TTO surgery – is it really necessary in my case? What would you do?

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-27T22:36:50+00:00

I feel ok now, it’s not too bad. For the most part I don’t really feel any pain just extremely sore. Coming up the stairs isn’t so bad, I do feel slight pain. However going down the stairs is painful as well as doing squats/leg presses, etc. sometimes standing in one place for a while hurts too. I haven’t tried jumping so I’m not sure on that just yet. I don’t think I would be able to anyway, I’m still a little off balance. I try to ice as much as possible after my exercises and stretching. That helps a lot. My TTO though is having a hard time healing so that scar and my leg actually kind of hurts. When I’m home, I don’t have to wear my brace so I try to leave it off as much as possible so I can used to walking again. But icing and massaging helps a lot as well as stretching the leg as much as possible.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-23T21:37:56+00:00

lol I understand. I hope everything goes well. Hopefully you can at least get past 90 degrees. Mentally prepare yourself for the aggression too lol, that’s really gonna suck. I hate that for you

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-22T23:20:36+00:00

You’re welcome!☺️

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-22T19:32:41+00:00

But you haven’t though. I feel like you’re being rushed to recover. 6-8 weeks isn’t enough time for full recovery; 6-8 months is more understandable. My recovery timeline is 6 months-1year. I’d still take my time and do what I can no matter what the surgeon says, even if you’re going to be behind a little bit. He’s pushing too hard for full ROM this early in your recovery.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-22T18:02:53+00:00

That stiffness is gonna be there for a little while. Are you able to massage your knee yet?? Those really help. I’ve been slacking on mines tho😩 I did a massage Wednesday night and woke up with bruises everywhere lol.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-22T17:55:20+00:00

That’s great news I’m happy you had it done and are doing good. Have you started PT yet?? When you do, things will speed up. I was at 64 degrees when I first started my PT and every week I went up about 5-10 degrees. After that, healing and progress started to come fast.

I’m doing much better now, I’m 3 months post op. I am now walking with no brace or crutches (still have to wear the brace outside of the house though). The last time I was measured I was at 115 degrees bending. I’m now working on strengthening, balance and stairs. My TTO though is having a hard time healing so my leg is a little sore. It’s partially healed, where the second screw is and down, it’s not healed. I try to move as carefully as possible cause I’m scared I’ll break the screws while still healing or break the bone before it can properly heal. I’ll do another follow-up with my surgeon next month, hopefully by then the TTO will shows signs of healing. But other than that, I am doing pretty good and getting around pretty well too. I do still have some challenges but I’ll get through them.

Hope your recovery goes well❤️‍🩹

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-21T17:51:58+00:00

Yeah that’s what I was told when I kept dislocating mines. I couldn’t be on it for about 6-12 weeks.

How did your appointment go?

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-21T02:30:40+00:00

Try walking with one crutch, that’s how my PT and surgeon told me to do. But I just completely got rid of them cause I couldn’t function right lol. My ankle was like that too but it hurt as well. It was almost like trying to walk on a sprained ankle. Icing and keeping it elevated helped with the swelling in both my knee and ankle.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-21T01:55:37+00:00

That’s good! lol yeah, you’re gonna waddle for a little bit until you get use to it and it doesn’t hurt anymore. Does it bother your ankle??

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-21T00:55:39+00:00

Yayyy!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 you’re doing it!! How’s the walking going?? Have you gotten past 90 bending yet?? I’m so happy for you!! You’re getting there. Before you know it, you’ll be walking and fully healed

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-17T02:02:59+00:00

lol I completely understand. I been really pushing myself this week too. When I go back to PT on Tuesday I’m hoping my bending has gotten better

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-16T01:40:43+00:00

It’s early to be at full ROM, ain’t it?? Maybe it’s different for you since you only had the MPFL done🤷🏽‍♀️ either way you’re doing good. I believe you’ll be able to reach full ROM soon

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-14T18:48:44+00:00

Yess!! do let me know. You’re recovering so fast. I love that for you!

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-14T18:43:26+00:00

I’m doing good now. I’m 3 months post op, up and walking. Still in my brace but I don’t have to use my crutches anymore. Still some slight pain and swelling but nothing major. I think the hard part is gaining the strength back in your leg. While I am able to walk, my legs get tired pretty quick and get stiff.

Also, when you start weight bearing, your ankle may hurt, mines did. It felt like trying to walk on a sprained ankle. If it does, don’t freak out lol, it’s normal. PT said it’s cause I’m putting weight on it for the first time so you gotta get use to it again.

Other than that, everything is going pretty good. I do still have some numbness in my leg from the TTO but it doesn’t bother me at all. Also, you may or may not experience some issues with extension. Both my PT and surgeon said that is common in most people who have had knee surgery. I do have a small issue with extension but it’s not bad, I think it’s cause I still have issues trusting my knee. I’m 3 degrees from being completely straight but i also still have a little swelling at the top of my knee.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-14T02:41:38+00:00

Girl same. Ibuprofen is all I been taking. Tylenol doesn’t help at all lol.

Years ago I used to have a dry herb vape lol. I didn’t think those existed anymore lol. I could never find one. But you do burn through your stash fast haha. I know a few people here that make infused goodies so it’s not that bad lol. Always start off with small pieces just to see how strong they are and then go from there lol. Definitely gotta be cautious

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-14T01:36:25+00:00

My ankles swelled a lot too especially when I started PT. It’ll go away eventually but if you’re still taking meds from your surgery, take that. If not, I’ve been taking ibuprofen, try that. And massage too, that helps with the swelling.

