I’m 3 weeks post op and agree with all of these. Trying to do basic functions the week after were awful (plus the addition of being super sick from pain meds). Once you start finding your little ways to deal with things it gets better. Biggest pieces of advice are to be humble enough to ask for help and be patient with yourself and your body. Recovery will come but it is not linear. Hang in there!
something i’ve found so helpful, is attaching a loop of parachord around the bottom strap of your brace with a very secure knot, because it will be very painful if it fails. but it’s helped so much in being able to pick up my leg by myself like when i’m getting on the bed, in and out of the car, etc. and when i don’t have my brace on i lay back completely so my center of mass in on the bed or whatever i’m getting on, and use my other leg to lift my operated leg
Im at day 5 post surgery and the one thing that makes the difference is the people around me ( my wife and my best friend ) don’t be afraid to relay on the people around you. It had made my life better and if someone out there having a hard time can always contact me so we can talk. ❤
5 major challenges after ACL surgery: 1. Sleeping 2. Put on clothes, shoes 3. Showering 4. Climbing stairs 5. Holding cups, water bottles Notes for myself. Am going to undergo ACL surgery next week. Thanks Dr. Wang.
I hope you keep doing these check ins especially! I am about 6 weeks post op and I remember all your frustrations well. Sleep was the hardest I was SO uncomfortable I wanted to scream all night. I didn't have a brace but I had a major struggle getting pain under control. Doing physio wasn't even an option til about day 6 or so. In the next couple weeks, when discomfort was mostly done, dealing with swelling, and trying to eek out the new couple degrees (I have extension but I'm still missing a little hyper-extension before ive done my physio for the day) and keeping your range of motion through the day. It felt like I was starting from scratch every single day for awhile, while I was determined I was also fighting a hopelessness of a sort.
thanks for the input Kimberlee. i’m on night #7 right now and i too want to scream because i am so uncomfortable in bed. i’m hoping by night #14 i won’t want to die anymore. I’m struggling with the pain as well. i had to refill my prescriptions but i will try to ween myself off of them as the week goes on.
I had surgery three days ago. The pain is excruciating. I am regretting the surgery. I had an ACL cadaver replacement, and I also had meniscus surgery. One side 60% they took off the other one they stitched it up. I am in bed, but every time I get off to walk the pain feels heavier.
Same here! I just had my surgery yesterday. Used a cadaver ligament. Please tell me it gets better. The pain is something else! And I have a high tolerance for pain. Hope you are better now.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and expertise. I had torn my left ACL, partial tear on MCL on 2/12/21. I’m a PT,hoping can get by with non-operative approach until I found out I also have meniscal tears. I’m having surgery on 4/5/21 and your videos have helped a lot to prepare for this surgery.
Showering, we got a shower chair from friends whose mom had past. I slid from the edge of the tub onto the shower chair and gently used both hands to hoist my led into the tub. Used the hand sprayer that we had in the shower to shower It worked great. When done I used a towel to dry my upper body then placed the towel on the edge of the tub so when I hoisted my leg over the edge then my second leg i was able to use the towel to dry both legs. Put my brace back on then slowly and carefully put my underwear and gym pants back on. We also order a hand braces for the toilet and a walker which were of GREAT help.
My most helpful tool in the first weeks after surgery: A transport roller for furniture or skateboard! You put everything you need on it (bottle, food, ...) and roll it to the place you need with your walking sticks 🛹🩼😉
I bot a used walker. This helped be independent. The nerve pain on the inside of my entire leg up to my groin is the worst feeling. Anyone else experience this? Day 13….
