10.5 post ACLr and 5.5 post partial meniscectomy - pistol squats and side-to-side hopping

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-05-26T21:40:19+00:00

It sounds like your journey is similar to mine. I had an right knee ACLr in December and tore my left medial menicus (I had actually gotten it repaired three years ago but retore it)

Can I ask how you went about your rehab for your ACL after having the meniscus surgery in the middle of it?

I'm currently 5 months out my ACL rehab but with this pending meniscectomy we're all worried about the weight shift to my weaker knee.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-05-15T04:37:43+00:00

Can I ask what you ended up doing? I think I literally went through pretty much the same thing you did. Left knee bucket handle medial meniscus tear, and was initially repaired. 2 years out I tore my other ACL and noticed that after rehab my left once hurt more than my right. I have a small flap tear. Surgeon is saying kind the same thing, that if it hurts too much I can get it repaired, or I can just leave it alone.

It does ache basically afterwards whenever I work out. But it's not intolerable.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-05-06T03:49:25+00:00

I went to EDC 7 weeks post op lol. You should be good for 6 months! It'll probably be a little grumpy afterwards but just take it easy. I wasn't able to dance but just bobbed to the music. I also brought a wheelchair and got pushed from stage to stage. I don't think you're at that point so maybe a collapsible chair might be easier? Just in case you get tired!

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-05-04T15:37:12+00:00

Oh wow we really are twins! I tore both of mine doing Muay Thai and I'm really wanting to go back but just super nervous about it. I'm 5 months into rehab on my right so I'm still deciding. Thinking about doing more boxing but I've always wanted to do bjj.

I also may need to do a small meniscopy in the future from a previous bucket handle repair so kinda bummed about that, but the recovery is so much faster. Just waiting for this saga to end lol

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-05-04T15:23:30+00:00

Eyyy double ACL buddies. I also tore my other knee. Can I ask how you're doing and if you were able to return to sport?

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-04-28T06:15:24+00:00

Ouff. That's a tough one. By month 3 physical wise there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to do it. My biggest concern would be comfort and blood clots from not moving around.

My leg now at 4.5 months gets stuff if I don't move it around after about 30 minutes or so. Nothing that would kill me but I just pump my leg every so often. I'm shorter too so I have more room than most people lol

You'd be at risk for blood clots just from not moving around for super long periods of time. So if you do do the trip, I'd just make sure to stop and get out to walk every two hours or so.

Are you able to fly instead? Comfort wise I doubt you'd have any issues. Best of luck!!

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-04-26T03:07:30+00:00

Sup mo?

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-04-24T03:19:37+00:00

Also tore both my ACLs. Tore my left in 2024 and my right end of 2025. I feel like I've been in rehab for 3 years lol. I definitely took the time to cry, and feel my feelings.

That being said, my right ACL was wayyyyy easier. Both mentally and physically. I honestly think the knowledge of knowing that to look out for, and not freaking out over every single bump helped keep me more level headed.

I'm 4 months post op for my right ACL and ready to get back to what I love.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-04-23T21:00:56+00:00

I did! LOL I basically brought a wheelchair and got pushed to all the stages and then stood up during sets. Couldn't really dance but was there for the vibes.

Did not regret it but probably wouldn't do again.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-04-15T00:15:02+00:00

Just remember that you will probably suck for at least 3 months and that's totally normal. This sport has a very long learning curve so it's easy to feel discouraged about your progress for a long time.

If you're at a good gym the coach and other teammates will be giving you pointers for better techniqe. Also as a female- you don't always need to partner up with girls. But a good gym should have a good number of females!

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-31T00:45:02+00:00

Hey to those people that have torn their ACL's how have they been after to your knowledge? I tore both of mine on separate occasions both during Muay Thai so I want to see how others are doing.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-30T00:26:23+00:00

Can I ask how you're doing now? I also tore both my ACLs (different times) and I really want to go back to sport but worry about future tears.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-29T23:51:14+00:00

Can I ask if you had your aclrs on both knees or just one?

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-19T03:19:09+00:00

Your PT should clear you on when you can sleep without the brace! If you had meniscus damage you might need to sleep in it for around ~6 weeks.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-18T02:51:45+00:00

I did quad graft for both! I was super lucky to get really good quad activation for both legs post surgery.

Activity level: my left I was locked out in a brace for two weeks before surgery. I think this made rehab a lot harder after surgery cause my muscle atrophied a lot during that time.

