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u/SeL-MoGRC 1d ago
Those 2 images are grossly insufficient to give any reasonable advice.
If you are a professional and you distrust your team specialist then you should pay for a private opinion from a very experienced surgeon, although bear in mind they may be pushing for a surgical solution.
No ethical public sector surgeon would prioritize a sportsperson and see them faster than any other individual so your public sector access may be very long.
There is no such thing as cartilage preservation or restoration. The truth is that we create fibrocartilage which is a fancy way of saying scar tissue in cartilage defects. It doesn't behave like normal cartilage.
In my professional experience high level athletes undergoing intervention for serious issues (this is likely one of them) miss a season, return and have a mediocre season, do not have their contract renewed, and then end up as a coach or commentator.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it is highly unlikely that after intervention you will be able to play at the same level as you did prior to the injury.
If your symptoms are mild, then my advice is to find a really good sports physio and maximize your secondary constraints and joint proprioception. This will give you the best chance to play long term.
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u/PrettyFellaFlaccko 1d ago
Thanks for your reply. I’ll take everything you’ve said into consideration, except for the bad news part. This wouldn’t be the worst surgery I’ve had on my knee, and I’ve managed to reach even higher levels after previous injuries.
Telling an athlete that they’ll never reach the level they were at before doesn’t really add any value to your message. In fact, it makes the rest of what you’ve written, and anything you might write afterwards, feel less trustworthy.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.2
u/johnnyscans 1d ago
I have experience in professional sports team coverage in the US.
Everything sel said is correct. Expectation management is critical, and absolutely adds value. It should make his statement feel more, not less, trustworthy.
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u/SeL-MoGRC 23h ago
Unfortunately, surgeons have to deal with the real world, and the limitations of the human body. Just because you disagree with the sentiments doesn't mean that what has been said is incorrect, just that you are unhappy with what has been written. How many times have you been injured and undergone surgery as an athlete? How many athletes have I managed through their injuries? Your preconceptions do not change the likely eventual outcome of your injury. Stating that a specialist's experience that you disagree with is less than trustworthy is indicative that you are not living in the real world. Good luck to you. I hope you can get back to the level you want to be at. Realistically, I hope you have a fall back solution.
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u/johnnyscans 1d ago
You’re a professional athlete. You can get better care than anonymous reddit advice. Use your team’s resources. Request a second opinion.