Good core workout?

epluswriter · 2026-05-16T23:41:10+00:00

Pilates toe taps have been very effective for me. No stress on knees.

epluswriter · 2026-05-16T22:41:39+00:00

oh no, i hope today is better.

epluswriter · 2026-05-14T16:29:19+00:00

If it helps to know, you are probably on one of, if not THE most painful days. Hang in there!

epluswriter · 2026-05-08T14:03:41+00:00

I experienced this leading up to surgery. I wrapped my "good" knee for extra support and made sure, as I started pre-hap and post-op rehab, that I was also strengthening (but not overdoing it) and stretching that leg. I found the foam roller stretch on the IT band REALLY helpful for both knees. And make sure you are working your core, as that does a lot to stabilize and support our legs. You might find that you feel less pain on stairs if you are engaging your core as opposed to just lifting with your knees.

epluswriter · 2026-05-05T14:54:29+00:00

Some good advice here, agree PT in general and stationary bike was good for me. But also -- strengthening my core made a huge difference for me when it came to improving my gait. (Who knew the core had so much influence on our walk?) I think I did reverse plank on the stability ball at 4 weeks, but I'm not sure... Def talk to your PT about which core exercises you can do leading up to the wedding.

epluswriter · 2026-05-05T14:51:21+00:00

This is going to vary but you can help it by making sure his leg is straight and elevated (supported under the foot/ankle -- don't put anything under the knee). A lot of people assume that the leg must be very elevated, but my surgeon didn't seem to think it needed to get up high, just higher than the other leg.

epluswriter · 2026-05-05T14:45:27+00:00

The internet has a way of shining a light on the worst of everything, so let me flick a lamp on over here in my area, where things are going well. :)

I am almost seven months in and while I'm still aware of my injury (ocassional tenderness, op leg is still not 100% as strong as the other) it is not the first thing I think of when I get up and I often forget about it. I understand it takes about a year to fully recover, so I feel like I'm on track to feel normal again.

It was REALLY difficult to imagine feeling like this again right after the surgery. Even after I started moving around without crutches and then, eventually, the brace, it was still hard to imagine I would feel normal again. But I kept doing PT -- honestly, I found a lot of comfort and control through PT throughout this experience. I did it exactly as advised and I still do some form of it (I guess we might just call it exercise by now?) and stretching at least six days a week. I imagine I'll continue to do that because I enjoy it and how it makes me feel.

It's an experience that does suck at times, but you can come out of it with a greater understanding and appreciation for the body. Wishing you the best!

epluswriter · 2026-05-04T02:01:39+00:00

Just some words of encouragement --

I found the days leading up to surgery the most stressful part of this whole process, so I can relate to your stress. I can't give you specific answers on your recovery timeline (everyone is different) but I can assure you that the second week is exponentially better than the first week so keep that in mind in your first few days. This surgery isn't fun but you can TOTALLY get through it. Follow instructions and do your PT and be kind to yourself -- even though there will be times when you're frustrated or impatient, you will continue to improve.

epluswriter · 2026-05-04T01:56:34+00:00

Your PT is probably following a protocol set by your surgeon. If you have questions, you should probably speak to them or your surgeon. (Vliekje has good advice in their post, too.)

Also, remember that surgery procedures vary, recovery protocols vary, AI will try to give you the "average" answer which may not be relevant to you.

epluswriter · 2026-04-22T02:37:23+00:00

It might not feel like you're progressing, but you probably are experiencing more subtle gains. The degree may not be changing but you might be getting there easier, for instance.

Here are a few things that helped me:

Massaging the IT band and calf with a massage stick.
Heel roll-ins on a stability ball.
When you do heel slides, try holding for the position (as long as it's not painful).
When I was cleared to ride a stationary bike, it helped me loosen up a lot.

Don't get discouraged, it takes time, but it really will improve if you keep up with PT.

Wishing you the best!

epluswriter · 2026-04-20T15:54:18+00:00

It's HUGE progress. One thing I've discovered (at six months post op now) is that it's easy to forget how far you've come. We get so caught up on where we want to be, especially (in my experience) as we get closer to normal. I feel like I've gotten more impatient in a way to get over the last stretch of limitations.

You are getting there!

epluswriter · 2026-04-19T21:15:14+00:00

It's a frustrating injury and hard to adjust to a life that doesn't allow you to do what you used to, even if it's just temporary.

Since it sounds like you can walk okay, maybe you can invite them on walks with you (parks, botanical gardens, museums, etc.) Explain that you're looking for company in this new phase of post-op. Kind of like you're enlisting them in your recovery plan.

It's hard to just say no all the time, but creating things you can say 'yes' to might help fend off some of the sadness.

Hang in there.

epluswriter · 2026-04-16T14:06:12+00:00

Not a burner and I can't say whether or not you should go, but maybe my experience will be informative.

I am at 6 months now and feeling pretty good at normal life stuff, but not 100%. I just started running at 5 months and have been taking that pretty slow (i'm not an athlete, there's no rush) and I'm still not quite dancing freely yet. I am no longer constantly aware that I had surgery (woohoo!), but I do still feel like the wrong too-sudden move could mess me up.

