After a shocking, season-ending diagnosis, a University of Illinois basketball player says he’s ready to return to the hardwood…thanks to local surgeons.
U of I’s Jason Jakstys says before, during and after a game against Maryland in late January, he noticed some unusual discomfort in his left arm.
“I started lifting weights, didn’t even go heavy, and my arms starts bulging up. It gets red, veins are bulgy, guys are looking at it. I’m like, ‘well that’s kind of weird.’”
Testing determined the issue was a blood clot, and Jakstys was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which can happen when blood vessels or nerves are compressed between the collarbone and first rib.
“In a matter of seconds, your season is over. It was unfortunate to hear that.”
Surgeons at Northwestern Medicine then performed surgery in which they removed that first rib on the six foot ten forward.
“My first thought was ‘can I keep the rib?’ That’s a cool thing to keep, but unfortunately, I couldn’t.”
A few weeks later, Jakstys resumed basketball activity, traveled with his teammates to the Final Four…and now says he’s ready for summer workouts and the upcoming season.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for me.”
After a shocking, season-ending diagnosis, a University of Illinois basketball player says he’s ready to return to the hardwood…thanks to local surgeons.
After a shocking, season-ending diagnosis, a University of Illinois basketball player says he’s ready to return to the hardwood…thanks to local surgeons.
