ACL Home
I put this website together when I decided to have ACL surgery on my torn ACL. I was lucky enough to find a few diaries that people kept on the web so I had some idea what to expect for my ACL reconstruction.
I thought if I could help a few people by documenting my experiences dealing with the whole situation, that it would be well worth my time.
The two most popular parts of this website seem to be the ACL FAQ page, where I answer several question that I seem to get asked a lot, and the ACL DIARY page. The diary is a daily diary that I kept while going through this whole thing. It gives you an idea as to what my experience was like.
ACL Surgery can be a very stressful situation.
I dreaded those famous 4 words from the doctor, just like everyone else… “You tore your ACL.” I can still remember him saying after checking my knee out. In reality, I already knew it, but those words were still not good to hear.
I went home and got on the internet to do a quick search for “ACL Surgery” and “ACL reconstruction” so I could see what to expect.
I found a few websites that told me what exactly they were going to do and that made things a little better.
What really helped though was getting in touch with some people who had already gone through it and left their experiences posted on the web. So I decided to do the same and write my own website.
12 Comments
this website has been so helpful for me. I am getting surgery on my torn acl on friday and i have no idea what to expect especially because i havent spoken with the nurse yet to give me all the information. Your diary and all the questions and answers were really nice because those were all questions i was asking to myself and i wanted to know what kind of condition i would be in post surgery. thank you so much!
You are very welcome. Good luck with your surgery on Friday. Come back and let me know how everything goes.
So, i had surgery in April for my ACL & i am getting released in Oct. & Yesterday i was running to get a ball (with my brace on) & i stepped in a hole & my knee made a small pop (not loud)…& i was able to walk on it right after. i woke up today (the next morning) & my knee is majorly swollen & i can walk on it but it feels tight and sore & i can straighten it out & bend it all the way, im icing it now….do you think i tore it again??? I hope i didnt:’(
You will need to get it checked out by the doctor.
Having said that… It would be very normal for your knee to be swollen, tight and sore after some trauma like that. Those symptoms wouldn’t mean your ACL is torn again. The doc would need to do a test to see what he thinks.
Okay, thanks & is it also weird that its mainly swollen on top of the knee & not really on ALL of the knee??
Hello, I had my ACL recon on the 10th August so basically 3 weeks ago. I was devasted when I had the injury 12 months ago (12 month waiting list on NHS) when I was only 15, the worst part is I was due to be signing a pro contract for Blackburn Rovers on the tuesday and I had the injury the saturday before I was due to do so. Fair to say I was depressed during the wait for my operation because it meant no football and no contract. When the injury occured I had an MRI scan and the specialist confirmed I had torn my ACL and the lateral meniscus also, my medial ligament had come away with a piece of bone from my knee cap. The specialist didn’t seem too worried about the medial ligament so it must reattached itself? Anyway, I was just browsing different peoples ACL stories and came across this site, which I found very helpful. I hope you reply to my post and these questions I really need answering;
- Will my medial re-attach itself? ( Piece of bone is attached to the ligament)
- How long will it be before i’ll be able to walk without a limp (time frame would be useful)
-Whats the earliest I can return to sport? (Hamstring graft)
-I have enrolled at college on a plumbing course, will my knee be able to take a job which involves bending an kneeling most days?
- How long does it take for bloodflood to be established through the new graft?
- Will it hurt if the same injury occurs on the previously operated on knee?
- I can fully extend my leg since the day of the op, is this a big worry?
I’m sorry for the long post and the amount of questions but please get back to me as I cannot find the answers to this anywhere and I think this site will be my best try.
—-Many Thanks, Male 16 UK (Liverpool)—-
- Is there anyway of damagin it know
I had ACL allograft repair and LCL repair on Mar. 7, 2011. I am still limping and haveing pain and “clunking” in the joint when straightening and bending. What do you think. It seems to be taking a long time to heal….
You should still be limping around… it should be almost back to normal. By “clunking” I’m guessing you mean pops or grinds a little bit? That would be normal.
What does the doctor say about it?
My boyfriend is getting ACL surgery in an hour and I was wondering what I could do to help him? He lives in a 3 story house and I already am getting a cooler with ice so I don’t have to run up and down stairs so we can keep icing his knee since that helped when he initially tore it. I can’t really think of anything else other than of course making him meals and such. I have moved the bed away from the wall so I don’t have to climb over him to get out of bed and he will be a little closer to the bathroom. Anything else?
Also speaking of the bathroom he said something about getting a ‘pee jar’ HA is that necessary?
You are doing the right things. And the pee jar may not be necessary, but I will admit to using it. Much easier in the middle of the night.
Hello Geff, I am 29 ys old from Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia. I did my right knee ACL recon on the 27th, Dec 2011in my city. I injured my ACL when I compete in National Judo Championship. Nothing was wrong n suddenly my opponent tried to take me down and I countered by twisting my body face on the tatami, suddenly I heard POP sound which make my right knee hurt a little n unstabble standing. The next moment, my opponent tried the same thing n I countered for the 2nd time by twisting my body n I heard a loudder POP sound from my right knee. I felt very bad on my right knees n I tap the tatami that I can’t go on the bout. I tried to stand up n left the Tatami on limping condition. I lost that day.
On 27th Dec 2011, I did ACL recon. I have prepared myself for the recon so there is nothing to worry about. Now, it’s been 11 days after my recon n I still stay on bed. I just feel very hurt on right (bad) knee everytime I step my right foot on the floor though I supported by 2 crutches. The doctor said its the drilling location that’s why I felt very hurt. The doctor also told me to step the right foot n not swing it while I am walking by crutches.
You know Geff, I do hope to do a little Judo training in the next 4 months as I am a Judo Athlete. N Geff…. In my town, I am the first person had an ACL recon for JUDO because never happened before. Along 2010-2011 I did routine jogging even sprint at 5 o’clock in the morning for 20 minutes (4 times a week) until the bout day.
Do you have any advice for me?
I thank you for your “ACL Diary” because It supports me a lot.
Just hang in there and do your best.
I don’t have any experience with ACL surgery and doctors in Indonesia, so I don’t know what is considered normal there or how they like to do physical therapy during recovery.
My best advise would be to follow your doctor’s orders and do your best. Any idea when you will be starting physical therapy for your knee?