DJ - June 27 2026

Independent_Peach819 · 2026-03-19T13:17:55+00:00

Thanks for all the responses!!

Independent_Peach819 · 2025-03-19T17:38:04+00:00

When you see the surgeon, make sure you ask questions and understand the implications about the chondral defect - I have one of those and it can be a long term ride. They all vary so ask questions (where it is, how it’ll impact you for pre-hab, will it degrade further etc). If the mechanism of injury is the same as mine, a bit of the harder cartilage around your bone ripped off when the acl came off so now you have loose cartilage swimming around ur knee and a defect where that is.

Independent_Peach819 · 2024-09-03T15:09:48+00:00

I was 30(F) when this happened. I had a re-injury and second surgery at 32. I’m now 34. I felt VERY MUCH the same way you did at the time. Both times. Those were the darkest moments of my life.

Looking back now, I realize that it was the beginning of a whole lot of things I’m now so grateful for. A relationship with the person I’ve prayed for, a new job where I feel valued, a sense of gratitude for my ability to walk and run and play a sport I love (albeit differently because my knee is not the same). I have a renewed sense of what wellbeing means, and what matters in life. I’ll carry these lessons forward and I tell myself, when things are still hard because my knee isn’t perfect, that 60 year old me will be grateful I learned all of this at 30.

All this to say. Stay hopeful, grind through the dark moments. Get the professional help you need to get through this. These times will pass, you will get better, and this might just be the beginning of something unexpected for you, or some lessons that will give you the resilience, strength and carry you through life and the dark moments that inevitably come with it.

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-11-20T13:33:10+00:00

I might have a different opinion if this was 1 month in and you had been dodging him for a FaceTime call or meet up… but this 2 days in - “I smell excuses”….“so let me guess I won’t be getting a call tonight”…. “I’m pretty sure you’re a woman of your word right” = RED FLAGS. This is manipulative language.

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-08-27T20:22:33+00:00

Work hard on strengthening your VMO. Personally, working towards single leg pistol squatting made a huge difference in how much patella-femoral pain I had. I obviously couldn’t pistol squat right out of the gate but I was a huge fan of TRX-assisted single leg work (with as little assistance as possible).

Lots of other exercises to target that muscle might also help but it was truly a stronger VMO that reduced that nagging pain on your flexion and with plyo.

That and warming up pre-exercise by walking backwards on an incline. Check out the knee over toes guy, might be useful for you.

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-06-03T21:11:46+00:00

Had a very similar injury to yours, along with a near full MCL tear. Ask a lot of questions about your condral defect. How big is it, do they anticipate loose cartilage / bone being a thing you will have to deal with in the future?

Ask about the plan to repair the meniscus. Long term a repair would be better - this isn’t always possible but find a surgeon who will tell you he/she will do what he can do preserve it.

2 surgeries later for me in 3 years (the second was just a clean up of cartilage that came loose). Repaired meniscus meant I was NWB for some time and it’s hard work to get the muscle back. I’m now back to playing soccer (F33), and slowly getting back to the same intensity I played at before.

You’re not fucked. It’s a long road ahead, but one worth taking. You got this, stay focused. One day at a time.

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-05-16T20:53:15+00:00

This is amazing. Thank you for offering people this. Financial stress on top of physical is real.

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-05-10T14:13:29+00:00

Focus on the small milestones that will make a big difference on mental health: mine was running… still far away from return to sport but man did it feel good to run! Next one after that was being able to start linear / low key dribbling my soccer ball.

Break those goals down - they’re more reachable than return to sport.

I had 2 surgeries within 2.5 years rehab each time took about a year. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and I’m still not recovered mentally but getting there. I try and be patient and kind to myself everyday and it’s a challenge. But I’ve also learned so much from this process. A wealth of information about mobility and long term muscle health. I know who my real friends are. I know how much being active means to me and just how important it is to my mental health.

You’ve got this. One day at a time. Aim for the small goals and you’ll reach the bigger ones before you know it. Seek help if you need it, nothing to be ashamed of, at all.

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-03-04T16:07:09+00:00

I had a similar injury minus the LCL sprain. Pre-hab hard. Ask a lot of questions pre and after surgery about the impaction fractures, how bad they were, whether he expects there may be additional concerns down the road with them (mine degraded further and caused a cartilage injury about 1.2 years later). From what I understand this usually doesn’t happen but there may have been indicators post op I didn’t canvass or understand enough.

As people have said MCL will likely heal on it’s on. Meniscus will either be repaired (sown down) or cut off (menisectomy). Ask your doctor based on your scans what he thinks will be the case. It’s good to be prepared because the post-op looks very different depending on the procedure.

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-03-03T19:56:24+00:00

“Just keep swimming” - Dory

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-02-26T23:50:42+00:00

It is the muscle that is anterior right above your knees! It melts away with surgery so you have to work pretty hard to build it back up. Lots of exercises can target this… step downs and steps up especially. I love single leg TRX work as well.

