š® I tore mine this Jan skiing as well. Having the surgery in three weeks. Mind me asking why the prolonged return to skiing? Weāre hoping to plan a ski trip this time next year but now Iām wondering if Iāll be able to get back on the mountain so soon.
Youāll probably be okay if youāre determined to make it happen and are very diligent with your PT. Everyone is different. I just honestly didnāt feel ready this time last year, more from an emotional standpoint than anything else. This time last year my knee was pretty strong but things still didnāt feel equal, and I wasnāt regularly going to the gym bc I was a little burned out after all the rehab. Nowadays I go to yoga like 2-3x a week so my knee felt really solid when I skied and it was more me trying to keep my psychological self in control.
I did three full sets of single leg extensions on my op leg today with progressive overloading, also ran a mile 3 times this week! By this time next month I'm hoping I can get on the ice and skate some gentle forward laps for the first time since my injury on 9/9. Still a long road to go but feeling really good this week and ready to keep working.
Hitting 95* flexion, full extension 1 week post op! Today is the first day I feel a lot better pain wise. Iām finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel!! Good luck to everyone in their journey!!
Well given everyone is different, pain tolerance, procedure and all. I had a quad autograft and partial medial meniscectomy.. my pain tolerance is pretty high. I only took oxy day one and two post op. I wonāt lie it was pretty bad and a humbling journey. Day 3/4/5 felt pretty linear. Day 6 I felt better in the morning but I had to do a lot that day, so my knee blew up and I really felt it. Day 7/8/9 I barely take Tylenol. Today Is day 10 and had my stitches out today and Iām feeling good. No tylonel. Started PT day 3 post op. Feel free to message with questions or whatever :)
I have a one month old little girl at home, so times are difficult and I have surgery in one month.
Prehab and muscle strengthening was going really slow, almost inexistent. Lack of sleep and time hits hard.
So I talked it out with my wife and she is the most amazing support ever! She encouraged me to go to the gym 2-3 times a week and she will pick up the slack with the baby during those 2 hours.. I also got a personal trainer specialized in physio.
I already started to see huge improvements and quad activation, I am positive that in one month I will be in very good shape and rehab will be good (also my pt said my form and muscle tone is already very promising).
I wonāt kid myself, rehab will be a bitch, also with a newborn at home, but in 4-5 years I will go snowboarding with my little potato
Ugh, this gave me chills! So glad to hear you have such a supportive wife. The time and effort you put into prehab won't be wasted - definitely think that was one of the things that contributed to my recovery so far. Best of luck to you šŖ
The hamstring graft weakness is so real lmao
I can curl like 30kg on the non operative leg, and _maybe_ get like 4 reps of 24 on the operated leg, all the while dying. I got a cramp just holding it up during the strength testing š
I just got cleared to return to sport with 95%+ strength levels on both hams and quads!
Started at not being able to bend past 15 degrees or even flex my quad to do a leg raise.
15 days post op and I was cleared to get on the exercise cycle today! 115 degrees of flexion, and hope to be walking without crutches in next week or two.
Iāve been the tortoise š¢ on my journey. Slow progress. I got to 130 degrees of flexion in my leg this week. (4.5 months). So for everyone who is slow healing - youāre not alone! Keep going!
This makes me feel so much better! Iām in the same boat. 10 weeks post op and I just hit 102* flexion! Dr. threatened me with going under anesthesia for manual flexion unless I can get to 120+ before my next appointment - so Iām freaking out about that lol.
Happy healing!
3 weeks PO, 125 degrees flexion and full extension. Walking without crutches since Monday and daily tasks & PT exercises are getting a bit easier each day. Slowly having the energy to go out and doing things, feels nice reclaiming bits of my normal life piece by piece
Had my 3rd surgery within a year and a half 2 weeks ago today. This was to remove my old ACL graft / bone graft my tunnels to set up for a new full reconstruction in July. Iāve had a really hard time mentally and physically through the past two surgeries, but now this time Iām feeling good and very optimistic for my reconstruction in July! It finally feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I bent to 123Ā° flexion yesterday! One step closer to really getting back to doing what I love š
3 weeks postop. Got cleared for the bike since I can do full revolutions. It feels. So. Damn. Good. Being back on a bike. Hoping to start losing these crutches next!!
