It was my first season playing lacrosse, and I had made the varsity team at my high school. I was super excited to be playing, and I was going to be starting in the first game. The day before, I ran on the field at practice to block an attacker from scoring and felt my knee fall out from under me. There was a very loud pop that everyone on my
team heard, and I sat on the ground trying not to cry for a few minutes until I had the strength to limp over to the bench. Luckily, the trainer at my school worked for JOI and got me an appointment with Dr. Kaplan as soon as possible.
I went through X-rays and an MRI so we could try to figure out why my leg was buckling underneath me and why I couldn’t walk without pain. Dr. Kaplan comforted me even though he bore the awful news of my ACL being torn, and we made the decisions that would allow me to play sports for the rest of my life. I am so thankful for both him and my physical therapist. I started going to physical therapy before the ACL reconstructive surgery to strengthen my muscles so when I was in recovery, they wouldn’t lose their strength. This helped me so much post-surgery because I did not have to work as hard to regain my range of motion and had a head start on regaining my muscle tone. The arthroscopic surgery went smoothly (I used a hamstring from the same leg) and I was on crutches for a few weeks, but then walking with a brace after that.
I went to PT 2-3 times a week, and was I able to run five months afterwards. I was able to swim on the varsity swim team for my 3rd year in a row just six months after. I was so happy, and although I had limitations at first, throughout the season I could do more and I had some of my fastest times yet. I saw Dr. Kaplan for multiple visits, and at the nine month mark I was cleared do everything. I am so grateful Dr. Kaplan was my surgeon and everything went so well. I have no complaints about the entire experience and my knee feels stronger than ever today!
ACL Reconstruction
It was my first season playing lacrosse, and I had made the varsity team at my high school. I was super excited to be playing, and I was going to be starting in the first game. The day before, I ran on the field at practice to block an attacker from scoring and felt my knee fall out from under me. There was a very loud pop that everyone on myteam heard, and I sat on the ground trying not to cry for a few minutes until I had the strength to limp over to the bench. Luckily, the trainer at my school worked for JOI and got me an appointment with Dr. Kaplan as soon as possible.
I went through X-rays and an MRI so we could try to figure out why my leg was buckling underneath me and why I couldn’t walk without pain. Dr. Kaplan comforted me even though he bore the awful news of my ACL being torn, and we made the decisions that would allow me to play sports for the rest of my life. I am so thankful for both him and my physical therapist. I started going to physical therapy before the ACL reconstructive surgery to strengthen my muscles so when I was in recovery, they wouldn’t lose their strength. This helped me so much post-surgery because I did not have to work as hard to regain my range of motion and had a head start on regaining my muscle tone. The arthroscopic surgery went smoothly (I used a hamstring from the same leg) and I was on crutches for a few weeks, but then walking with a brace after that.
I went to PT 2-3 times a week, and was I able to run five months afterwards. I was able to swim on the varsity swim team for my 3rd year in a row just six months after. I was so happy, and although I had limitations at first, throughout the season I could do more and I had some of my fastest times yet. I saw Dr. Kaplan for multiple visits, and at the nine month mark I was cleared do everything. I am so grateful Dr. Kaplan was my surgeon and everything went so well. I have no complaints about the entire experience and my knee feels stronger than ever today!