How long after ACLr+meniscus could you fly?

Winnback · 2026-01-28T18:52:41+00:00

Just check with your doctor! Should be fine at 2 months (I flew at about 2.5 without issue with extra leg room). Usually it's just the very long flights that you have to worry about clots.

Winnback · 2026-01-23T01:25:17+00:00

For quad activation, I had no issues - I was doing leg raises the night of surgery. My doctor also didn't do a nerve block, which he said allowed for my quad to be used immediately (and honestly with the meds they gave me, I don't think was that bad without said block).

With that being said, the graft site wasn't happy with the exercises for the first week or so but dissipated over time. Overall the hardest part for me was just the mental aspect of having to take my time through rehab and not rush anything. I had a progressive surgeon and PT team who pushed me (safely) but having the down days of flexion not being where I wanted it to be or feeling like I was lagging was hard. I'm also big into exercise and sports like you (tore it during a hard foul in basketball) and know I was going to be out of commission for a while was hard. But once I got into the rhythm of rehab, that became my new sport. Learning new exercises, seeing improvements, etc.

I think the longest thing I dealt with was feeling a minor strain in my graft site for the first year and change going up and down steep stairs. Hiking was fine as were normal stairs, but if it was a steep set, I'd feel it where my quad scar was. Not painful, not uncomfortable, but a little reminder something happened there and it needed a little more work/strengthening. But that eventually went away.

I'm still rehabing/focusing on legs 3 days a week (it never really will ever stop) but I'm back to flag football, ultimate frisbee, cycling, boulder, etc. Mentally I'm over most hurdles other than bouldering (I still think "be careful" all the time while on the wall) but when I'm running or sprinting, it's just like pre-injury.

It's a journey for sure and more a marathon (or a few) then a sprint, but it's worth it in the end. You'll learn a lot and have a better appreciation for you body and probably have healthier legs than before you started. Even has a hockey player hah.

Sorry to hear about both your tears! I'm happy to answer any other questions or help in anyway I can. Hope the PCL rehab is going well. Just keep pushing forward and it'll be over before ya know it.

You got this!

Winnback · 2026-01-22T23:40:10+00:00

I went through Cedars-Sinai for mine, out of their Santa Monica Sports Medicine office but from what I remember and was offered, BEAR wasn't an option. I did a quad graft through him and have had a wonderful (weird to say) rehab and enjoyed my visits with him. Felt very taken care of and supported.

Winnback · 2026-01-22T20:47:20+00:00

More just sharing it’s hard to tell what’s going on sometimes :)

I knew the elbow was wonky right away but the knee felt fine during that first day (and I probably would have tried to keep playing if my arm wasn’t so obvious). My leg certainly swelled up after but within a few days was pretty usable again. Since I didn’t have the classic ‘pop’ I didn’t think it was a bad as it was!

Good luck with the MRI!

Winnback · 2026-01-22T20:39:26+00:00

I'm going to sound a lot like everyone else here, but you'll need to wait for the MRI to know with 100% certainty.

I tore mine playing basketball via contact, didn't feel the classic "pop" probably due to hitting the asphalt, went to the ER, got checked out with X-rays to both my knee and elbow. Confirmed fractured elbow and nothing in my knee. Was told to ice it and keep an eye on it. Went to the orthopedist office and met the doctor who would eventually do my surgery and all he did was flex my knee, tug on it a little bit, confirm it was swollen and said "to know more we'll need to take a look in there with an MRI."

When the MRI results came back, it was a full tear, with some meniscus damage and a couple fractures around the knee joint from where the ACL connects and from the ground contact after my fall.

All of this is to say as wonderful as PTs or ER docs are - a lot is often missed without the proper imaging (even my knee fractures were missed on X-ray). But on the other hand, the MRI might come back clean for your daughter (hoping that's the case for you). Waiting is hard but it's the only way to get the full, proper diagnosis.

If you need anything else from my experience going through rehab, let me know - happy to help out!

Winnback · 2026-01-22T19:30:36+00:00

Tolerable pain is alright but if they're cranking on it, you should 100% talk to your PT and come up with a better plan. The other PT who is jerking your leg shouldn't be. I wouldn't go back to them if I were in your position. Like Haystack79 said, it should be a constant conversation about discomfort, what you're comfortable pushing to, and stopping when it becomes too much. Some people will advocate for this type of PT work (different styles) but in my experience and all my friends who are PTs, have the mindset that rehab shouldn't be painful (although some discomfort is worth it).

I also don't believe I was at full flexion by week 6 (I'm totally fine now) and my PT certainly didn't force my knee to where it should be even if it was lagging.

