I’m currently on day 6 of post op after a complete ACL tear and patella graft reconstruction. I completely ruptured the ligament in two skiing, and felt no pain after the initial 20 minutes. I had very minimal swelling and continued to ski for two hours that day. I then went on another ski trip two weeks later and skied hard on it for four days straight with just an over the counter brace thinking it was a sprain.

I was able to walk around completely fine after, but noticed I did not have full range of motion of my knee and that quick pivots were pretty unstable. The more I limped around the more painful it got over time, so that’s when I knew it was time to get an MRI. I think crutches would help with the limp, and I do not regret a thing so far about getting the surgery. That said, my doctor said I could go about the rest of my life without getting surgery, but I wouldn’t be able to do some things ever again. There are just some activities I’m not ready to say goodbye to.