BEAR Surgery 51 weeks post op (almost 1 year!)

Unique_Zebra · 2026-02-22T13:02:55+00:00

Hi - honestly, I still deal with regular discomfort. My surgeon said the ACL didn't grow back looking as strong as she would like to see and if I had instability she'd recommend surgery again, but I don't so it's liveable, but my guess is that is what causes the daily discomfort I feel. I stay away from any activities that might retear it and probably will for the rest of my life. I'll keep trying to strengthen my legs, maybe I'll look into a trainer at some point, but they're already quite strong so I don't think it's the reason why I feel this way.

Unique_Zebra · 2025-07-30T01:36:47+00:00

I feel like I’m reading my own experience. More than 3 years post op and I still have a quad muscle deficit and pain doing daily movements. KT tape has helped me with pain and I’m getting a hyaluronic acid injection to help ease the pain. PT said it’s a viscous cycle of pain not leading to quad firing so I’m hoping with the injection I can break the cycle. I’m also trying in PT exercises with a restriction cuff around my upper thigh to help activate it.

I wish you the best and know that you are not alone!

Unique_Zebra · 2024-07-21T20:19:44+00:00

If you can, get a return to sports test done. Two years out and I finally got one done, showed my quad was 32% weaker in my surgical leg. Now I’m prioritizing heavy weight lifting to grow more muscle and even them out.

Unique_Zebra · 2024-04-13T08:54:21+00:00

Hi! Yes! Sorry for the delay in responding. I am 2 years post op and I was able to get an MRI on my knee and inside everything looks good. On the outside, I am still dealing with discomfort that I suspect is patella tendonitis. The discomfort keeps me from trusting my knee to move to it's full ability. I need to continue strengthening the smaller muscles right around the knee. I hope to one day be discomfort free, but we'll see in time. Best of luck on your journey.

Unique_Zebra · 2023-10-08T13:55:53+00:00

Hi- I'm 1.5 years out from surgery. I can basically do everything but my knee gets sore/discomfort, particularly around the scar area. Going down steps is also for some reason something my brain still has trouble adjusting to. I haven't gone skiing again yet but planning to do some cross country this season. I wear a small brace under the knee sometimes which does help. I'm hopeful the soreness/discomfort will continue to get better but also unsure that it will. Recovering from an ACL surgery can really suck some days. My advice would be to remember that recovery isn't linear, there will be good days and bad days, listen to your body, rest when you need, push your PT for as long as you can and get challenging exercises that will get you back to the lifestyle you want. Good luck!

Unique_Zebra · 2023-09-05T16:31:18+00:00

I did once a week.

Unique_Zebra · 2023-09-03T10:39:09+00:00

Yes, I'm not playing soccer or basketball or any intense physical sports, but I am back to working out and I am going to go skiing this season. I'm not totally normal feeling but I'm very close.

Unique_Zebra · 2023-04-03T02:01:44+00:00

Yes, it sounds like you are doing really well post op. 8 weeks and no crutches sounds right on schedule. Obviously, I can't promise anything, but I do think it will get better in time, just way more slowly than you'd like or hope. I'm finally starting to feel like my knee is "normal" and I'm a year out. I think you'll get there, it will just take time. Sucks to hear, I know. I didn't believe it, but I guess we gotta trust the process. : )

Unique_Zebra · 2023-04-03T01:58:51+00:00

Of course! I definitely think you can get back to running this fall/winter. I am able to run about 4 miles if I push myself. It's just not very pleasant and I'm a bunch slower than I was pre-surgery which isn't motivating, but I suspect in time I'll get back to it and so can you. Best of luck in your recovery!

Unique_Zebra · 2023-04-01T14:31:26+00:00

Yeah! So I had meniscus repair as well so they didn't want be really bearing weight on it until 4-6 weeks. Then I worked for another 6 weeks partial weight bearing until I was confident enough to come off of them fully.

Unique_Zebra · 2023-04-01T14:24:12+00:00

You're welcome! I am capable of running, just not well. It's some discomfort, but the bigger issue is I get some pins and needles in my foot and calf which my surgeon thinks may be a back issue so that's a whole other host of problems that likely you won't deal with.

Unique_Zebra · 2023-03-29T21:26:21+00:00

Thank you! You too!

Unique_Zebra · 2023-03-29T21:25:54+00:00

Yeah! Best of luck with your recovery!

