It took me 2 years to recover from my last injury.
Well ok, not 2 years yet but I’m clocking in at 1 year and 8 months and have only just made about 60-70% recovery.
Every day people tell me “It’s been x months since my surgery/injury I should be done by now”. Says who? Well, the primary physician usually. Why are those estimates so far off? I’ve got a couple thoughts:
No one likes giving bad news. - When you’re stressed and looking for help after pain, accident, injury and someone tells you it’s gonna take 2 years… Depression isn’t an unreasonable response. It’s hard to think about 2 years as “short term costs” when it comes to “long term rewards” of the rest of your life. It’s a difficult and nuanced conversation to have and 9 times out of 10 when patients make it to me I end up being the one to “break the news”. Call it the trickle down effect!
Surgeons are not rehabilitative experts. - Anatomical experts, surgical experts, diagnostic experts for sure. There are plenty of things physicians do that physios don’t. Physiotherapists have a narrow but deep scope of practice. Often times the expectation given to patients is based on anatomical healing principles - i.e. 4-6 months to return to sport after meniscal surgery (because the meniscus would at that time be ready for that load). Anatomical rehabilitation of tissue injury is unfortunately not the same thing as functional readiness for return to sport/activity.
Predictions are usually based on best case scenarios. - Some people go into surgery with less muscle mass, more dysfunctional movement patterns, past injuries, highly demanding sports, and disorders or diseases. All of these factors are going to make return to sport/activity a little longer. These are all very nuanced factors that are unique to each person. AND they can only truly be appreciated off a treatment or surgical table.
We have to see how it goes. - No matter how accurate of a prediction you could get, there are too many variables in motion. Anyone’s estimate can end up “wrong” and that part is just life.
My best advice is to 1) slow down, 2) do the work, and 3) trust your gut. Things take time. They take work - intentional, quality work. Do you genuinely feel ready to return to those activities? Are you at all apprehensive? Do you still feel “off”?
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I’ve had 3 knee surgeries and 1 additional really severe knee injury (plus a lot of little ones). I’ve spent on average 2 years recovering from each of them (including without surgery). 2 years of your life rehabilitating doesn’t mean 2 years without fun. I’m just getting back to small hikes though I know I’m not ready for big ones. I can run a mile or so but my leg feels super tight after. I feel strong on 2/3 of my workouts and frustrated/in pain the rest. AND THAT’S OK.
Despite 2 years of rehabilitation, it’s still getting better little by little. And what’s the alternative? Giving up? One day at a time, one step at a time, one functional goal at a time.
