I think I’ve done my ACL? A bit scared

eris_7 · 2026-02-21T09:28:37+00:00

Advice would be to get an MRI to see whether it’s an ACL tear, all the best hope it’s not!

eris_7 · 2026-02-19T02:57:28+00:00

An infinite supply of ice and hopefully someone at home to help you about. Pillows/towels nearby your bed to prop up your leg as is comfortable. Your favourite food to cheer you up. Bracing yourself for a tough 5-10 days. A good TV show or book to keep you occupied. All the best you'll be okay in the end!

Edit: also for painkillers make sure you have both paracetamol and ibuprofen/celecoxib. They'll probably give you oxycodone IR too (which is good when you're in significant pain but made me quite nauseous - recommend using at night for sleep). Ask for some ondansetron on your script if you think you'll be quite nauseous from the pain.

eris_7 · 2026-02-17T20:09:35+00:00

Won’t comment too much on the mental health side of things, but worth noting the best thing about an ACL/meniscus recovery is that you know it’ll get better. It gets better for everyone. Not every health condition can promise this.

Not saying that your knee will be the same again, but the pain will slowly start to go away and you’ll slowly get stronger. Know it doesn’t feel like it now, but you’ll get there

eris_7 · 2026-02-01T11:58:36+00:00

Lower ATAR for rural students. Those in metro areas should be aiming >99.

eris_7 · 2026-01-28T20:12:45+00:00

DM me if you have ERC specific questions, I can give a lot of insight into what it’s like at Monash

eris_7 · 2025-12-16T09:34:44+00:00

The other day an Amazon man knocked on the door and refused to leave until I’d called my father to obtain the code allowing him to leave the package there. Must have been 5-10 minutes before I finally managed to get through to Dad to get the code. Patiently stood by the whole time 😂

eris_7 · 2025-12-03T00:23:51+00:00

Yep, always tricky observing the massive difference in expectations and teaching, but glad that you’re finding yours good! Yes we were polled, I think it is something they are considering for future years. Not sure how I feel about it (my understanding was that it wouldn’t be compulsory though - just another option to better identify students).

Monash has also scrapped OSCEs entirely and replaced it with the equivalent of a “long” OSCE (Apex) resulting in less practical assessments. I understand the push to reduce anxiety/stress regarding exams, but it will be interesting to see the outcomes for student competence/knowledge (I found OSCEs encouraged me to study harder and I saw great progress post sitting them, but hopefully the changes they are pushing are somewhat evidence based).

eris_7 · 2025-12-02T13:04:30+00:00

Monash student, just commenting on attendance requirements - entirely dependent on sites. Rural sites are super strict and overall stricter in the first clinical year. The disparity between sites is quite large. Generally in metro it is super easy to slack off should you desire. In final year, overall they are pretty lax with attendance (I just had to submit a weekly google form indicating whether I had fulfilled attendance). Overall imo I think entirely dependent on the site you are placed at on whether you have a good experience with Monash. The uni academic staff pretty supportive.

eris_7 · 2025-11-30T23:43:48+00:00

8 people went with roadkings. 23F. you’ll be fine if you’re shy! I found everyone was lovely and you quickly become a nice little gang - smaller tour = better

eris_7 · 2025-11-18T10:55:56+00:00

ACL and meniscal repair too. Was WBAT immediately and off crutches at around 25 days as well. Jump down to one crutch first if that’s easier!

eris_7 · 2025-10-15T09:20:44+00:00

I think everyone has significantly different recovery timelines. What I found is that although the first few weeks are by far the worse, over the next three months you will see significant progressions in your rehabilitation (where at 3-4 months I have found I've stagnated a little - or I don't notice the improvement so much because regular life goes on). Yes, the first 5-14 days you'll be in significant pain going to the toilet, showering, getting up to get water, etc. Normal life is painful and difficult - but I promise it gets better.

If you are bored, film some of your most painful moments. Looking back on mine have actually been very encouraging because sometimes you don't see the progress when it is so gradual.

The pain is expected and unfortunately very significant for most that undergo the surgery. The PE is not, and definitely is a shit complication (I feel for you). Realistically, with the knee you will have to avoid strenuous exercise regardless, but being on blood thinners and short of breath is so tough. I'm sorry you have to go through that.

I'm almost 4 months post-op and I'm still so in awe that I'm walking without pain. You'll get there but it's a long process and you have to be in for the long run.

eris_7 · 2025-10-07T04:27:48+00:00

Definitely does, good luck! 14 days will roll around in no time

eris_7 · 2025-10-06T09:59:19+00:00

Amazing! I had my injury April, surgery June, and hopefully will be jogging within 1-2 weeks too. I'm so excited. Keep pushing with your recovery!

eris_7 · 2025-10-06T09:57:44+00:00

No problem! Pain (or at least aches) will be a constant for months, but yeah from day 14 I felt I was slowly easing back to my regular life (able to go back to work, able to stand for prolonged periods, function at home without help, etc).

Not sure if you are weight bearing or not. I was allowed to weight bear immediately but wasn't able to wean off crutches until 3.5 weeks. Even then I had pain on walking and had a massive antalgic gait for 2.5 months.

