Why I Have Postponed Surgery - Saxelby
12 November 2012
Ian Saxelby has been explaining the reasons why he has decided to at least delay surgery on the knee problem which caused him to miss the end of last season.
The 23-year-old seam bowler had been expected to enter hospital last month in a bid to cure the injury that caused his knee to swell over the final weeks of the summer.
But, as reported earlier on this website, that decision has now been shelved in favour of trying to strengthen the knee with specific training methods and supports.
Ian is now back in winter training with the Gloucestershire players who have not gone abroad to play and is determined to be fit for the start of the 2013 campaign.
He said: “I’ve picked my orthotics up, which are like an insole to wear in my trainers that add support for the foot.
“That hopefully transfers up the body and I am also wearing a knee brace. I have done some batting and running and all feels good so far.
“There will be a two-month plan for my training following the couple of months rest I have had
“It was my decision not to have the surgery, but as always I acted on medical advice. The surgeon felt it wouldn’t be wise to cause too much more disruption to the joint surfaces.
“If you go in with cameras it means poking about at the joints, so he thought it prudent to wait and see what effect the orthotics and brace have.
“I will also be doing extra strength sessions to the other players this winter in a bid to get more strength into my quads and the knee.
“Hopefully a combination of all that will mean the knee self-manages. But I have talked things over with our physiotherapist Steve Griffin and we agree that if I am still experiencing a catch in the cartilage area when it get nearer to Christmas we shall reassess things.
“Surgery would still be a possibility then, but if possible I will carry on without it.”
“In the meantime I’ll take part in everything and, while I am not going to be running in and bowling ten overs in the nets, I’ll do at least part of the training everyone else is doing.
“I hadn’t run for two months when reporting back so that has to be a gradual build-up.”
