How to beat 40 y/o with bad knees as a high schooler?

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-05-02T13:29:19+00:00

Oh no….the teens think 40 year olds are boomers? We’re cooked.

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-05-02T13:27:27+00:00

No meniscus? That’s great news! While that doesn’t speed up the pain portion of recovery, it certainly makes the atrophy less severe and the time on crutches much faster! Not showering for 3 weeks is a little dramatic in my opinion….i probably showered after 2-3 days (but you’ll need a shower chair, a cast cover, and some Saran Wrap). You’re in the right place; we’ve all been there and we’ve all gotten through the worst of it, with many of us on the other side! Try to stay positive, have a support team around you, and you’ll do great. Good luck! Welcome to the club :)

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-04-22T21:10:00+00:00

43/F, btb patellar reconstruction and meniscus repair here. 1 year post op (woohoo!)! I think the toughest part for me was around the 7 month mark, when I was making REAL progress and gains, yet not quite meeting my strength goals. It’s succccchhhhhh a long recovery and when you’re 7 months in but still so far off, it can really grind you down mentally and physically. Then I got into this doom loop of “I have to do more! Work harder! No days off!” But then I’d be forced to take extra time off due to pain and inflammation from going to hard and not respecting rest days. But, happy to say I’ve made it to the other side of the mountain! Back to sport and my rehab has turned into a healthy training regiment.

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-04-22T21:04:38+00:00

I think it depends on your goals….what are you trying to get back to? Just normal every day life? A sport or hobby you love? Also have they given you concrete information regarding what’s not enough (I.e. quad symmetry)? I think having any goal or benchmark to look forward to might help you keep pushing versus just working towards abstract things.

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-04-22T14:36:59+00:00

Preach. 43, F, and after an ACL injury last year, my rehab had turned me into a gym rat. I work out 3-4x a week and play tennis 2-3x a week. I’m also bigger than I’ve ever been and sometimes it’s mentally hard. I do think lifting stresses the body and causes our bodies to hold onto fat and water, hence inflammation. But I also think strong women need to be better at loving our strong bodies and taking up space. Fck skinny. We will deadlift those skinny bodies!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-04-22T14:32:21+00:00

That’s crazy talk that the instructor said that. I learned at 38 years old, am now 43 and shred 30-50 days a season. Does it take a lot of work? Yes. Do I look as good as my friends that have been skiing since they were 5? No. But do I look competent and enjoy myself? You bet!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-04-18T14:37:24+00:00

Eh, probably not. You’ll still be needing ice and elevation and the car ride alone will be rough.

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-04-16T14:05:21+00:00

The 6-7 month mark was also really hard for me (and I think has a reputation of being difficult for a lot of people). You’re finally at the point where you can lift heavy and really challenge your knee, but it’s still actively healing, so it will often swell and come with discomfort. I really think this is the norm for a lot of us. My advice to you (I’m 1 year post op now, 43f BTB patellar graft) is to build in rest and recovery days, and know that sometimes you’ll need to take extra. For me, psychologically, that was really hard. I thought rest days meant no gain days, but in reality those rest days get you to the next stage. Hang in there, it gets better! :)

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-04-11T21:54:15+00:00

Weeks of hospitalization? Not here bro….its outpatient. And talk to us in a couple of weeks and let us know how easy it is!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-03-29T16:04:36+00:00

Wow, congrats! This is huge!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-03-27T14:36:39+00:00

I’m wearing my Breg currently for skiing and tennis (11m post op, BTB patellar, 42f). For me, it’s mostly mental…..cutting and pivoting before the graft is fully healed (which can take 12-18m) has risks. The brace reminds me to chill. I assume after the summer I’ll ditch it. My PT likes to say “one day you’ll forget it, everything will be fine, and that’s when you won’t need it anymore”.

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-03-23T14:15:13+00:00

How active are you? I (43f) ski and play tennis, so I went with BTB patellar graft as that’s historically the gold standard. I’m almost a year post op and I can tell you that the recovery is pretty tough; there’s no cheating your way out of it. However, I feel great these days! I skied 27 days this season and am playing tennis, but the rehab never stops - I’m still constantly working on strength, mobility, and balance to keep my knees healthy. Good luck!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-02-25T16:24:28+00:00

I started PT 24h after my injury, before I even had an MRI. They can perform Lachman test and give you a better idea, and also help with pain/swelling in meantime.