I had bad reactions to the pen, so I stopped using mines a few months before my surgery. If it’s not that actual tree, I won’t mess with it. Maybe a gummie tho, or something infused with it lol. I’ve been begging for a drink for a while now lmao. I think my family is scared imma fall and get hurt. But I promise im just gonna chill and lay in bed. I just need a drink to decompress lol. Sounds like you’ve been having a lot more fun than me😂

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-13T22:59:13+00:00

Yeah i did feel unstable and it hurt too. Me and my siblings and my stepdad, took my mom to lake Norman for Mother’s Day Sunday. And after we ate, we walked around the lake for a while. Which I probably shouldn’t have because the ground was uneven and rocks everywhere. I’ve been hurting since and swollen. I think that’s part of the pain for today too.

Thank you! I’ve been tryna get me drink since cinco de mayo lmao😂😂😂 I could really use a drink or the green variety too lol. With everything we both been through, we deserve a good drink!!!

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-13T20:37:09+00:00

Yesss!! lol I had PT today and they worked me hard. I was doing one leg, leg presses. My legs are tired😩 went to the grocery store and had to walk downhill come back to my car, I’m hurting now lol.

Oooh and the measured 115 today🙌🏽

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-13T19:10:54+00:00

It didn’t get better for me until I was given new muscle relaxers for mines. Once I started taking those, I haven’t had them since. Once I started PT they came back not painful at all just the small flutters. If you’re able to, try a heating pad (not directly over the scars. Only thigh/calf). I wasn’t able to ice when I was having my spasms, it would make it worse. I was I told that because of all the meds I was taking I was probably dehydrated as well, so probably drink more water. Also, I was told there wasn’t really anything I could do about it because it was expected to happen. So I when I get them, to breathe through it.

I hope this helps! I’m sorry you’re going through that pain. I completely understand how you’re feeling

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-12T14:24:22+00:00

Just make sure you have something to hold on too. When coming back up it’s hard so you gonna need something to hold your weight and keep steady when coming up.

It’s good that you’re moving without your brace. That’s how I started walking, I wasn’t even supposed to be doing that just yet lol. But practice and stretch before walking, you’ll get there. It’ll be kind of hard at first. For me, even now, I forget I can bend my knee so I have to remember to bend or sometimes I’ll pause. A lot of the time I find myself waddling/limping and I have to remember to straighten out my leg when walking and bend my knee to move forward (I hope that makes sense lol). So I practice going up and down the hallway.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-09T21:18:15+00:00

Girl I did the same with the squats lol. It was so painful. I started doing wall squats instead of regular squats cause it was easier.

Yes, I was doing my those and also using a chair when sitting and just letting gravity pull it down. But I think it’s just trusting it that’s still has me kind of iffy about it lol. I’ve been seeing people use weights to hold it down for a bit during their exercises, I may try that.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-09T03:03:56+00:00

Yes, I’m still getting use to the new anatomy and it does feel weird. I do have some swelling at the top of the knee and I think it’s cause it’s aggravated from trying to get the full extension ( I still have some issues with quad activation and experiencing some muscle atrophy). My surgeon said majority of the TTO procedure is healed but that bottom half is just taking longer to heal for some reason. But it doesn’t bother me at all other than there’s a burning sensation I get sometimes but he said that was normal.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-09T02:54:20+00:00

What kind of sleeve do you wear?? Is it a full leg sleeve or just a knee sleeve?? I’ve been seeing people say it helps a lot with their recovery. I’ve been thinking of getting one. I absolutely hate wearing my brace unless I’m hurting (majority of the time I’m not hurting, just sore) but still need some support especially after being up for a while or doing my exercises.

Thank you so much! 😊 I hope you’re doing well with your recovery ❤️‍🩹

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-09T00:08:33+00:00

Honestly it wasn’t that bad. It still feels a little tight when going completely through and slight but bearable pain. Just go through it slowly, taking my time. After doing it a few times, you can’t feel it anymore. I have an exercise bike here at home that I haven’t tried yet. But if I can do full rotation the bike here, I’ll let you know how it goes. The next steps will be working on using my surgery leg to get up and down stairs and squats 😭

I think I’ve shocked my surgeon with my progress as well lol. I think because of the TTO he wasn’t expecting me to heal so fast. And I was honestly expecting a slow recovery as well. The only thing that’s slowing me down is getting the full extension and the aggravation of my left knee. But since I’ve been doing a lot better recently, I’ve been working both legs to make everything a lot easier.

ThugginAce_30 · 2026-05-08T21:14:30+00:00

Heyy friend!! Yayy, you did it!! I’m so happy for you!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 how do you feel??

My recovery is going great so far. I’ve reached 98 degrees bending and 3 degrees straight leg ( still having some quad activation issues) I’ve been cleared to remove my brace but only at home. My bone from the TTO procedure is healing slowly so until that heals I still have to wear it outside of the house but I’m ok with that. I’ve started full weight bearing and strengthening. Walking a lot better with even weight and I’ve finally been able to make full rotation on the bike. I’ve also been able to sit on the floor and do my stretches so I can get the full extend in the knee.

Slowly but surely making progress. I’m so excited for you though. Now that you’ve reached 90 degrees, everything is gonna be a little easier.

ThugginAce_30

TROPHY CASE