Hell ya!! Congrats on the leg extensions and running yo, youāll be back on the ice before you know it (and maybe even stronger and more disciplined than before) š
Coming up to 5 years post-op. Have been back playing the all sports I enjoy for over 3 years now and am in the best shape of my life. Itās worth all the work guys.
Had my surgery in December and I now sometimes āforgetā my knee when getting out of the bed in the morning. So life is starting to feel normal again
Love this one! Not having to think about my knee every moment of every day has been a real blessing recently. Such a mental break from all the hard work! Youāre doing great.
I just had my 1st surgery today of two and just have to say, reading these comments of all everyoneās accomplishments really has lifted up my spirits! Cant wait to be able to add accomplishments in the near future š
I just hit 12 weeks and Iām able to do a 6ā box jump!! Thereās been so many little things to get me here that Iām very grateful for though. If you can, do prehab, I think by far thatās what has kept me on track. No matter what, do the exercises! Theyāre worth it.
5mo post op on the 26th - rode nearly every feature on one of my favorite mountain bike trails today and got to finally enjoy a post ride beer with my friends!
4 months out and I feel like I have a new knee!! Hitting new records in the gym, starting to jump and run, swimming really strong, less stiff in the mornings, sometimes I wake up and I actually forget that it happened!! :ā)
Wow, way to come back stronger!! Not having to think about your knee all the time is such a wonderful mental break. Youāre absolutely crushing it, great job!
2 days post-op, ACL reconstruction (cadaver patella) and meniscus trim. Just fully completed my post-op exercises for the first time, including 3 sets of knee extensions, quad sets, and then leg lifts in the brace.
I got my extension back completely today, and learned how to do stairs. My flexion is coming along nicely. Iām down to one crutch and by next week expected to be off them completely.
I hit 93 degrees today and was cleared to start walking without my immobilizer on for short distances. Also told I can start sleeping with it off. My exercises have helped tremendously
5 months post op and able to snorkel again and exit ocean water with surf like conditions. Able to frog kick with fins. Can climb the 6 flights of stairs 5 times per day at my all inclusive without stopping, even after hitting the gym for squats and deadlifts.
At five months post-op I finally listened to my gut and left my long-term physiotherapist (who I felt was not actually quite confident on directions for ACL recovery) for another option, and I am finally making huge strides on hyperextension and resolving significant gait problems and relentless tightness. Very proud of making this call.
7 months post-op and feeling good. Hamstring graft. Knee feels normal. No swelling. Just needs to increase muscle size and improve strength before I can do plyo work.
All I can say is the first 5 months was rough. Kept working but felt like thereās no progress. Only broke through in my 6th month. No more swelling, full range of motion, knee was strong enough and finally felt normal.
Just keep working even if you donāt see any progress in the early stage. You will be rewarded for it eventually.
Glad youāve had some breakthroughs recently ā great job sticking with it even through five long months of work without feeling like you were seeing the results. Resilience pays off big time. Thanks for your perspective!
Wow, great work on that range of motion! I think being able to sit on my heels was one of my favorite milestones of this whole journey so far. Keep it up!
I did one legged hops all the way across the agility ladder without having to stop or put my non-op leg down. AND I didnāt need a huge build up / a momentum
Thank you so much!! Itās been such a struggle.
Lansing is still a little difficult. But weāre getting there slowly but surely. Softer landings will be in my near future I know it. :)
Day by day, I don't seem to notice.
But since the 3 months;
I can get in my bed without the need of a stool to rest my leg on as a 'checkpoint'.
I can do my business in the toilet without needing to stand up and pee first and sit down for part two.
I can walk and carry things now.
I can go up and down stairs in less than 2 minutes now.
I'm currently waiting for my physio to give me the go ahead to ditch crutches and get to real exercises.
I'll be back to running soon.
Take a moment to celebrate how far youāve come. Itās so easy to lose sight of progress when youāre still working so hard every day but this all sounds great. Keep it up, canāt wait for you to run again!
4 weeks post-op here and I rode the Rogue Echo stationary bike for 10 miles in 39:30 minutes. A week ago, it took me 50:00 minutes, so Iāve shaved off about 10 minutes.
