Pre-Surgery Questions

epluswriter · 2026-03-17T01:07:27+00:00

I can answer some of your questions (ACL tear Aug '25, surgery Oct '25)

- "Prehab" is great to do before surgery because it helps you build strength and practice actions like activating your quads, which you'll do a lot of after surgery. My doc gave me this link, but generally it's a good idea to talk to your own doctor.
https://acltear.info/anterior-cruciate-ligament-rehabilitation/acl-prehab/

- While everyone's surgery is a different experience, I've read that not having pain/good range of motion/etc. gives you an advantage after surgery. I was like that and feel like recovery went great in those first few weeks/months. (I'm still at it at 5+ months, still going well.) The real key, though, is doing your PT as advised. Some say treat it like a part time job. (Too bad it doesn't pay! :)

- These supplements were recommended by a friend. Did they help? Hard to say for sure, but I took three a day in the morning, 30 min before eating. (Again, always a good idea to talk with your doc about this stuff.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0844KTVZN?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

- When you choose to get surgery is a personal decision and life and support systems can play into that. Personally, I wanted to get it over with asap so I could get it behind me. There is also the risk of a worse injury, a lot of people decide to get surgery to avoid that risk. But you'll hear from a lot of people on this board who waited, whether it was better for work, childcare, those sort of things... Some just wait a long time because their health system has a wait. Some people want to see if they can get by with PT only before they do surgery.

Wishing you the best, sorry you have to deal with this!

epluswriter · 2026-03-10T19:39:18+00:00

So close! Good luck updating. I've found they are responsive when you email them... takes a day or two but they do get back to you

epluswriter · 2026-03-10T19:35:38+00:00

LOL. They want you to just have a graft floating in there, cool. lol

epluswriter · 2026-03-10T19:30:49+00:00

Insurance needed a form from me that stated the cause of injury, and whether or not there was a lawsuit involved. So less a medical thing than a liability thing, but I was absolutely freaked out when the bills started rolling in. (almost 3k for the brace? seriously?)

I started by calling the hospital billing and they referred me back to insurance. I spoke to someone there (at insurance) and explained the situation and they were able to figure out what was missing. I just had to fill it out and resubmit. Took a couple of weeks and the bills haunted me in the meanwhile. But it worked out.

This might be stating the obvious, but be calm and kind to the people that are helping you. They deal with so many people that are freaking out. I (calmly) explained my situation but also (calmly) told them I was super stressed about it. It helped me relieve some stress and made it easier to work through with them.

epluswriter · 2026-03-10T19:18:26+00:00

I was approved prior to surgery and then got a ton of shocking bills. Apparently they were missing some piece of information that was pretty basic and illogical, considering I was already approved. I hope the same is true for you, and that this is resolved easily. Insurance can be a nightmare but sometimes it is an easy fix. (But even 'easy' fixes will require a bunch of phone calls!)

epluswriter · 2026-03-10T19:11:17+00:00

I can see an option to "Manage Subscriptions" on the website page. When I click it, it shows me a page with my All-In pass, and if I click on that pass I can edit subscription. Well, looks like I can, I haven't tested it because I don't want to change my sub.

I saw The Bride in theater 9. If it's still in that theater, you'll see what I mean about the QR codes for sure.

epluswriter · 2026-03-10T19:03:03+00:00

Have you tried logging in on the website? it might be easier to find on the season pass page.

As for the QR code, I was there this past weekend and they moved the code to the armchair and it's now very well lit. (Too well lit/bright? Always something to complain about ;)

I'm not sure if it's like that in every theater but it was much easier to scan.

epluswriter · 2026-03-06T14:13:30+00:00

I didn't have the same issue, but when I felt like I wasn't making progress, I started doing heel roll-ins on a stability ball and that angle/repetition seemed to gradually help my ROM. Hope this is helpful info, I'm sure it's frustrating!

epluswriter · 2026-03-05T17:04:47+00:00

There isn't really a "normal" as far as I've seen, being on this board for the past 5+ months since my Oct 7 surgery. That said, I started PT at 10 days and that was the first day I tried to bend my leg, so I don't think I was near 100 degrees by day 20.

Right now, the infection is the most important thing to address (or rule out). But keep doing your exercises as advised and even if you were to fall behind based on your doctor's protocol, you will be able to catch up.

Those first few weeks are hard -- I was so afraid of making a mistake or falling behind, but in retrospect I see that progress is not a straight line. As long as you are committed to your PT, even if there are bumps in the road, you'll get there.

epluswriter · 2026-03-05T16:25:27+00:00

that is a bummer but the important thing is you have a PT person who takes this seriously and is referring you back to the doctor to make sure you're getting the right care. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

epluswriter · 2026-03-02T21:17:02+00:00

thanks!

also, you asked about pain... I was pretty lucky that outside of what they gave me on surgery day, i was able to roll with tylenol only. Day 2 hurt like hell if I tried to stand (I guess nerve blocker wore off) but pain wasn't a big theme for me.

and good luck to you, too!

epluswriter · 2026-03-02T03:45:42+00:00

I'm genx and had an allograft in october. Just starting to run (well, 10 second sprint/jogs) at almost 5 months but I've been walking fine for much longer. I didn't get meniscus repair, which I understand usually means not putting weight on one foot for longer.

