When I was working at the Manchester City Academy with Jason Wilcox and Stephen Torpey, watching them build the most admired Academy in the world from the bottom up, I heard the coaches inspiring their players to adopt a power of three every time they lost the ball. They should automatically, instinctively and sequentially React, Recover and Regain the ball – all in the immediate next five seconds. If they failed in this endeavour, they had to retreat and fall back into normal process.
I am currently on Day Two in the same power of three sequence addressing the osteoarthritis in my right knee.
We finally Reacted, after five years of pain management, by following expert advice and investing in a partial knee replacement.
Our inspirational, cheerful, positive Doctor Gausden and her amazing team excelled and got the job done yesterday.
We moved straight into Phase Two – Recovery – integrated by the charismatic Tommy (TJ aka The Mayor) and his hardworking, functional and empathetic team.
The Hospital for Special Surgery has been voted the top orthopaedic surgery in the US for the last 16 years, an amazing achievement. And it is totally justified.
I first became a patient in 2011 when I tore my ACL in three places and was advised to head out of New Zealand and get the surgery done by Dr Altchek, who unfortunately has since passed away. I slid into his expert hands because I was recommended to him by the All Blacks’ medical staff who he respected.
I followed Andre Agassi and a couple of NBA players on the morning of my surgery, feeling somewhat inadequate as you might imagine.
But the whole operation and process was flawless.
And nothing has changed since. HSS is efficient, effective, Purpose-driven and absolutely at the top of its game.
My good friend Andrea Piana has been undergoing shoulder treatment there with exactly the same experience I had.
I start in a couple of hours over Zoom with a one-on-one physical therapist from HSS. I’m grounded for four weeks at The Farm in New Jersey with Trudy, Vanessa, Sparky, three grandkids and two dogs. Whilst not looking forward to the rehab process, I couldn’t imagine being in better hands from a surgical and personal perspective, so let’s hope we blast through the third Power of Three – Regain, and get the right knee back into shape.
This is step one in my own three step programme as the left knee and right ankle are next on the list in February and June 2027.
Rise. Grind. Conquer.
