ACL injury and depression

[disney314]

I am curious. My DD has a friend (not a real close friend, so I don't know a lot of details) who just injured themselves in sports and is going to have ACL surgery. Ever since the injury the person's personality has changed and is very dark and even a little 'mean' you could say. Different than what they were like before. Then I remembered a boy at our church who had this same injury and went through surgery and he became very depressed (didn't want to come to church any more and when he did he wouldn't sit with his friends or really talk to anyone).

So now, I am wondering....do the pain meds have this effect on people? Make them depressed? Or is it just the injury. Both of these boys seem to have major personality changes after the injury. The one from our church was depressed for many months I remember. This other friend is just newly injured but her personality change was noticed the week after the injury.

Anyone ever known anyone to go through something like this? Do you think they are just depressed because of the injury? Or can the pain meds do this. It is just such a major change in their personality. First with this boy from our church last year, and now hearing about this other friend going through this. Certainly makes me nervous about my own daughter and her sports. I sure hope we never have to go through this injury.

 

[IheartMickey]

I was just about 13 when I broke my leg in three places and had screws put in. I was in a wheelchair for an extended period of time and had to be home schooled. My personality definitely changed. Friends stopped calling and visiting. I was in pain, I was lonely and I couldn't understand why it had to happen to me. I think it's only normal to expect personality changes.

 

[LuLuO]

It is probably a combination of many things.

An ACL injury is a big deal. Often you are looking at months of recovery time including a lot of rehab time. A very active person who suddenly is no longer active loses those endorphins which can cause depression. So that compounds the depression over not being able to do what you want to do. It is a very long time before someone can return to their previous level of activity. A big deal for a lot of people. Even everyday tasks are difficult.

Pain meds can cause mood changes and coming off of them can cause mood changes as well. Kind of a double whammy.

Isolation. Being cooped up for weeks is also really depressing.

These things can happen with any injury or condition that is debilitating. I had major depression after I had open heart surgery.

 

[hellow]

Also, nature's antidepressant is exercise, and with an injury like that you obviously get a lot less. I agree with what is posted above, it is a combination of many things.

 

[RadioNate]

This person is scared and in pain...being mean or depressed is normal. An ACL injury is tough. I tore my MCL which isn't nearly as devastating and during the first 2 weeks just moving was painful.

If you are active, playing sports, you can't. It will likely be months before you can play again. If that is your big social outlet you will be excluded. Facing surgery, especially for teens, is scary. Pain, pain meds, doctors discussing worst case scenarios. I think depression is a pretty normal reaction.

 

[disney314]

Wow, I had no idea! I do remember one of the cheerleaders at the high school had to have this type of surgery (ACL) and I don't remember her having such problems emotional. But she was a very upbeat/happy person to begin with, so maybe that helped her. She seemed fine emotionally through it. But these two boys. It is just not good. Now the one from our church from last year seems to be doing OK now. But I remember him sitting and not talking to anyone at church. We would come up to him and wish him well and he just looked so sad for months. This new friend hasn't had his surgery yet, so I guess it is going to be a long time of him being sad/depressed and maybe lashing out in mean ways to his friends.

Thanks for explaining. We haven't gone through an injury like that in our family yet. Just some sprains and on crutches for a week or less, but nothing too terrible. This ACL surgery does sound like a lot to deal with.

 

[Chikabowa]

The child maybe also dealing with the realization that an injury of that magnitude, and the subsequent surgery/recovery, may take them out of their sport for a year. Which if the child is a junior or senior could mean that any opportunity for college scholarships and recruiting are over - and puts them at a significant disadvantage in future college prospects.

Definitely something to be depressed/sad/angry over!

 

[LuLuO]

Wow, I had no idea! I do remember one of the cheerleaders at the high school had to have this type of surgery (ACL) and I don't remember her having such problems emotional. But she was a very upbeat/happy person to begin with, so maybe that helped her. She seemed fine emotionally through it. But these two boys. It is just not good. Now the one from our church from last year seems to be doing OK now. But I remember him sitting and not talking to anyone at church. We would come up to him and wish him well and he just looked so sad for months. This new friend hasn't had his surgery yet, so I guess it is going to be a long time of him being sad/depressed and maybe lashing out in mean ways to his friends.

Thanks for explaining. We haven't gone through an injury like that in our family yet. Just some sprains and on crutches for a week or less, but nothing too terrible. This ACL surgery does sound like a lot to deal with.

The boys may have been perfectly happy before this. Everyone reacts to things differently. Everyone thought that I took my heart surgery in stride. That was what I wanted everyone to see. I really did have a difficult time. Most people don't know that. If you are concerned about the boys, have you spoken with their parents to see if there is anything you can do to help?

 

[jeepgirl30]

The child maybe also dealing with the realization that an injury of that magnitude, and the subsequent surgery/recovery, may take them out of their sport for a year. Which if the child is a junior or senior could mean that any opportunity for college scholarships and recruiting are over - and puts them at a significant disadvantage in future college prospects.

Definitely something to be depressed/sad/angry over!

I was thinking this too, depending on the age of the kid it could have a huge impact on the future as they had it planned. As a teen that could really be scary. Scholarships could be on the line and if they don't have a back up plan to go to college it may seem like the end of the world.

 

[DianeV]

My daughter tore her ACL the summer before her senior year playing club soccer. She was devestated of course but I do have to say that the Vicodin the doctor prescribed did make her act weird and to be honest it didnt really help the pain. We got her off those and started with Motrin and it helped with the pain and no weird feelings etc.