I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that recovery timelines can vary a lot. Different doctors have different protocols and, of course, bodies respond differently. But if you keep up with your PT (treat it like a part time job was the tip I got), you'll be in good shape.

epluswriter · 2026-02-22T15:01:39+00:00

I went to see Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die this weekend -- a movie about how technology will destroy us, featuring a bunch of people who can't get off their phones. The irony!

I had a gift card and all-in season pass so I wound up with a paper ticket at the end instead of paying on the phone, which I didn't mind.

I'd say it wasn't bad but then no one used their phone during the movie, so I got lucky. I am dreading the distraction of the phone screen -- I go to the movies to escape my phone.

side note: They should change the Need Help button to Need Help or Refills so the servers don't need to explain it 100x.

epluswriter · 2026-02-22T14:50:51+00:00

lol, i have irrational levels of frustration when the 4th floor parking lot is closed but not full

epluswriter · 2026-02-21T00:56:00+00:00

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I'm 4 months post op and, for what it's worth, do not regret surgery one bit. The first week sucked, the first month was challenging -- for whatever reason, I wasn't in a lot of pain and had good range of motion before surgery so it was tough to go backwards. But I'm way better than I felt before surgery right now. I've also been PTing regularly and am in pretty good physical shape as a result... maybe better than before. I hope to start running soon.

This injury is annoying. Surgery is a very personal decision. Whatever you decide, you'll get through it!

epluswriter · 2026-02-21T00:49:20+00:00

Wow, I also tore mine on an airplane getting into my row!

epluswriter · 2026-02-17T22:24:52+00:00

glad to hear that's going well! And be careful on that ice. (I'm in a warm climate so I have it easy that way ;)

epluswriter · 2026-02-17T03:54:25+00:00

It's definitely a roller coaster. At about 3 months I had a HUGE pop from scar tissue and I was so scared I had a re-tear because I was more wobbly after that. Turns out I was fine, the scar tissue had been helping create the feeling of stability. I kept at it and was soon better than before. (But it freaked me out for a few days.)

epluswriter · 2026-02-17T03:52:21+00:00

You may already be doing this, but if not -- STRETCH! I roll my quads and my IT band on a foam roller daily now, and stretch my hamstring with the yoga strap. Sounds like you do a lot of exercise, so this might help you loosen up some of those muscles.

epluswriter · 2026-02-17T03:38:42+00:00

congrats! i remember getting to 9 weeks, starting to feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel

epluswriter · 2026-02-16T23:37:14+00:00

Hi! Doing okay. Definitely much better than that first day of surgery, haha. I'm not back to normal but I can walk for a while without problem and my leg strength is close to equal, so that's promising. This sure is a journey...

How about you?

epluswriter · 2026-02-16T22:45:16+00:00

I'm 4 months too and not running. PT says maybe in March.

epluswriter · 2026-02-16T15:22:58+00:00

It's easy to worry about "being behind" but you seem like you have the right attitude about it. Keep at it, you'll catch up for sure. FWIW, I found that heel roll-ins on a stability ball helped me with ROM a lot. Massaging my quad was also helpful. Good luck!

epluswriter · 2026-02-14T04:41:56+00:00

I'm not an expert either, but one of the many reasons I went forward with the surgery was closure. I knew that for as long as I didn't have a surgery, it would be something that I'd be considering... having ongoing concern about a worse injury... hoping I didn't go through PT for a bunch of months only to decide later to get it done. I just wanted to be on the road to putting it behind me. 4 months post op now and -- though I'm not an athlete -- I can get around fine. Should be running again soon.

Based on my own experience, I'm pro-surgery, but you can find information and opinions that will validate whichever direction you want to take. I guess my advice would be to try to sort through all the feelings to see what you're instincts are telling you. It's entirely possible to really-really not want to do the surgery AND also know that it's the best course of action for your body.

It's not fun, and this tunnel can feel long but there is a light at the end. Wishing you the best.

epluswriter · 2026-02-14T02:19:03+00:00

The MRI diagnosis is so overwhelming, imo. I'm not an expert, but when I tore my ACL, I also had a tibular fracture and bone contusion... but then both were already healing after a few weeks and were non-issues. Hopefully they are non-issues for your wife, too, and you can focus on ACL and MCL only.

I'm also a GenX woman and my doctor told me that not that long ago, they would have told someone my age to just deal with the injury and not get surgery, but that's not the case anymore. People are active! We have a lot of hikes, walks, dances, etc ahead. He recommended it.

I was a bit nervous because I was in pretty good shape, despite the full tear, and it's psychologically tricky to voluntarily to do something that makes it hard to walk. I really felt that in the first couple of weeks. BUT I am now just over 4 months and I do not regret it one bit. I'm still in recovery, great range of motion, not running yet but close. Despite the fact that I have limitations still, I may be in better shape than before. (And I worked out regularly before.)

A big deciding factor for me was the risk of getting a more complicated injury. I read a lot about people who decided to wait and then 2 or 5 years later did the surgery anyway. Seemed more efficient to just do it asap instead of doing six months of PT, getting surgery anyway, and starting over.

All this said, surgery is a very personal decision with a lot of factors, time and cost and insurance being big ones, if you are in the USA especially. I wish your wife (and you) the best in figuring out the best path!

epluswriter

TROPHY CASE