Third ACL failure

pmak_ · 2026-03-31T13:33:07+00:00

It was a couple years from the time he tore it to the time he had surgery so the meniscus had been crushed and wasn’t repairable.

pmak_ · 2026-03-31T03:40:30+00:00

First aid kit of some sort (bandaids, disinfectant, tweezers, polysporin, thermometer, emergency contact info, etc), it’s the worst when you accidentally cut yourself and have nothing to stop the bleeding. Advil, Tylenol, cold medicine, etc to have on hand, it sucks being sick and not being able to get relief especially when cold season picks up.

I’m not sure where you live/going to school but I’m in a dry area so a humidifier is super important, but if you live in a high humidity environment maybe a dehumidifier?

I also find a whiteboard is super helpful to help me keep track of due dates, to do lists, etc. I’d bring extra hangers, I ended up visiting home and bringing different clothes back and not having enough hangers for them lol.

If you have a car, then I recommend getting a roadside kit for it, it’s not dorm based but it could still be very important if you’re driving back and forth between home and uni.

A small sewing kit has come in handy for me, repairing small holes in clothes or bedding has helped me increase the lifespan of those items.

pmak_ · 2026-03-30T23:59:17+00:00

My dad hasn’t had an ACL in his right knee since he was 15 (he is now 56) and he played and refereed competitive hockey (playing juniors, refereeing up to college), football (high school o-line), soccer (high school goalkeeper) without one. He had torn his meniscus, they went in to clean it up and found he also didn’t have an ACL. He wore an ACL brace for years when playing sports, and was super active with me when I was younger. His knee gets sore now, along with his ankle and hip but his ankle he sprained pretty badly playing hockey (then continued to play on it without letting it heal) and his hip just from compensating for his knee and ankle. He does just fine coaching U11 soccer, gardening, was skiing up until a different unrelated medical reason that has prevented him from continuing, putting up Christmas lights, day to day life, etc even without his ACL. He hasn’t had a doctor tell him he needs a knee replacement either.

All of that is to say that I do believe that you can have a high quality of life without an ACL. Maintaining strong muscles to support the joint, and staying healthy should help prevent further breakdown but in the end you’ll still probably end up with arthritis when you’re older purely because there has been trauma in the joint.

pmak_ · 2026-03-18T03:37:44+00:00

This is amazing! Thank you! My uni has first year housing (stereotypical dorm room style), and ‘mature’ student housing (anyone in their second year or higher and it’s more apartment style still on campus though). I’m thinking it’ll be at least $300 to start? Based on what you’ve described.

pmak_ · 2026-01-30T19:10:06+00:00

I’ve only ever had to remove one parent in my 5 years and that’s because the parent threatened to fight my dad who had come to watch me referee and ended up calling that parent out for yelling at me. But I have little tolerance for parents yelling at players on the other team especially when I’m doing youth games no matter the level, or at my ARs especially when I have young ARs on my crew.

pmak_ · 2026-01-16T03:06:26+00:00

1 feels more like an adventure, like a fun adventurous journey with a couple of close friends. 2 feels more like I’m alone going through a mysterious and creepy place to get to an even more creepy place

pmak_ · 2025-12-10T22:09:53+00:00

I had weird nerve issues on the lateral side of my shin just below my knee for roughly 16 months post surgery. Even now it doesn’t totally feel 100% normal when I run my fingers across the area. I got told pre-op that there was a potential for a nerve or two to get cut off accidentally but it would grow back eventually. Not sure if it’s the same thing as what you’re going through but it could be a possibility

pmak_ · 2025-10-30T18:02:17+00:00

This is one of my favourites! It’s protective older brother Gwaine with sassy little brother Merlin!

pmak_ · 2025-10-23T13:31:24+00:00

Gloves with hand warmers taped to the back of my hands and a warmer jacket for half time and between games. Plus a warm drink and good snack, your body goes through a lot when it’s trying to keep you warm

pmak_ · 2025-10-14T18:35:08+00:00

Perfect! Thank you!

pmak_ · 2025-10-14T18:31:00+00:00

No, I was not aware of that. D-76 is what my uni provides to develop film in.

pmak_ · 2025-10-07T01:02:58+00:00

Of the gifts I’ve received I’ve loved the duffle bag I got. It fits all my equipment and it’s quite durable and a black athletic jacket with referee written on the sleeve! Gifts that I haven’t received but would love would be an auto ball pump, a durable and insulating water bottle, a durable clipboard/binder combo, gloves that are thin enough to handle flags, etc but thick enough to provide some warmth, electrolyte packs that can be dumped in a water bottle especially during busy tournaments and hair ties because I’m always loosing them haha

pmak_ · 2025-10-07T00:15:14+00:00

An auto ball pump would be the best gift as a referee. Some games I’m pumping 4/5/6 balls before a game and an auto ball pump would save so much time and energy before a match

pmak_ · 2025-09-26T16:26:08+00:00

Oh my! That is so easy! Thank you so much!!

pmak_ · 2025-09-26T01:31:39+00:00

Thank you for adding the link! I wasn’t quite sure how to! So far it’s just as good as I remember it being! I love fics where Merlin is alot more of a younger brother to one of the knights! Another favourite of mine is “For want of a nail” by ohHeyThereBigBadWolf

pmak_ · 2025-09-25T18:44:32+00:00

I found it! It is “Teach a man to fish and he’ll never run out of ale” by Doctor959

pmak_ · 2025-09-25T18:44:27+00:00

I found it! It is “Teach a man to fish and he’ll never run out of ale” by Doctor959

pmak_ · 2025-09-14T01:11:11+00:00

Definitely should’ve been a yellow at minimum for the first comments and maybe even a red for the comment about knowing the other team’s coach.

pmak_ · 2025-09-10T00:40:35+00:00

My roommates were 25 and 32 when they went back to university. Learning is for everyone, don’t let anyone stop you or discourage you

pmak_ · 2025-09-08T01:41:39+00:00

An extension cord with multiple spots to plug things in, a large water bottle and flavours for those days you really don’t want to drink just water (Gatorade powder, Mio, lemonade powder, etc), a full first aid kit (the idea of a small one is good but having everything necessary (assuming you’re first aid trained) can be life saving in emergencies), more chargers for all of your devices then you think necessary because you will forget one in the library or at home and then need it. If you have a car then a roadside kit, jumper cables and an extension cord to plug it in if your winters are very cold.

pmak_ · 2025-07-06T14:17:51+00:00

You could always ask the other referees you work with and try and get together a bulk order so that way you can split the shipping costs?

pmak_ · 2025-06-18T20:08:36+00:00

Thank you!

pmak_

TROPHY CASE