Her doctor told her she shouldnt be on the pain meds very long anyway. I wonder if this person is taking them for too long and its affecting their body/emotions?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

In 2006, I stepped on a hard, green pinecone and twisted the heck out of my ankle. My kids were 7 and 10 and I spent a lot of time taking them to school and activities. I was also working as a special ed preschool aide which can be a very active job.

An MRI showed that I had two torn ligaments and one that was partially torn. I also bruised the bone so deeply that the bone marrow was bruised and swollen. The doctor said that can be a dangerous condition since swelling in the bone marrow can stop it from carrying nutrients to the bone. Worst case scenario was that the bone could die. Yikes! I had to use crutches for 12 weeks and put absolutely no weight on the ankle. I had to take a medical leave from my job and sit at home. At least I was able to drive the kids to and from school since my right leg was fine.

I had to sit on the stairs to go up and down, which I only did twice a day. I basically sat in a chair all day with my foot up. My mom came over on weekdays and did some cleaning and kept me company. I ordered groceries from Safeway.com and had them delivered. It was hard to use crutches in the gravel at the baseball field, so I went to very few of DS's games that year.

I started feeling myself getting depressed. I felt like I was missing out on everything. I was worried about gaining weight with all that sitting around. One day my mom came in and caught me staring at the floor and gave me a talking to about staying positive until I was back on my feet. The bone marrow and ligaments healed up and I was able to take a Disney trip at the end of the year. But I can still remember how hard it was to sit there.

I can imagine how much an injury like that would affect a child. They live for their sports and activities with their friends. Suddenly needing surgery, wearing a brace, sitting out sports and being in pain would be enough to cause some depression and perhaps even personality changes. It must be really hard for them.

 

[disney314]

My daughter tore her ACL the summer before her senior year playing club soccer. She was devestated of course but I do have to say that the Vicodin the doctor prescribed did make her act weird and to be honest it didnt really help the pain. We got her off those and started with Motrin and it helped with the pain and no weird feelings etc.

Her doctor told her she shouldnt be on the pain meds very long anyway. I wonder if this person is taking them for too long and its affecting their body/emotions?

OK, this is what I think may be happening. The behaviors seem somewhat weird and a bit more than just sadness over the injury. That is what made me think that maybe the pain medicine was causing this big change in behavior.

I am going to keep this in mind if my DD ever has an injury like this. She also plays sports and so far we have been lucky not to go through anything like this. But from what happened with the boy from church and now this other boy, I honestly think those pain meds must do a little something to their thinking that is a bit beyond the regular being sad over the injury (oh and neither of the boys are looking at sports scholarships for college so it has not effect on them being able to attend college, both will be able to go through with the exact plans they already had for college).

 

[DianeV]

I just noticed the person you are talking about hasnt had the surgery yet? Why would they be taking the pain meds already? Once the initial pain subsides with ACLs it really doesnt hurt to walk or do normal things. The pain meds are usually given for after the surgery when it really does hurt

 

[tink_n_pooh]

DH tore his ACL a few years ago and it had an effect on his mood and outlook for quite awhile. Everything from the pain to lack of mobility and isolation and knowing the long term effects played a role. It actually got worse on the first months after surgery. It has been almost 7 years and he still gets down once in awhile when it is sore or he can't do something because of it but now that only lasts a few minutes

As far as pain medication, many people do need it before surgery and have a very hard time walking at all before it is repaired, others can get by okay. I think that has a lot to do with the extent of the injury

 

[disney314]

Delete

 

[QVCshopper]

I got a cadaver ACL, had my meniscus cut back extremely, and broke my elbow as a result of the injury. Yes, I was depressed. It was a very hard awful injury. No, not life threatening, but every step ached for almost two years. Then I had endless pt and broke my elbow due to the instability--worst pain I have ever experienced and I gave birth with no pain meds. Until surgery, I was only taking Advil, then I think Vicodin for a week or so--they told me to get off it quick.

Everytime I see someone in a knee brace, I make time to talk to them. It's an extremely hard injury, especially since I will never walk or run the same again, and I can't straighten my elbow. Try to be kind to the poor boys, it's no fun at all to go through and still impacts my daily life six years later.

 

[undertheradar]

For younger athletes it can be considered the kiss of death. They go from all team activities and functions to being more in the background. Depending upon the sport, it is the end of any college hopes. My son tore his in 8th grade, was invited to numerous camps during high school and received lots of recruiting letters and calls. Once he answered the questionaires and listed his acl surgery, it was always a "good luck to you" response. Very easy for young athletes to become depressed when the reality of the injury sets in.

 

[disney314]

So this is something you never fully recover from? I mean normal walking and stuff does, but you can never run at the same level again? Or jump in volleyball in the same way? It always impacts you?

I guess I didn't realize how serious it was. And you are right, I am sure for young people it would be even harder.

 

[Patience]

My husband is an avid cyclist. Last summer, he had an accident on his bicycle and tore the miniscus on both sides of his knee and completely tore his ACL. He had surgery in August (cadaver ACL and they removed half of the miniscus on one side and a little less than that on the other) and the recovery was a lot worse than I would have imagined. He did months of physical therapy and it was very painful. As others have said, I think one of the main reason for the depression and personality changes is lack of exercise. My husband was accustomed to riding at least 60 miles a day and then suddenly he couldn't. Also, he knew the recovery would take a long time and he wondered if he would ever be able to ride again. He is able to ride now but he worries about another injury. So do I.

 

[jrmasm]

So this is something you never fully recover from? I mean normal walking and stuff does, but you can never run at the same level again? Or jump in volleyball in the same way? It always impacts you?

I guess I didn't realize how serious it was. And you are right, I am sure for young people it would be even harder.

I think in theory you can fully recover. That said, my daughter is 11 months post op and still has discomfort from physical activity. The pain is managable but it's there.