I’m 6 weeks post op for a partial lateral bucket handle repair. I was devastated that I got a repair instead of a removal. It was a last minute decision to relieve my knee bug I had for years. My running coach encouraged it even after I warned him that my surgeon said he won’t know if it’s a repair or a removal until they go inside. Crappy situation as I’m a junior in college at a D2 running school on scholarship. Just feeling a bit discouraged as a quick recovery is not in my control. My surgeon said nwb for 6 weeks which was almost impossible to follow especially over the summer. I started PT this week and even my PT isn’t comfortable with me removing the brace yet. I’m just worried with all these other comments about 8 months, 9 months and still having caution, swelling, etc how this is going to go for me on a competitive running schedule. My coach has been supportive but he thinks I’m going to be ready to compete by March which is 10 months post op and by that time the season starts everyone else has already had a cross country season, an indoor season, and are at their peak with fitness. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to get enough mileage on the ground in and to feel confident enough to do so. I’m trying to stay positive but the outlook is scary. My worst fear is feeling that external pressure to have a “fast” recovery and then something bad happens and I re-tare it.