I'm still having issues with my full range of motion. I can walk up the stairs normally but don't go down them normally! I am at About 115 range of motion! I may never be 100% & my pain is always gonna be there and I don't think I will ever regain my muscle completely! It really sucks. I feel worse than before I had surgery!! Wish I had never done it sometimes!! 😪😔
Getting my surgery 12/21/21 wondering how Iam I going to cook. I need to continue to eat healthy so I can recover or wash clothes and clean house 🙄😖🤷♀️
@@dallasguidroz9350 its goona be hard for at least 2 weeks ..so you would need support..it is diffult to even lift your leg by yourself..so i recommend having someone for support.. BOL for your surgery
I’m on day 3 post op for ACL n meniscus surgery. I’m terrified of showering or just opening the wound up. First time I tore my ACL it was only a partial tear but during the first week I fell in the shower and I’m saved to do it again
@@sosa-rk4zh yep never helped for me and they were 800mg....it'll get better don't worry I'm clear now I just don't have full strength back in my right leg....like for lifting but it's enough for anything you'd need to do.....after the first 2-3 weeks it gets way easier
@@lag_behind9695 damn feel for you....funny thing is now I can watch any gore video or video of someone getting hurt and show no emotion... But as soon as a saw a video of a Russian teen breaking his leg to prevent going to war I was like fuuuuck....I know how bad leg stuff is and mine wasn't the worst....considering ACL Is better than breaking the bone.
being an aussie and 2 years later 1 week post ACL/MCL surgery i never had a brace like you did i just had a bandage which was taken off after a day then the dressing for a week and a half taken off after that. Garbage bagging your leg with tape for a proper shower was a life saver instead of having to be held but also i was practically sort of walking by day 2 with and without crutches. idk if its an american sh**y doctor thing or not but yeah man
sorry mate im watching and commenting but the showering/changing thing too is wrong brother lmao. like i said i had both done and i have been fine doing it myself since it just takes an extra 2 mins or so to change but showering is not a problem. all the pressure just has to go to your right leg for 5 mins which is easy no stress plus a little standing on both legs but you ain't gonna slip bro
I'm 46yrs old doctor wants to do surgery on my torn ACL and meniscus but nothing in my like makes this easier if even possible bathroom is up a flight of stairs along with the fridge and no one around me that can help
@@antoinealez12 my surgeon told me after 2 weeks to take it off. I'm just shy of 7 months post op. The recovery went very well. The only problem I have is all the meniscus was removed, so my knee is on borrowed time unfortunately
Yea I’m having a hard time showering my leg is extremely uncomfortable and I’m pain . We got a chair but the tub and the toilet are very different in height and feels like I’m staring my legs and back .
i tore my acl and collateral ligement i got surgery afhter 41 days because of corona needed the brace for 6 weeks i jused to sleep for almost 2 months like straight like a soldier but now my afhter 7 weeks ish my knee still doesent bend like i want
Hi, I am from myanmar. Do you have any experience? Pls share me. I have torn Acl & Pcl and now I have operated 7 day. I am suffering no sleeping at night. When I sleep and I have pain wake up my knee is discomfortable. Pls reply me.
I just had meniscus repair. Non-weight bearing for 6 week. I have ACL and cartilage transplant together next. Anyone have any experience with that big surgery?
Hiya bro, sorry to hear that. I’ve got surgery in 2 weeks on both sides of my meniscus, ACL reconstruction, having darts in cartilage at the end of my femur and my IT band cut and wrapped through my knee. They’re going to do it all in one op🤞 can i ask why they did your meniscus first and then are making you wait for your ACL and cartilage? Just out of curiosity and hope that they do mine in one go. Thanks in advance 👊
@@danielchoules9097 they repaired my meniscus to give it a chance to heal. Did not shave anything so mostly intact. Non weight bearing for 6 weeks and working mainly on my range of motion. Still have some popping and grinding in the knee, thought are not so much from the meniscus but more from the chunk of cartilage that’s missing. My Dr said it’s a shark bite that I just took from my femur.