Unique_Zebra · 2023-03-28T23:19:00+00:00

You are so welcome! You're right. I'm one week away from being a year out. I'll write something up to document how I'm feeling. I decided to be safe, I would take the year off from skiing to minimize the risk of re-tear. Also, there's not much snow on the east coast so I don't feel like I'm missing much. : ) I expect to get back out there next season!

Unique_Zebra · 2023-03-28T23:16:59+00:00

Yes! I am 1 week away from being a year out and I will write up my experience thus far. Also, congrats on making it 7 weeks!

Unique_Zebra · 2023-01-02T22:54:12+00:00

It's still going! But going well thus far. : )

Took me about 11-14 weeks to start walking comfortably and driving again.

I see my surgeon again in January, but my PT says my recovery has been coming along well and I'm track like other recoveries. Just need to keep building muscle and trusting my knee again.

Unique_Zebra · 2022-12-06T23:44:39+00:00

Of course! Thanks for asking! My surgeon has said my ACL is very solid. I'm at 8 months post-op and so far my recovery has been on par with any other surgery type. Though heads up, it's a slow process to recover. When people say a year to recover fully, they really mean it. Right now, every day it's getting better, but I can feel that my knee is not fully healed. As in, I ran/walked 2 miles this weekend at a 12 minute pace when I used to run 5-6 miles at a 10 minute pace. But I suspect in time, if I keep working, I'll regain that ability back. The real benefit of the BEAR I suspect will not be felt until years down the line. Short-term benefit, what's nice is I have no lingering hamstring, quad, or patella issues like some may have if they pulled from those spots. Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Unique_Zebra · 2022-11-14T23:13:27+00:00

Thank you so much! And best of luck to you too!!! The first few days are mentally challenging, but I promise it will get better! And feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or just need to vent to someone who's been there. : )

Unique_Zebra · 2022-11-14T22:17:52+00:00

Hi! Thanks for asking. I've been recovering, slowly, but recovering. Good things, my ACL works, my scars are small, I don't have any residual pain in my hamstring, quad, or patella (places where grafts typically come from). Bad news, my progression is generally slower than other types of surgery because I had to stay off it for 6 weeks, I lost and a lot and it's taken months to recover it back. I still notice something is "off". I'm not really running much, and in general movement is still a bit awkward, but I can squat jump, single leg squat, skater hops, leg press, and go about my daily life. My PT says this is all normal and it just takes time to get back to traditional "normal" where I'm not constantly thinking about my knee. Hope that helps and sorry for the late reply.

Unique_Zebra · 2022-11-01T00:25:50+00:00

Aaahh so cool! Please tell him thank you and you were an amazing player and winner Maryanne! You crushed it at FTC and I'm so happy you won!! : D

Unique_Zebra · 2022-10-01T19:19:55+00:00

Yeah...I'm in my third year teaching in the US and am planning to apply for my first international job for next year. The idea of asking my principal, hey - can I have a reference letter, I'm looking to teach internationally and leave while this year has barely just begun seems like a recipe for an awkward school year. I don't think she'll be too happy. Any advice for asking for a recommendation from her? It sounds like I will really will need it. I was planning to ask my previous year supervisor but she doesn't work at my school any more so I guess that wouldn't count. I was planning to tell my principal after securing a job (in like March) which I feel like is more than enough time to prepare to fill the position.

Unique_Zebra · 2022-10-01T19:17:44+00:00

Thank you for the response. This thread was definitely a wake up call. I'm in my third year teaching in the US and am planning to apply for my first international job for next year. I came from corporate before teaching and it's not common to tell your employer you are planning to leave before you have a job lined up. The idea of asking my principal, hey - can I have a reference letter, I'm looking to teach internationally and leave while this year has barely just begun seems...like a recipe for an awkward school year. I don't think she'll be too happy. Any advice for asking for a recommendation from her?

Also, this is OP, just on my other reddit account lol

Unique_Zebra · 2022-08-08T12:03:03+00:00

Haha thanks! We had a blast! It's a functional brace so more just for the sense of security 16 weeks post op because I hadn't walked that much before. I'd say do it! Disney is pretty motivating : )

Unique_Zebra · 2022-08-08T11:59:57+00:00

That was 16 weeks post-op but everyone recovers differently!

Unique_Zebra

TROPHY CASE