Pain came quickly, followed by shock. The Mountain View High School lineman’s kneecap had dislocated, violently twisted during a practice drill. For many student athletes, the true pain of injury often comes much later, when the reality of possibly missing a season seeps in.
Needing surgery, Victor Madu would have to face that reality head on. Today, however, he’s playing better than ever.
Victor is Northside Hospital's latest Comeback Athlete of the Week, and this is his story.
'Good days and bad days'
Victor’s first knee dislocation happened, in an instant, during summer practice. One awkward landing and his patella was damaged. Because it was his first dislocation, doctors determined he did not need surgery. Madu returned to football, hoping the injury was behind him.
It wasn't.
"Then it happened again…," Victor said. "During a football game I was hit wrong on the same knee and this time I knew it was more dramatic then the first time it happened."
This time, he needed surgery to fully recover from the recurring injury — a possibly fatal sentence for his football season.
"I started thinking about how long I would be out for and whether I would be able to continue playing football at the level I wanted to," he said. "I was really scared because football is a big part of my life and I didn't want this injury to stop me from doing what I love."
It was up to a team of Northside Hospital athletic trainers and orthopedic specialists to get Victory safely back to gridiron.
Supporting the largest high school athletic outreach program in the Southeast, Northside Hospital Orthopedics serves over 50 Georgia schools, providing sports medicine specialists, athletic trainers and more to safely bring out the best in local athletes. Northside is the official healthcare provider for Georgia State University athletics, Reinhardt University and Georgia Gwinnett College. These partnerships are powered by a massive team of world class health experts with a unified goal: getting student-athletes, like Victor, safely back to doing what they love most.
His recovery was lengthy, requiring a detailed strength and movement improvement plan after surgery. His knee had to be stable and ready for the high-impact forces of football.
"After everything I had been through, being able to put on my helmet and shoulder pads and play the sport I love again meant a lot to me," he said. "I'm continuing to work hard every day and make the most of every opportunity I have."
Student athletes suffering from a potentially season-ending injury shouldn't lose hope. Sports medicine experts, like Northside Hospital's world-class orthopedic physicians, are here to help.
"Be patient with yourself and trust the process," Victor said. "There will be good days and bad days but you have to keep pushing forward and focus on getting better one day at a time."
LEARN MORE ABOUT NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL ORTHOPEDICS.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