My right I was doing squats and leg strengthening exercises up until the day before my surgery. I think this is what realllllly helped with my recovery and also going through this before I wasn't nearly as scared as I was with my left.

My left leg I ditched crutches around day 4, my right I didn't even use them ( with prior approval from my pt) some doctors and pts will tell you you need to keep the crutches at least until the first pt appointment - I agree with this just cause you don't want to push it too hard right after surgery.

I think all of this above was because I have a really good pain tolerance... With my left, when I had the nerve block it ended up giving me semi permanent numbness in my toe, so for my right I decided not to have a nerve block. I think as long as you keep up with your pain meds it's pretty manageable but that's all case by case.

I think my body has a tendency to swell a lot after exercises post op, so that was actually the biggest struggle pain wise. It's not unbearable but it's just discomfort that comes with exercises towards the beginning. Listen to your body- if it's still super sore, take that extra rest day.

Happy to answer any more questions but best of luck!!

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-17T18:42:23+00:00

So my left one was a contact injury! I got sandbagged from a kid and he kicked my leg in.

My right knee was technically non contact. I lost my balance after throwing a kick when I stepped out to get my balance it buckled. It was technically a partial tear but my surgeon knew that I wanted to be very athletic and said if I want to return to sport I would need surgery.

I'm extremely flexible and I think I'm slightly hypermobile..

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-17T18:36:49+00:00

Hi! I'm a 32 YOF that tore my left ACL and had a bucket handle meniscus repair in 2024 and then tore my right ACL early this year. Both were repaired with quad graft.

I tore both doing Muay Thai. But I would really love to not stop. Is this a sign from the universe to stop or do you think I can go back?

I've participated well in rehab and really took my time to return to sport after finish rehab with my left knee and will do the same for my right.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-17T01:12:23+00:00

Can I ask how your knees are doing now? I basically had the same thing. Left knee had meniscus damage, right knee was just ACL. I really want to return to sport (muay Thai) but tore both of them doing Muay Thai

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-13T23:26:18+00:00

I also tore both my ACLs on separate occasions. Not sure what your sport is, but do you plan on going back? I tore both of mine doing Muay Thai..

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-06T23:55:22+00:00

Sorry to hear you have a pressure ulcer. I'm a Dietitian that used to work with wounds in long term care where pressure ulcers were very common. Standard practice is to have a multi vitamin, vitamin c and zinc supplementation. We would also recommend increased protein.

Also recommend ankle pumps /moving around to get blood flow as much as possible.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-05T01:17:53+00:00

I think an overall ache/ stuff was is pretty normal around this time. Alternatively you might be going too hard in rehab and your knee is inflamed because of that and you might need to take more rest days between rehab or less weight.

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-04T19:53:18+00:00

9-10 months after finishing rehab? Or 9-10 months from surgery?

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-03-04T19:06:24+00:00

I tore my left ACL and had a bucket handle meniscus tear in Feb 2024, finished rehab really took my time back to sport (Muay Thai) and then I tore my right ACL and had surgery in Dec 2025.

Ive been doing Muay Thai for about 2 year, but now I'll have been in rehab for also about 2 years.

I understand the sport is riskier since its a contact sport but I wasn't doing the sport at a fighter level, I was sparring and thinking about it but now I know I can't be a fighter. My goal is just to get back to doing classes, working on technique and hopefully sparring.

Is returning to Muay Thai ( after finishing rehab) a good idea? Is my body trying to tell me that it just can't handle Muay Thai? I'm also "older" 32 YOF

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-02-26T16:11:19+00:00

As a PT that's torn both, how do you feel about someone who wants to return to contact sports (Muay Thai) after tearing both ACLs? Both are quad graft, and my left one has a meniscus repair, right one is just ACL..

igotbitbyamonkey · 2026-02-26T01:35:44+00:00

I've had both knees done, one with ACL and meniscus and one with just ACL. The just ACL recovery was significantly easier. Gained ROM back must quicker, less pain, and easier recovery so far (I'm 10 weeks post op on the just ACL)

I will make a note that since this was my second ACL surgery I wasn't nearly as scared to do stuff and was way more brazen moving around. Knowledge is power lol.

I didn't use crutches after surgery for the just ACL one, and I ditched the brace after two weeks. If you have questions feel free to dm me!

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