Adam’s Surgery Update

Posted byFractured Faith BlogPosted inA Fractured FaithTags:, , , , , , , , , , , ,

We have spent the last two days at hospital as Adam recuperates from an operation for a serious knee injury he sustained playing rugby two months ago. We knew at the time something was amiss as he heard a ‘pop’ during a tackle. A MRI scan revealed the full extent of the damage, a full tear to his anterior cruciate ligament. The only option was surgery to repair the damage followed by a lengthy rehabilitation period.

Adam has been philosophical about the injury. In his words ‘it is what it is.’ I’ve been very impressed with his attitude as, personally, I would have been devastated. He is ruled out for the season and playing for a team who have a real chance of a trophy this season. He loves playing rugby and just happens to be very good at it as well. There have also been professional scouts sniffing around the team.

In order to be ready for surgery he has undergone a six week period of physiotherapy so as to be able to fully extend his leg. This was successful meaning the surgery went ahead yesterday as scheduled. The operation lasted an hour but he needed two hours in the recovery room before we were allowed to see him. Those were long hours and we were relieved to see him finally return to the ward.

The procedure was keyhole, involving four small incisions. Holes were drilled at the top of his shin bone and bottom of thigh bone, before a small piece of tendon grafted from his hamstring was looped through and tied to replace the torn ligament. He spent the night in hospital and was in a lot of pain when he woke up. Thankfully Messrs Morphine and Co-Codamol were at hand to get him through the night.

He will be on crutches for two weeks and off school for a while. His rehabilitation will start soon though and he already has a series of exercises which he has to perform three times a day as well as regularly icing and flexing his leg. His physiotherapy will recommence in two weeks and after that he will return to the gym to start strengthening the knee and the muscles and ligaments surrounding it. He will be okay to start jogging in 3-4 months.

The target is South Africa in July 2020 which his team will be touring for three weeks. Adam is determined to be back playing rugby by then. It will be hard work but he is a determined young man and has the full support of his family, coaches and team mates. That’s the reason the blog has been a bit quiet of late. Hopefully when he get him home later today normal service will be resumed again.

Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 15 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca. We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised. But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all. We hope you enjoy the blog.

76 thoughts on “Adam’s Surgery Update”

  1. It must have been awful for you waiting all that time while he was in the recovery room! I hope the pain is well-managed as he recuperates. All the best for his rugby career in 2020!

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  12. We’re wishing Adam a speedy recovery. Jump on the physical therapy hard and recovery tends to take less time. My oldest son and I know how problematic knees are! Wishing you all well and praying for Adam.

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  14. Thanks for the update! I hope Adam has a completely successful recovery. This is the blessing of being young, but it also absolutely still sucks that it happened to him. My 42 year old brother tore his, got it repaired, it failed, and now I think he’s looking at a knee replacement? Here’s to a great 2020 rugby career!

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      1. Honestly it was a long process with physical therapy then I reached a standstill with my progress. At that point, I decided to switch doctors and that made a HUGE difference. I had a second surgery followed up with a new physical therapist and progressed very well. The doctor & PT are huge with progress. I still have to be cautious at times and have limitations, but I’m very satisfied. The healing also had something to do with my age – 45 at the time of injury.

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  19. I will be praying for him Stephen! My wife had double knee surgery almost 20 years ago. She had to have a lateral release surgery on both knees. They gave her this cool automatic ice pump, which really helped. It has a bucket type thing you fill with ice and water and there is a tube attached to a wrap that goes around the knee. The ice cold water is pumped into the wrap and all you have to do is change the ice and water in the bucket every so often. That really helped my wife a lot. Praying he is totally healed quickly! God bless you all!

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  23. That’s a lot of medical work for one so young. The thing is, I fully believe Adam can make South Africa – he’s made it through the first couple of steps, he knows how to be disciplined in his work outs, he’s got a great team of people he will never meet rooting for him.
    Knee injuries are a pill, but they DO get better with the right mindset, which Adam has.

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  31. I had to smile at the target – I live in South Africa and my birthday is in July 😉
    I had the exact same surgery in January 2018 – not a rugby injury though. It was challenging to say the least, and very painful. Full recovery is reachable though 😉 This year, in October, I was able to join the group of Mom’s and dance in the same show as my daughter.
    Thinking of Adam while he faces this road to recovery. It’s not easy, but he certainly has the best attitude towards it! 🙂

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  36. I’m glad Adam’s surgery was successful and that he’s healing well. I understand the stress involved with this process, my husband tore 3 ligaments in his knee (ACL, MCL, PCL) playing basketball. He thought he would never play again. However, after microscopic repair surgery and some months of physical therapy he was back on the court in no time. Many hopes for a continued speedy recovery.

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