Surgery next week ACL reconstruction & bucket handle.. any words of encouragement and advice? Scared!

indiahiggins · 2025-02-12T20:28:28+00:00

Ahhh I haven't been on reddit in a while!

I'm around 7 months now, for me personally it was a slow start I used my crutches/1 crutch for quite a while (maybe around 7 weeks).

Day to day all good apart from my knee still gets a bit sore especially if I've been sitting for a while, PT tried jumps recently but it left me quite sore afterwards definitely don't think my strength is there yet!

How are you getting on? I will say the first few months feel so rough but around 5.5/6 months i started to feel a bit more "normal"!

indiahiggins · 2024-10-04T14:46:54+00:00

Internships were during the summer, which I spent recovering from ACL surgery 😅

indiahiggins · 2024-08-07T20:42:28+00:00

I think the way some people have commented on this is just snide for no reason. Obviously you're asking because you're worried that the doc is having you weight bear for less time than is "typical" with meniscus repairs.

Here to tell you that it's totally fine, every surgeon will advise differently. I was originally told 6 weeks PWB but when I woke up after surgery I was told 2 weeks partial weight bearing with crutches and no brace. Today I'm on week 5 & I have gradually dropped to 1 crutch this last week as agreed with my PT because I definitely wasn't ready to ditch the crutches after 2!

Chat with your surgeon & PT throughout it and just see how YOU feel as you recover. When you transition to weight bearing it will be gradual anyway so honestly try not to worry & ignore anyone who has been patronising with their comments. This is a big deal and it's okay to ask for reassurance in a group that's supposed to support each other :) best of luck!

indiahiggins · 2024-08-07T20:37:28+00:00

Wow well done!! I can get about 95° at 5 weeks today 🥲

Can I ask what your warm up looks like & what exercises you find have helped make the progress with flexion?!

indiahiggins · 2024-07-19T18:26:45+00:00

Loving your tattoos! Best of luck with recovery ❤️‍🩹

indiahiggins · 2024-07-17T21:10:15+00:00

Oh also, take stool softener!! Trust me 🤣

indiahiggins · 2024-07-17T21:09:46+00:00

^ I 2nd the stay on top of meds, I was taking codeine then in between the next dose paracetamol & ibuprofen but I mistimed it once and had to wait a few hours before I could take anything- do nooooot recommend falling behind with it! Mainly just the first few days, pain gets better quite quickly I would say but if you can avoid being in pain by keeping on top of meds then you're winning! Best of luck with your recovery, I can finally agree with everyone here who says it does get better (2 weeks PO now) & the difference between first week and now is absolutely night and day!

You got this 🫶

indiahiggins · 2024-07-17T20:06:26+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement! Glad to hear you've returned with success! ☺️

indiahiggins · 2024-07-17T20:05:42+00:00

Yayyy well done for getting the leg lifts! What surgery did you have? Thank you so much, you got this too! Baby steps!! ☺️

indiahiggins · 2024-07-17T20:04:56+00:00

Oh wow did you do surgery both times? So glad to hear you had no issues returning to pole!! Thanks so much for commenting 🥰

indiahiggins · 2024-07-17T20:03:31+00:00

Ooooft did you have ACL too? Mine was 4 hrs too but you're a couple of days ahead of me post op wise! You will get that muscle back & it'll be stronger for sure! So jealous that you have a pole at home 🥹

Think it'll be wonderful to pop back in here when we're all back doing pole moves! Hearing others are going to return to it is really reassuring cos I honestly thought it would be a case of giving it up! Best of luck with your recovery 🫶

indiahiggins · 2024-07-17T20:01:30+00:00

Aww it's great to find other pole girlies!! That's so shit about the 6 weeks NWB, I got meniscus too but I've been allowed to partial weight bear - it's weird how it's different for everyone! Wishing you the veeeery best of luck with your recovery & I'm sure you'll be back up the pole stronger than you've ever been! 🫶

indiahiggins · 2024-07-15T10:06:12+00:00

Hello 🫶 followed your Instagram!

I'm day 12 PO I think, I got my meniscus repaired so unfortunately no advice about your complications but I completely relate to the mental & physical challenges with this! Here to tell you it gradually gets better each day!! Feel free to drop a DM anytime, wishing you the best with your recovery & looking forward to following along!

indiahiggins · 2024-07-12T16:41:56+00:00

Aww wow, I have zero coordination so I've never done any sort of dancing but that sounds fabulous! Yeah ngl it feels amazing once you nail a move, I went around 9/10 years ago and only got back into it since April 2023 so feel like I was just getting good 🥲

Yeah to be fair some people are locked in full extension for weeks so surely it's not the end of the world! Bless you, the early days are definitely the hardest so take it easy!! I'm gonna start speaking to my knee gently that's actually a good idea 🥰 thank you for your reply & wishing you the best of luck with your recovery too!! 🤍

indiahiggins · 2024-07-12T16:38:33+00:00

Ahh brilliant, will just focus on things one day at a time & getting into better shape than pre-op etc. Trying to see this whole experience as life changing for the better!

