"My knee surgery and recovery"

I had knee surgery in July 2016 at Derby Royal and I had a great experience throughout the process and recovery.

The staff were great during the MRI and then the assessment. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go ahead with surgery on the day I heard the bad news about my ACL, but the team was great and told me I was welcome to go home and think about it. I decided to go ahead and booked in the surgery.

The pre-op assessment was great. The two nurses were hilarious and we joked about the amusing situation where I was one kilogram off requiring a special blood test for obesity, despite having an athletic rugby player's physique.

Then on the day everything ran very smoothly. Mr Straw and his team came to see me in my room before the surgery and talked me through everything. Mr Straw was happy to conduct a patella tendon graft based on my personal preference (I have 2 friends who have had troubled hamstrings following hamstring tendon grafts). The anaesthetist popped by as well to say hello and to discuss the type of anesthetic. 

The epidural worked a treat and the surgery went very well. Mr Straw efficiently chiselled, drilled and screwed into my knee and one of the team stitched me up. 

The physiotherapists were great at talking me through the initial rehabilitation stages and showing me how to use the crutches in case my knee felt more sore the next day.

Then two weeks later I started the rehab classes at London Road hospital. The team there were excellent using their knowledge and enthusiasm to make the experience pleasant. Towards the end of my 12 week programme, I recall with fondness working up a massive sweat during the late morning advanced classes with Ali and the other physios. 

I then returned to rugby about 10 months after surgery. The knee has performed perfectly since then and I have without doubt returned to and then surpassed my performance levels before the injury.