgery. The idea that I would need help to do simple things was very hard because just a few weeks ago I was chasing an Olympic dream. Something as simple as running back upstairs because I forgot something would be a thing of the past for a few weeks. To have to constantly rely on my husband felt like I would be such a bother no matter how much he said I wouldn’t be. He would be the full time caregiver for our daughter. She’s two and up and moving, I couldn’t keep up with her. I knew I had to change the way I viewed this surgery or I would be in for a long miserable few weeks. I said you know what let’s take this on as a challenge. I bet I can get this knee to come back better than ever, on or off the track.
I talked with my doctor and we came up with a great game plan. The plan is quite aggressive but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Surgery went well and I remember thinking this is the biggest knee brace I have ever seen in my life. Now the first part of this plan is to rest the proper amount of time. May not seem difficult but it is for someone like me. I wanted to bend my knee so bad. It’s super weird to have to keep your knee bone straight when you are a runner. I followed doctors orders and kept it straight and in the brace. I could tell that each day it was getting better but I always think about what is the best natural way to heal. Ice is always number one but you know what I did to give myself the best odds ever of healing properly and fast, RELIEF CREAM from BioFit 360. I applied it morning and night to my knee. Minimized my aching and helped when I massaged my knee for swelling. I felt a difference! I am currently ahead of my docs expectations and I plan on staying there. No more, my hamstrings and knees feel great so I can go home early today. They feel great let’s keep them that way. At physical therapy I have a certain number of sets and then I have my extra sets. No games played and no corners cut. I keep my bag packed with my list of exercises and relief cream. Won’t leave home without it.
To remain healthy I am learning that gaining mental strength is also an on going process. There is always room to improve and the day you think you figured it all out… well I feel sorry for you. Life is beautiful with all its ups and downs. I’m still learning that even as an Olympic Gold medalist, my craft has so much more to teach me.
Everyday I remind myself that life is going to be full of life lessons but what lessons will you have to repeat.
