Jan 21, 2016
Sack Up & Send It: Another Season of Steeps - Silverton, Colorado, USA
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Sack Up & Send It: Another Season of Steeps - Silverton, Colorado, USA
To clear up some confusion...
Some of you have asked me if this ACL injury has anything to do with the most recent health mishap of the femur shatter possibility due to a cyst in the bone. The short answer? No. The long answer? It could have something to do with it since I wasn’t exercising as hard when I had the femur shatter possibility due to a cyst in the bone, causing my balance and strength to be not up to par and when I caught that ski edge, I wasn’t as strong to pull myself back up. That’s my theory. I’ve played this over thousands of times in my head and I think my theory is accurate. I’m sticking with it.
Here’s the recap on the cyst situation: I had knee pain in my right leg for about a year that began causing normal activities to be compromised. Had an MRI in November 2010 to check it out (see previous explanation of MRI) and a cyst was discovered on my femur. Took the results to an ortho in Aspen. Aspen Doctor said it wasn’t causing the pain and that good PT would help the arthritis that was also discovered. Back to my normal activities after a few sessions at The Awesomest Physical Therapy on the Planet. Fast forward one year later- knee pain still persists. Hurts to walk up stairs. Send Dad my MRIs to have a second opinion from his doctor in Michigan. Michigan Doctor alarmed. Says he can’t believe I have been skiing- the cyst has weakened the bone and could shatter at the smallest impact. Set up another appointment at Steadman in Vail- MRI and follow up. Vail Doctor agrees with Michigan Doctor. Oh and now there’s a dark spot in the cyst. Cancer? Sends me to a cyst and tumor specialist in Denver. Takes two weeks to get in. Feelings of paranoia set in. Drive to Denver, see the specialist. The cyst is taking up bone marrow and is not pressing on the hard part of the femur. I have probably had this since I was a teenager, he says. It’s rare which is why the other doctors were alarmed, they might see something like this once every 5 years. He also sees the dark spot. Orders a biopsy with a large needle. Biopsy negative. I can ski! This was concluded the Monday of “the accident.”
That Friday, first day back on skis, happy as a clam to be out on the mountain with a clean (sort of) bill of health, we go up to the top of Elk Camp for our first run of the day and ride down to Alpine Springs. Route taken? Naked Lady. Bam. Down. Split second. ACL gone. Other knee.
I don’t think I was meant to ski this year. I get it now. 12 days on my $1,499 pass. That’s $125 per day. It’s skiing in Aspen…$125 well spent. Although I had 48 days less than last year, I am still happy to have been out there. At least I can still call myself a 6 season Aspen/Snowmass season pass holder. I guess. (Hey at least I hit my deductible for the year. Hello free health care!)