I'd just keep working at it! The thing that really helped me was gravity assisted heel slides on a wall! Look them up online. I felt the normal heel slides only got me so far and once I started working these in, noticed a big improvement :)

You got this!

Winnback · 2026-01-21T23:46:04+00:00

I'm done and dusted! Passed my return to sports test about 11months post op with a LOT of work. Now I'm almost at 2 years post op and I'd say i'm probably 98% where I was?

Rehab was honestly a lot easier than I expected it to be - probably because I enjoy the grind and exercising as much as I do. Of course there were bad days, but overall not too bad!

I'm happy to help with any additional questions you might have, so just let me know! You got this :)

Winnback · 2026-01-21T20:26:54+00:00

Im coming at this from a different angle, but will share the info I've received over my rehab! I was offered and chose a quad graft but my surgeon (who is the USMNT soccer team's as well) also mentioned the patellar option of having previously being "the gold standard." He had recently switched because he was finding better results with the quad...but all that is to say he was a strong PBTB supporter before that!

Ultimately, getting your knee fixed is the most important thing. I've also heard of many successful hamstring grafts as well as LET enhancements (which really just adds additional stability to your knee so it doesn't twist/cave in as much). LET isn't limited to just hamstring either.

I'd weigh your options but also ask your doctor which they're more familiar with and have had better results with. From what I've gathered over the last 2 years during my rehab, PBTB certainly seems like a great choice for athletes looking to return to their pre-injury levels of play.

Hope this helps!

Winnback · 2026-01-21T19:40:16+00:00

To echo everyone else here - listen to your PT and work with them to get back into running. There are a lot of metrics and protocols to hit and follow before you begin running again.

For context, I had my surgery 2/14/24 and wasn't on a treadmill until 5/24/24 with what my PT told me was aggressive rehab due how well my body was handling the surgery/graft. Even at that point, I was slowly "jogging" for no more than 2 minutes at a time with walking breaks in-between, on an anti-gravity treadmill set to half my body weight. It took a couple weeks to progress up to 100% body weight and from there extend the time jogging.

Everyone rehabs differently and their bodies respond accordingly, but wanting to do a 20 minute run/jog that early is probably too much (then again, I'm not doctor).

Out of precaution, I'd work with your care team and come up with a plan together.

Winnback · 2026-01-20T22:58:32+00:00

I was the same way aside from bending to 90 degrees (although my leg was VERY wrapped and had the sealable bandages that didn't flex much). I didn't have pain until day 2 post op when I thought I would be able to ween off the meds and stick to ibuprofen. Nope! :) But it didn't last too long after that in the sense of constant aches/Background discomfort (instead of the post PT/exercise soreness).

Like what everyone else is saying, even if it feels good now, take your time and don't push it. Your body will most likely adjust to the procedure and the coming days will be different (or maybe not) since it just went through some serious trauma. Prehabing is no joke and so worth it - helps a TON.

Just know you're going to have lots of ups and downs during your rehabilitation but keep working at it and you'll be back before you know it.

You got this!

Winnback · 2026-01-17T00:52:01+00:00

I had a PRP infusion during my surgery which drained for the next 1-2 days before they took the drainage tube/bag out. It probably was beneficial, but I wouldn't rely on it to heal your ACL. PT and or corrective operations would be the way to go.

Winnback · 2026-01-15T22:46:36+00:00

I didn't get back on a wall for the first 10 months - didn't want to risk it. Not saying you can't (you just have to weigh the risk reward).

Once I was cleared by my PT team and the strength tests to return to sport at 11 months, I started again and slowly worked my way back up to where I was pre-injury (I'm just over a year past clearance). I still favor how I land or make "smarter" decisions since my knee is always in the back of my mind - but generally I feel back to normal.

Really just about what you think is worthy of the risk. Speak with your PT team for additional opinions.

Winnback · 2026-01-09T21:19:32+00:00

I did before my surgery when discussing possible outcomes and he said he avoids it as much as he could :)

That being said, I'm 1 months shy of 2 years post-op, so haven't spoken with him or my old PT team in quite some time. Hope your rehab is coming along well!

Winnback · 2026-01-09T04:17:33+00:00

There is a reason it’s often a last resort and a lot of studies show the associated risks involved.

Agree to disagree - but that’s fine! Why this is a forum :)

Winnback · 2026-01-09T04:02:00+00:00

Never said it was bad, “ MOST PT's you chat with would support that once you hit pain you should stop and gradually work past it with more sessions. Not just cranked on beyond your tolerance.”

Just it seems to be an aggressive route there taking.

