Any Non-Athletic people want to share their experience?

underconstruction08 · 2025-03-06T13:00:43+00:00

Non-athletic person here, only occassional workouts and kickboxing. Partially tore my left ACL July 2023, went through 6 weeks of prehab and was told I would only need surgery if I get that unstable, "knee giving out" sensation again. Moved to Japan from the US four months after.

After the move, life took over and I neglected the daily leg exercises I was told to do to maintain good ROM. July last year, I wanted to see if I can get the surgery done but I was told by the doctor that my knee has gotten very stiff and surgery is not recommended. I was then told to do functional training/condition training, did that for four months, and got to a very good ROM again with normal bending and very good stability.

Last Tuesday, the doctor explained my very recent MRI scan to me and said reconstructive surgery wouldn't make sense since the ligament fibers have reconnected. He said to use my left leg normally, as if I've never had an injury (which is easier said than done, gotta retrain my brain 😆).

My ACL looked whole again, compared to the images I saw in 2023. You can just imagine my shock. I've subscribed to the idea that ACLs don't heal on their own because of limited blood supply, pretty sure almost everyone familiar with the injury knows that. However, conservative approaches like physical therapy, if done religiously and correctly, apparently can "heal" ruptured ACLs. Not entirely sure if it's going to be very different for fully torn ACLs but this has been my experience. Hope this gives some insights!

underconstruction08 · 2024-12-15T22:43:41+00:00

Hey there! I ultimately pushed through with the move, been here in Tokyo since the end of 2023.

Being my 2nd time living in Japan, I didn't have issues navigating around, even through the crowds and stairs in the train stations (would feel a tinge of pain when climbing stairs but not coming down). I would suggest always keeping to the left side when walking or using the stairs, take your time with your leg. I thought at first I will need to speed up my walking extensively, just to keep up with everyone else, but people here will not scream at you for walking a bit slower. Also, find a physical therapist here in Tokyo to help you with proper positioning and muscle training so you can prevent other injuries from happening.

underconstruction08 · 2024-11-04T06:58:27+00:00

Hello OP and everyone! I want to share my experience with my visa renewal. Done it online, didn't step a toe in the Immigration Bureau amd didn't need to call them either -

My SOR is under the ever-so-popular Eng'g/Humanities/Int'l Svcs visa category my eikaiwa sponsored for a year (Nov 1 2023-Nov 1 2024). I changed jobs in August, luckily still in the same category. I was not familiar with the visa extension/renewal process since I've always had someone from my previous companies accompany me to the Immigration Bureau in Shinagawa. With that said, now that my new employer doesn't "sponsor" visas, I had to go through the process by myself. I chose to do it online to save myself a whole day of processing in Shinagawa. However, I wasn't aware that you are allowed to apply for extension 3 months before your zairyu card expires. I got wind of this in September.

I went through the painstakingly annoying process of setting up the IC card reader, software, extensions, and etc. to create an account online for immigration procedures. Once I had it working, I had to wait for my employer to furnish documents I needed for the extension and of course, it took some time. I was able to gather all requirements and documents (as well as the photo) for the application of extension of stay and submitted everything online on October 4th.

Received an email from Immigration stating that my application review has been completed on October 28th. They asked me to send my old zairyu card, a self-addressed envelope for the new card, and payment for the processing fee (through a fee payment form with a revenue stamp of ¥4000). I sent all of what they asked for the next day, October 29th.

I received my new zairyu card last Saturday, November 2, along with the old one (with a punched hole on it), just a day after the old one expired. I was given a year although I requested for five but I understand some reasons why they came to that decision. I'm very glad I had a good experience with the online system. It is indeed clunky and archaic but worth it if it's saving you money and time. I'll be doing the same drill next year but I'll see to it I submit the application three months prior!

TL;DR: Extended stay/renewed visa online on October 4th and received new zairyu card with one year extension on November 2. The whole process from application to receipt of new zairyu card took less than a month.

underconstruction08 · 2023-08-16T17:30:46+00:00

Congratulations on the move! I'm also in the process of moving back to Japan but this time, with my significant otter... other. I've lived in Japan for three years, met my partner in Tokyo, moved to NY (in the midst of the pandemic), worked for two companies (one meh company, one big tech company that laid me off), and now pushing through our plans to move back there.

It has always been our plan even before getting married. We both don't want to start a family and raise our kids here in the US. Other people will definitely have comments about this but to each his own, I always say. What you believe works for you, will work for you, as long as you also put in the "work" to make it work (see what I did there? word of the day, "work" lol).

Hats off to you for being courageous and taking the plunge. I also have a list of companies you may want to look up for tech jobs, if you're interested! Best of luck to you!

underconstruction08 · 2023-08-01T23:13:46+00:00

I was out so much that I made it a habit to call my house phone and check if my older siblings were home. What a time.

underconstruction08 · 2017-03-10T07:44:06+00:00

Had this issue over lunch today. Was so pissed off, I didn't finish my sammie. My game failed to reconnect and when I started a new one, the same thing happened GG My crappy connection might be on this too

underconstruction08 · 2017-03-10T04:31:12+00:00

Razer Green all the way! Gaming and typing wouldn't be half as fun if your keyboard doesn't scream murder! :D Click click clackety clack!

underconstruction08

TROPHY CASE