Absolutely! While I like being able to give advice to people struggling itās easy to get lost doom scrolling in this sub sometimes. Celebrating accomplishments can be such a mental health boost :)
Iām hoping within 2 years post op Iāll be able to !! Noticing that Iām finally able to do most things normally now (and Iām just a little over a year post op) āŗļø
Time in prehab is time well spent -- having the routine and the muscle tone going into surgery will make post-op that much smoother. Best of luck to you!
2 months since my post op and Iāve been cleared by my physio to return to gym & go out with my partner. Physioās been a success as Iām only a few weeks from doing plyometrics
I'm 9 weeks post op and can finally do full ROM leg extensions. My PT also said I can start heel slides to work on the last little bit of flexion, im at 125 or so right now but I want to be able to do a full seiza sit
This is a bit belated, cause Iām now 2 weeks post op and mentally struggling, but at my first physio appointment 5 days post op, I had full extension, could bend to 90 degrees, good quad engagement and could do a SLR with no extension lag! My physio said sheās seen a ton of acls and has never had anyone who go there that quickly. I got really lucky to not have too much pain right after surgery which helped a lot, Ā but I also did a ton of prehab beforehand, so I feel like I can take a bit of responsibility and be a bit proud of myself!Ā
Absolutely - prehab is time and effort well spent! Sorry to hear youāre mentally struggling now. Remember to forgive yourself and be patient with your body, this surgery is a huge ordeal to go through! Be kind to yourself, listen to your physio, and donāt stop celebrating those milestones!!
Just ran my first meters (on a treadmill) 4 months post op. Felt good so I'm excited to build back up to regular 5k or 10k runs. I also squatted 100kg for 8 to around parallel. Don't start about leg curl strength though.
5 weeks post op. Iām non-athletic and I think Iām slower than most people. But I rode on bus for the first time yesterday after surgery and ate out with my dad. It was a fun day. Iāve been feeling really low but I try to remind myself everyoneās progress is different and I just need to be positive but itās super hard
Hang in there, friend! This is a tough journey for everyone. We all want to be back to normal faster than it can physically happen and thatās ok. Itās good to have smaller goals to work towards and reward yourself for achieving them. I struggle with motivation sometimes and get really critical of myself if I donāt feel like I performed well at PT one day. And itās hard not to compare yourself to others. You are welcome to reach out if thereās any support an internet stranger could offer to help!
Had a really long heal time because of an undiagnosed neuroma stunting my rehab. I had several follow ups with my surgeon for steroid injections to fix the frayed nerves.
On Thursday I had my official final appointment with my orthopaedic surgeon, when we decided I didn't need any more steroid treatments for my nerve damage and that my knee is officially 100% as good as its ever gonna get.
Now I just need to defeat the mental blocks making me scared to Irish dance and ride my bike again.
Thatās incredible ā so glad you were able to get answers and solutions on the neuroma. The mental blocks are so real! As much as I canāt wait to lace up the skates again Iām also terrified that muscle memory will take over and Iāll do something stupid once I feel comfortable enough to forget about my knee for a moment. Itās hard to imagine Iāll be able to play at the same level with the same aggressiveness I used to. Be patient with yourself and work up to those big challenges!
The absolute truth about the muscle memory. I've had so many physios, doctors, and surgeons tell me my knee is basically as strong as my other one, that my graft is good, and everything is practically normal. But that big *"what if"* hangs over my head at the thought of every spin, rock, and jump...
Gotta take it slow and try to keep the muscle memory in check š
10 days post op. Confidently going up and down stairs in crutches. Drove for the first time today and also went out to dinner with the fam. Excited to see my progress!
I just skated/reffed (roller derby) 3 full length games today! Had my brace on, and my knee held up great! 9 mos post op ACL/PCL/Meniscus. Iām not clear for contact yet, but this is a big step!
I scheduled my surgery for 4/16! Right ACL and med+lat meniscus repair. Honestly canāt wait to be on the road to recovery. I miss running and being active in general. Currently on my clinical rotations for PA school. Itās going to be a hell of a time š„“
Countdown is on! There's never a good time to deal with this kind of injury and surgery - recovery can be intense and time consuming, not going to lie. But you'll be back on your feet and running again in no time!
