Hands down, the number one web search I get for my web page is for leg cast or full leg cast.  I figured it was about time I created a separate page just for the cast because it seems so popular.

 The Injury

I tore my right knee’s Medial Crucial Ligament (the ligament the runs along the outside part on the inside of the knee.  i.e. this my right knee, I tore the ligament on the left side of my right knee.) and did some meniscus damage while snowboarding in February 2007.  I actually was just getting off a lift.  It was all due to a small child falling down and an oblivious ski lift attendant.  I knew immediately what I had done was bad.  My knee didn’t work and the instant that I tore my MCL was INCREDIBLY painful.  I was taken down by the ski patrol, who I would not let cut off my boots or ski pants (too expensive!), but I did let them cut my longjohn’s.  The swelling and color of my knee was impressive enough that they asked if they could go get other ski patrol guys to look at it.  They wrapped me up in bubble wrap, card board and duck tape.  It was quite a site!  I road the long way in Justin’s truck (and cried) most of the way to the hospital.

I went to the closest ER to the ski resort where I was quickly diagnosed with at least a torn MCL.  They put me in an actual (unhinged) immobolizer and we started the long drive home.  The next day was VERY painful.  I started making phone calls trying to find a doctor’s office that could get me in on Monday (a holiday–President’s day).  I was a bit concerned that I ended up at the only office that was open and would take me…but they ended up being amazing.

An MRI was ordered (not the most pleasant experience) where it was determined I had completely torn my MCL and had meniscus damage.

 

I was put in a hinged immobolizer and told to stay off it.  I was on crutches and in a large immobolizer for at least 1 month and in physical therapy. Then they moved me to a smaller immobolizer.  I did not want surgery because I was getting married in a few months.  We waited until after the wedding to have surgery.  Here is me getting ready for my wedding with that sexy metal brace.

Finally decided to have surgery in July of 2007.  They went in and used a screw to attach my own MCL to the bone.  Within 1 month, it was obvious that the surgery did not fix my knee (the MCL basically pulled back out). 

So they did another surgery.  This time they used a cadaver Achilles heal and used two screws to attach it to my bone.  The recovery from this surgery was MUCH worse and a lot more painful!

I was in a cast for about 8 weeks.  I went through 3 different cast in those 8 weeks.  A cream/plaster one for the first 2 weeks. This cast had a long opening on the top to allow for my knee to swell after the sugery.  That is why it is covered with so much of an ace bandage because that essentially kept it together.  I had a built in ice machine that constantly was running inside the cast, which definitely kept the swelling down.

 

When I got this one taken off, they also took out the stitches from the surgery.  Then I had a blue fiberglass one for 3 weeks

and a black fiberglass one for the last 3 weeks.

My cast went from above my knee down to my ankle.  I didn’t have to have my foot wrapped because it was my knee that was injured.  What this did though was cause the cast to keep sliding down as my quadriceps atrophied.  The most uncomfortable past was that the cast rested on my Achilles heal and top of my ankle.  More than any other reason, this is why I went through 3 cast in that timeframe, so they could keep moving it back up.

While in the cast, I slept in a separate bed than my husband.  It just simply was too difficult for both of us to fit and for me to get comfortable.  I never could sleep very well with this thing, so I would have driven him crazy moving around and turning on the light to read or something.

When it came to showering, I was introduced to the most amazing invention.  I think this single handedly got my through those 2 months.  I bought a Seal Tight Cast Protector.  This thing worked wonders. I put a waterproof (plastic) chair in the shower so I could sit on that while bathing.    My cast never got wet with this thing.

Riding in the car was entirely different story.  I didn’t fit up front.  I had to ride the long way in the back.

This is in the trunk of my mother’s minivan.  When it came to normal cars, I had to just ride in the backseat with my leg propped up across.  Not comfy for long rides! 

When we were in large crowds (i.e. football games), I was forced to use a wheelchair because I could not move fast enough to keep up with the crowd or keep my leg protected from the crowd.

I definitely would not want anyone to go through this, but all I kept thinking is–there are much worse things in life!  It is weird when strangers stop you on the street to stare and just say “wow, I feel bad for you.”  Little task are very difficult with a cast this size–like fitting in a powder room bathroom.  Your leg will stick out straight, so if there is a wall only 2~3 feet in front of you, you won’t fit.

 

But my friends were great and brought food and helped me through.

 

Then comes the hard part…rehabbing.  Trying to bend your knee after this long stuck straight hurts so bad.  I worked so hard every day just to get it a degree or 2 further.  Do everything you physical therapist tells you too!  And find a PT that you like, because you will be there a lot, for a long time.  Liking them goes a long way!  It took me a little over a year from the second surgery to be able to jog at all (without a major limp.)  I still have days where the knee swells and it hurts and I may limp.  I still cannot run like I used to, but maybe one day.

If you are going through this–best of luck.  I know how miserable it can be!