When I saw Dr. Kaplan point to a picture of the inside of my knee and utter the words “tear in you acl” I didn’t know what to think. I’ve been playing soccer my entire life, on school and club teams that have made it to the biggest stages possible. When I discovered I had a torn acl, I figured soccer was pretty much over. I twisted my knee in a soccer game, and heard a distinct popping noise; I knew it couldn’t be good. My knee felt weak and I could bend it about half the distance I could normally. I was scared about what I might be told.
But Dr. Kaplan guaranteed me that I would play again. He sent me to physical therapy right away, even before surgery, to help strengthen the muscles around my knee and better prepare it for the stress of surgery. I was confident about the surgery by the time it rolled around. Dr. Kaplan explained exactly what he’d be doing, the discomfort I could expect after surgery, and the recovery process I would undergo. I never had many questions for Dr. Kaplan in my pre-surgery appointments, but the both of us had to withstand my mother’s barrage of concerns. I commend him for that.
I never really considered Dr. Kaplan just a doctor. He was more like a good friend with some extremely useful expertise. We were always friendly and had normal conversations, not just the typical question and answer dialogue you’d expect at a doctor’s office. It was especially cool to see him in the stands at the district championship game of my senior high school season. I really appreciated him coming to watch me play.
He performed arthroscopic surgery on my knee, using my patella tendon as a replacement for my torn acl. After a few weeks on crutches I was walking again, with a brace of course, but walking nonetheless. With all the physical therapy and rehab exercises my knee was feeling stronger and stronger. But I knew it would be about a year before I could play soccer again. I had to force myself to refrain from physical activity.
At the nine month mark, post-surgery, Dr. Kaplan told me I was okay to play. Only nine months after having my acl replaced I was able to play soccer at the same highly competitive level I had before. Today, I don’t even notice that I had surgery on my knee. It feels just as good as ever and I can do just anything I choose to participate in. I can’t thank Dr. Kaplan enough for what he’s done for me.
But Dr. Kaplan guaranteed me that I would play again. He sent me to physical therapy right away, even before surgery, to help strengthen the muscles around my knee and better prepare it for the stress of surgery. I was confident about the surgery by the time it rolled around. Dr. Kaplan explained exactly what he’d be doing, the discomfort I could expect after surgery, and the recovery process I would undergo. I never had many questions for Dr. Kaplan in my pre-surgery appointments, but the both of us had to withstand my mother’s barrage of concerns. I commend him for that.
I never really considered Dr. Kaplan just a doctor. He was more like a good friend with some extremely useful expertise. We were always friendly and had normal conversations, not just the typical question and answer dialogue you’d expect at a doctor’s office. It was especially cool to see him in the stands at the district championship game of my senior high school season. I really appreciated him coming to watch me play.
He performed arthroscopic surgery on my knee, using my patella tendon as a replacement for my torn acl. After a few weeks on crutches I was walking again, with a brace of course, but walking nonetheless. With all the physical therapy and rehab exercises my knee was feeling stronger and stronger. But I knew it would be about a year before I could play soccer again. I had to force myself to refrain from physical activity.
At the nine month mark, post-surgery, Dr. Kaplan told me I was okay to play. Only nine months after having my acl replaced I was able to play soccer at the same highly competitive level I had before. Today, I don’t even notice that I had surgery on my knee. It feels just as good as ever and I can do just anything I choose to participate in. I can’t thank Dr. Kaplan enough for what he’s done for me.