Rangers defeated Partick Thistle on Sunday, with Megan Bell back in action.
It is a struggle to get out of bed when you are bouncing in and out. I don't think I've felt as low as I have in the past.
After two surgeries and a titanium rod in her leg, Megan Bell was able to return to action for Rangers on Sunday, 18 months after she was originally supposed to be out for six weeks.
There was a lump on my shin. The 20-year-old Northern Ireland international said there was a dull pain when he was running.
My parents told me to get it checked out. The nurse told me I had a stress fracture in my shin.
I was thinking 'no chance'. I had been playing football for months with this, but the nurse told me stress fractures heal themselves and I would be out for six weeks.
Bell started at Rangers and met his idols.
Six weeks passed and the injury was not healing. Bell was faced with a big decision - have surgery or return to action while managing the injury, which could have been fatal.
Even though she was able to play through the pain in her leg, she chose the latter and she featured from October through to the end of the year.
The doctors were hoping that playing would encourage the injury to heal, but as I still felt it, surgery was the best option.
She said that she has a high pain threshold but has never experienced it in her life.
It was terrible. It's the worst mistake I've ever made, because I watched it before I went in.
They drilled a hole in my knee and put a titanium rod in as far as they could before hammering it in the rest of the way. That was held in place with two screws.
My right leg felt like it had been hit. I was in so much pain after the surgery that it took me a while to get back on my feet.
Bell had a horrible surgery and 18-month recovery.
It was almost a year since the initial diagnosis. She was back on the operation table after the lower screw on her ankle got worse and she returned to training in July.
I thought I was going to be out for six weeks.
If you told me that I would only be playing my first game back, I would ask you a million questions.
The carrot was in front of me. It was difficult, but the right decision was to have surgery when I did.
Giving up is not an option.
She was offered a new contract by the Scottish club after only five competitive games with Rangers.
Bell said that she never gave up despite feeling down at times during her recovery.
This was the first time in my life that I've had a sport taken away from me. She said it was a shock to the system.
It can bring you down if you are lonely. Some days you feel like you're on top of the world and other days you feel like you're in the dumps.
It makes me want to do more when I'm told I can't. It is difficult. You have to use it as motivation.
Bell has made a big impact at Rangers despite her limited appearances.
Bell played the first half of the SWPL1 victory over Partick Thistle and finally put her injury demons to rest.
She said on her social media that she had a touch like an elephant, but she was happy to be back on the pitch.
It was very special. Bell said that he has used the 17 months he has had to sit and watch as motivation.
"I'm a footballer and that is all I have ever wanted to do, so when that is taken away from you for so long then you begin to appreciate it a lot more."
'Euro 2022, is a goal'
Bell has won 19 caps for Northern Ireland since making her senior debut at 16 and was a regular until the Covid-19 pandemic and her injury.
Her last outing in a green shirt was at the Pinitar Cup in 2020, which ended days before national lockdowns swept across Europe, and her subsequent injury meant she missed out on the chance to play in Northern Ireland's historic Euro 2022 qualification.
She says watching the squad gave her extra motivation in her recovery after watching the play-off second-leg win over Ukraine.
Megan Bell is celebrating Northern Ireland's historic Euro 2022 success.
Bell said she would be lying if she said she didn't want to be in the Euros.
"It is a goal, but the main thing for me now is getting a run of games for Rangers and staying injury-free."
I think I can push on once I do that. I have been injured for 18 months, but I know the hard work is only starting now, so I am at a bit of a disadvantage to everyone else.