have your leg elevated above your heart bro ik its maybe uncomftarble or it might hurt but it helps if you want to get up, you have to be confident and loose the fear at some point your gonna have too do it man start slowly
@@sosa-rk4zh I’m now running had meniscus repair as well as acl reconstruction, you got this bro take PT so extremely serious even if it hurts and you’ll be perfectly fine
Hi Makayla, I’m 7 nights post op so we are on about the same path. i’ve only been given 1 exercise at PT that deals with bending my knee and i can only do it 1 time a day for 10 reps. How is your pain level and your sleep? Both of mine are not to my liking. Feel free to bounce any questions off me. i think it would be great to have someone to talk to that had surgery at the same time. Good Night
@@makaylahunter7247 lucky i’m still in a decent amount of pain. idk why? i guess my body just isn’t used to this type of thing. i usually have a high pain tolerance
@@donalddonaldson7211 What do you i mean i cannot? Legit 0 reason to use for a brace after a normal ACL surgery. Its shit you Americans have so that the doctors can be sued.
I’m 3 weeks post op and agree with all of these. Trying to do basic functions the week after were awful (plus the addition of being super sick from pain meds). Once you start finding your little ways to deal with things it gets better. Biggest pieces of advice are to be humble enough to ask for help and be patient with yourself and your body. Recovery will come
but it is not linear. Hang in there!
something i’ve found so helpful, is attaching a loop of parachord around the bottom strap of your brace with a very secure knot, because it will be very painful if it fails. but it’s helped so much in being able to pick up my leg by myself like when i’m getting on the bed, in and out of the car, etc. and when i don’t have my brace on i lay back completely so my center of mass in on the bed or whatever i’m getting on, and use my other leg to lift my operated leg
Im at day 5 post surgery and the one thing that makes the difference is the people around me ( my wife and my best friend ) don’t be afraid to relay on the people around you. It had made my life better and if someone out there having a hard time can always contact me so we can talk. ❤
I am about to do surgery I am so scared
5 major challenges after ACL surgery:
1. Sleeping
2. Put on clothes, shoes
3. Showering
4. Climbing stairs
5. Holding cups, water bottles
Notes for myself. Am going to undergo ACL surgery next week. Thanks Dr. Wang.
How are you now ?
@nuhaal
I hope you keep doing these check ins especially! I am about 6 weeks post op and I remember all your frustrations well. Sleep was the hardest I was SO uncomfortable I wanted to scream all night. I didn't have a brace but I had a major struggle getting pain under control. Doing physio wasn't even an option til about day 6 or so.
In the next couple weeks, when discomfort was mostly done, dealing with swelling, and trying to eek out the new couple degrees (I have extension but I'm still missing a little hyper-extension before ive done my physio for the day) and keeping your range of motion through the day. It felt like I was starting from scratch every single day for awhile, while I was determined I was also fighting a hopelessness of a sort.
thanks for the input Kimberlee. i’m on night #7 right now and i too want to scream because i am so uncomfortable in bed. i’m hoping by night #14 i won’t want to die anymore.
I’m struggling with the pain as well. i had to refill my prescriptions but i will try to ween myself off of them as the week goes on.
I had surgery three days ago. The pain is excruciating. I am regretting the surgery. I had an ACL cadaver replacement, and I also had meniscus surgery. One side 60% they took off the other one they stitched it up. I am in bed, but every time I get off to walk the pain feels heavier.
Same here! I just had my surgery yesterday. Used a cadaver ligament. Please tell me it gets better. The pain is something else! And I have a high tolerance for pain. Hope you are better now.
Am so happy that I had no pain after the surgery
80 degrees in day 4
Any updates? Hope you’re fully recovered
I'm 4 months post op and ya i agree with all of these and also i have many more. But guys have hope and trust the process, everything will get better.
How's your leg now ?
Another frustration I’ve had is my brace constantly sliding down as I am walking more with crutches or my walker.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and expertise. I had torn my left ACL, partial tear on MCL on 2/12/21. I’m a PT,hoping can get by with non-operative approach until I found out I also have meniscal tears. I’m having surgery on 4/5/21 and your videos have helped a lot to prepare for this surgery.
