Champ almost loses leg
Rare aneurysm was shedding clots
A CHAMPION senior tennis player thought his ongoing leg pain was just cramps before doctors diagnosed a dangerous aneurysm and said he had a 50 per cent chance of losing his leg.
Geelong’s Robert Nicholls had surgery immediately on the dangerous and rare popliteal aneurysm and spent two weeks in hospital in August. Just five weeks later he was back on court and won a doubles championship.
The 66-year-old veteran tennis player had been experiencing leg pain on and off for three months, believing it was cramps.
On August 22 he was helping at a mate’s farm when searing pain in his right leg became unbearable. On the advice of his daughters, who are both nurses, he went to the Myers Street Family Medical Practice where a doctor took one look at his “grey, numb foot” and told him to go straight to emergency.
There, St John of God doctors, including surgeon Associate Professor David McClure, discovered a 5-6cm popliteal aneurysm behind Mr Nicholls’ knee that was “shedding blood clots” and causing the cramp-like pain.
“My foot was grey and numb and I was hobbling along,” Mr Nicholls said.
Upon diagnosis, doctors told Mr Nicholls’ wife Debra that he had a 50 per cent chance of losing his leg and a 50 per cent chance of developing popliteal aneurysm in his left leg.
“I was out of it on morphine so I did not understand the severity of the illness. I had just thought it was a cramp and that I would be fine,” Mr Nicholls said.
“I had a physio appointment booked for later that evening, and they might have picked it up but by then it could have been too late.”
Upon admission, Mr Nicholls had an angiogram where doctors discovered all three major arteries in his right leg were blocked by blood clots shedding from the aneurysm.
He has since discovered his aneurysm was hereditary and believes all Australians should be aware of their family medical history so they can advice their doctors.
“I came out of the experience facing the best case scenario, but it could’ve been far worse,” he said.
Mr Nicholls eased his way back on to the tennis court by coaching two nights a week, then played competition in October.
He said his Victorian Grasscourt Senior Mixed Championship doubles win with partner Jenny Grose was more luck than anything else.
This month he will go back to playing singles competitions and his upcoming list of tournaments includes the Gold Coast Australian Championships, Easter country tournaments, the clay court championship and a stint playing the UK grass court season at Havant.
“I’m a reasonable player in the 65-70 age group. I’m no world champion, but I do all right,” Mr Nicholls said.