Confounded by the diagnosis made by UCLA team doctors Monday,
freshman Renee Williams plans to seek a second opinion on her
injured right knee.
Williams, who will miss the rest of the outdoor season due to
what appears to be a deep bone bruise, hopes another doctor can
clarify how her injury has escalated over the past few weeks.
“I just don’t understand it,” Williams said.
“If it’s only a bone bruise, it should have healed.
There must be something they’re not telling me.”
The UCLA medical staff originally diagnosed Williams with a bone
bruise soon after she slipped in the rain warming up for the long
jump at the Texas Relays last month. She has not practiced since
sustaining the injury, and has faithfully gone to physical therapy
several times per week.
In spite of her rehabilitation efforts, doctors told Williams on
Monday that she had not healed as quickly as they had hoped. They
indicated that if she came back too soon, she could hyperextend the
knee further and even sustain cartilage damage.
“I was more surprised than anything,” said Williams,
who fully expected to be given a clean bill of health.
“It was a lot to deal with. They told me if I came back
right away, I could injure it more.”
The UCLA athletic training staff did not comment, as it is their
policy not to comment on specific injuries.
Williams accepts that her collegiate season is over, but she
believes she is more than capable of returning in time to compete
at the U.S. Junior National Championships in July.
“That’s why I’m going to see a second
opinion,” she said, “to see if July is enough time for
me to come back.”