Bad Deal, Looking For Advice, Not Happy About It

[jkumpire]

Well guys,

Thursday my summer season started, and I was looking forward to have it, every moment of it. My spring season was my best ever; I had nobody say boo to me all year, except in one game. Only two ejections, one for two managers arguing with each other on the field, and a HS kid for MC my partner even saw clearly. I hadn't worked in a while and game 1 was a rivalry game between local teams whit a long history. It was a perfect way to start a great Summer.

Sadly, I had some problems in my right knee which started when I stepped in a hole at a college game at a nice field. Seems the grounds crew had just edged the infield grass, leaving a small trench in the baselines, and coming out from the plate I stepped in it. No big deal, other than some pain for the rest of the season. A quick visit to my ortho guy, and the knee felt great.

Thursday, I felt great! When I tried to get ready, I had a little pain in my knee, but no big deal. The area around the plate had a small area raised up around it, a small slope where all the hitters had cleaned out so much dirt fromt he boxes the place where we and F2's stood had a slope in it.

Then in the 1st the batter bunts, I take a step and feel and hear a pop and pull. I can't run, can't get in position behind the plate, can't do a thing. Tried one more pitch, and I called both coaches in. A sub got called, and I go home, the first time ever I did something like that. It makes me ill to think I had to quit during a game. The MRI is Monday, it looks like I blew my knee out. I'm hoping it's just another meniscus tear, but I had one before and this hurts more and my mobility is zero.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm looking for information. Anyone go through a curciate repair/reconstruction? How long did it take uintil you could get behind the plate and run decently? How much therapy did you take? What problems did you have post-surgery? Are there any alternatives if the joint is not too unstable?

The real question I need answered: If I get reconstruction, is is really 9-12 months of rehab before I can umpire, officiate and play golf again? If so, that means I lose a Spring college season, as well as a Fall BB/VB season, and winter of Basketball and Wrestling officiating as well. I don't honestly know if I can survive a year of sitting at home or pushing a stupid piece of crap exercise bike or run in a swimming pool while you all get to do what I've loved to do passionately for 30 years. And of course, at my age the clock is ticking and assigners will have all kinds of questions to answer, like: "Who is your replacement?".

And just a quick reminder; I'm too nice a guy, and I don't want to make trouble for anyone. And look what I did to myself. I should have told the field crew to fill in the hole before the game, and Thursday I should have done something about the plate area before the game. Now i'm praying I only lose two or three months with a sprain or meniscus surgery. With crutches I can walk, and the joint doesn't feel so unstable it will collapse the first time I do anything. Don't be an idiot like me.

Update: It also affects my typing, I apologize for all the mispellings.

[dumbdumb]

I will start with a sorry about the injury.

Now, I am jealous, but not about the injury.

Umpiring is an advocation and not a vocation. How in the world do you put the time, energy, studying, do whatever has to be done no matter the time involved, caring, dedication, going the extra mile, going above and beyond into your regular job to have exactly all those characteristics and time for your advocation and golf? It sounds like you have time for officiating 24/7? I thought in today's world where everything is 24/7, nobody has the time to be 24/7 with their regular job, much less a real job and an advocation and golf. More power to you, with being able to do a knockout performance on both ends with both the real job and the advocation. That is just the way I am reading your article, and why I am jealous. However, you may do all the sports, but just 1 day a week for all I know.

Just relax about the surgery and make sure you do the rehab properly and not come back too soon. You have had 30 good years even if you could never come back. You would just not be going out the way you want to go out, if it by chance was due to injury. Actually, if you take a year off to rehab and you are as good as new, and those you answer to in the advocation world are the way you are protraying them, they are the problem and a no good bunch of so and so's. This is not like a 10 year layoff, where they may need to observe a lot of scrimmages to see if you still have it. You are not portraying the supervisors role in a very positive light here. Guess if it's dog eat dog, at least you have the guts to say that on this board or at least imply that, rather than just sweep the issue under the rug.

Once again, good luck on the surgery and a speedy recovery. Since you are a good official in all these sports, everyone should be anxiously awaiting your return after rehab. I know I would. After only a year, you would go right back in, where you left off.

[JaxRolo]

Sorry about your Injury. Hope you recover well!

By chance do you have a Baseball Type Insurance? NASO? ABUA?

[boyinr]

I tore meniscus in both knees a year apart and was out about a month for each one. In both cases i was not in the pain that you describe. I can't speak to an ACL personally but a year is pretty standard from what i hear and see. Prehab before the surgery and the sooner you get it fixed the better off you are IMO. Good luck.

[3rdGENump]

Yes , ACL is going to take about a year to fully recover. The biggest thing to remember is to not try and come back too soon. When I was playing college football I was around many players who tore out knees, the ones who came back too soon always had to have addional surgury because they tore what was fixed. They ended up being out even longer.

[jkumpire]

Well, good news, sort of:

MRI found no cruciate tears, just big meniscus tear. It wil be scoped on the 29th, so I;m done for the Summer by the time rehab is complete. I've had the other knee done, so I know what I have to do to get better, and thank God It's only a meniscus.

Still is going to be a bear of a summer with no umpiring and no golf.

dumbdumb,

I work a lot of sports bewcause I love sports, I care about kids, and in my job as a minister sports are a place where people like me are desperately needed. I do make some $$$ each year I have to pay taxes on, so it helps pay the bills a little. If you care enough about what you do you find a way to be excellent at it, as the top dogs on this board will tell you..

[dumbdumb]

Well, good news, sort of:

MRI found no cruciate tears, just big meniscus tear. It wil be scoped on the 29th, so I;m done for the Summer by the time rehab is complete. I've had the other knee done, so I know what I have to do to get better, and thank God It's only a meniscus.

Still is going to be a bear of a summer with no umpiring and no golf.

dumbdumb,

I work a lot of sports bewcause I love sports, I care about kids, and in my job as a minister sports are a place where people like me are desperately needed. I do make some $$$ each year I have to pay taxes on, so it helps pay the bills a little. If you care enough about what you do you find a way to be excellent at it, as the top dogs on this board will tell you..

Great news. Glad it wasn't the ACL. Good to know you will be riding that horse again before you know it.

[mstaylor]

Sounds like time to be an evaluator for a season. Try to bring some good young guys along.

[Replacematt]

And of course, at my age the clock is ticking and assigners will have all kinds of questions to answer, like: "Who is your replacement?".

Everyone, especially assignors, with any experience knows they are one step away from being off the field. I will guarantee you that if you are in a group that is worth their salt, an injury will not set you back permanently.