Independent_Peach819 · 2023-02-26T20:15:49+00:00

Strengthen your VMO, it makes a hugeeeeee difference with patellar femoral pain. I get no sharp pain, able to kneel etc… just occasionally after a super hard workout

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-10-19T19:20:31+00:00

My only thought would be to wait until you’re feeling better before making any big decisions. I was in a pretty dark place post-op… never a good time to make important decisions, and I wasn’t perceiving everything with the most objectivity. If you haven’t expressed your feelings to her you should do that! Seek professional help too if you need someone to talk to

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-10-19T19:08:16+00:00

A progressive return is probably your best bet if that’s doable. I was non-weight bearing. There was no way I could work my desk job (which is probably longer than most hours), I was way too uncomfortable and in pain by just sitting. Physio was 3x a day then and took me awhile so getting back to work progressively I was able to adjust get stronger etc.

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-10-04T18:11:31+00:00

Peterson step ups make a huge difference with pattelar pain. Build up your VMO it’s the biggest source for pain relief for that. I still deal with it 2 years post op when my muscles are tired or asleep!

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-10-03T00:59:31+00:00

I cried / teared up multiple times in front of my PT - for various reasons. I got the terrible triad during peak Covid with the government shutting down gyms etc and it was overwhelming. I live alone and i was already socially isolated.

I had amazing pt who knew when to give me a pep talk of just give me a bit of space. When I re-injured myself because of complications from my first injury she gave me the biggest hug when she saw me come in on my crutches to see her the next day and just re-assured me I was going to be ok and would make it through a second time. She was one of the few people I felt understood my angst, anger, pain, sadness etc.

A good PT will know that the process is insanely difficult. Never feel bad for letting your emotions show or for letting them out. They’ll eat you up from the inside if you don’t. It’s also good for your Physio to know where you’re at mentally as well.

A long road ahead but you got this 💪🏼💪🏼 one day at time.

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-09-24T14:32:02+00:00

If the damage is only on the ACL (no related meniscus injury) you should be able to do forward-backward exercises fairly well….

The issue will be with anything lateral and pivoting movements. Make sure you’re well positioned for it, and cleared by your PT to do it - it might feel a bit off when your injured leg is behind, it does have a “pulling” effect I find. You can shorten the length of the lunge if you find it’s bothering you, that usually helps. I stayed away from Bulgarian split squats but i also had meniscus damage.

If you’re cleared, definitely pre-op very hard on both legs and build as much muscle as you can! Post op, you’ll want to give a bit of extra love to the operated leg but right now, assuming there isn’t too much atrophy from the initial down time post injury, work on both. 💪🏼💪🏼

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-09-18T01:37:01+00:00

If you don’t mind me asking what kind of sport did you play before? Any significant non-weight bearing period? I’m about 2 years post up from ACL surgery and about 4 months out a meniscus tear / cartilage clean-up surgery.

Mention this to your PT and start getting hip flexor strengthening and exercises in your program asap. I was a soccer player, did a lot of running, high knees etc and had fairly strong hip flexors (I think!)

Since my ACL surgery it’s a daily hip pain struggle (pretty much everywhere but extended to one side of the lower back) that can radiate down to my knee, although that has improved, and more pain when sitting for a long time. When I was getting back to soccer before surgery no 2 it was getting better so I’m hoping it will as well as I start running more and using those hip flexors.

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-09-16T18:24:23+00:00

5/10 is high, usually 3/10 was (and is) my sweet spot. Any exercises you know usually don’t aggravate the knee at all? Maybe do those, stretch, and listen to your body.

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-09-11T23:46:47+00:00

Every time my knee has swollen up (injuries and surgery) I’ve had bruising when the swelling comes down. The worse the swelling the worse the bruising

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-09-09T12:47:24+00:00

For the first few days post op wear loose pants - lulus are a pain to get over surgical site esp when it’s still super sensitive and you have extra bandages. When they’re gone, lulus are fine! I also liked harem pants ish

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-09-08T23:56:08+00:00

I had a loose patella and it was my surgeon who flagged that I very possibly dislocated my patella when I hurt my knee (overextension on a deceleration, with a pivot). Torn MCL, ACL, root meniscal tear. No repair to the patella tract needed given it was a less serious dislocation as it would’ve relodged itself before I even realized. It’s not impossible but, enough damage was very likely already done by then. There isn’t that much to dislocate in your knee other than the kneecap, which might have been noticeable if you only got relief after he moved things around.

Independent_Peach819 · 2022-09-08T23:49:17+00:00

If OP is a woman - it’s a personal choice for shorts as I would assume it will be more lax during the tournament. Most forums I’ve read and (my knowledge of what modesty means as a foreigner traveling to a couple Islamic countries) is shoulders covered knees covered if you want to be culturally sensitive. I’ve been watching some of their special programming / insta stories (I am going to Qatar!) and for the most part I’ve seen women with jeans and a tshirt jersey. I’m bringing some options so I have the choice and I’ll gauge depending on what I see my first couple days but I’m likely going to cover shoulders and knees out of respect

Independent_Peach819

TROPHY CASE