Finally Able to Get Back to the Grind
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118442)
Gainesville, Florida
April 29, 2019 7:09pm CST
Four weeks into my six-week rehab on my knee following surgery back in March, I have finally been cleared to resume playing paintball. Yesterday (Sunday) was my first full-speed practice since blowing out my knee at a tournament several months ago. Although I have been to many practices since then, and have even participated in some walk-throughs and basic shooting drills, this was my first time going full-strength on the field.
No question I was a little rusty out there, and clearly much slower than I have been in the past, but it felt so good to get back into the action. And the timing couldn't have been better, as next weekend the team will be in action at a tournament in Texas. I'm definitely looking forward to that.
Have you ever had an injury that sidelined you for a while, where you have gone stir-crazy sitting around waiting to heal, all the while seeing your friends out there having fun doing things while you're stuck or limited with your mobility?
I think if I had to wait the full 6 weeks of physical therapy before I was allowed to resume physical activity, I would have gone absolutely crazy. I know our bodies need time to heal, but I have never been one to sit still for too long.
33 people like this
32 responses
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
30 Apr 19
I've been laid up for 9 years, watching the world go by. I'm glad to hear you're back in the game.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
Oh wow Linda, sorry to hear that! Nine years is a very long time! Was it the result of an injury, or some other medical condition? I understand that as I age, things are going to start heading south with my body. Injuries that I can heal from today may be injuries that I don't heal so well from in the future. I just have to enjoy this while I can, before something happens and I can't.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
30 Apr 19
@moffittjc That's the best thing to do..enjoy life while you can. I have some spinal problems; however, I will be seeing a spinal surgeon in June. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Have a good evening!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
@LindaOHio I will definitely keep my fingers crossed for you, and keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Spinal issues can be very tricky. I hope the surgeon can help you out, or at least help you find relief.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
4 May 19
@moffittjc were you ever able to get caught from the rain delays?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 May 19
@simone10 Yes, everybody eventually got caught up, and there was plenty of sunshine and blue skies on the final day of the tournament.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 May 19
I'm ready for action! Flying out to Dallas, Texas this morning for our tournament there this weekend. It is expected to rain the entire weekend, so it's going to be an interesting tournament.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111177)
• El Paso, Texas
1 May 19
I wish you the best of luck with that knee @moffittjc
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 May 19
@rebelann I’m going to need a healthy dose of luck over the next few weeks!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
I'm just so happy to be back out having fun and being adventurous again. I just have to be a little extra careful so I don't overdo it in the next few months. I want to make sure my knee fully heals!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
Believe me, I'm still healing, and still a long way from 100%. Although I can bend and flex and walk/run on the knee with ease now, I still can't put any pressure whatsoever on the kneecap without feeling excruciating pain. That's definitely going to affect me negatively in the next few tournaments, since so much of the game of paintball requires you to be kneeling down in order to stay alive. I can only half kneel right now, so I'm going to have to seriously adjust my game strategy out on the field to accommodate for my handicap.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
@DianneN I wore a big, thick, heavy brace out there on the field. I wanted to make sure I didn't put myself in a position to re-injure the knee again. I'm not quite ready for that to happen again!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246849)
• United States
30 Apr 19
@moffittjc Yikes! Just be careful so you don’t screw up your knee permanently, Jeff. Only you know how your knee feels and how to protect it.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306239)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 May 19
I'm glad you're back at it. I know you're very happy about that. I'm not sports-minded to play sports, so I've never been sidelined. However, there was the time I was learning to ride my bike at age 10 and broke my arm in the process and had to wait six weeks before I could ride it again. It seemed to take forever.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 May 19
I can imagine as a child how long that six weeks must have felt like. To a kid, that seems like an eternity. Did you have any fears of getting back on the bike again after your arm healed?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 May 19
@just4him That's awesome that you didn't have any fears about getting back on the bike after your injury. For many, it may have been traumatic enough for them to never want to ride a bike again.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306239)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 May 19
@moffittjc No. I was in the tent, set up in the back yard, where my bike was for some reason and was on it everyday learning to balance so I could ride it when the day came. When it did, I could ride like the wind and never had another problem with it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 May 19
