Healing my torn ACL with Pleasure
- Apr 9
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 10
As ski season comes to an end, I thought it timely to share my story about how I healed my ruptured ACL with pleasure and why prioritizing time matters.
On my first run of the season down a Colorado ski slope, November 2021, I chose pretzel over pizza and made my way down on a stretcher.
My MRI(s) showed full-thickness tears to my left ACL and MCL and partial tears to my LCL, medial meniscus and a sprain. Surprised at my mobility, my first orthopedic surgeon still suggested immediate surgery. Concerned about missing out on daily sex and travel plans I paused the surgery and explored my options.
My Fitness Journey
I am a Scorpio born in 1968. When I went down that day on the slopes, I had established some good exercise routines. I practiced hot yoga 5 days a week, weight training twice a week, long walks in the park, and 5 mile runs every chance I got.
My days revolved around fitness routines and an hour of mind blowing, aerobic, sex during the week. I doubled down on the weekends which start on Thursday evenings after hot yoga. My diet included no meat, little sugar or alcohol, and as much protein as I could eat. Coffee and cannabis were staples.
While I am no spring chicken, my routines were dialed in and rituals established. I was in my early 50’s when my knee twisted, perimenopause was just beginning to break into my reality.
How I went about healing my torn ACL
After my injury all I could think about was how quickly I could get back to normal. I was still trying to turn back time pretending the accident could be undone. No chance! The first step would be to accept it and move on. There was pain, mostly at night and moving first thing in the morning, but my real challenge centered on mobility and resuming the exercise and pleasure practices I had built. This would ebb and flow for over a year.
Early days, I was desperate for a quick fix and found myself searching for answers down the Google rabbit hole; from hocus pocus quick fixes, regenerative stem cell solutions to physical therapy no single option was convincing.
Surgery seemed to have mixed long term results. Post surgery success, at my age, was inconclusive whether surgery was any better than fully committing to physical therapy, exercise, and healthy living. While I stumbled on a fellow yogi who had healed her injuries through consistent yoga practice overall it was mostly anecdotal stories, too often with an agenda.
It was time to make my list of non-negotiables.
Make a List
When making your “non-negotiables” list, factor your age, fitness routines and non-negotiable activities.
I based mine on PLEASURE.
My “Non-Negotiable” List
Daily Orgasmic Pleasure (SEX)
Hot Yoga
Weight Training
Walking, Hiking and Runs in the park
Activities to “Live Without”
Skiing
Competitive Team Sports (Volleyball, Basketball, and Tennis)
I was not willing to succumb to Pre and Post surgery bed rest without a fight.
My focus was on “TIME”. Time to heal, time to build, and time to commit to lifestyle changes and then, of course, the presence of mind to ignore time and wait out the healing process.
Tanya’s Tips: Whether choosing surgery or a focus on physical therapy and exercise to heal your injury, how you value and use your time will impact outcomes. Pushing through fitness can help build muscle and ensure improved physical stability.
Time to Heal
When first injured, denial sets in… “why me?”. Time can heal the pain but to do so it must also pass.
I wanted the problem solved immediately. When my first orthopedic surgeon scheduled surgery weeks after my fall, I was all in. I was ready to defer to the experts but not ready to go down with bed rest and braces.
Realizing that surgery would disrupt my routines I decided to postpone surgery and pushed through yoga and weight training, walked as far as I could and discovered new sex positions. I was by no means 100% but there was consistent, compounding improvement.
While surgery would guarantee countless hours of screen time (we all love binging TV), not having surgery would force me to spend my time pushing through fitness routines and rehabilitation.
I canceled surgery and went on my trip. Again, prioritizing PLEASURE.
Tanya’s Tips: Avoid quick decisions, if there is time to sleep on it, take it. There is a good chance time is on your side and will help the healing process.
Time to Build
By January 2023 I was in full swing with all my fitness routines, the injury barely slowed me down. In fact, I was pushing myself in ways I did not consider prior.
While the ruptures were still evident on subsequent MRI’s my strength and mobility were back and, in many cases, better than before the fall.
Still, I consulted a new orthopedic surgeon. Despite the improvement, we scheduled surgery for February 2023. My mobility and pain had improved significantly, and the time lapsed from fall to surgery turned out to be time very well spent. My ACL, however, was still torn.
During my pre-op visit, this time, my surgeon and I agreed it no longer made sense to go through with surgery. While my ACL was severed, I was able to tap into muscles, tendons, and new ligaments that provided mobility and stability that surpassed my prior strength.
I knew I was on the other side of my injury when I could easily roll up from my back to standing, drop into a hero’s pose, and run 5 miles with ease.
Think about how you wish to spend your time, energy and money. I spent mine on yoga and delving deeper into practice as opposed to surgery. It was my community of yogis and my personal trainer that got me through it.
The practice of Yoga allows you to move, breathe and feel into your body.
What is Hot Yoga? Hot yoga is a functional flow practice where the heat/humidity is set anywhere between 90-102 degrees. This allows for deep muscle movement and sweats toxins from every pore. Asana (deep stretch positions) flow in an effort to create more space to breathe.
Tanya’s Tips: Consider putting your time and energy toward yoga, even teacher training. The skills learned and practice built can create changes that last a lifetime.
Commit to Change
Indeed, lifestyle changes are all about time and how you choose to spend it.
While you should always consult with your health care team, you are stronger and can push harder than you think.
It will take a team and time. While committing the time for self-improvement goes a long way, surrounding yourself with a team that supports your health and fitness goals is key. Dialing in a community of yoga, Pilates, or aerobics instructors, a personal trainer, and trusted health care professionals can ensure your goals are met with or without surgery.
Tanya’s Tips: Build routines that support muscle. Eat your weight in grams of protein. This is not easy. At the end of the day there is no quick fix to healthy eating and exercise. It is all about practice, practice, practice and shifting your mind and habits from routine to ritual.
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