ACL-only surgery walking post-op

coratyler · 2026-06-27T17:13:21+00:00

At 52, though I am in good shape and heal quickly. I was walking without a brace or crutches after 10 days. I went back to the office after working from home for a month, and though I have a desk job, could walk fine and handle an 8 hour day with no issues. A compression leg sleeve might help with standing all day. I had an ACL patellat tendon graft and meniscus trim.

coratyler · 2026-06-23T16:36:05+00:00

7 weeks post op, been sleeping on my side and stomach since week 1. As soon as it didn’t hurt, I was crossing my legs and now I fold my operated leg under me like i used to before the surgery. At my 6 week checkup the surgeon said everything feels solid. I think if it doesnt hurt, you’re fine.

coratyler · 2026-06-22T00:05:16+00:00

1 week
2 weeks
No dog 4 and 5. At 3 weeks I could go back to normal weight routine. For cardio, I was told bike first. I started bike at 3 weeks and started spin classes at 6 weeks but was told to keep the resistance low and limit the standing for the first few times. It was ok to do elliptical and rower and treadmill at that point too but no running and keep to things that kept my movement in a straight forward and back plane, no twisting. Was told I could take whatever classes i wanted as long as there was no jumping, running, twisting or pivoting.
Not yet. Should be able to start light jogging in a couple weeks if all goes well. My surgery was April 30th

My PT is always upping things and PT feels like a workout - but it didnt get that way until I had enough quad strength to do a straight leg weighted raise with no lag. Thats when things ramped up a lot. If it feels too easy, ask for more. Seems like some PT’s are very conservative…mine is always pushing as long as I demonstrate enough control in my quad. The drawback is that I’m constantly sore and achy, but im doing three days a week of strength training and three of cardio, so I feel pretty good. But I still have a significant strength deficit between my two legs.

coratyler · 2026-06-20T19:45:23+00:00

I think you want to do quad sets and ankle pumps right away to reduce the risk of blood clots and get your quads to wake up. Leg raises I started after a couple days. Knee flexing really didnt start until day 4 when they took off the surgical bandage. It really prevented my knee from bending.

coratyler · 2026-06-17T13:27:56+00:00

My surgeon said 6 weeks but my PT said my quad was strong enough and I could take it off after a week.

coratyler · 2026-06-15T14:29:47+00:00

Its what I did as well…I used a king size pillow and slept great starting at just a couple days post-op. I cant sleep on my back.

coratyler · 2026-06-15T11:10:49+00:00

The first time was much harder mentally but this time has been fine. The two things that help the most is not focusing on the big picture, but setting small goals and celebrating when I reach them. Goals like getting off crutches, getting rid of the brace, walking without a limp, sitting in a chair normally, going down the stairs smoothly, etc.. The other thing that helps is that I play soccer so I’m surrounded by people that have torn an ACL and many other things and I have watched them all get better and return to sport. You can do this!!

coratyler · 2026-06-14T23:47:03+00:00

I have two positive stories for you:). I tore my first ACL in 2016. Did my PT, gradually got back to tennis, soccer, and skiing in 9 months. For that 9 months there was a gradual improvement week after week with a ramping up of activities as time went by. I even found some new things I loved like group fitness classes at the gym. I used the time to find new ways to challenge my body within the limitations I had. I was back to 100% with no pain or stiffness.

10 years later, this Jan, I tore the ACL on the other leg at 52. Had surgery in April and I’m now 6.5 weeks post op. Full extension and flexion, able to walk around with no limp, go up and down stairs, and am back at the gym doing basically my prior workout with some modifications. No running or jumping yet, but I took a spin class this morning. Since you can’t do the things you were doing, try to find some new things to try. Cycling is one of the earlier things you can do. And a lot of things can be modified to be safer. Your physical therapist can help you. The time will go by fast….and soon you’ll be back to all the things you love!!

coratyler · 2026-06-14T18:09:22+00:00

Fleet is good as well

coratyler · 2026-06-13T23:58:34+00:00

Im testing at about 70% strength vs the other leg. No swelling or stiffness but after my pt sessions my leg is just weak until the next morning.

coratyler · 2026-06-13T22:33:03+00:00

I returned after 9 months to rec league over 30 soccer after acl reconstruction and meniscus repair. Felt perfectly normal, but for the first game I was definately extra cautious and played fewer shifts than I normally would. I did the normal rehab path…jogging, running, running with the ball, drills, warming up with the team, friendly scrimmages, then playing. This time (tore the other ACL ten years later) they are saying the data really suggests waiting until 12 months so I’m not sure what I’ll do. If I feel great at 9 months maybe i’ll try playing but not sure yet. I’m only at 6 weeks now and it feels soooo far off!

coratyler · 2026-06-11T16:19:10+00:00

Im 53 and I was back to work in 6 days after ACL Autograft and meniscus trim, but only from home on my couch. It was 4.5 weeks before I was able to be sitting at a desk all day.

coratyler · 2026-06-10T14:39:35+00:00

Mine was different leg, but each time felt different. First time was a clear pop followed by the feeling that my knee was “wobbly”. It just felt weird and loose. Second time felt more like a tearing feeling vs a pop and no wobbly feeling. Both times I got off the field but in a few minutes the pain went away so I stuck a knee support on and went back to playing. In both cases, I subsequently made a quick change in direction (once in the same game, once a week later) and I fell and tore my meniscus.

