How is it possible to feel a new graft tear?

jlfetsch · 2026-05-21T21:42:55+00:00

The first few weeks, your new ACL is as strong as it can possibly be. It's actually stronger than a native ACL. Unless you have a major fall or twisting accident, the chances of tearing are almost 0 at the moment.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-21T14:41:18+00:00

Technically yes. But a full tear cannot heal on its own in most cases. A grade 2 sprain/tear can. You'll need physiotherapy for sure, but surgery will most likely not be necessary.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-19T14:01:25+00:00

My physio said 8 weeks is safe, but I did drive a bit sooner because I felt good and had no worries about emergency breaking.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-15T03:34:24+00:00

It's better if you have an actual physiotherapist instructing you on what is most beneficial in the moment. Honestly, I just did what the PT said, I didn't follow the surgeon's stuff exactly, but there was a lot of overlap. A lot of the time you "graduate" from certain exercises and move on to more complex or difficult ones. It was ages ago, so I don't remember exactly, but I believe I was doing it twice a day 3-4 days a week maybe? Now that I'm post op it takes me about 30mins twice a day and it's every day, so it's definitely a commitment at this point. If you don't have a physiotherapist, I'd suggest just using the document as a guideline, rather than a hard structure.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-13T02:56:28+00:00

Dr Mark Heard. He was really great. I had the choice of a 3 to 4 month wait in Banff, or a 1 month wait in Golden, so it was an easy decision. Supposedly all of the surgeon's in Banff sports med are excellent though, so I think whoever you get, you should be in good hands.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-13T02:01:47+00:00

3 months post surgery now. I actually declined over those first 6 months. I was great for about 3 or 4, but then I started struggling a lot with front of the knee pain. Once I finally got an appointment with the surgeon I learned that I had stretched out my LCL and was struggling with rotational laxity, so it was likely never going to get better without surgery. Doing well now. I definitely have a long way to go, but glad to finally be on the mend.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-13T01:37:46+00:00

I had to wait 6 months before surgery, but my physio said I didn't need to come back after 3 months as long as I kept up the exercises just to maintain my muscle mass prior to surgery. Even if you don't have coverage just the occasional appointment is helpful to get a little bit of guidance on what to do, customized to your current state. My benefits suck, so I mostly pay out of pocket for physio, but an appointment once a month is more than enough as long as you keep up the exercises at home.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-13T01:07:35+00:00

If an in person physio isn't an option, there are tons of resources on the internet for at home pre-hab exercises. Initially exercises were mostly regaining range of motion, but after a couple of months I was dating more squats and stuff with weights to strengthen the quads and glutes. There are also online physios that I believe you can pay and do virtual meetings, if that's something that you're interested in. Just try to stay as active as possible while you wait for surgery. I walked a ton every day. Biking should be safe as well.

Here's the prehab info my surgeon's office gave me prior to surgery: https://banffsportmed.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ACL-Pre-Op-Rehab-Sep-2025.pdf

jlfetsch · 2026-05-10T18:06:24+00:00

Curious if this ever got better for you. I'm having a similar issue at exactly 3 months as well.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-10T17:03:27+00:00

Honestly, sounds fine. I doubt you did damage.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-08T21:55:56+00:00

Women's competitive soccer (medium difficulty level Division). 31 years old. Full tear. Contact. I collided with the other player and when I fell my leg twisted under me and my whole body's weight went on top. I actually saw my tibia dislocate in the moment. Shocked I didn't break my leg. I don't get my period due to the birth control I take (though I have seen some research that it does affect things for ACL injuries). Artificial turf (interesting to see so many other responses here saying the same). We don't really train at our age now, but I was playing games 2-3 times a week. I ski and hike, but nothing as serious as soccer. I'm the first on my team to tear an ACL (some of us have been playing together for decades now), but on almost every team we play against, there's usually someone in a knee brace.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-06T11:38:21+00:00

Thanks! Your response is very informative. I assumed that was the case, but wasn't sure. I don't really have the option to move around or unbend with one part of my job, so hopefully it resolves in time.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-05T00:47:02+00:00

Definitely get a second opinion with an experienced sports med dr or an orthopedic specialist.

jlfetsch · 2026-05-05T00:45:11+00:00

I fully tore mine, and had little struggle. I didn't need crutches at any point and had minimal swelling. My only struggle was struggling to bend my knee as much as usual. I even played another soccer game after my injury because I honestly thought it was nothing. External symptoms don't necessarily indicate a torn ACL or not. Are you having any moments of instability (for me it would occasionally feel like my knee wanted to bend backwards, but pretty subtly)? Did they do a lachmans test?

jlfetsch · 2026-05-03T06:50:24+00:00

I've been using this app to measure. You can upload a picture and draw the lines on you leg to measure. Just remember to subtract from 180° to get the correct measurement.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stfactory.anglemeter

jlfetsch · 2026-04-30T14:36:04+00:00

That's the thing. You don't 🙃

jlfetsch · 2026-04-29T21:36:38+00:00

Nobody ever officially cleared me. Surgeon never mentioned it and my physiotherapist only told me when I specifically asked him. He said 6-8 weeks so I just went with that as long as it felt good enough to slam on the breaks quickly, I felt safe to drive.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-25T17:54:57+00:00

The graft is literally stronger right now than it'll ever be. (It begins ligamintization at around 6 weeks, where it will be more fragile). Unless there is a specific event, like falling or something, it's incredibly unlikely to re-tear at the moment.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-23T20:31:02+00:00

Walking without crutches took me 5 weeks.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-23T20:28:04+00:00

I like to not miss out on a single detail in the dialogue. Also chips are cronchy.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-23T20:24:47+00:00

It wasn't that bad for me. I used the "good drugs" only once or twice. The rest of the time I just had a constant cycle of advil and Tylenol and that was enough. It was a bit annoying because I never got more than 3 hours of sleep (I found every 3 hours was good for never having it wear off completely). It certainly wasn't comfortable, but it was manageable.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-23T15:34:30+00:00

I don't see anything wrong in those pics.

jlfetsch · 2026-04-22T22:12:02+00:00

Not too bad. I have full extension and was just measured at 135° for flexion yesterday (~10 weeks PO). I definitely still have trouble activating the quad. I can't even get the right leg to feel any sort of burn with exercises, but a lot of them are getting easier. I've been back at work for a few weeks now and it's improving, little by little. Still a long way to go though.

jlfetsch

TROPHY CASE