Recovery from Surgery: the Process

by Dave Latourette

When I began with multisport in 1991 I was a near bulletproof athlete and good fortune allowed me to continue that way until 2005. In my 15 years of endurance sports (which were preceded by 10 years of “high volume” soccer) I was never forced out of any activity for more than a few days. But all of that changed in 2005 when, after an extended break from “structured” training and racing, I started having knee troubles without having suffered any type of trauma (such as an injury or crash). After months of “rest,” therapy and other modalities, an MRI revealed the need for arthroscopic surgery due to a torn meniscus. Not a big deal… everyone said I’d be back in no time!

It took longer than “no time” and what followed over more than two years was a series of injuries and illness (broken wrist, mono, plantar fasciitis) – more than I had had in all my previous years combined. In the fall of 2010, an MRI revealed that my other knee needed some work in the way of surgery. So, it was scope time again.

Surgery number two was the removal of a large radial flap tear of the medial meniscus. Fortunately I was armed with more knowledge about how to tackle the recovery process this time. I’ve been amazed at how much help I’ve been to athletes and friends because I decided to learn from the good and bad advice I received in my injury and recovery processes. Hopefully I can impart some wisdom here with a few words for those that might end up needing to heal. My keys:

• Attempt to get to the root of the pain / problem as soon as reasonably possible. Each situation, as big or small as it may be, has a different origin and it will be up to you, the athlete, to take the initiative and begin the resolution process early. Once you find the source it will be easier, psychologically, to move forward in finding the correct process for “recovery.” During the period before my original knee surgery I spent almost a year thinking it would simply “get better.” The second time around I was in the operating room less than six weeks after the initial pain and soon on my way to recovery.
  
  
• Seek out experts and build a team to help pave the road forward. Do your best to surround yourself with people who know yoursituation and truly understand what your goals are. Selecting the right combination of medical professionals, athletes with experience, and knowledgeable coaches will go a long way in making sure you make the correct decisions. Leave no stone unturned!
  
  
• Be patient! I can’t stress this enough. One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was letting someone tell me that I would be “back” in a fixed time. Setting fixed dates or timelines only sets you up for disappointment. Take it day by day and focus on the little things, the small goals that make a difference.
  
  
• At the end of the day see the big picture. Colleague, friend and EC columnist Kevin Purcell said to me a few years ago, “Dave, understand who you are now, not the bulletproof guy you were five years ago.” That stuck with me then and I continue to use those words personally and professionally today. It has allowed me and other athletes to stay present and realize our health is the big picture.

When the dust settles, all the races and training you wanted to do will still be there waiting for you if you just listen to your body, then let your body steer your mind.

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