Showering, we got a shower chair from friends whose mom had past. I slid from the edge of the tub onto the shower chair and gently used both hands to hoist my led into the tub. Used the hand sprayer that we had in the shower to shower It worked great. When done I used a towel to dry my upper body then placed the towel on the edge of the tub so when I hoisted my leg over the edge then my second leg i was able to use the towel to dry both legs. Put my brace back on then slowly and carefully put my underwear and gym pants back on. We also order a hand braces for the toilet and a walker which were of GREAT help.
My most helpful tool in the first weeks after surgery:
A transport roller for furniture or skateboard! You put everything you need on it (bottle, food, ...) and roll it to the place you need with your walking sticks 🛹🩼😉
Oh and let me not even forget the stairs I have to go up on my buttocks 🤦🏻♀️ acl and meniscus surgery is the worse I tell you !!!!
I bot a used walker. This helped be independent. The nerve pain on the inside of my entire leg up to my groin is the worst feeling. Anyone else experience this? Day 13….
I got a walker too. For some reason I can’t use crutches. I get a similar pain also. How are you doing now?
Surgery coming up. Dreading the whole thing 🫤
I never had to wear the brace from day one the doctor didn’t put it thank god
I'm still having issues with my full range of motion. I can walk up the stairs normally but don't go down them normally! I am at About 115 range of motion! I may never be 100% & my pain is always gonna be there and I don't think I will ever regain my muscle completely! It really sucks. I feel worse than before I had surgery!! Wish I had never done it sometimes!! 😪😔
Just 2 days into my recovery..its just frustrating to be unable to do any basic things
Getting my surgery 12/21/21 wondering how Iam I going to cook. I need to continue to eat healthy so I can recover or wash clothes and clean house 🙄😖🤷♀️
@@dallasguidroz9350 its goona be hard for at least 2 weeks ..so you would need support..it is diffult to even lift your leg by yourself..so i recommend having someone for support.. BOL for your surgery
@@Suraj-sx8ib Thank you! I looking now for people 🙏
How did u use the toilet?
Im on my 3rd week so far from recovering... now im starting to feel sharp pain here n there......
Same here😢
I’m on day 3 post op for ACL n meniscus surgery. I’m terrified of showering or just opening the wound up. First time I tore my ACL it was only a partial tear but during the first week I fell in the shower and I’m saved to do it again
Thank you dr wang for this very interesting videos
Ugg I'm looking at surgery for complete tear of ACL and meniscus tear. My biggest worry is that I live in a second story apartment.
Literally had surgery today and they have hydrocodone for pain 2 pills every 6 hours and it ain't working or helping at all
how’s your leg now bc i’m currently recovering rn
damn bro same im on day five after my surgery and all i can say is my leg is really sore and i havent taken hydrocodone anymore its fs does not help😂
@@sosa-rk4zh yep never helped for me and they were 800mg....it'll get better don't worry I'm clear now I just don't have full strength back in my right leg....like for lifting but it's enough for anything you'd need to do.....after the first 2-3 weeks it gets way easier
Didnt seem like it helped for me either. Day ten pain went away enough for me to take Motrin
@@lag_behind9695 damn feel for you....funny thing is now I can watch any gore video or video of someone getting hurt and show no emotion... But as soon as a saw a video of a Russian teen breaking his leg to prevent going to war I was like fuuuuck....I know how bad leg stuff is and mine wasn't the worst....considering ACL Is better than breaking the bone.
being an aussie and 2 years later 1 week post ACL/MCL surgery i never had a brace like you did i just had a bandage which was taken off after a day then the dressing for a week and a half taken off after that. Garbage bagging your leg with tape for a proper shower was a life saver instead of having to be held but also i was practically sort of walking by day 2 with and without crutches. idk if its an american sh**y doctor thing or not but yeah man
also, spending days on the couch not moving is not what you want to be doing. need to be up and moving as much as you can for blood flow.
sorry mate im watching and commenting but the showering/changing thing too is wrong brother lmao. like i said i had both done and i have been fine doing it myself since it just takes an extra 2 mins or so to change but showering is not a problem. all the pressure just has to go to your right leg for 5 mins which is easy no stress plus a little standing on both legs but you ain't gonna slip bro
I'm 46yrs old doctor wants to do surgery on my torn ACL and meniscus but nothing in my like makes this easier if even possible bathroom is up a flight of stairs along with the fridge and no one around me that can help
I’m 2 weeks in and is the worse
Thanks for sharing!