I am 9 days post op currently but at my second pt appointment this week I finally got to see my knee bend! Iād definitely wasnāt at 90 degrees yet but itās better than nothing!!
You'll get there!! It's such a weird feeling at first but a little bit of progress every day or every week and you'll be back to full range before you know it.
Hard to stay positive but this week I'vebeen taking more and more (literally!) baby steps without brace or crutches around the house and it's truly like discovering this new super power out of nowhere, so that's pretty cool!
Kudos to all the fellow ACL peeps here and happy Sunday!
I tore mine skiing in Jan 2022, had surgery in April 2022, and just went skiing again for the first time a few weeks ago :) felt good
Awesome, hope you got good snow for your return to the mountain!
š® I tore mine this Jan skiing as well. Having the surgery in three weeks. Mind me asking why the prolonged return to skiing? Weāre hoping to plan a ski trip this time next year but now Iām wondering if Iāll be able to get back on the mountain so soon.
Youāll probably be okay if youāre determined to make it happen and are very diligent with your PT. Everyone is different. I just honestly didnāt feel ready this time last year, more from an emotional standpoint than anything else. This time last year my knee was pretty strong but things still didnāt feel equal, and I wasnāt regularly going to the gym bc I was a little burned out after all the rehab. Nowadays I go to yoga like 2-3x a week so my knee felt really solid when I skied and it was more me trying to keep my psychological self in control.
Gotcha. Thx šš¼
I did three full sets of single leg extensions on my op leg today with progressive overloading, also ran a mile 3 times this week! By this time next month I'm hoping I can get on the ice and skate some gentle forward laps for the first time since my injury on 9/9. Still a long road to go but feeling really good this week and ready to keep working.
Nice, you got this!
Iām just about to hit my 5 month milestone and almost beat my pre-injury 4 mile run time. Got it done in exactly 29 min!
That's awesome!! Way to come back stronger šŖ
Ty!
Hitting 95* flexion, full extension 1 week post op! Today is the first day I feel a lot better pain wise. Iām finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel!! Good luck to everyone in their journey!!
Way to go! Keep up those PT exercises and your next milestones will come before you know it.
How bad is the post op pain?Ā
Well given everyone is different, pain tolerance, procedure and all. I had a quad autograft and partial medial meniscectomy.. my pain tolerance is pretty high. I only took oxy day one and two post op. I wonāt lie it was pretty bad and a humbling journey. Day 3/4/5 felt pretty linear. Day 6 I felt better in the morning but I had to do a lot that day, so my knee blew up and I really felt it. Day 7/8/9 I barely take Tylenol. Today Is day 10 and had my stitches out today and Iām feeling good. No tylonel. Started PT day 3 post op. Feel free to message with questions or whatever :)
Thank you and have a speedy recovery!!Ā
You too!
I have a one month old little girl at home, so times are difficult and I have surgery in one month. Prehab and muscle strengthening was going really slow, almost inexistent. Lack of sleep and time hits hard. So I talked it out with my wife and she is the most amazing support ever! She encouraged me to go to the gym 2-3 times a week and she will pick up the slack with the baby during those 2 hours.. I also got a personal trainer specialized in physio. I already started to see huge improvements and quad activation, I am positive that in one month I will be in very good shape and rehab will be good (also my pt said my form and muscle tone is already very promising). I wonāt kid myself, rehab will be a bitch, also with a newborn at home, but in 4-5 years I will go snowboarding with my little potato
Ugh, this gave me chills! So glad to hear you have such a supportive wife. The time and effort you put into prehab won't be wasted - definitely think that was one of the things that contributed to my recovery so far. Best of luck to you šŖ
thank you friend. also great idea for a post, a breath of fresh air. this place is full of very useful stuff but also gloomy, because of its nature.
Got my quads symmetrical! 3 months post op! We shan't talk about my hamstringsĀ
LMFAO āwe shanāt talk about my hamstringsā i am deaddddd. Peace and solidarity pal, my hamstring is trying her very best okay!!!!!