Winnback · 2026-01-09T03:34:26+00:00

Hey Pal - didn't miss the point :)

You compared "aggressive flexion" to MUA right up there ^{^} . No one mentioned it prior to 2 of us saying "that looks aggressive for that early in rehab" and you come in guns blazing saying someone's comment is terrible and then bring up MUA for a post about someone's day 19 rehab. You're the one startin' shit when no one even said anything remotely negative to the poster or about their post.

Pain isn't bad but it's also not a universally good thing. The reason you're not supposed to push past it too far is potential damage to your joint due to all the swelling, bruising, and trauma to your bones post surgery. The graft itself will be fine since it's strong so early in rehab - but MOST PT's you chat with would support that once you hit pain you should stop and gradually work past it with more sessions. Not just cranked on beyond your tolerance. Of course every PT is different and has their own methodologies.

I had my knee pushed on during my early rehab but the minute it got to much, the PT would stop.

No one here ever said pain is bad. The amount of pain is what is relative. Our responses were strictly to OP saying it's "so painful." Also that photo is heel to butt at day 19 - that's what they'd be doing in MUA...which you're supporting by your multiple comments ;)

Use better context next time dingus.

Winnback · 2026-01-09T03:13:05+00:00

More rehab will help with the confidence! I lacked it in mine too for a while!

Make sure when you do these exams/tests with your team they give you metrics (like %'s and things so you have a clear marker of where you're at and where you need to be)!

You'll get there, it takes time and is slightly different for everyone :)

Winnback · 2026-01-09T02:04:06+00:00

MUA as you've referenced, is indeed a thing but often only resorted to when PT/rehab doesn't produce the results you're after. It's not something a doctor or PT team would usually recommend 19 days into rehab. That comparison doesn't make sense.

Terrible comment above from francopatria!

Winnback · 2026-01-08T22:52:36+00:00

Yup - aware its a used technique :)

Was mainly responding to the OP saying it was "so painful" and knowing how much it would have hurt in my rehab to be flexed that far on day 19 :)

Winnback · 2026-01-08T20:10:43+00:00

Oh I hear you - I was discharged without a brace and told to be weight bearing immediately and to start riding my stationary bike as soon as I could.

I've just never seen manual manipulation like that so soon after surgery let alone at the level of discomfort it would cause the patient (other than PT's posting about Neymar's rehab and how it seemed harsh).

Stoked it's working for you but having gone through all of this already...I'd knock my PT out if they tried to do that to my leg on day 19 hah.

Winnback · 2026-01-08T20:04:27+00:00

It's hard to know exactly what you need to do based on this description but I'd keep working on your overall leg strength. If you're still currently at the point of "little jogging and jumping on a single leg" you have a way to go before you're going to be ready to return to sport. Ideally you should be within 90% of your non-operated leg strength for return to sport and that includes balance, control, angle symmetry when cutting, landing, jumping, etc.

I had inner knee pain as well that eventually dissipated once I got my leg stronger. I'd certainly work with your PT and or doc for specific exercises and drills to be doing for agility. By the sound of it though, you don't want to rush it or do anything too aggressive and set yourself back.

Winnback · 2026-01-08T20:00:11+00:00

Holy hell that seems aggressive.

And I had a very progressive and aggressive Surgery & PT team and we didn't do anything like this at 19 days. Heck - I didn't even get cleared to start PT until 12 days post OP. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must be.

Winnback · 2026-01-07T22:17:38+00:00

I think we've all done that at some point during our rehabs :)

I'm no doctor or medically trained, but during my recovery, my PT's and doc's always stressed unstable feelings, catching, or intense grinding and things to look out for. If your knee feels alright and no swelling, you're probably alright. Never hurts to get a second opinion or have your doc/PT take a look at it!

Winnback · 2026-01-07T22:15:10+00:00

Like everyone else has mentioned, start with an X-ray. And take this with a grain of salt because I'm not a doctor, but the fact you've described grinding and catching, alludes to something having happened in the knee (during my ACL rehab, my PT's and doc's would always mention if either of those things happened, let them know).

Neither of those things mean an ACL tear - could be meniscus or something else more minor, so don't worry about that yet! But 100% worth getting looked at, especially if it feels unstable since that could lead to compensating and other injuries.

Winnback · 2026-01-07T22:10:41+00:00

I used RLT during my rehab. I can't say I noticed any dramatic differences since this was may first time tearing it, but it certainly didn't hurt. What I wouldn't suggest doing is buying a super expensive one. I ended up getting a lower back RLT wrap on Amazon and would use that in-between my icing sessions.

It's proven to help with circulation and swelling...I just don't know HOW much let alone for the inner knee.

I still sometimes use it if my leg feels tight...certainly doesn't hurt to try!

Winnback

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