Meniscus Repair

February 10, 2020 was the first game in our regional basketball tournament. My team, Coach Hood, and I had spent long hours in the the gym preparing for this game. We analyzed game film, ran plays, practiced shooting, and Coach Hood even had some of our boys' basketball players come in to run our opponent's plays in a scrimmage against us. We were ready. As a 14-year old starting varsity guard for Pleasant Valley High School, I was never more excited and nervous about playing in a game before.

I was at track & field practice one day in the Spring of 2018 when I came to a stop from sprinting and I felt a huge pop in my knee.

I honestly did not think anything of it because my knees pop and hurt often. I thought I would get over the pain, but as time went on the pain started to increase. The next day I went to the doctor & had an MRI, which revealed medial & lateral meniscus tears as well as MCL and ACL sprain/partial tears. I underwent a knee arthroscopy at another orthopaedic practice in March, 2018.

My son, Tristan, had meniscus surgery on both knees, left (2015) and right (2016). Dr. Jeffrey Dugas did both surgeries. We drove 5+ hours for both and would again if needed (hopefully not) because he is so worth it. 

Dr. Dugas had my son doing PT the very next day and he was back to playing baseball (he is a catcher) within 6 weeks.

Dr. Dugas is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would highly recommend him and do so.

Colleen Hopgood

I am a LONG TIME Dr. Steven R. Nichols patient. I tell people that he is next to God because he has basically repaired my whole body. I trust him with my life.

I am a very active mother to four sons, whom are also very active. In September 2017 while running during a CrossFit class, I noticed some very uncomfortable knee pain. I stopped, rested several days, ice, anti- inflammatory medications, then some stretching... it just persisted.

Dr. Benton Emblom and his staff are phenomenal. My 15 year-old son tore his ACL, PCL, MCL and medial meniscus in a Friday night football game.

On the Saturday morning after the injury, we saw Dr. Ryan Palmer at EAMC. Once it was confirmed Max had a torn PCL, Dr. Palmer said he didn't feel comfortable doing the surgery and he referred us to Dr. Emblom. Dr. Palmer's honesty was overwhelming.

Before going to Andrews we were told Max's chances of playing sports again was slim to none. Once we saw Dr. Emblom he assured us Max would come back.

I started doing competitive cheerleading in 5th grade and instantly fell in love with it. I always loved to tumble, but I had a love/hate relationship with fulls. I could never completely pull through, and it was very frustrating.

Growing up in New York City, I fell in love with boxing and was active in the sport through my teens. In my 20’s, I moved to Alabama and have called this great state home for 40+ years. Fortunately, I’ve remained very active during my adult life, playing competitive sports and experiencing the positive benefits and satisfaction of living a healthy lifestyle. 

In August 2013, I was 13 and I tore my ACL and meniscus in my right knee while tumbling. I was devastated! I thought I would never cheer again!!

I had surgery, and Dr. Sam Goldstein told me the only way I would be able to get back to competitive cheer that season was if I worked my butt off in therapy. Unfortunately, I got released a few weeks after our last competition, but I knew I would come back better than ever the next season.

One week prior to moving from Ohio to Alabama for a new job assignment, I was playing basketball with my 15 year old twin sons. I felt a pop in my right knee when I stretched to retrieve a ball from going out of bounds. My wife would tell you that I should not be playing pick up basketball at the age of 49!

An MRI later revealed that I had torn my meniscus, and surgery was required.

I was referred to Andrews Sports Medicine by a neighbor, made an appointment with Dr. Flanagan who performed my meniscus repair surgery.