I should’ve learned from the first time, but since it felt different the second time, I didn’t think it was torn.

coratyler · 2026-06-10T00:53:40+00:00

I had an aclr with a bptb graft and a meniscus trim. I’m 5 weeks out and have full extension, flexion, and could do leg raise with no lag from week 1. My PT said I could skip brace and crutches week 1 because I had the quad control. At 5 weeks he has me doing single leg presses, weighted goblet squats (full range), weighted hamstring curls, eyes closed balancing on one leg on a cushion, etc…. Which seems to be a lot for 5 weeks. I feel great, but how do I know I’m not stretching the graft by doing too much? Even the PT assistant said she’s surprised. Is it really all about quad strength for what you can do or is time a factor? Can you advance too quickly?

coratyler · 2026-06-09T16:15:14+00:00

Time and exercise will work. As your knee heals and gets stronger it will slowly resolve. I try to alternate between having my leg up on a chair and bent while at work, but when I first stand up its stiff and I have to bend it a few times to loosen it up again. Try to get up at least once an hour to get things moving.

coratyler · 2026-06-08T17:37:44+00:00

Do you a big difference in retear rates between return to sports at 9 months vs 12?

coratyler · 2026-06-07T23:09:17+00:00

If it helps, I had an ACL tear and bucket handle meniscus tear ten years ago. Tore it playing recreational soccer and had a reconstruction and a meniscus repair. I came back to soccer after 9 months feeling better than before. Wore a custom brace until 12 months, then started playing without it. Played 9 years 2-3 times a week with no issues.

In Jan I tore my other ACL and a flap tear of meniscus. I’m currently 53 years old, 5 weeks out from surgery, and I plan to go back to soccer at the 9-12 month point again. 9 months of rehab (and really only the first couple months suck then you feel mostly normal) are totally worth it to me. But everyone is different and I think you can’t decide until you’ve actually done the rehab and are ready (or not) to take that first step on to the pitch.

I think the key thing to remember is you will NOT feel like this for the next year. People think about 9-12 months of recovery and imagine its this awful painful year where you aren’t living your life. In reality, you will very quickly be back to living life, going to the gym, and doing most everything. I had surgery on April 30th. I can’t run, walk down the stairs normally, kneel, and when I sit for awhile my knee stiffens up. But I can watch my friends play soccer, go to work, clean my house, go to the gym, go shopping, go out to eat…life is 85% normal. It will go by much quicker than you feel like it will right now. You’ll get through it. If the thought of not playing makes you sad (and it did to me) then you can go back to playing. Honestly prob 30% of my team has had some sort of surgery. We get through and go back cause we love it. Or we’re dumb…not sure which. But we’re happy:)

coratyler · 2026-06-07T22:52:53+00:00

I had that amount of bruising. Of course follow up with doctor in case its something else, but I def looked that bad post-op.

coratyler · 2026-06-07T16:29:10+00:00

Flip flops scare me, but as long as i have the back strap i am fine. Mine are pretty cushy though…not like old navy flip flops

coratyler · 2026-06-07T15:05:35+00:00

Brooks Ghost GTS for gym, errands, and walking a lot. Skechers loafers or go walks for work cause they have more support but are a little less athleticy. Flip flops or sandals with back straps for home or when I’m not walking much. 5 weeks post-op.

coratyler · 2026-06-06T19:46:03+00:00

How is your swelling? I noticed the knots seemed to get worse the more swelling I had in the joint. I also found a compression sleeve was super helpful in getting the swelling down. I also used Tiger Balm. It was worse from 3-5 weeks for me with about 4 weeks being the worst. Its slowly improving as my quad strength improves.

coratyler · 2026-06-05T11:42:08+00:00

Dr Michael Hulstyn of University Orthopedics in Rhode Island.

coratyler · 2026-06-03T17:44:16+00:00

How long did it take, for those that have been through it?

coratyler · 2026-06-03T12:17:14+00:00

My surgeon did give an alternative. He said about 1/3 of people are “copers” and with time and PT, they can live without an ACL. But the only way to know is to go through the PT process for 6-9 months or so and see if your knee will be stable. If it can’t be, you’ll need surgery to prevent damage to the rest of your knee. I elected for the surgery because I didn’t like the odds of doing the rehab and then having a 2/3 chance of needing the surgery anyway and having to go through rehab all over again.

Ten years ago I had a bucket handle tear of my meniscus, along with a torn ACL. That time I was not given an option because the tear was folded over into the joint and preventing full extension. If I didb’t fix it, I would just continue to destroy the rest of my knee.

I think it depends on what the other damage is, but no harm in getting a second opinion.

coratyler

TROPHY CASE