It looks like I'm going to be promoted to the starting lineup. It has been pouring rain in Texas for the past few days, and is expected to continue all weekend. The game fields will be nothing but big mud pits, and that will slow down the speed of the games considerably, which plays to my favor. The team will take advantage of my control and accuracy and adjust our game strategy for a slower style of play.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 May 19
@nela13 I did well in the tournament, but our team did not. My knee held up well, even in all that mud and rain. We just played poorly as a team, and got eliminated from the tournament very early on.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55698)
• Portugal
6 May 19
@moffittjc that is good, hope you have a good game.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
30 Apr 19
Feels good to be back in the game, I am sure. I had a surgery on my foot right at a time when I had a huge family problem that involved me being on it in less than favorable conditions. It stinks to be out of it.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40523)
• United States
30 Apr 19
@moffittjc I'm really sorry to hear about your mom. I know it was even harder just coming from surgery.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 May 19
@1creekgirl As they say, when it rains it pours! It was tough, but I somehow got through it. I still need to help my brother clean out my mom's house, and I'm sure that's going to be very emotional for me as we sort through all of her things.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
Thats' what I just went through with the passing of my mom. It happened right after my surgery, when I couldn't walk or bend my leg at all. It was frustrating to feel so helpless at a time when I should have been the one stepping up to handle everything for my family.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95190)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Apr 19
Glad you are allowed to go again. I have trouble sitting still for an hour 
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95190)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Apr 19
@moffittjc Thats why I do so many crafts in the winter. It keeps me busy at least.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
I'm like you, I have trouble sitting still for an hour too. I'm not one who is out there running around like crazy trying to be an overachiever, I just need to be up and moving around. Even if I'm relaxing, I still need to get up and move around.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
@wolfgirl569 I do a lot of camping and backpacking in the winter, because the weather here in Florida is perfect for that sort of activity. And like you said, it keeps me busy!
@noni1959 (9886)
• United States
30 Apr 19
I broke my leg and ankle in 2007, had two surgeries and was cast'd for seven months. I became so stir crazy I wound up hiking, camping and all kinds of crazy and would have to be re cast'd with stern talking to. After the 11th cast, my doctor refused to again and made me wear a super heavy cam boot. My leg has not healed right and I get pain in the areas I broke. I will be having surgery in the future so I think I learned my lesson. Or so I think.....
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
I already know I will have to have surgery on my knee again in the future (a total knee replacement), so I'm not too worried about whether I am pushing myself too hard and causing my knee to not heal right. I am being mildly cautious at the same time I am being overly confident.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
@noni1959 I already know I have to have a total knee replacement too, I just want to put it off for as long as I can.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (9886)
• United States
30 Apr 19
@moffittjc My doctor said it will be a knee replacement but I'm pushing it to be later. You know yourself best but I have to say it. Be careful!
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
8 May 19
I'm glad you were able to get back into it. Hope the knee doesn't give any issues from here on out.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 May 19
I hope so too! I still can't kneel down on that knee, I've been told it could take several more months before I'm able to do that, but otherwise my knee is just about healed physically.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 May 19
@Courtlynn I accidentally bumped my knee on my dresser in my bedroom on Saturday, and it felt like a thousand knives being stabbed through my kneecap. I was in so much pain I wanted to cry. And now here we are two days later and my knee is still hurting pretty bad. I have my final appointment with my surgeon tomorrow morning, so I'm going to see what's going on with this pain I'm feeling.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
14 May 19
@moffittjc oh wow, that's crazy. i hope it don't take that long.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
30 Apr 19
@moffittjc
When I fell into the bathtub on my right side the doctor I went to said not to do anything for 3 weeks and that screwed me up and whatever I tried did not fix it so my right shoulder is useless. You will get back into it. It just takes time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 May 19
I'm slowly easing back into it!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 May 19
@Hannihar I played quite a bit of points today (sorry...games, we call them points), and the knee held up well and still feels pretty good. But I didn't overdo it; and let the team know when I thought I had reached my limit. They are all happy that I'm back in action, but also very supportive in making sure I don't push myself too hard.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 May 19
Airsoft is gaining in popularity here, especially with younger players. I've played a few times, but I've been a life-long paintballer, and so that is what I excel at.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 May 19
@Jefrox I've got lots of souvenirs all over my body from the hits I took in our tournament this past weekend!
