A Letter To The Injured Athlete
Start writing a post
Sports

A Letter To The Injured Athlete

For those of you who have never been anything but an athlete.

2301
A Letter To The Injured Athlete

Hey you,

So, tell me, what was it? ACL? MCL? Rotator cuff? Broken bone? Concussion? Dislocation?

I don't wanna say we've all been there, but too many of us have. It seems like we can barely make it through a game without a player going down with an injury, no matter the sport. And more often than not, it's a career-changing, or even career-ending injury.

So this letter is for you, the injured athlete, who's heart is breaking or has been broken by the loss of the love of your life - your sport. I won't lie to you, this journey will be one of the hardest things you've ever done, especially if your identity has never been separate from the word athlete. We're athletes. We have been since the day we started t-ball or soccer or gymnastics, or whatever other sports all little kids play, and we didn't stop. Until now.

You may think that there's no pain worse than the one you felt when you were injured originally, and I hate to tell you that for me, that was one of the easiest pains of recovery. I say one of, because there are many pains that come with career-altering injuries.

The first one that you'll face is physical therapy. To put it lightly, physical therapy is hell. Rebuilding a muscle that is no longer there or working a part of the body that has been surgically fixed or replaced is a superhuman feat. It's not a rare sight to walk into the fitness area and see multiple people crying out of pain, frustration, or both. But this is where we have to work the hardest to heal physically, in hopes of playing at the same level we were before our injury, or just playing at all. So, we work through the pain to make sure we stay an athlete. We don't know how to be anything else.

Physical therapy is just the bodily suffering, the next part of the process is all mental. Sure, you're working towards recovery, but you still can't practice, and, according to your doctor, you definitely can't play. Whether you're out for 6 weeks, 6 months, or a year, even a second of sitting on the sideline is the worse than any of the physical torture from physical therapy. Your feelings are a rollercoaster. You feel lazy and useless, like you're letting down your team. You feel angry, wondering how you managed to get injured in the first place. Mostly, there's an overwhelming sense of frustration, as an athlete who is not allowed to compete.

You might already be past all of the fresh pain of the injury. You might already be playing again. Or you might not ever play again. To those who are playing again, congratulations. I hope that you are back to your prime, and that you never feel the pangs of your previous injury. To those who may never play again, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that you have lost a part of yourself in losing your sport, but I also know that you will figure out that you are so much more than just an athlete. You are a better person for having been an athlete.

You're never going to stop loving the game, but don't worry, you'll just find another way to love it.

Sincerely,
Another Injured Athlete




Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70984
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132544
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments