That Was So Much Fun, Let's Do it Again!

This post is not the one I wanted to write.  After 7.5 years of skiing, ice hockey, basketball, Mui Thai, boxing, cycling thousands of miles on my road-bike, ripping down our local mountain biking trials, placing 2nd in an Aquabike (triathlon without the run), catching tens of thousands of pitches from my son and his fellow little leaguers, and most recently taking on yoga as a new passion...disaster has struck.

2 Time Silver League Champions!

While coaching my youth football team, I decided to demonstrate a drill (without my trusty knee brace), and made a cut to my right at full speed to avoid a tackler.  I've made that move a million times, but this time my knee collapsed.  The usual loud pop, searing pain, and in this case, face-plant followed.  I popped up so as not to scare my son and his teammates, but I knew my knee was in trouble.  My knee wouldn't bend, and I could feel it...the dreaded meniscal tear.  I waited a few days, and it only got worse.  Against the advice of those closest to me, I played in my championship hockey game a few days later...and hoisting the trophy (above) was worth a little more pain and suffering.  Two days after that I knew I needed to get into the doctor.  I made an appointment with Dr. Stone a few weeks out, obtained an MRI locally, and saw my local doc to get a preliminary review and diagnosis.  The result was that I had significantly torn my medial meniscus transplant.  Local option was to cut out the tear, leaving me with less than 50% of the meniscus, and no shock absorber in the posterior 50% of my knee.  Despite the fact I have no articular surface damage, this option would require me to make major life adjustments, and essentially, for me to shut down my extrememly active lifestyle at 43.  I would just have to wait until arthritis, which I was told would set in quickly, got bad enough that I would need a replacement.  No question, I needed to go see Dr. Stone.

A week or so later I made a trip to the Stone Clinic to see the Doc.  It had been a long time since I had been in their office, but I was welcomed like I was at a spa.  I was greeted by name as I walked through the door, offered a Joint Juice, and waited only a few minutes before meeting with the team.  The difference in the Stone Clinic approach is obvious from that start.  You don't just tell your story, get five minutes with the nurse, and even less with your doctor.  I spent a good twenty minutes with Hope discussing what I've done, and what I want to do in the future.  Dr. Stone then came in, went through the physical exam, and then we went to look at my films together.  Dr. Stone showed me every detail of my injury, and regretfully, confirmed the first diagnosis.  We spent even more time in his office going over the options.  The key is Dr. Stone gives both options and hope.  He is going on this journey with me, and he wants a successful return to sports as much as I do.  I moved on to one of my favorite people, Trish the PT, and we discused the potential procedures, the rehab, the prehab, and she just made me feel like getting back to my life was not just possible, but the expectation.  "You will be back."

So, November 11, I'll do it again...almost 8 years worth of adventures to the day from my original MT.  There are a few options, and we won't know the final outcome until after surgery, but I'm preparing myself for a revision meniscus transplant.   Knowing the challenge ahead and what I'm in for is the hardest part, but it also makes the preparation a bit easier.  I've made my list of things to get done before surgery, and I'm going to enjoy a few weeks before we get down to the business of fixing this knee.  The good thing is I feel like I'm going into this challenge with the best team I could find, and as an athlete, nothing can give you more confidence.

Full speed ahead...there is just no other way for me to do it!  I wouldn't change a thing...except maybe to wear my knee brace that day.  Good luck to all of us, and happy healing.