MIROSLAV: i couldn't send you e-mail. it kept getting returned. i hope you read this.



Hi.
I was browsing in the net when I found your site and decide to connect. I just want to tell you that I am a Bulgarian university soccer player. I am currently injured and next month I'll be operated. The operation is quite complex and even risky but I don't have any choice- my anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee is torn and I can't play. Could you give me some advice how to recover as fast as possible after the operation?
Thank you in advance!
Miroslav Genchev


howdy miroslav, i am unfamiliar with the medical system in bulgaria. here in the united states, the a.c.l. surgery is very commonplace with soccer athletes. i know many players who have had the operation and have returned to play without any problems. if you are in a university, i assume you are probably between 18 and 25 years old. since you are still pretty young, you have a very good chance of recovering. many players have been able to maintain play at high levels. i realize that our doctors are very experienced, and have great technology to back them up. hopefully there are great doctors in bulgaria as well. i would suggest asking a local professional club who they use for that kind of surgery, and then try to see if you can use that person for your surgery.

the key to returning quickly is to control the swelling after the surgery and to begin rehabilitation as quickly as possible. i know in the u.s.a., most patients will have a machine connected to their leg after surgery that will change the angle of the knee often to maintain mobility. they also have a drainage tube inserted in the knee to control swelling.

we have many clinics dedicated to rehabilitation. most sports and athletic injury surgery will have a rehab center that they use.

if at all possible, try to find a doctor who does surgery on athletes. there are two types of doctors. doctors who want to be very conservative, and allow the leg a long time to heal... and the doctors who want the patient mobile as soon as possible to return to athletics.

regardless of who does the surgery, try to find a sports medicine/physical therapy/rehabilitation clinic to get involved in the process. again, maybe contacting a local professional club to ask about their rehab facilities would be a good idea. i can't give you any better advice than that since i am not a physician. these are only suggestions from my personal experience.

good luck. let me know how it goes.

ciao for now,
samster


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