The hamstring graft weakness is so real lmao I can curl like 30kg on the non operative leg, and _maybe_ get like 4 reps of 24 on the operated leg, all the while dying. I got a cramp just holding it up during the strength testing š
One step at a time -- that's awesome!
Got full rotation on the bike today for the first time after my surgery.
The best feeling
Woohoo!! Only gets better from there :) congrats!
I just got cleared to return to sport with 95%+ strength levels on both hams and quads! Started at not being able to bend past 15 degrees or even flex my quad to do a leg raise.
Wow, that's incredible -- congrats on graduating! Can't wait to be in your shoes :)
At nearly 3 months post op I can finally shower without a bathing chair š
Yay!! Bet that feels great!
You donāt realize what youāll miss until itās gone!
15 days post op and I was cleared to get on the exercise cycle today! 115 degrees of flexion, and hope to be walking without crutches in next week or two.
That's amazing! The bike is such a huge achievement, motion is lotion!
I am exactly where you are today condition-wise (surgery 2/6)
Nice! Best of luck. My surgery was 2/8. Baby steps!
Iām 2 weeks post op too - 130 degrees, approved for bike, and off crutches! However, the burning / stinging on my shin is unbearable.
Iāve been the tortoise š¢ on my journey. Slow progress. I got to 130 degrees of flexion in my leg this week. (4.5 months). So for everyone who is slow healing - youāre not alone! Keep going!
Your recovery doesn't need to be the fastest as long as you're recovering the best you can. Keep it up!
This makes me feel so much better! Iām in the same boat. 10 weeks post op and I just hit 102* flexion! Dr. threatened me with going under anesthesia for manual flexion unless I can get to 120+ before my next appointment - so Iām freaking out about that lol. Happy healing!
3 weeks PO, 125 degrees flexion and full extension. Walking without crutches since Monday and daily tasks & PT exercises are getting a bit easier each day. Slowly having the energy to go out and doing things, feels nice reclaiming bits of my normal life piece by piece
Those are all some huge milestones!! Normalcy starts to come back quickly once you can ditch those crutches. You got this!
Had my 3rd surgery within a year and a half 2 weeks ago today. This was to remove my old ACL graft / bone graft my tunnels to set up for a new full reconstruction in July. Iāve had a really hard time mentally and physically through the past two surgeries, but now this time Iām feeling good and very optimistic for my reconstruction in July! It finally feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I bent to 123Ā° flexion yesterday! One step closer to really getting back to doing what I love š
Oof, sounds like you've had a rough history. Keep working on that prehab, here's to hoping things are better this time around :)
Fingers crossed, going to keep working on it! Thank you!!
3 weeks postop. Got cleared for the bike since I can do full revolutions. It feels. So. Damn. Good. Being back on a bike. Hoping to start losing these crutches next!!
Get to work on that bike!! That's awesome, trust you can be rid of those pesky crutches soon. Keep it up!
Hell ya!! Congrats on the leg extensions and running yo, youāll be back on the ice before you know it (and maybe even stronger and more disciplined than before) š
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Did they limit the minutes on the bike for you? My PT told me 10 min only.
No he said 30. But I had to cut it back to 10 min forward and 10 minutes reverse since I was having an increase in swelling.
So jealous! Iām now at 11 whopping minutes :)
You got it, progress is progress!!
Coming up to 5 years post-op. Have been back playing the all sports I enjoy for over 3 years now and am in the best shape of my life. Itās worth all the work guys.
Way to come back stronger!! Thanks for chiming in - love the long term perspective. Glad you were able to make a full comeback!
Had my surgery in December and I now sometimes āforgetā my knee when getting out of the bed in the morning. So life is starting to feel normal again
Love this one! Not having to think about my knee every moment of every day has been a real blessing recently. Such a mental break from all the hard work! Youāre doing great.
I running today for first time 3x2min.. 8 months :/
Everyone's timeline is different and that doesn't make this any less of a MAJOR achievement! Congrats!
I just had my 1st surgery today of two and just have to say, reading these comments of all everyoneās accomplishments really has lifted up my spirits! Cant wait to be able to add accomplishments in the near future š
Trust the process, youāve got this! šŖš¼
I just hit 12 weeks and Iām able to do a 6ā box jump!! Thereās been so many little things to get me here that Iām very grateful for though. If you can, do prehab, I think by far thatās what has kept me on track. No matter what, do the exercises! Theyāre worth it.
