Kevin James: Treatment was all Greek to knee

Apr 20 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

ST JOHNSTONE stopper Kevin James has revealed how surgeons saved his season with an ancient treatment once used by Hippocrates.

The 32-year-old ruptured the medial ligaments in his knee 19 months ago after being knocked out cold in an aerial challenge and landing awkwardly.

After two failed operations James turned to a rare, unorthodox treatment called Prolotherapy.

The technique was pioneered by the Greek physician and involved using a hot poker to heal soldiers' torn shoulder joints during battle - effectively allowing the body to heal itself.

Thankfully for James, these days it's a needle and an injection of sugar water solution that strengthens the ligaments.

And last night he re-lived the gory detail of the surgery that has made it possible for him to play in today's Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers.

The giant McDiarmid Park defender admits if it wasn't for the Prolotherapy he'd be nowhere near a starting line-up.

Kev said: "I've had a bad season so far due to the knee injury which has taken so long to clear up.

"I had gone up for a header against Livi last season - I got knocked unconscious and as I landed I damaged my ligaments.

"I put up with it, strapping it up, but the op in the summer didn't clear it.

"I went for a course of Prolotherapy, a dextrose based injection the surgeons put in to strengthen ligaments.

"It makes the knee tougher. They gave me an anaesthetic before the jags but the guy was bending the needle, trying to get as much in as he could!

"It takes 100ml of fluid and the knee soaks it up.You know it's getting stronger when the guy's fingernails are white and there's sweat dripping off him as he's putting it in.

"He couldn't get any more in there. I couldn't feel a thing at the time but it's not nice to look at. If I hadn't got that course of therapy I wouldn't be involved for Sunday."

As a senior member of the Saints' squad James (right) will pass on the same advice to the team's kids as he was given 11 years ago before his first semi-final.

Former Falkirk defender Walter Kidd told the young Bairn before he faced Celtic to savour what might be a rare event.

James said: "I played in two semi-finals in '97 then two again last year.

"I've only won once but hopefully that can change on Sunday against Rangers.

"At Falkirk I remember Walter telling me to savour it because they don't come around often.

"He was right because I waited 10 years for the next one.

"I've been trying to say the same thing to every one of the boys in our squad this week.

"It's an important game but it's also one that should be savoured.

"The young guys should have no fear - I'll be telling them just to enjoy it."