Conditions + Treatments
Knee Injury/Condition
Meniscus Tear
My name is Doug Simpson, and I am from Northport, AL. I graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School and I played both baseball and basketball throughout my entire youth.
Today, I live in Hillcrest, located near Tuscaloosa, with my wife, Christy, where we raised our daughter. I have enjoyed playing some softball as an adult, which sometimes includes playing co-ed softball with my wife.
I have always had a passion for sports and was excited to continue to find a way to keep giving back to the game after my playing days were over. My sports officiating career started years ago when our local softball league was in need of umpires. I signed up to assist, and the experience helped me discover my passion for umpiring and refereeing youth and high school sports.
I have worked on the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team support staff since 2003, and have enjoyed refereeing high school basketball and football for more than 25 years. I have been fortunate to officiate a number of AHSAA state basketball tournament games, and numerous AISA (private schools) state championship games.
In addition to refereeing basketball and football games, I have also enjoyed my travel softball coaching career where I coached High Intensity ‘00 from 2014 to 2018. We were blessed to win four state championships and one national championship, however, coaching softball was constantly putting pressure on my knees and legs.
While refereeing a high school basketball scrimmage in October of 2022, I felt a pop in my right knee. I had never experienced knee problems before and so I hoped there was nothing wrong. Waking up the next morning, my knee was very swollen, and the pain continued to get worse. I knew something needed to be done in order for me to continue refereeing basketball and working during the upcoming football season.
Fortunately, in working with the Alabama football team, I have had close relations with the team physicians and team athletics trainers. I was able to get advice from the training staff about a recommended brace as well as some exercises to help me get through both the basketball and football seasons that year.
Before the Auburn game of that season, Dr. Lyle Cain did an initial and brief exam, where he told me he was pretty sure it was a torn meniscus. Dr. Cain and his team were able to drain the injury as well as give me an injection to help me get through the rest of the game and season. Fortunately, I was able to officiate high school basketball games until February.
Shortly after the injection, I was scheduled for an MRI which confirmed that I did have a torn meniscus. I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Cain in Birmingham, and he recommended surgery in order for me to continue refereeing, umpiring, and working with the Alabama football team.
With the pain getting worse, I began to worry as I wanted to be able to walk my daughter down the aisle and dance with her at her wedding in June of the upcoming summer. We scheduled the surgery for March 7 with hopes that I would be completely healed in time for my daughter’s wedding.
Dr. Cain has been a friend of mine for years and did a great job in making sure I had everything I needed before and after my surgery. I never felt confused of the process, and his clinical team made sure I had a follow-up appointment with him 2 weeks after my surgery.
My recovery with ATI Physical Therapy started the day after my surgery with Dr. Cain. Starting out, I was very sore, but I kept telling myself that I was going to be okay. The University of Alabama athletic training staff also provided encouragement and moral support during my recovery journey.
When I originally started walking with physical therapy, I had a limp and there was some pain. However, with some hard work and dedication, I was able to start running 4 to 5 weeks after my surgery. I was overjoyed as I love to be active, and I was able to do what I was hoping for all along; walk my daughter down the aisle on June 17.
Now, I try to be as active as I can to take good care of me knees. This includes walking almost every day as well as making sure I am working as much basketball as I can. Football season is just around the corner, and I can confidently say that I will be on the field feeling 100% back to normal as if I never had an injury. I highly recommend Dr. Cain and the team at Andrews Sports Medicine!
