Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald reveals he still experiences chronic pain due to AFL injuries 17 years after his retirement - as he prepares for even more surgery By Katie Storey For Daily Mail Australia Published: 03:37 BST, 5 June 2019 | Updated: 04:11 BST, 5 June 2019 Viewcomments Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald was forced to give up his AFL career after just two years and 18 games due to persistent injuries. And speaking on Nova FM's Fitzy and Wippa on Wednesday, he revealed he is still in pain after undergoing four knee reconstructions to correct his sporting injuries. Fitzy explained his knee is now worse than before and he's tempted to fix it once and for all by undergoing alignment surgery that works by breaking the leg. Ouch: Ryan Fitzgerald (Fitzy) revealed he is still in pain after undergoing four knee reconstructions to correct injuries from his AFL career nearly 20 years ago The radio host discussed on air the extent of his AFL injuries, following his time as a Sydney Swans and Adelaide Crows player between 2000 and 2002. Fitzy had an impressive start to his career, but was forced to hang up his boots after injuring his ACL and needing reconstructive surgery on both knees. He has had reconstruction once on his left knee and three times on his right knee - going in for the third surgery in December last year. Desperate times: Fitzy discussed the extent of his AFL injuries on Nova FM, following his time as a Sydney Swans and Adelaide Crows player between 2000 and 2002 and explained he's now considering leg realignment surgery 'It hasn't got any better, it's worse than it was before,' he admitted. 'I've tried to build up the muscle around the knee, but it hasn't worked and I'm getting this pain again.' He explained that while his surgeon was trying to figure out where the pain was coming from, 'nothing was really happening' so he sought out a second opinion. Fitzy turned to Sydney Swans doctor, Tommy Cross, who decided to X-ray the presenter's entire body. 'It's life-changing' Four knee reconstruction surgeries have failed to help Fitzy, so Sydney Swans doctor Tommy Cross suggested alignment surgery which breaks the leg to adjust the knee's position Cross informed Fitzy that he was suffering from a number of problems, including scoliosis in his back, osteoarthritis in his hips and 'really bad' arthritis in his knee. Cross told Fitzy that he will definitely need a knee replacement at 'some point in his life' and also pointed out that the former sportsman is bow-legged. He suggested that Fitzy opts for leg realignment surgery to get rid of his knee pain, with Fitzy explaining to his co-hosts that the surgery requires your leg being broken. 'They break your leg underneath your knee and they turn your knee to straighten up the top bit of your leg,' Fitzy said. His co-host Wippa ruled it out straight away, but Fitzy insisted he is considering it and added: 'You'll be pain free, Cross said: "It's changed my life!"' The surgery would mean cutting through the bone in order to adjust the knee and would leave Fitzy on crutches for eight weeks, as well as in need of physio. His co-hosts then joked that if he needed any help, they'd be happy to lend a hand and 'break his legs in the car park' for him. Painful: The surgery would mean cutting through the bone in order to adjust the knee and would leave Fitzy on crutches for eight weeks, as well as in need of physio - although his radio co-hosts joked they'd save him money and 'break his legs' for him Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility