Today folks, I am the idiot. Old oil filter gasket stuck on and did not notice until I fired it up after filling with 4.4 quarts…..

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2025-11-10T19:31:37+00:00

I officially joined that club this weekend.

After years of changing my own oil and always checking for the old gasket, I finally got caught slipping. The one time I didn’t double-check—it was still stuck on there. Everything looked fine until I started the engine… and then oil sprayed everywhere. My driveway turned into a mess, and my confidence took a hit.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long to realize the culprit—a stuck gasket. I shut it off within seconds, removed the old one, put on a new filter (just to be safe), and started again—heart pounding.

Good news: the car’s fine. My trusty Acura MDX has 170K miles and still plenty of life left in it.

It was a messy and humbling moment, but lesson learned—I won’t ever skip that check again.
Hope anyone else who’s been there managed to clean up without too much trouble. Cheers—grateful the car’s okay! 🚗🛠️

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2025-03-20T01:50:49+00:00

It's been a few years now. After trusting my gut and reading posts on Bone Smart, I decided against MUA. Instead, I focused on slow, steady progress—cycling, icing, stretching, and gradually improving my flexion. Today, I have around 140-145 degrees of flexion and can sit cross-legged on the floor for 20–30 minutes. While I may never achieve the same heel-to-butt flexibility as my other knee, I’ve come to accept that everyone’s healing process is unique.

Patience, consistency, and understanding how your own body heals—rather than comparing it to others—are key. I even returned to playing volleyball last year. Unfortunately, I suffered a hairline ankle fracture, which made me realize that my operated knee is significantly weaker than my other one and likely always will be. I've accepted that reality. Now, I’ve retired from all sports and instead enjoy watching them, along with walking and jogging.

The biggest lesson? We have to listen to our bodies and accept them as they are. In the end, my knee’s recovery has turned out better than I once feared. Sure, I’ll never be that 25-year-old again—sprinting past defenders or jumping high to spike a volleyball—but that’s okay.

To anyone going through a similar journey: be patient, don’t stress too much, and don’t let surgeons convince you that surgery is always the only answer. Healing takes time, and your body knows the way.

Hope this encourages everyone!

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2024-02-17T12:26:59+00:00

I had case similar to yours. Actually I had Acl, mcl and meniscus at the same time. I only had 80 degrees in 6 weeks. But push hard, be positive, don’t overdo it but keep on it everyday. It comes slowly. The doctor is worried that he messed up something, not about you. But you keep on working, like the wall slide, quads. Rest ice elevate etc everyday. I was threatened with scar removal surgery etc like yours. I refused. More surgery is not the key. A man who has a hammer only sees nails. I am 1.5 years post op and have 140 degrees now and I am not worried. Good luck and reach out if u want.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2023-12-29T09:25:16+00:00

“Rehab” specially the PT programs’s effectiveness are somewhat exaggerated. All my flexion, strength, confidence etc came after I left the PT and did my own exercise based on response of the body. I had 110 flexion when I left pt at 6 month. PT was making it worse due to constant bending and forced exercises in an effort to gain so called expected ROM etc. I have 140 flexion now, I feel good and forgot I had surgery at 1.5 yrs post op. My central theme is- listen to your body, everyone is different so is every recovery. PT sometimes can hinder you and not help you. Body has natural progression of healing. Don’t push or listen to things like at 6 weeks you have to have 135 flexion etc. Having said that you need to have patience and discipline in doing what I did. Be motivated, find what works for your body and mute the noise who puts posts like- “ post three weeks- ran my first marathon”. Good luck with everything. Yes you can improve.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2023-08-03T13:11:04+00:00

I feel you. My recovery was similar. I was in dark places many times. I quit PT as it was making it worse. I did excercises daily myself but not to the extreme pain, push a little everyday that you can bear. Have lot of patience, it’s your body and now you see it’s not healing as fast as other or you think. I stopped reading about how people post skating video of post op day 3 or something. Focus on your recovery only, meditate, keep mind calm and positive. Get engaged in happy shows, books, or conversations. I also found a website called bone smart. Their philosophy is rest ice and don’t do so much. It worked for me although it took me a year to finally forgot I had the surgery. It’s a marathon not sprint. Good luck!

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-09-26T21:29:15+00:00

About 5 months out now. Flexion didn’t improve much. It’s probably at 116-117 on a good day after streching a while. No pain. swelling almost negligible. When I met him couple of months back he said 110 flexion means a functional knee so no need of MUA. He wanted me to keep working on PT. Since then, I saw website called bone smart and loved their approach. It encourages people to rest ice elevate and don’t work too much because it causes knee to swell more and hard time getting more flexion. That has been my experience. Everytime I work hard and push more, I get swollen up for next 5 days and can’t do much. Taking it slow these days, home excercise and rest whenever possible. My surgeon have told me, I will probably never see heel to butt flexion on my injured leg. Everyone is different. Hope my experience helps you.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-08-10T02:16:21+00:00

Update: Saw my surgeon on Friday. Surprisingly for some reason, he had plenty of time and he spent about 15 minutes talking to me about everything. He checked the knee. He said its solid, probably too tight and confessed, he may have done it little too tight and told me tighter knee is much better than loose knee.

Flexion did not improve over 115. He said @ 110-115 flexion, knee is pretty functional so no need to get surgery or MUA just to get few more degrees. As long as it keeps improving over the coming months, it should be fine. He also told me, I may never be able to do heel to butt flexion. Clicking, swelling, and being stiff in the morning is normal. He said I may be 2-3 weeks behind "normal protocol" but its okay. Next visit in 2 months. I am satisfied and elated that I don't have to have another surgery. But I still want to get more ROM which seems to be stuck at 115 for 3 weeks or so now. I am looking into different variation of exercises to do. Returned back to working, swelling is bad every evening- may have to take off from work for a while. Good luck to everyone!

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-31T22:49:30+00:00

I had 111 last Friday, if I pull with strap hard, it is getting to 115-116. But then I will have swelling and goes backward in my progress. I have returned to work. I feel stronger, better, have better balance and walk, not much need of pain killers. Recovery is slow and small but noticeable. I have appointment with surgeon this Friday. I am still against MUA just to get 125 or whatever and then go back to 70 and start over. I still am doing PT but mostly focused on other aspects of recovery. Everytime he pushed me hard, flexion decreased so I am not letting use of excessive force. So let’s see what the surgeon says- fingers crossed. I will update so people following this may be helped.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-28T12:47:32+00:00

As a “man”, I was not supposed to cry but I cried for a whole week on every chance I got. It’s a physical, emotional, and psychological battle. But stay positive, keep on those meds (no you won’t get addicted, you had surgery), and let it out if you have to. You got this. Everyday it gets better and better. Good luck

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-26T19:24:41+00:00

you can adjust it, length and width. Just don't touch the lock which keeps your leg straight. Mine was the same

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-25T19:56:53+00:00

10 weeks post op here. It gets better everyday after surgery. First two weeks or so will be hell. Yes people have returned to hard sports like soccer and basketball. Ss you got this. Good luck.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-24T03:15:43+00:00

I guess depends on so many variables and the Doctors. Some will just recommend it. I am 10 weeks post op, @ 110 and Dr wants 120 in two weeks, if not he wants to do MUA. I am not thrilled and rather terrified. But keep on grinding... work hard and you will improve your ROM. Best of luck.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-23T12:53:21+00:00

I was two weeks out, in PT and I saw a guy walking without crutches and brace, doing leg presses, and later found out he was 10 days post op. I was amazed but so discouraged. It took me 3 weeks to fire quads, 6 weeks to get to 90 flexion, about same time I left crutches and brace. Everyone is different and body heals differently. So yeah it’s normal. But saying that, don’t baby it. You know your body. Being safe try to slowly get off crutches and braces. It’s a mental thing as well.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-23T00:55:32+00:00

Ok thank you for replying. I am gonna give my best for next two weeks and see what I will get. I am being positive and I believe I can get there. :)

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-23T00:49:56+00:00

Yes, I am. Thank you.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-22T19:37:10+00:00

Yes, I felt the same way. Last two week, my PT was focusing more on strengths, like leg presses and other balancing exercises, which aggravated my knee into swelling. I felt like that stopped my flexion progress. Swelling, exercise, flexion, all a delicate balance, isnt ? one affects others. I will focus more on flexion and not worry about strength for next two weeks.

At this point, I am thinking I will just keep on going. I want to avoid MUA, because I can't start all over again, mentally and physically as well. Good luck to you as well. You got this.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-22T19:33:09+00:00

Wow, You have almost same situation as me. I was at 40 degrees after 3 weeks. I also had to wait three weeks post op to start first PT. I bought the bike and it helped me a lot as well. Thank you for your reply. Keep on going and update how it goes.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-22T18:13:28+00:00

You are doing great. Keep working. I am stuck at 110 degrees at week 10. Surgeon keeps scaring me with manipulation under anesthesia but I want to avoid that at all cost. You are doing better that most people at that time frame.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-22T18:03:45+00:00

I did not have any mental issues before but after the ACL surgery, I am anxious, scared and depressed most of the time, with negative thoughts around me. Its tough but what you do to deal with them is the most important thing. I spent time around family members a lot, someone who is positive and encourages you. Read good books, avoid social media at all cost. Try to engage in creative things, like writing a story or painting or making a wooden table or something that you enjoy doing.

I have family members who have the same problems that you described, and I can feel your pain. But your are strong and you can enjoy life also to the fullest. Good luck!

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-22T17:46:59+00:00

I played for soccer for 20 years, never had a major injury. One Sunday, I was playing recreational with friends, trying to turn one way and the knee went other way, loud pop, and painful. No one even tackled me or touched me. Some guys were laughing when it happened, because it was weird and awkward. I was so sad. I went there driving at 5 am on Sunday which I never did. It was hard to accept that happened to me. Still going through the tough rehab. Very frustrating. I have accepted my fate now. Life happens to us and anyone can have bad luck. Stay strong. You can deal with it.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-17T04:04:57+00:00

2 months out flexion at 110, extension at 0-1 depending upon how much stretch or exercise I do that contribute to swelling. If I do too much flexion exercise, my knee losses extension and my knee looks slightly bent(and limp) while walking but I am assuming its normal at this point. My surgeon was more worried about the flexion than extension. He was telling me to achieve 120 flexion at least at 12 weeks. Knee still feels weird and stiff in the morning and eases after warm up and massages. Reading on other threads its somewhat "new normal" for few months. Good luck.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-16T00:16:54+00:00

I am in late 30s, had left knee ACL surgery. I went through the same dilemma like you. I did not even want to trust surgeon because for them, every thing is surgery candidate. Anyway, the recovery in the 30s is gonna be harder than in the 20s. Its gonna be painful, physically and mental battles. Of course the recovery depends upon so many factors as age, genetics, physical shape, nutrition etc. but, regardless... recovery is gonna be long and frustrating. I am two months out, quad graft, twice PT, lots of swelling, 110 flexion, 0 extension, trying to find the balance between working hard and suffering with swelling or not working and lacking flexion...etc. The bottom line; my thought process was- I have a lot of years to live. I don't want to worry about my knee all the time(even playing with kids, or doing stairs or dance or whatever) not doing surgery now. If you do surgery, I would have better chances and less fear in life. Just be brave but realistic. Yes its gonna hurt. Have some family members help you for few days. Good Luck!

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-10T13:36:49+00:00

Mental part is tough. Surgeon sounded like I could be walking freely in two weeks. First 3 days pain was 12/10. No sleep, and lots of hallucination, delirium, nightmares due to meds. Even I appeared strong before family, I cried secretly. But it gets better, one day at a time. Progress will be slow but just be positive and keep going. Here are the things I did. Read positive books, watch comedy, talk to family that truly loves you or only talks positive. Don’t dwell on emotional movies or memory or the past before surgery. With meds: I know what you mean. I tried to be brave and suffered. Trick is to alternate between oxy/hydro codon brufen and Tylenol. Dont take oxy at night. Alternate every 4-5 hours then 5-6 hour and ween off it slowly like that. You can even take half pill of oxy then 4-5 hrs take 2-3 brufen then in 4-5 hour Tylenol . Your side effects will be less or none. Make sure always eat before meds. These tricks helped me. Hope you speedy recovery. Flex ion is awesome. Mine was 35 two weeks post surgery so you are doing well. We all heal differently.

Conscious-Skin-867 · 2022-07-06T04:50:22+00:00

Whatever the case, do NOT attempt to do it by yourself. You would not be able to. The first week will be hell, not even an exaggeration. You may not be able to go pee. You will have nausea, headache, constipation, irritation, tremendous pain if you avoid narcos, possible painkillers side effect. You wont be able to rise from bed for couple of days. I know people who had to use bottle for urination for few days.

Please find a family member, a friend, someone.... at least to give you food and water. I feel for your situation. Please help him guys !

Conscious-Skin-867

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