So how many months post-op ACL surgery does it take to feel like your old sports-playing-high-flying-risk-taking-dive-for-anything self? In my case, 10-11 months. We all are different, but you will know when you are there.
You won’t think twice about playing two soccer games in one night.
You’ll become the one begging YOUR friends(who most likely have both ACLs in tact) to run the marathon of your choice.
And then you’ll see other people with massive, black and constricting leg braces hobbling across the street and you’ll think, “ouch! that sucks!” nano-seconds before you remember that you, too, were once in their humbling position. (Soon after you will express your condolences and tell them to “hang in there” because you are a good person, right?!)
The CPM, ice machine, vicodin, stitches are distant memories that have left your vernacular. Those were all ages ago. But if you close your eyes really tightly you can indeed remember the pain of not being able to lift your leg off the bed in the morning without the assistance of BOTH hands. Don’t think too hard, though. Look at your knee now. The faded traces of scars. The muscles around it you worked so hard to build back up. And think, “there’s an entirely new piece of ligament underneath that cap that has grown accustomed to me for almost a year. WHAT!”
Now stop reading this post.
Lace up your running shoes. And go engage in your favorite outdoor activity you loved as a kid.
Here’s to feeling like brand new again, but never really having to pause to think about it ever again.
Glad to see you are feeling back to normal. I just hit the one month mark and I am finally allowed to put weight on my leg. I look forward to feeling back to normal like you are feeling right now! Thanks for the blog, it has been extremely helpful.
Everytime I read one of your self reflecting entries, I smile…:)
It is uncanny how much a club the ACLers really are.
As I have noted, I am only a few weeks behind you in my recovery, and like you at a certain point, I forgot about it. The steps and moves that I would always have hesitation in doing, now are done without thought. You just do it…your knee works and does what it is suppose to.
I played 3.5 hours of tennis in one night and was giddy because I hadn’t done that since I was a teenager..many years ago.
Someday you will look back on this experience when the scar is barely visable and say..remember when??
Congrats! Your blog posts helped get me through a long, arduous insurance mess that finally led to my ACL reconstruction with a cadaver graft in Nov. 09. (I tore my right ACL heli-skiing in NZ in Sept. 09).
Two weeks ago, I ran a 5K in 25 min, with a moderate support brace! Yes, probably shouldn’t have, but now I’m aiming for a half-marathon this fall. I’m just down 1cm in muscle mass on my operated knee.
My Ortho just recently ordered me a derotation brace to, as he put it, “save you from yourself.” I get it in two weeks. I can’t wait – and I am STOKED for the long season (Mammoth, open until July!) so I can ski with my almost-three year old.
Thank you for this blog!
Cheers,
Jen
hey there -
thanks for the blog. it’s very helpful to hear from first-hand experiences. I just tore my ACL about a month ago while snowboarding – hit a jump, landed bad, and “pop”. I’ve been researching and seeing a few surgeons about it. (no shortage of orthos here in los angeles). I am very close to deciding on which procedure to take – leaning towards the “gold standard” patella graft. 2 surgeons i saw can and will do all three methods, but both recommended the patella, one very strongly, one less so – said hammy and patella are very similar in results. but today I had a freak out and couldn’t decide. How did you do it? you’re blog is very positive – but I have read some really bad reports on people experiencing a lot of pain while kneeling and whatnot from their patellar grafts. have you experienced any of this? how is kneeling for you? being a skiier, you must know that us snowboarders spend a lot of time on knees while waiting on the slopes. could that be a reason for me to not go patellar? you’re opinion is much valued. thank you and congratulations!!!!!
-Jesse
Hi, This Blog is Fantastic!. Good to hear You’re back to normal. I Ruptured my ACL Last year feb playing Football (Soccer). I am now 4months Post op. Working on building the Muscles around my knee, Plyometrics, Proprioception. I Cant wait to start running and playing footy!
…Success stories on this blog give me motivation and Hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I would’nt wish this injury on anybody. But one must remain Positive. MAny people told me i wont be the same again. But I palm them off lol. Everybody is has a different Experience.
And Jesse my Surgeon opted for the HAmmy tendon and so far so good!, no problems. I was in the same boat as u. I did my research and I was happy to go with the Hammy. There isnt much difference between HAmmy and Patella Grafts. However many people told me you can get life time pain when kneeling if u use a patella. If you have Hamstring problems then i would’nt use the hammy, As the HAmstring muscle works with ur ACL.
Bottom line- Each case is unique. Go with what works for you. Physio is what will determine weather ur surgery is a success or not. Listen to your physio and do everything he says.
Hello,
It’s been 9 months since my surgery. Yesterday I was shooting hoops and I felt 2 sharp pains in my knee, 1 in the middle back of my knee and the other in the front inside just under my kneecap. Then as the day went by my knee swelled up. I’m wondering if something similar has happened to anyone else?
Thanks!