For Mercury’s Bria Hartley, knee surgery more painful than childbirth
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Bria Hartley would choose childbirth over major knee surgery.
She’s endured both, giving birth to her son Bryson in 2017 and having ACL repair on her right knee Sept. 18, three weeks after suffering a tear that ended her first season with the Phoenix Mercury.
“The main thing I said when I came out of surgery was that it was worse,” Hartley said. “But I also had an epidural halfway through my childbirth so it was pretty chill once I did. I know other people that have gone through childbirth and didn’t have any meds, they’re like there’s nothing worse.
“I just assumed it’s difficult when you’re going through the (knee) rehab. That was the main thing I had in my head. I didn’t realize how much pain you would be in just sitting there.”
Following prior surgeries on her nose and eardrum, Hartley said she was in some pain but not enough to require medication. This time, it was all she could do to wait the required four hours before taking pain meds.
Now, nine weeks after surgery performed by Dr. Christopher Larson, Minnesota Vikings head team physician, Hartley is off crutches and doing rehab 4-5 times per week in Minneapolis.
“You really have to retrain yourself how to walk,” she said. “One of the main things is getting the knee to bend as far as possible.
“You take inches or even centimeters each day. They say you’re on crutches for 4-6 weeks depending, but you get off the crutches you’re not necessarily walking fine. When you go into rehab and warm up, the knee feels good. But once you sit for 5-10 minutes, it gets stiff again. You have to be really diligent and repetitive about your rehab. I do this routine 2-3 times a day.”
Hartley, who turned 28 on Sept. 30, is missing out on another overseas season in Turkey. When she will be ready to play again for the Mercury or for the French national team (her grandmother is French) is uncertain.
If not delayed due to COVID-19, the WNBA season will begin in May with a break for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, July 23-Aug. 8.
The French women’s team, ranked No. 5 in the world, is qualified the Olympics. Hartley’s boyfriend Jordan Taylor is currently playing professionally for a team in Sapporo, Japan.
“I’m just trying to stay on track and stay focused on what’s right ahead,” Hartley said. “The main thing is let’s try to get this leg completely straight. I don’t really want to look too far ahead. I don’t want to discourage myself.”
When Hartley needs encouragement, she turns to her older brother or Mercury teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith, both of whom have gone through the rehab grind required after major knee surgery and can reassure her what she’s experiencing is a normal part of the process.
Hartley’s seventh WNBA season was her best until the injury. She 14.6 points and 4.5 assists (both career highs) in 13 games during a pandemic shortened season. When center Brittney Griner left the bubble in Bradenton, Florida, Hartley became a starter in an effective three-guard attack with Diana Taurasi and…
Read More: For Mercury’s Bria Hartley, knee surgery more painful than childbirth 2020-11-21 23:03:36