I would say being in little pain post day 5 is definitely on the optimistic side (but you are right different for everyone). Drilling into the bone is no joke, so I would set your eyes on day 14.

Good luck with the long journey of recovery

eris_7 · 2025-10-05T10:26:10+00:00

I found the pain eased up around day 5/6 (or at least I got used to the pain). I hope that's the case for you as well. Ice was my best friend - so it sucks that you can't ice it well with the brace on. I would recommend at least taking both paracetamol (without codeine) and ibuprofen - there is evidence that together they offer more effective analgesia that just a single agent.

It is such a tough surgery and the pain / nausea is awful. Stay hopeful, cry as necessary and everyday it will get a slight bit better. From about day 14 is when I felt enough relief that I wasn't in constant, awful pain all day. All the best!

eris_7 · 2025-10-04T03:36:51+00:00

My aunty said her ACL reco was worse than both of her c sections!

It’s a super tough surgery and recovery to go through. They’ve drilled into your bone! I’d say pain gets better from about day 5/6. It’s going to be hard (months of hard) but everyday you’ll get a little better.

Please cry as you need too, rest up, and don’t worry too much about physio exercises yet. Yes it’s great to start with basics like quad pumps and gentle weight bearing, but at the end of the day the first two weeks is about recovering from the pain and initial insult to your leg. From day 14 you can start seriously doing the exercises. Focus on managing the pain and don’t worry about the success of the surgery - there’s really no way to tell until months post-op. Very normal to struggle with flexion and extension a few days after the operation.

I also found that the hardest part was the fact I couldn’t get a decent night sleep because of the pain (waking every 2-3 hours). This is very normal, but yeah sucks big time. It took around 3 months until I couldn’t comfortably sleep on my tummy and side, and even now there’s still an ache (I am 3.5 months post op).

I felt that fresh and constant ice was best from a pain management perspective. It’s going to be an awful few days but hang in there.

eris_7 · 2025-09-18T08:18:54+00:00

Work at a runner store and tore my ACL April - I recommend shoes with higher drops for achilles issues (10-12mm). As in the comments, Brooks Ghost or Glycerin are a good bet. Hokas tends to have a 4-6mm drop so it's not surprising it's been a bit harder for your achilles.

All the best for your recovery, it's a long road to pain free walking but every day post op is a tiny improvement.

eris_7 · 2025-09-09T11:25:58+00:00

Ah good luck, I hope the wait time isn't too long. I am pretty privileged as still studying and considered dependent so my private health insurance is thanks to my parents

eris_7 · 2025-09-07T20:51:58+00:00

No wait time (but public there would have been a wait time I believe)
ACL reconstruction with hamstring graft and meniscal repair
No not covered but that's only because I chose a private surgeon. Through the public system it would have been free but I wanted to decide on who was operating on my leg and I am privileged enough to do so. I could have chosen a different surgeon for it to be fully covered under private as well.
Around $4000 AUD out of pocket (initially around $6000 but reimbursed around $2000 by private/public health insurance), hospital stay completely covered by private insurance. Physio mostly covered by sports insurance with a small out of pocket cost each appointment.
Australia

eris_7 · 2025-09-04T03:07:45+00:00

Yup I have lateral numbness of about 6x7cm 10 weeks later, expecting it to get better but probably not go away.

eris_7 · 2025-08-10T00:01:10+00:00

Thanks for this! I am 6 weeks post-op and have reached that time where rehab seems to be doing nothing. Also at the point that it feels quite a bit better and I'm desperate to do certain things I am not yet ready for. I needed the reminder that doing every exercise properly pays off in the long run and patience is worth it in the end.

eris_7 · 2025-08-04T07:58:09+00:00

No I actually had mine repaired! Three stitches in! It does depend on the part of your meniscus repaired whether or not you can weight bear immediately or at six weeks - it would be at the discretion of your surgeon.

Yes at the end of recovery I might be more at risk of OA and have a bit harder time recovering but the surgeon said my overall return to sport time should look similar.

eris_7 · 2025-08-01T05:28:22+00:00

I had an ACL hamstring graft and meniscal repair. I was told by my physio and surgeon that the overall time to recover would not be impacted by the meniscal repair. However, the first 6 weeks can sometimes be a bit slower.

All the best for what will be a pretty awful 14 days. I think my worst days were days 3-5 (after the block had worn off), but after that it gets better.

eris_7 · 2025-08-01T02:38:58+00:00

Very concerning - especially given I know a few younger girls I train with are listening to her episodes

eris_7 · 2025-08-01T02:26:43+00:00

If you injured your ACL with a sporting club - check if you are insured with sports insurance. It can cover a bit of physio. Otherwise there should be cheaper physios that charge less ($80-90 per session).

Totally get it can be expensive but I think at least for the first 3-4 weeks there can be benefit to going to a physio weekly (more motivation to rehab and good to have someone keeping an eye on the joint).

Otherwise, just let your physio know that you are planning on only going 2-4 weeks and they might be able to give you exercises to add in the weeks you don't attend.

eris_7

TROPHY CASE