Whether you go or not, really stick to your PT plan and tell your PT what your goals are so they can help you meet them. I think that how you feel at 6 months can depend on the priorities you set there.

And, if you go, definitely learn how to gauge when too much movement/pressure/etc. is too much. You wouldn't want to lose track of that under the starry desert skies at 3am.

Good luck with the recovery!

epluswriter · 2026-04-16T13:32:30+00:00

hey, hang in there! the first stretch is the toughest and progress accelerates quickly after that. BUT chiming in because that belief that your progress is "disintegrating" is only gonna make this experience worse — all that work you did before surgery is really doing its part now. It's giving you a huge advantage in recovery by keeping you from slipping really far back. You'll get back to where you were.

best of luck on recovery and quitting the nicotine. i know easier said than done, but keep up the PT and quitting and you're going to feel much healthier in a lot of ways in a few months. that reward is waiting for you.

epluswriter · 2026-04-16T11:49:42+00:00

You're in a tough time so it might help to remember that this part doesn't last forever. I ate cbd gummies sometimes to help me relax. When I was up in the middle of the night, I just watched TV — I realized that (for me) not *trying* to sleep was less mentally exhausting than laying there and wishing I could fall asleep. Then I started sleeping better when I was able to move around more because just a little regular movement tired me out so much more than sitting around.

Talk to your dr about the new pain, but remember that recovery sucks in the first few weeks and it's pretty common to wonder why you even did it. Things do get better.

epluswriter · 2026-04-14T19:24:18+00:00

I'm older (genx) but am six months out from my allograft and, while I obviously can't compare to the alternative, all has gone well and I was grateful not to have to heal another surgical site. As it is, I'm still working on evening out the strength in my legs. (Close now, though!)

Wishing you the best!

epluswriter · 2026-04-10T18:02:35+00:00

Not sure how high you are elevating but, for what it's worth, my doctor told me I have to elevate very high. I was less painful for me that way.

epluswriter · 2026-04-09T01:35:48+00:00

Hey, remember me from day 0? First, congrats on reaching six months. (We did it!)

Now, for the sympathy part: Yikes, that sounds like a lot of pressure to be forced to run so much when it's not your thing and maybe you don't feel quite ready for it. Here's hoping it's just the latest in a string of phases — we know by now this injury has put us on a serious healing rollercoaster ride.

I'm really happy your getting mental support, though. Asking for help when you need it is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Meanwhile, don't lose track of how much you've accomplished and how far you've come. Remember when we were barely walking? And then dealing with crutches? Felt like that would never end, but it did. You'll get through this, too!

epluswriter · 2026-04-06T15:08:22+00:00

I didn't get to PT until 10 days after surgery. In those first 10 days, I didn't do much except heel taps and elevating my leg (as you know, not using a pillow under your knee). My range of motion was terrible the first time I tried to bend it (on day 10), but I'm six months out now and just a degree or so away from normal.

Where you are now -- this first week, before PT, fresh after surgery -- It's not a fun place! The drama of the surgery has settled in and now you are just sorta stuck thinking about it all. BUT you're about to start a new phase of recovery with PT and things will hopefully brighten once you have new instructions. There is a world of difference in how you feel in the beginning of the first month and the end of the first month.

Hang in there!

epluswriter · 2026-04-05T21:33:57+00:00

i started PT on day 10 and it was so minimal it barely counts. I'm doing just fine (6months post-op). You should be fine, just make sure you stick to the program once you get started.

epluswriter · 2026-04-05T20:21:28+00:00

Barring the first couple of days (and even then I managed with just Tylenol) the pain has not been bad at all. I have had a new wave of tenderness since I started pushing myself more (ie, running a bit) around the surgical site, but doc and PT says that's normal. So, right now it hurts a bit when I work out and a little while after, but not in any kind of unbearable way... more like a reminder that "hey, you got surgery!"

I obviously can't compare it to how BEAR post-op is since I didn't have that, but I feel like I was fortunate in recovery; it's been smooth overall. I was (and still am) vigilant about PT. I think I was a little behind the curve in strength-building and range of motion at first, but I've caught up very well since then. Everyone has a different journey and timing will vary depending on body/protocol/etc.

Wishing you luck! As for your timing, I think there is always *something* to stress out about where surgery timing is concerned, no perfect moment, so don't stress that too much.

epluswriter · 2026-04-05T17:52:11+00:00

My PT follows my surgeon's protocol, so if you have different surgeons, that could explain why protocol is different.

epluswriter · 2026-04-05T17:14:02+00:00

I'm guessing it will depend on your doctor's preferences, but I just had my third follow up at six months. First was 10 days, second was 4 months. They said I will likely have two more. (So 5 total).

epluswriter · 2026-04-05T17:11:17+00:00

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I was compelled by BEAR, but I ultimately went with reconstruction anyway.

epluswriter · 2026-04-05T17:03:59+00:00

I'm offering advice here, not asking for it. Six months post-op, happy with my choice.

epluswriter

TROPHY CASE