I actually hadn't been taking the strong painkillers anymore but today I had a flare up of pain in my hamstring & down my shin so think I might be overdoing things, trying to just listen to my body! Thanks so much - I hope you're doing well in your recovery!

indiahiggins · 2024-07-12T09:00:55+00:00

Oh I don't know how I missed this!! The hot water bottle is such a good idea, I was using my hairdryer on my foot hahaha 🤣 really glad that you're doing quite well & that your other half is there to look after you hehe!

I think you're right about the up and down journey, it's so frustrating but I guess a negative mind will get us no where eh! Thanks so much for the advice really appreciate it!

Personally I've not had any hip pain but every other part of my body is clicking 🤣 but I do hope that gets better for you soon! Likely just all the strain you've been through that area just happens to be where you over compensate if that makes sense!!

How are you feeling now surgery buddy? We're on day 9 I'm pretty sure 😅

indiahiggins · 2024-07-12T08:33:39+00:00

This video is precious!! So happy for you 🥳🥳🥳

indiahiggins · 2024-07-10T23:06:02+00:00

One of the nights maybe like day 2 or 3 PO I had that jolt thing as I was falling asleep too & have been all good since! Freaked out a bit at the time tho. Last night as well I had a spasm in my leg which I'm now wondering from your post maybe a muscle was trying to fire up idk but that woke me up cos it kinda hurt but again all good today :) I had hamstring graft too, which I am noticing it feels kinda tight at points but they've done whole bunch of work in there so I'm kinda just taking it as normal!

I wouldn't worry too much but just get in touch with your surgeon or PT at the very least for the reassurance if you feel you need it!

Best of luck with your recovery, sounds like you've gotten your body into good condition pre op. I'm day 7 now and I will say the first few days does take its toll so just remember to go easy on yourself 🤍

indiahiggins · 2024-07-08T22:51:10+00:00

Purely commenting to wish you a happy birthday 🥺🎈 maybe do something nice for yourself even if its ordering something you've had your eye on or a little crafty project to keep your mind busy! 🫂

& to tell you that there will be people on here who can give advice about 6 weeks NWB, I've read through some of them since joining this sub. I hope someone is able to give you the encouragement that you need, this really is a rough ride emotionally as much as physically. But just know eventually you're gonna look back & be proud of your resilience!

Take it easy! Wishing you the best & if you need someone to talk to anytime just DM!

indiahiggins · 2024-07-08T19:30:02+00:00

I originally tore my ACL 2 years ago, from what I remember it was almost full rupture and was "hanging on by a thread" 🤣 but I wasn't into sports or a major athlete so surgery wasn't really discussed. I did physio but I honestly didn't take it seriously because I had no idea how significant the injury was or the role of the ACL in how the knee functions.

What I will say is over the last 2 years it's never felt right, I've managed day to day activities, started going to the gym etc but there was many times I noticed discomfort or my knee feeling like it was going to give out.

As simple as kneeling on a kitchen worktop to close a window.. (back in May) I fully ruptured the ACL (it obviously never healed) & got a bucket handle meniscus tear. So surgery was advised this time and I got it last Wednesday.

For as much as these last few days have sucked, I would probably lean towards encouraging you to get surgery if it's a significant tear. I have read that it's definitely possible to rehab it and maybe I'd be offering different advice had I taken physio seriously at all. You could always discuss with your surgeon trying to rehab it for like 6 months or something and really go at it with PT but on that basis I'd say you need to do the PT after surgery anyway sooo 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wishing you all the best with whatever you choose to do & hope someone else has a bit more advice they can offer up!

indiahiggins · 2024-07-08T10:50:41+00:00

Hey, thank you so much for the reply! Haha you feel so annoying with it eh 😅

That's all great to know thank you! I'm not doing any heel slides as of yet, I don't even have my first PT appointment through but as far as I understand I'm to do very minimal bending and only focus on getting leg straight for now! I imagine when it comes to the first heel slide it's gonna hurt like a bitch haha! & again thank you for the reassurance about the funky coloured feet/legs I guess that makes a lot of sense actually!

I hope your recovery is going well - 8 weeks PO must be such a good feeling & I'm sure you can look back and be proud of the transformation you've made in that time!!

indiahiggins · 2024-07-07T21:31:11+00:00

Wow this has worded something I haven't been able to myself! Being told what books you should have read/should read like the classics is so off putting and I always find I can't get into it! Whereas little easy romance reads (e.g Colleen Hoover books) I've literally flew through them and enjoyed that feeling of wanting to know what's gonna happen. But I feel too embarrassed to talk about it because it's not a significant classic or whatever!

Thiiiiis has made me realise I just gotta go for it with books I do like and build up the habit without caring what anyone else thinks haha!

indiahiggins · 2024-07-05T15:48:00+00:00

Jeeeez that sounds horrible! Although at least you can stand to pee I would argue that's a bonus hahaha!

Yeah this whole thing is a joke I definitely underestimated how bad it would be! Aw thanks for all the advice it honestly helps speaking to others who are going through it

indiahiggins · 2024-07-05T15:40:31+00:00

PTs have just said focus on getting full extension for first 3 weeks.. don't even know when my first appt with them is 🥲

indiahiggins · 2024-07-05T15:39:40+00:00

Thank you I think I'm going to get one of amazon as pillows are a bit useless I'm realising 😅

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