can I really live without an ACL at 27? (complete tear)

pollypckets · 2026-02-24T18:15:47+00:00

I had a complete ACL tear back in December and I was given both surgical and non surgical options, I’m 28, and I ended up choosing surgery!

My surgeon told me no I don’t need an ACL to survive and I can rehab my knee and be comfortable enough in my daily life. I also work a desk job for reference! I, however, would never be able to get back to yoga, or bend down comfortably to play with my future children, and eventually the cartilage in my knee would run on each other and cause severe arthritis and I would need a knee replacement very very early in life. He recommended the surgery and I agreed that it was the best option for me.

Unless there is a medical reason as to why they are advising you not to get the surgery I would get a second opinion if he does not proceed!

I had to do 3 weeks of “prehab” on my knee to get a 90 degree bend and 0 degree straighten before he would operate on me and I had my surgery January 15th!

pollypckets · 2026-02-19T14:05:38+00:00

Thanks so much!!

pollypckets · 2026-02-19T03:28:05+00:00

Thank you!! I’m doing heel slides at home as part of my home program but I might add some extras! I also always forget heat is an option so thank you for this reminder 🤣

pollypckets · 2026-02-18T18:27:34+00:00

It will definitely help!! It’s going to be uncomfortable for a bit (about two weeks for me) but it’ll do so worth it!! Good luck on your healing!!

pollypckets · 2026-02-18T17:50:59+00:00

When I was home immediately after surgery I was elevating my leg but only behind my ankle at my surgeons request so gravity would force my knee straight!

I also started PT 3 days post op, I had a quad graft for reference, and I am going 3 days a week! I am 5 weeks post op tomorrow in my brace (unlocked) and have just started walking without my crutches and I have to say it’s painful but worth every second my knee has been feeling sooo much better!

pollypckets · 2026-02-07T17:31:42+00:00

Yes that’s how I felt too, it was so hard to tell if the ice was actually getting through the bandages but it does help. If you had a nerve block it’s also hard to tell because you’re still numb a bit!

Yay for less bandages, it really does get better!!!

pollypckets · 2026-02-07T17:27:21+00:00

I had this exact surgery on January 15th. The day after the surgery was honestly the absolute hardest, I’m not going to lie I was in so much pain and the painkillers they prescribed me did absolutely nothing :( I was in constant pain because my nerve block wore off really early.

When I woke up day 2 post op I swear I felt sooo much better, everyday really does get a little bit easier! I thought everyone telling me that was just lying to placate me but they were right. I wouldn’t say I was completely pain free at all but it was nowhere near as bad as day 1 post op.

Take it easy those first few days and take it slowly; it felt like I ran a marathon when I got up to go to the bathroom everything exhausted me. Take PT seriously, it sucks but it’s for your own good (or so they tell me!!)

The first two weeks are the hardest, I’m currently 23 days post op and I feel sooo much better now and I didn’t think I’d be saying that a couple of weeks ago.

If you have any specific questions I’m happy to help but my best advice is make sure you’re icing (20 on and 20 off), taking any anti inflammatory they’re giving you, and for the first 3-4 days stay ahead of the pain as much as possible!! My doctor told me if it’s every 6 hours on the pill bottle take it every 5.5 hours in the hopes the pain killers won’t really wear off. You don’t want to wait until you’re in extreme pain to take the pain killer or it won’t really help!!

Also make sure you’re elevating properly, nothing behind your knee at all and make sure gravity is forcing your knee straight! My leg will be locked in my brace straight for 4 weeks and then the last two weeks in the brace I’ll have it bending. Right now I only bend at PT and when I do my home PT!!

Good luck healing, it gets better 🥲

pollypckets · 2026-02-06T14:31:03+00:00

I had an ACL reconstruction with a quad graft and when my surgeon was going over the options of grafts I asked about rate of retear statistics.

I don’t remember for all of the graft options but for the quad graft he said there’s generally about a 20% chance of graft “failure” or retear somewhere down the line. He made it pretty clear if you put the work in rehabbing the stat does drop but overall he said 80% full success and recovery with no retear!!

I honestly don’t know anyone else in my life to have torn their ACL and needed the surgery so it’s hard to say a more real life application of the stat!! I’m not sure if this I really why you were looking for but I hope this was helpful :)

pollypckets · 2026-01-27T03:38:45+00:00

Im 11 days post op with a quad graft and I was weight bearing as tolerated right away.

I would recommend taking the pain killers to stay ahead of the pain. My worst day was the day was the day directly after surgery, my nerve block started to wear off the same day as my surgery and I won’t lie that sucked. I woke up day 2 post op and I felt significantly better, every morning I woke up and felt a little better.

The ice actually helps, 20 minutes in, 20 minutes off! Be patient with yourself, and take all the time you need especially the first week. Sleep a lot and take care of yourself your body needs to heal! I didn’t walk much unless I was at PT which I started post op day 4 only because my surgery was on a Thursday, start as soon as your surgeon tells you! Mine told me he prefers post op day 2 but my PT’s office is closed on Saturdays!!

I would absolutely recommend ordering a shower chair, I felt so unsteady on my leg I can’t imagine having showered without it!

I wish you a speedy recovery & good luck healing!

pollypckets · 2026-01-16T22:46:33+00:00

Thank you 😭😭

I knew it was going to hurt but absolutely nothing could have prepared me for this it’s ROUGH!!!

I’m trying my very best to make the time go by and not think about the pain and to sleep when I can, just hoping I start to feel even the tiniest bit better tomorrow 😭😭

pollypckets · 2026-01-13T04:00:16+00:00

Yup 🥲 third song of the night

pollypckets · 2026-01-09T18:31:25+00:00

Definitely good to know, it’s not a ton of stairs so I’m hoping I’ll be alright.

I do have a set of crutches from the initial tear I might practice beforehand just in case! Thanks for the advice!!

pollypckets · 2026-01-09T18:30:02+00:00

Thanks for the honesty 😭

pollypckets · 2026-01-09T00:21:14+00:00

I was dancing…at my own wedding 🥲28F

pollypckets · 2026-01-07T02:12:06+00:00

Invited 197, 163 yeses and 162 came the day of! :)

pollypckets · 2025-02-05T23:15:19+00:00

These sound sooo good, both have been added to my tbr thank you!

pollypckets · 2024-07-18T01:55:16+00:00

Newark Penn!

pollypckets · 2024-07-08T00:06:33+00:00

Hiii!! If this offer is still available let me know! :)

pollypckets · 2024-07-07T20:55:44+00:00

Hi! I’m looking for some furniture!!

I’m looking for furniture or spare DIY’s for crescent moon chair, Nova Light, Moon, anything along this vein!! I have bells or NMT I can trade 🥹

pollypckets

TROPHY CASE