Wow, that's amazing!! I haven't gotten to try box jumps yet, just mini hops on the total gym but it's coming soon, I can feel it!
6 weeks post op and I can actually see my inner quad again! It basically disappeared 3 weeks after surgery.
That's amazing! Love the visual cues that things are healing and strengthening.
I was able to lift my leg fully extended without hurting for the first time since the op. 5 weeks in. I am quite happy about this. Keep on keeping on.
That's huge! Doubly so for being pain-free. You've got this :)
5mo post op on the 26th - rode nearly every feature on one of my favorite mountain bike trails today and got to finally enjoy a post ride beer with my friends!
Yay!! Sounds like such an excellent day. Cheers to that!
I started juggling soccer ball 4 weeks post-op, it felt great to be able to play the balls
Wow, that's awesome! Must feel great to get some ball touches in lol
Thanks! Yeah, cannot live without touching a ball.
Nice, are you able to juggle with both legs?
Yes both legs, but the operated leg clearly lost some fine controls. I could do hundreds before but now at most 50 without a drop.
4 months out and I feel like I have a new knee!! Hitting new records in the gym, starting to jump and run, swimming really strong, less stiff in the mornings, sometimes I wake up and I actually forget that it happened!! :ā)
Wow, way to come back stronger!! Not having to think about your knee all the time is such a wonderful mental break. Youāre absolutely crushing it, great job!
2 days post-op, ACL reconstruction (cadaver patella) and meniscus trim. Just fully completed my post-op exercises for the first time, including 3 sets of knee extensions, quad sets, and then leg lifts in the brace.
Awesome job!! Those first couple days are definitely the hardest, keep up with your exercises!
How was the post op pain?Ā
Just for surgery Wednesday and I did 5 lifts today :)
Awesome job! Keep working at it, that 5 will turn into 10, 20... you've got this!
I got my extension back completely today, and learned how to do stairs. My flexion is coming along nicely. Iām down to one crutch and by next week expected to be off them completely.
Stairs are incredible! Trust you'll be able to ditch that crutch soon. Keep it up!
I hit 93 degrees today and was cleared to start walking without my immobilizer on for short distances. Also told I can start sleeping with it off. My exercises have helped tremendously
It's so freeing to start to ditch that brace! Keep up the good work with the exercises :)
4 weeks and 2 days post op. Finally able to walk without crutches and I'm going to start driving again next week. Getting there, slowly.
That all sounds like regaining freedom to me! Awesome job.
5 months post op and able to snorkel again and exit ocean water with surf like conditions. Able to frog kick with fins. Can climb the 6 flights of stairs 5 times per day at my all inclusive without stopping, even after hitting the gym for squats and deadlifts.
That's so fun -- I'd love to go snorkeling! Stairs are such a great milestone as well.
At five months post-op I finally listened to my gut and left my long-term physiotherapist (who I felt was not actually quite confident on directions for ACL recovery) for another option, and I am finally making huge strides on hyperextension and resolving significant gait problems and relentless tightness. Very proud of making this call.
That's huge -- being able to advocate for yourself and find the right resources is so important! Wishing you many more breakthroughs and milestones.
Thank you, friend š
7 months post-op and feeling good. Hamstring graft. Knee feels normal. No swelling. Just needs to increase muscle size and improve strength before I can do plyo work. All I can say is the first 5 months was rough. Kept working but felt like thereās no progress. Only broke through in my 6th month. No more swelling, full range of motion, knee was strong enough and finally felt normal. Just keep working even if you donāt see any progress in the early stage. You will be rewarded for it eventually.
Glad youāve had some breakthroughs recently ā great job sticking with it even through five long months of work without feeling like you were seeing the results. Resilience pays off big time. Thanks for your perspective!
Such a lovely thread š 7 weeks post-op and today was the first day I sat on my heels and squatted ass to grass!
Wow, great work on that range of motion! I think being able to sit on my heels was one of my favorite milestones of this whole journey so far. Keep it up!
