Jake's Jumps

Two knee surgeries

I tore my ACL and meniscus in June 2024. About a year after the first surgery, I needed a second one. This is the road back to the rim.

  1. June 27, 2024

    Torn ACL and meniscus

    Diagram of a knee from the front, with the torn ACL and the torn meniscus labelled
    What tore: the ACL and the meniscus.
  2. Aug 20, 2024Surgery 1

    ACL and meniscus surgery

    Surgery on the ACL and meniscus, then a long stretch of rehab.

    Jake after his first knee surgery, in a hinged knee brace, giving a thumbs up
    Post-op, surgery 1.
    The knee with fresh surgical incisions and tape
    The knee after surgery 1.
  3. Between surgeries

    A cyclops lesion

    Scar tissue grew in front of the new ACL graft and formed a cyclops lesion about 1 inch by half an inch. The name comes from how it looks on a scope: a round nodule that resembles an eye. Lesions like this can keep the knee from fully straightening.

    MRI of the knee from the side showing the cyclops lesion
    MRI, side view.
    MRI of the knee from the front
    MRI, front view.
  4. Sept 10, 2025Surgery 2

    Removing the lesion

    Jake in a yellow hospital gown before his second knee surgery, giving a thumbs up
    Back to the operating room to get it cleaned out.
  5. Now

    Learning to dunk again

    Training on THP Strength and posting the whole thing. Follow along to see if a 5'11" guy with two knee surgeries gets back above the rim.

    Jake in mid-air at the rim with a brace on his knee
    Back up at the rim, brace on.
    Jake jumping toward the rim with his hand up at the net
    Reaching the net again.

This is my story, not medical advice. If you're dealing with a knee injury, talk to your surgeon or physical therapist.