well to start off with how i did it.. i was playing in a football match when i went up to volly the ball. I only remember falling as i hit the goal keeper, but all of a sudden i heard i huge pop. it was one of those noises that you dont know if you felt it, or heard it out loud. The pain was unbearable and i found it hard to straighten my knee as it became so stiff. i instantly knew i had damaged something serious in my knee. ligaments sprung to mind. i was more worried about what would happen in 3 weeks time! i was going to austria to ski with school! (i still went) as i am only 17 an acl is the least of your worries when you are young because you dont expect it at all! months went past and i had tons of physio to find out what was wrong with it. it wasnt until 26/8/06 i was told what was wrong. and the doctor explained what he was going to do. he said i had ruptured my ligament and a possible meniscus tear. it didnt sound good. but if i was to be a p.e teacher he said i had no choice but to have surgery. so i went along with it. days went past and the 25/10/06 came. i was nervous as i sat in my hospital room 7. i had my BP taken and i the doctor who i had diagnosed me came in to say he was ready. i trusted him greatly as he was a knee specialist and a consultant. my mum also knew him as shes a nurse! i walked slowly to the theatre and i layed down on the bed as the anesthatist put the tube in my hand. injecting me with loads of injections. i didnt feel them but as soon as he put the anesthetic in i tasted it. he said 'see you later' and the next thing i knew i had woken up! it had taken 2 and a half hours. i felt the pain and it did hurt a lot. i was given several painkillers but i didnt have any morphene. i was groggy and i kept falling back to sleep. i felt safe which was important as i forgot were i was for a second! i was taken back to my room were i was drifting on and off to sleep. i had more painkillers as i told them it still hurt. i had a federel nerve block in the top of my leg. if i didnt have that i would of been in a lot more pain! so my whole leg was numb. i could feel a thing! i asked to go to toilet and the nurse helped me out of bed and as i tried to step with my leg it just collapsed totally as i stepped forward.. so that wasnt a good idea. so i hopped! the next day had an x-ray and physio to use my crutches and i had to wait hours to go home. as they wouldnt let me go until i could bear weight on my leg so it wouldnt collapse. i nearly had to stay in over night it took so long. finally i got home! it was painful. and still is! i cant play football for 6-10 months and it hasnt been a week since i had it done but i can tell the difference! im glad i had it done.