Breaking Ankles

So, a year ago I thought I was done healing. Dr. Stone had released me to full activities, I was playing basketball, riding my bike, walking the golf course, and even snowboarded at about 14 months post-op. I was pain/care free. I continued my rehab workouts for a little while longer and then transitioned/incorporated those exercises into my traditional leg workouts. Add the fact that my passion for riding road bikes became an obsession this year, my legs probably haven't been this strong since my playing days.




I play basketball at least twice a week before work. At 37, I'm one of the older guys, but not by that much. I love basketball, and running for an hour and a half on the court is a nice change from the bike and great cardio. My first game was in January 2009, just after Dr. Stone gave me the go ahead to go full speed. I was nervous at first, had occasional pops and twinges, and didn't feel super-confident in the knee for a few more months. I was really glad I chose to go with the Breg Fusion knee brace since when I drag the knee laterally, I still get an uncomfortable popping sensation in the area of my new meniscus, but never in the brace. Anyway, I played, ran hard, and had a lot of fun for most of this year. I did not expect to get any better than I felt at one year, but the past two months I have experienced a dramatic improvement in my ability to push off my knee.




Today was great. They calling it "breaking a guy's ankles" when you break someone down off the dribble, and today I did it at-will. My cross-over step (which I plant off the repaired knee) was quicker than its been since long before my surgery. I'm actually better than before, and I don't mean before this last of four surgeries (the meniscus transplant), I mean as good as it was before my first injury. My knee functions like it did before I hurt it in 1994 at spring training. I'm superstitious, and don't want to jinx myself, but this is exactly why I did this surgery, the rehab, and continued leg-work. To that doctor who told me to adjust my lifestyle and wait for a knee replacement 4 years ago, I just want to scream, "take a look at me now!!!" Thanks to my college teamate, Dr. John Coombes, who told me about this surgery 2 years ago, and the Stone Clinic for putting me back together.