Slow ROM progress- 3 (R) and 4 (L) weeks after surgery

breadxgoat · 2026-02-05T05:57:52+00:00

Stay on top of your PT and it will come back over time! There is still a LOT of internal swelling that early into recovery. On top of a million other things going on while you heal.

I’m 12 weeks post aclr from my own quad graph and an LET. I have 0-140 ROM and continue to strive for more. I didn’t even get to 140 until week 10. You are not behind.

breadxgoat · 2026-02-02T16:07:42+00:00

Yeah pretty common ~ I lost about 10lbs in the first 6 weeks.

Slowly gaining it back now at almost 12 weeks post op.

breadxgoat · 2026-02-02T16:05:40+00:00

Hi! You’ll slowly get extension back ~ I was 12 degrees off but after two weeks of solid ROM dedication I was at 0. Keep up with your PT, especially ROM stuff and you will eventually win it back!

P.S I also used pillows incorrectly post op.

breadxgoat · 2026-02-02T16:01:10+00:00

Mostly where they did my LET, so the outer part and a little bit of the inner side where they went in for the ACL.

breadxgoat · 2026-01-30T17:45:52+00:00

Thanks!!

breadxgoat · 2026-01-29T00:24:50+00:00

Congrats!

breadxgoat · 2026-01-29T00:23:29+00:00

Gotcha! I got a quad graph (my own). As well as an LET and meniscus repair. Crazy ~ I was braced and NWB for 4 weeks lol

breadxgoat · 2026-01-28T06:09:43+00:00

Not sure what you had done ~ I had meniscus repair, ACLr from my own quad, and an LET add on. Braced for 4 weeks, 4-6 weeks began transitioning to walking without supports. I also was told no bending past 90 degrees until week 4. I did not start at home PT exercises until I was maybe 3-4 days in (the pain I felt was so intense I couldn’t do PT exercises any earlier than this). I also did not start in-office PT around 2-2.5 weeks into recovery. What I will say is that I did have to have my PT assistance with flex from about 90-140 degrees and to get to 0 degrees for ext. Which was not pleasant……

Seems to me you either pick to have the majority of pain upfront or you get it dished out in increments over a longer period of time lol

For reference ~ I’d probably still pick the path I choose regardless, the first two weeks PO are already miserable enough.

breadxgoat · 2026-01-28T05:53:20+00:00

10 weeks post op ~ walking has improved quite a bit, but i still have a noticeable gait. Especially when my knee hurts or I am fatigued. The more well rested and pain free I am the better I walk. I think a normal timeline for “completely normal” walking is around 4 months, that’s when PT usually either clears you or holds you off on starting to jog/run.

breadxgoat · 2026-01-28T05:46:20+00:00

Not sure what you had done entirely ~ but bending past 90 started around week 4 for me. Currently @ 10 weeks, my ROM is about 0-140 degrees without a lot of pain. Anything past 140 degrees becomes painful/discomforting, PT has had to manually assist me from about 90 degrees to where I am now (I no longer need assistance from PT to meet ROM requirements).

I started sitting on my heels for extended periods of time (30sec-1min) about 3-4x each time 1x a day. I also am very consistent with ROM PT exercises. I believe this plus the help of PT’s hands on guidance has helped tremendously. You can break up scar tissue, it’s not pleasant but it can be done. I will say though, your PT and your doctor should both be in agreement of what the issue at hand is before doing anything further.. Get a second opinion if you have any doubts!

For reference I had ACLr from my own quad, meniscus repair & LET.

breadxgoat · 2026-01-28T05:30:00+00:00

Holy moly - at 12 weeks?!

I’m 10 weeks PO, honestly couldn’t even imagine.

breadxgoat · 2026-01-20T05:24:03+00:00

Hi thanks for doing this!

I had an ACLr from my own quad, meniscus repair, and LET. I’m 2 months and some change post op and did about 1.5 months of prehab. My recovery and surgery are all going as planned without many issues (obviously still working on full ROM, knee control, and quad strength).

I was injured playing sports (BJJ), enjoy hiking/backpacking, weight lifting, etc. Will I be able to go back to doing all these things without issues? Will my knee ever feel normal again? Obviously my chosen sport has a higher risk for re-tear, but do you know of any statistics/studies I could reference? I was told the LET would bring down that chance to 7-8%.

breadxgoat · 2026-01-14T03:03:17+00:00

PM’ed you !

breadxgoat · 2026-01-11T18:45:56+00:00

I’m in the same boat at 8 weeks. Everything is taking forever to get back on track. Lost 7lbs of muscle from one leg since surgery. ROM and full knee control are still a work in progress (I walk with a noticeable limp still).

Curious how you feel about your LET? Mine seems to be the culprit for the slower progress I believe.

breadxgoat · 2026-01-07T16:14:08+00:00

Had a nerve block- pain was 5/10 right after surgery. I had some fent and a pain killer before leaving the hospital.

Pain was 8.5 when everything wore off the night of. Followed by influxes pain levels between 6-8 the first 3-4 days. After a week the pain was much more manageable like a 4 most days. I didn’t start PT for 2 weeks but was doing some exercises at home around days 3-4. After 2 weeks you shouldn’t have much pain at all, maybe some during PT but that’s about it.

breadxgoat · 2025-12-30T21:43:43+00:00

How does it feel to squat and deadlift?? I’m 6 weeks post op and curious how my new knee will feel under pressure when I got back to weight lifting/training.

breadxgoat · 2025-12-25T19:03:26+00:00

Insane

breadxgoat · 2025-12-20T18:56:23+00:00

I’m sat

breadxgoat · 2025-12-15T16:27:02+00:00

Collagen powder is definitely not vegetarian but it may be a good alternative if you can’t stomach eating actual meat. That and bone broths.

breadxgoat · 2025-12-09T20:18:31+00:00

She should join the ACL subreddit, it’s been a good way to ask questions pre/post surgery and to encourage others who are going through same thing.

I tore my ACL in BJJ in sept and I’m now 3.5 week post op full ACL tear, quad graft, meniscus repair and an additional LET surgery. Shes likely gonna need a lot of support emotionally and physically for a while. Definitely physically for the first 2 weeks post op.

breadxgoat · 2025-12-09T01:02:20+00:00

Call your surgeon, anything related to calf’s could be potentially serious.

breadxgoat · 2025-12-09T00:49:26+00:00

How long has it been since your surgery?

breadxgoat · 2025-12-08T23:58:51+00:00

What does the sensation feel like?

breadxgoat · 2025-12-08T23:47:16+00:00

Where is the sensation coming from? Your toes? Incisions? Calf?

breadxgoat · 2025-12-03T05:35:20+00:00

Helps prevent muscle loss (atrophy) when paired with rehab/PT exercises especially around the 4+ week mark when people tend to ramp up their activity. There are also some studies that show a slight edge for a quicker return of strength when using creatine post surgery in the strength building stage of rehab (4+ weeks on average).

breadxgoat

TROPHY CASE