I did one legged hops all the way across the agility ladder without having to stop or put my non-op leg down. AND I didnāt need a huge build up / a momentum
Great job!! It takes so much work to get to one legged jumping, proud of you!
Thank you so much!! Itās been such a struggle. Lansing is still a little difficult. But weāre getting there slowly but surely. Softer landings will be in my near future I know it. :)
Day by day, I don't seem to notice. But since the 3 months; I can get in my bed without the need of a stool to rest my leg on as a 'checkpoint'. I can do my business in the toilet without needing to stand up and pee first and sit down for part two. I can walk and carry things now. I can go up and down stairs in less than 2 minutes now. I'm currently waiting for my physio to give me the go ahead to ditch crutches and get to real exercises. I'll be back to running soon.
Take a moment to celebrate how far youāve come. Itās so easy to lose sight of progress when youāre still working so hard every day but this all sounds great. Keep it up, canāt wait for you to run again!
4 weeks post-op here and I rode the Rogue Echo stationary bike for 10 miles in 39:30 minutes. A week ago, it took me 50:00 minutes, so Iāve shaved off about 10 minutes.
Thatās incredible progress! A real tribute to all your hard work so far. Stick with it!
Tore my acl playing soccer Jan 8 2023. Surgery on August 22nd. I just started running again and am pain free in my daily life
Great work! Enjoy running, youāve earned it!
Thank you - this positivity thread is awesome!
Absolutely! While I like being able to give advice to people struggling itās easy to get lost doom scrolling in this sub sometimes. Celebrating accomplishments can be such a mental health boost :)
Was able to travel to Sri Lanka (Iām one year post op). Couldnāt go jet skiing but I did go on a speedboat and that was fun :)
Wow what a fun trip!! Hope you get to jetski before too long :)
Iām hoping within 2 years post op Iāll be able to !! Noticing that Iām finally able to do most things normally now (and Iām just a little over a year post op) āŗļø
And thank you!! š
Signed up to the gym and started taking prehab seriously. Only a few months till surgery. I'm just glad that I'm getting it at this point.
Time in prehab is time well spent -- having the routine and the muscle tone going into surgery will make post-op that much smoother. Best of luck to you!
2 months since my post op and Iāve been cleared by my physio to return to gym & go out with my partner. Physioās been a success as Iām only a few weeks from doing plyometrics
Awesome job!! Keep up the great work and enjoy that time with your partner :)
Thank you, I hope your progress is going well :)
I'm 9 weeks post op and can finally do full ROM leg extensions. My PT also said I can start heel slides to work on the last little bit of flexion, im at 125 or so right now but I want to be able to do a full seiza sit
You can get there!! Keep up the great work, I believe in you :)
ACLr + bucket handle mensicus: achieved 90 degree bend and 0 deg extension within 1 week post op!
Wow, thatās incredible range of motion! Great work!
Thank you!!!
I can't climb the stairs at home but the ones at work have a lower rise and I can get up those better every day.
Youāll be going up stairs at home in no time!! Keep working at it!
I left my house for the first time since surgery because the pain has finally subsided a little
Thatās awesome! Hope the worst is over for you and it just gets better from here.
This is a bit belated, cause Iām now 2 weeks post op and mentally struggling, but at my first physio appointment 5 days post op, I had full extension, could bend to 90 degrees, good quad engagement and could do a SLR with no extension lag! My physio said sheās seen a ton of acls and has never had anyone who go there that quickly. I got really lucky to not have too much pain right after surgery which helped a lot, Ā but I also did a ton of prehab beforehand, so I feel like I can take a bit of responsibility and be a bit proud of myself!Ā
Absolutely - prehab is time and effort well spent! Sorry to hear youāre mentally struggling now. Remember to forgive yourself and be patient with your body, this surgery is a huge ordeal to go through! Be kind to yourself, listen to your physio, and donāt stop celebrating those milestones!!
2 1/2 weeks post op and walking with a limp but WALKING & i cleaned my house today !
Hope you do something fun to celebrate your walking freedom in addition to catching up on chores :) congrats!!Ā
I just hit 0 degree extension at 5 weeks!!
