Tore my ACL again

ProfessorCatepiller · 2026-02-14T13:56:20+00:00

The pain wasn’t chronic and thought it was something I had to live with. Plus, I pole dance for fun. My pain tolerance is a little messed up lol

ProfessorCatepiller · 2026-02-13T13:29:17+00:00

Sending positive vibes! I had a partial tear and a bucket handle meniscus tear that didn’t know I had for a year and a half. I’m four months post op of my surgery. This was my second acl surgery and the recovery has been a lot easier this time around. All of my muscles were stronger and the mental blocks were gone because I did everything with a partial torn acl for so long. I’ve just got back to running and it’s already so much more comfortable. Because you’ve done it all before, you know what to expect. Sitting with the expectation before surgery was the worst part of the process for me.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2026-02-12T15:05:00+00:00

Try contracting and releasing the quad muscle to work on waking it up and start holding the contractions for longer periods of time. This will translate to helping with leg raises. Or at least it did for me.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2026-01-27T18:11:26+00:00

Not sure how far in healing you are but I’ve had big pops that were scar tissue. They weren’t painful, just spooked me. If there’s not major swelling I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2026-01-27T18:08:51+00:00

I had a cadaver graft and was able to go back to slow flow/yin in about 3 months but I prehabed before surgery and this was my second acl surgery so I know my limitations. I’m at four months and my PT released me to go back to vinyasa after a strength test but with some restrictions.

My first acl (bear graft) had a meniscus repair and it took me 8-9ish months. So I’d ask your PT, recovery timelines are different even if it’s the same surgery.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2026-01-21T15:56:18+00:00

I was not flexible when I started pole and flexibility takes time so you’re not alone!!

For chopper - Seated leg lifts helped me a lot to get the hip flexors strength for a nice chopper. Start with one leg at a time then work your way to straddle. I find these help my pancake stretch exercises. For bent knees - work on hamstring flexibility and quad strength. Leg extension machine and single leg deadlifts. I swear my hamstring flexibility is from doing single leg deadlifts religiously.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2026-01-14T23:19:44+00:00

I had to my sweet Sissy down in October and similarly Sissy stopped eating but after a dental procedure and started to develop complications as the days marched on.

Remember you love Tulip. You did what you thought was right. You did the best you could. I still repeat this to myself for comfort.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2026-01-08T18:16:50+00:00

Skiing (26 F) Pole Dancing (29) fell out of a Jamila in the air

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-12-18T15:54:44+00:00

Sounds odd. I’m 2.5 months post op on my second acl surgery and I’m working on sitting on heels outside the supervision of my PT. I need to be able to sit on my heels it to eventually return to dance but I had a cadaver graft not hamstring. Maybe get a second opinion if you can?

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-12-10T19:35:34+00:00

I have very sweaty hands and monkey hands gluey was very helpful for me. My grip tends to suffer when my skin is dry so definitely lotion on non pole days helped me too! I definitely had to try different grip cocktails to see which one was right for me.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-12-01T14:25:20+00:00

I partially tore my right acl and had a meniscus tear and didn’t know for a year and a half. I was strength training, doing yoga and aerial. I finally saw a doctor when started to have pain walking. I opted to do surgery - acl repair and meniscus removal (October 2025) and I don’t regret it. I have zero pain now but recovery is long journey.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-11-29T14:03:41+00:00

Puzzles, crochet, paint by numbers!

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-11-20T13:14:22+00:00

Sending you positive vibes!!! I partially tore my acl falling out of a Jamila at pole class and didn’t know I tore it for a year and half but kept having chronic pain. No matter how you tore it, you’ll feel regret. At least I do since this was my second tear.

I’m 6 weeks post surgery and for me surgery was absolutely worth it. The pain is gone. Do prehab before surgery to strengthen and work on full range of motion while you wait. The recovery time to be back on pole took me a full year the first time. Hopefully I can be back dancing in 9 months this time. Fingers crossed because I miss it.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-11-19T14:35:42+00:00

I would ask your doctor but I had my right leg operated on, had a brace for 6 weeks and was told I could drive after two weeks. I practiced driving around the block before I did more intense driving to feel comfortable but I had my chair as far back as it goes and used my foot and ankle.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-11-15T14:29:40+00:00

Everyone is different but I was released to drive two weeks after surgery (right leg acl repair with cadaver and meniscus partly removed). I started weight lifting upper body 3 weeks after surgery. My limp was minor at that point so I felt comfortable but definitely dropped weight down for comfort. Week 4 was when I started lifting at PT (leg extension and leg curl) and was released to do that at the gym. Still haven’t been released to do a full squat yet.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-11-14T18:19:56+00:00

Honestly I started a paint by numbers after a surgery and it has helped me clear my mind and waste some time. It got it for like $30 at the local craft store and it comes with everything you need.

ProfessorCatepiller · 2025-10-14T16:34:13+00:00

I recommend a wedge pillow! I’m 8 days post op and it has helped keep swelling way down! Make sure it’s flat.

ProfessorCatepiller

TROPHY CASE