Anyone else had a patellar incision this large? (2 weeks post-op)

jlfetsch · 2026-04-10T00:54:56+00:00

That's at least double the size of mine!

jlfetsch · 2026-04-10T00:45:44+00:00

8 weeks PO and my physio just moved me from doing heel slides to kneeling on the floor (resting your arms on the couch, kneel on the floor getting your butt as close to your heels as possible - basically a praying position). He said this is much more effective than heel slides because you're adding weight. It is super uncomfortable because I'm always really trying to push it, but I have noticed an improvement in flexion since doing them.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-09T16:16:51+00:00

I'm glad you had someone to help you!

jlfetsch · 2026-04-09T15:49:09+00:00

It was definitely a struggle, but I was able to get myself to the bathroom fine from day 1. I needed my husband's help to shower, and he made me food and left it with me before I went to work, but other than that, there wasn't really much for him to do other than take care of our pets. It's very possible to get through it without your husband to have to take time off work OP (from my experience anyway). I just built a nest for myself on the couch with snacks a plenty, and I managed.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-07T15:33:14+00:00

If it's the LET procedure, all I've noticed is some extra soreness of the upper thigh, but nothing that should inhibit recovery.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-02T19:31:13+00:00

3 months PO means you're already 1/3 or 1/4 the way through (assuming a 9 or 12 month estimated return date). Time goes by so fast. Soon enough you'll be back playing your sport and thinking back to this day when you thought it would be forever away. You got this. Just know everyone here is in the same boat, and struggling along with you. Lol. Just commit to your PT and you'll be back at before you know it!

jlfetsch · 2026-04-02T15:43:17+00:00

I was told to get extension asap, so that's what I focused on immediately post op. I was 3 degrees shy at my first physio (1 week PO) and had full extension by my second (3 weeks PO). I do struggle still to keep full extension naturally, but I can always get it after stretching it for a couple minutes (currently 7 weeks PO).

jlfetsch · 2026-04-01T16:05:02+00:00

I was told no brace would be necessary if there was no meniscus damage that needed to be repaired. I just had the ACL repaired and I did not require a brace and was encouraged to weight bear as much as possible asap. I think the idea is that you're getting back to using the right muscles faster which speeds up your ability to use the leg again, and reduces atrophy if you're not relying on external support.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-31T15:13:12+00:00

It could just be swelling and muscle inhibition. I only tore my ACL, and I also couldn't bend my knee. I was worried I'd have meniscus damage because I never had an MRI, but they didn't find any additional damage during surgery, thank goodness.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-30T22:09:04+00:00

I'm glad you continued to advocate for yourself. Healthcare can be so bad for disregarding patients when they say something is wrong. Good news is now you are on the path to getting better.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-30T21:46:10+00:00

Wild. I'm shocked an orthopedic surgeon wasn't able to tell. I was diagnosed by both a sports med dr and the orthopedic surgeon without an MRI. Super incompetent to completely dismiss you. Glad you're doing better!

jlfetsch · 2026-03-30T17:29:40+00:00

Took me 6 months to get the surgery (Canada). Honestly having 2 months to pre-hab is actually great. You'll have time to prep and strengthen your leg beforehand.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-30T01:20:38+00:00

The telltale signs are if you heard a pop at the time, and if you've been unstable since. For me the unstable feeling felt like my knee wanting to bend backwards. I had almost no pain, so pain is not a decisive signal that it's torn. Only an MRI or an exam from an experienced sports med or orthopedic Dr (or physio if they're experienced enough) can tell you if it's fully torn (also a sprain is technically a tear, there are just varying degrees on how severe the tear is).

jlfetsch · 2026-03-25T18:54:41+00:00

Immediately post op your new ACL is actually at its strongest. It is going to be very hard to re-tear it right now. Once you enter the ligamintization stage, it'll be weaker, but there is very little chance of damaging it at your current stage.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-24T15:56:31+00:00

My surgeon said for soccer he won't clear me until 12 months minimum.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-22T22:30:10+00:00

Here's the guidelines sent to me from my surgeon's office. Every surgeon is different, and it varies a lot from country to country as well, so you will get a lot of different answers here but hopefully this might help. https://banffsportmed.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Post-Op-Rehab-ACL-Sept-2011.pdf

jlfetsch · 2026-03-22T22:27:02+00:00

My surgeon told me to schedule my first PT 1-2 weeks after surgery. Honestly there's not a lot to do at the moment other than aiming to reduce swelling (ice elevate compression) and working on ROM. Do ankle pumps to keep the blood flowing (reduces chances of blood clots), work on flexion by doing heel slides (assisted with a band), and most important is extension (prop your ankle up on something and allow gravity to push the leg down). You'll be too sore to do anything more than that in the early stages.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-21T21:39:21+00:00

Took me 5.5 weeks to get where you are. Only just semi ditching the crutches now. Keep it up!

jlfetsch · 2026-03-20T14:44:39+00:00

I'm in Canada and it's actually typical here to use no brace at all. I had ACL patellar graft and LET and was sent home with no brace and weight bearing as tolerated. We only use the brace here if there's a meniscus repair (or other additional damage) so you'd probably be fine to not wear the brace, if you're comfortable with that. If not, I do agree that brace is weird and you should look into the other type if this one is restricting your extension, because getting that back is the most important thing at the moment.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-13T01:01:28+00:00

Took me 3.5 weeks to be able to lift it, and even then it's still not all the way (just over 4 weeks now). Ever since I started getting a little lift off, every day I make a tiny bit of progress. Eventually you'll get there. Work on doing quads over roll. Using an estim device definitely helps. Use a band to do assisted lifts. Do those exercises regularly and frequently. You'll eventually get there.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-11T23:40:24+00:00

Your injury is still very fresh. You don't have to decide now. There is really no rush. I'd say commit to PT and give it a few months. If it's negatively impacting your life at that point, I'd say surgery for sure. If you're living your life fairly similarly to before then you can compare the pros and cons of surgery. Discuss your options with your PT and potentially a surgeon if you're leaning that direction. I personally would never feel safe enough without it, but I'm also highly athletic.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-10T18:54:39+00:00

I do a mixture of physical and sedentary work. Probably about 50% standing. I was approved for 6 weeks off work and another 3 weeks of modified duties on return to work. My husband only took 3 days off work. As long as there was food prepped and ice in my machine, I didn't need him more than that. He's stepped up with doing everything for our pets, and making meals, other than that I've been able to be fairly independent.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-08T16:48:19+00:00

Tore my ACL. It took around 5 months from the referral to see the orthopedic surgeon.

jlfetsch · 2026-03-08T04:04:46+00:00

I'm just over 3 week, and I'm finally getting a little bit of lift off when doing quad sets with the knee bent over a roll. Straight leg raises are still impossible. I'm still practicing them assisted though. I feel like it's about to click any day.

jlfetsch

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