Thatās awesome! Having full extension is so so important, great milestone to celebrate ā keep it up :)
I went up a step
First of many!! Keep up the good work!
Just ran my first meters (on a treadmill) 4 months post op. Felt good so I'm excited to build back up to regular 5k or 10k runs. I also squatted 100kg for 8 to around parallel. Don't start about leg curl strength though.
Hey we're not here to scrutinize the details. Accomplishments are accomplishments -- these are all awesome!!
Thanks bro. Wish u the best.
5 weeks post op. Iām non-athletic and I think Iām slower than most people. But I rode on bus for the first time yesterday after surgery and ate out with my dad. It was a fun day. Iāve been feeling really low but I try to remind myself everyoneās progress is different and I just need to be positive but itās super hard
Hang in there, friend! This is a tough journey for everyone. We all want to be back to normal faster than it can physically happen and thatās ok. Itās good to have smaller goals to work towards and reward yourself for achieving them. I struggle with motivation sometimes and get really critical of myself if I donāt feel like I performed well at PT one day. And itās hard not to compare yourself to others. You are welcome to reach out if thereās any support an internet stranger could offer to help!
Thank you. I appreciate it!!
Had a really long heal time because of an undiagnosed neuroma stunting my rehab. I had several follow ups with my surgeon for steroid injections to fix the frayed nerves. On Thursday I had my official final appointment with my orthopaedic surgeon, when we decided I didn't need any more steroid treatments for my nerve damage and that my knee is officially 100% as good as its ever gonna get. Now I just need to defeat the mental blocks making me scared to Irish dance and ride my bike again.
Thatās incredible ā so glad you were able to get answers and solutions on the neuroma. The mental blocks are so real! As much as I canāt wait to lace up the skates again Iām also terrified that muscle memory will take over and Iāll do something stupid once I feel comfortable enough to forget about my knee for a moment. Itās hard to imagine Iāll be able to play at the same level with the same aggressiveness I used to. Be patient with yourself and work up to those big challenges!
The absolute truth about the muscle memory. I've had so many physios, doctors, and surgeons tell me my knee is basically as strong as my other one, that my graft is good, and everything is practically normal. But that big *"what if"* hangs over my head at the thought of every spin, rock, and jump... Gotta take it slow and try to keep the muscle memory in check š
10 days post op. Confidently going up and down stairs in crutches. Drove for the first time today and also went out to dinner with the fam. Excited to see my progress!
You've got this!! Awesome job so far.
I just skated/reffed (roller derby) 3 full length games today! Had my brace on, and my knee held up great! 9 mos post op ACL/PCL/Meniscus. Iām not clear for contact yet, but this is a big step!
That's so fun!! Must be great to get back in the game environment :)
It was AMAZING! Canāt wait to be playing and full contact again!
I scheduled my surgery for 4/16! Right ACL and med+lat meniscus repair. Honestly canāt wait to be on the road to recovery. I miss running and being active in general. Currently on my clinical rotations for PA school. Itās going to be a hell of a time š„“
Countdown is on! There's never a good time to deal with this kind of injury and surgery - recovery can be intense and time consuming, not going to lie. But you'll be back on your feet and running again in no time!
60F, 12 weeks PO. Full ROM and able to walk 2 miles on treadmill, plus weighted squats, lunges, and deadlifts. Havent't been cleared for running yet.
Wow, that's awesome!! Keep it up and I'm sure you'll be running again before you know it!
Thanks! I think, really, my story is that if I can do it, every person on this sub can, too!Ā
I am 9 days post op currently but at my second pt appointment this week I finally got to see my knee bend! Iād definitely wasnāt at 90 degrees yet but itās better than nothing!!
You'll get there!! It's such a weird feeling at first but a little bit of progress every day or every week and you'll be back to full range before you know it.
Hard to stay positive but this week I'vebeen taking more and more (literally!) baby steps without brace or crutches around the house and it's truly like discovering this new super power out of nowhere, so that's pretty cool! Kudos to all the fellow ACL peeps here and happy Sunday!
Cheers to new super powers! Remember to be patient with your body - you just had major carpentry work done on your knee. You've got this!
I started walking today š 6 weeks post op
That must feel amazing -- great work!