Johnny’s Meniscus Tear Patient Story

Posted on: September 23rd, 2024 by Our Team

During the Memorial Day weekend, after a week of necessary leg workouts, I went to an outside basketball court. I had stooped down to play defense against an opponent and when I stood up, I couldn’t move my knee. And so, as a result, I began to experience pain and decreased mobility, which prompted me to do some research. Out of the 17 doctors that I evaluated, I saw Dr. Nho’s background and his experience with arthroscopic knee procedures and hip procedures. I went into the office Tuesday following the Monday Memorial Day holiday place. On that day, I was taken for X-rays and Dr. Nho told me that the bones and knee joint were good, but based on the swelling and injury I should have an MRI. They scheduled me for an MRI a week later and the MRI showed a tear in my meniscus. Dr. Nho came in, evaluated the imaging and my knee, and recommended surgery. Dr. Nho wanted to get me into surgery the same week to fix the problem, but I needed to get my affairs in order because I’m a traveling mental health professional. So, if a traumatic event happens in the world, like a hurricane or a mass shooting, I travel and provide mental health support services to schools, business leaders, and other professionals. And they told me that I was going to be unable to travel by air right after surgery. So, then I was able to get my affairs in order and able to schedule surgery on June 26. I had my surgery at Gold Coast Surgical Center and everyone there, Delaney, the nurses, and Dr. Nho, treated me so well.

Why Johnny chose Dr. Shane Nho?

I didn’t know what was wrong with my knee, but I have played basketball my entire life. I played in high school and college, but I never suffered injuries like this before. So in my research for a doctor, I was looking for someone who particularly had an area focused on my knee surgeries and arthroscopic procedures. Dr. Nho has been trained and has had extensive experience working with athletes and frankly that is what piqued my interest in him. I saw that he has several colleagues in his office with similar expertise, but based on his experience and patient reviews, I feel confident in his ability to support me and get me back to where I wanted to be.

I was caught off guard by the importance of physical therapy after surgery. I didn’t know that my quad muscles were going to weaken. I had no idea. I went to physical therapy, and I had to strengthen my thigh. Physical therapy was a very humbling experience because it taught me the significance of how the mechanics of my knee are connected to my quad, which is also connected to my calf. And I had to take it step-by-step and so for six weeks, I went to physical therapy three times a week and my physical therapist, Dr. Michael Tulman, who led me through physical therapy with electro-stimulation and we gradually began to rebuild the strength in my quad.

Today, six weeks later, I literally ran on the treadmill again, which was emotionally overwhelming. Just today, I was in Dr. Nho’s office, had an evaluation with Delaney, and then I went to physical therapy and was able to run today. It was very joyous to be at this point just 6 weeks later.

An extremely important component of this entire experience is that I experienced no pain from the surgery or the rehab with physical therapy. I never experienced any extensive pain during this entire process after surgery.

To highlight Dr. Nho and his team, I had a strange pain sensation in my calf one day and I was starting to worry that I had a blood clot. I was talking to my physical therapist, and I explained to him that I think I need to go to the hospital to get it checked. That same day, at 4:30 PM, I called Dr. Nho’s office and got in touch with his PAs who shared the news with members of the team, even after everyone had gone home for the day. I immediately had a doctor’s order to receive an ultrasound to evaluate my calf. Luckily, there was no blood clot or anything wrong with my calf. I share that because in a time of notable panic for me, the team was swift and effective on supporting me and getting the doctors order first thing 7AM in the morning. It gave me peace of mind right away.

Knee arthroscopy and partial lateral meniscectomy surgery.

Dr. Nho recommended left knee arthroscopy and partial lateral meniscectomy.

Recovering from knee arthroscopy and partial lateral meniscectomy.

After the injury, there was a constant, notable pain in the back of my knee and an unpleasant sensation inside of my knee. Surgery was conducted and then immediately, like as soon as I woke up from the anesthesia, I was able to walk again without any pain. I no longer felt that pain. I didn’t want to be overzealous so I used the crutches for a week or two, but then afterward I would just walk normally again. They recommended pain pills, but I didn’t need them. I only took the aspirin to minimize the possibility of blood clots over the 30 days after surgery.

The last thing I wanted to share is that my knee injury happened at an inopportune time because I’m preparing for a PhD program at Harvard, so I needed this surgery immediately to prepare my mind for school. The surgery with Dr. Nho happened at the best possible time because now, six weeks after surgery, I have concluded physical therapy, and next week I start school.

The team was so supportive, efficient and just overall graceful. I’ve never had surgery before, so I had my fears and reservations, but I knew I could get it done with the support of Dr. Nho and his team.