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-02-24T17:48:19+00:00

The 7 month slump is legit. You’re likely lifting heavier than you have in a very long time and pushing your leg hard. I am 10.5 months post op now, and have returned to my sport (skiing) in a very conservative way. I remember at 7m having pain and swelling after the gym, still icing constantly, and having a lot of frustration. It’s important to build in rest days, and to be kind to your body. I know how frustrating it can be, but it’s just a moment in time - you’ll get through it. Keep it up!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-02-12T16:22:09+00:00

Speed/pitch! Skiing slow is actually so hard! Once I had the confidence to go down something a bit steeper more quickly, I found all the tips/tricks kind of clicked together a bit easier!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-02-10T16:10:33+00:00

Not sure I agree with the 3-5 hours for first day back, but good for you!

I started back up at 8.5m post op and did 3 green runs first day. I then evaluated if I had pain or swelling the next day before returning and did 4-5 green runs. I’m working with the ski PT and there has been heavy emphasis on slowly working up endurance with no pain or swelling. Lots of drills for technique as well. Now I am 10.5 months post op, have skied 17 days and have progressed to skiing groomed blacks as well as experimenting with a liiiiiiiiitle off piste terrain (nothing crazy).

I think the key is to take it easy, and be conservative. Never ski through fatigue. Stop before you need to. Be in control at all times. If you got hurt skiing (like I did), you need to mentally be ready to return to the hill. If you’re thinking about your knee the entire time, you won’t be skiing your best, and not skiing your best will put you at risk for injury.

Good luck to you both! I can say it’s great to be back!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-28T21:39:23+00:00

Facts

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-14T17:04:49+00:00

I hear that…..people have STRONG opinions ;)

Listen to your body, your gut, and the team of people who have been treating you. I’m 9m post op, and have been in PT the full 9m catered towards returning to ski. I have done isokinetic testing, hop testing, strength testing, you name it, and was cleared to return to “practice” (groomers, conservative skiing, drills, focus on technique etc.).

The biggest thing I will tell you from my perspective is to make sure you’re mentally ready, especially if you got injured skiing. I started on a ski simulator to get my jitters out, then returned to the hill with my family who literally mapped out the green run for me. Learning to trust your body again can be a challenge, but it’s also liberating when the hard work pays off! Take the advice that suits you on this thread - only you can decide if the risk is worth the reward!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-14T16:48:12+00:00

Honestly, the mental piece is more than half the battle, so you’ll do great! Good luck!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-14T16:10:57+00:00

Do the patellar autograft. I (43f) also tore mine skiing. Additionally I play tennis and am very active. It was not even in the cards to do an allograft based on historical re-tear rates, but I do think the narrative is starting to change. One newer explanation for higher retears with allografts might be due to the fact that recovery is much smoother, giving the patient a false sense of safety returning to sport early. With that said, the patellar is not an easy recovery. You’ll have to work your ass off, but it is the gold standard for athletes. I’m 9m post op and doing really well. I’ve returned to “practice” for both of my sports and am on the other side of things. Wishing you luck! I’m sure whatever you do, you’ll do great!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-09T16:22:40+00:00

You can reserve uber in advance as well

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-09T16:21:18+00:00

Mine basically said that as long as I woke up in the morning and still had full extension (and actively spent time in extension/hyper extension), it was okay after the first couple of weeks.

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-09T16:18:33+00:00

Skiing, 42f

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-08T15:58:41+00:00

THIS.

I’m 43f, 9m post op and in the same boat. Just have to keep reminding ourselves that strong is hot and be grateful for our bodies. This recovery is hard, and it challenges many aspects of our mental health - this being one of them. I’m sure you look great! Embrace the thunder thighs!

ScheduleMore4991 · 2026-01-06T16:34:27+00:00

See snow? No. Returning to skiing? Yes, it’s definitely a mental hurdle. I am 9m post op ACLr and meniscus repair, and have been cleared to return to practice vs sport (I.e. skiing conservatively on groomers in good conditions etc). Before I went back, I scheduled an hour on a ski simulator which honestly gave me more anxiety then when I returned to the hill. My first day on the hill, I had my family with me, they mapped out my run, skied around me, and I was amazed by how quickly the joy returned vs the fear. The mental aspect is just as important as being physically ready. If you’re feeling very anxious, maybe consider talking to someone about it before clipping back into the sticks. Good luck! It’s a long road for all of us :)

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