@isweartokira (3465)
• United States
1 May 19
that's excellent you're getting back out there! you'll be back up to speed in no time 
knock on wood, my only major injuries were broken arms twice.
knock on wood, my only major injuries were broken arms twice.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 May 19
You broke your arms twice? Bree, you need to be more careful! What did you do?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 May 19
@isweartokira Wow, you must have been quite the adventurous little monkey! Uh, I mean girl! haha
@isweartokira (3465)
• United States
1 May 19
@moffittjc once was on a swing set. the second was on the monkey bars I was a kid for both, I'm definitely more careful now
I was a kid for both, I'm definitely more careful now1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (81997)
• Rupert, Idaho
30 Apr 19
That's good that you were cleared to get back into it! If I couldn't get up and do things as I wanted I'd feel the same!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
It was especially hard for me not to jump right back in and start playing again, when outside of paintball I could still function mostly normally, with some restrictions. I kept thinking, if I can resume walking and doing normal activities at work and home, and if I could start exercising and stretching the knee during rehab, why couldn't I also play paintball. I think my surgeon and my physical therapist got tired of me asking about it every other day, and cleared me to play just to shut me up! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 May 19
@MommyOfEli2013 Nah, I know they didn't do it just to shut me up. But I joked with them about it, and we all had a good laugh.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (81997)
• Rupert, Idaho
1 May 19
@moffittjc oh yeah, that is definitely understandable! Haha, I am sure that is not the reason they did!
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
30 Apr 19
I am SO glad you can play again!! Yes, I played volleyball in High school and broke my right wrist-which meant I was done for the rest of the season. I was miserable!
I so know the feeling.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
I used to play on a tournament team in a mens softball league, and I remember throwing out my shoulder early on in the season and having to sit out the entire season while my shoulder healed. I now the feeling of being done for the season; it certainly isn't fun at all!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 May 19
@lyndakerby I had a similar experience when I played in a hockey league, when I broke my arm at the elbow and had to miss an entire season. Definitely no fun at all.
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 May 19
Thanks Judy! I was never fast to begin with, just aggressive. I like to take calculated risks out on the field (translation: I am a crazy madman out there!). But over the past six months I've been easing my way into a new role which requires less running around, and more control and patience. I'm slowly getting better at having patience, but it's not something I'm used to when I'm on the field.
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
1 May 19
@moffittjc Sometimes you have no choice, it's very had.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 May 19
It would have just about killed me if I would have had to sit out the remainder of the season, so I'm glad I only missed a little more than a month.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
I don't think I would have enough paitence to wait the full six weeks. But luckily, my surgeon gave me the clearance to resume playing, but to just be cautious out there.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
30 Apr 19
Whereas I would absolutely squeal with delight at the promise of six weeks doing very little!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
When it comes to work, I'm right there with you! I begged the surgeon to approve more time off from work, but he said the most he would give me was two weeks off, followed by three weeks of restrictions at work (light duty tasks only).
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Apr 19
@lyndakerby I was so excited to get my tax refund this year, and then with the snap of a finger it went right out the window to pay my deductible on my surgery.
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 May 19
I'm too out of shape right now to go too fast! lol
I'm very rusty out there, so I am going to ease back into it.
I fly out to Dallas this morning for our tournament there. My plan was to only play as a backup, but the situation is looking like it's changing and I may be thrown in as the starter. It has been pouring down rain there for the past couple of days, and is expected to continue doing so all weekend. The fields have become giant mud pits, which completely slows the game down, which aligns with my style of play right now.