2nd night after surgery really struggling to sleep and get comfy
Hey Dr Wang - what extension and flexion are you currently at 19 days post OP?
How long do I have to sleep with the brace on
i get surgery this week, all long until you can drive? get in and out of front seat of a car?
How long does brace wear during sleep usually last for?
These definitely hit, I'm 11 days post surgery. The sleep is brutal. I'm still in the brace for 3 more days
I'm going to have ACL reconstruction soon
@@farhanfabulous6867 what happened
you're supposed to keep the brace on
@@antoinealez12 my surgeon told me after 2 weeks to take it off. I'm just shy of 7 months post op. The recovery went very well. The only problem I have is all the meniscus was removed, so my knee is on borrowed time unfortunately
@@LuckyLakeHunting JESUS!!!
Yea I’m having a hard time showering my leg is extremely uncomfortable and I’m pain . We got a chair but the tub and the toilet are very different in height and feels like I’m staring my legs and back .
I’m only 5 days in and I tore my ACL & meniscus and have yet to bathed in going crazy . it’s hard to move fast so I was put in a diaper many accidents
I had my acl and mcl and lateral meniscus repaired Monday. I agree those all suck. How long until you were able to get off prescribed pain killers
i tore my acl and collateral ligement i got surgery afhter 41 days because of corona needed the brace for 6 weeks i jused to sleep for almost 2 months like straight like a soldier but now my afhter 7 weeks ish my knee still doesent bend like i want
Hi, I am from myanmar.
Do you have any experience? Pls share me. I have torn Acl & Pcl and now I have operated 7 day. I am suffering no sleeping at night.
When I sleep and I have pain wake up my knee is discomfortable. Pls reply me.
No i just removed my brace after 7 days 😂
Pooping with a straight leg!
I just had meniscus repair. Non-weight bearing for 6 week. I have ACL and cartilage transplant together next. Anyone have any experience with that big surgery?
Hiya bro, sorry to hear that. I’ve got surgery in 2 weeks on both sides of my meniscus, ACL reconstruction, having darts in cartilage at the end of my femur and my IT band cut and wrapped through my knee. They’re going to do it all in one op🤞 can i ask why they did your meniscus first and then are making you wait for your ACL and cartilage? Just out of curiosity and hope that they do mine in one go. Thanks in advance 👊
@@danielchoules9097 they repaired my meniscus to give it a chance to heal. Did not shave anything so mostly intact. Non weight bearing for 6 weeks and working mainly on my range of motion. Still have some popping and grinding in the knee, thought are not so much from the meniscus but more from the chunk of cartilage that’s missing. My Dr said it’s a shark bite that I just took from my femur.
I still cannot crutch it’s day 7
have your leg elevated above your heart bro ik its maybe uncomftarble or it might hurt but it helps if you want to get up, you have to be confident and loose the fear at some point your gonna have too do it man start slowly
@@sosa-rk4zh I’m already back to running 3 months later 💪🏻
@@corychepke8791 damnn bro im bearly waking up my leg from the nerve block😭 still on crutches
@@sosa-rk4zh I’m now running had meniscus repair as well as acl reconstruction, you got this bro take PT so extremely serious even if it hurts and you’ll be perfectly fine
@@corychepke8791 yk what i love PT after school my knee is really swollen and stiff and once i go to pt it feels so good
When did you you start try to bend you knee after surgery , I’m 3 days post- op
Hi Makayla,
I’m 7 nights post op so we are on about the same path. i’ve only been given 1 exercise at PT that deals with bending my knee and i can only do it 1 time a day for 10 reps.
How is your pain level and your sleep? Both of mine are not to my liking.
Feel free to bounce any questions off me. i think it would be great to have someone to talk to that had surgery at the same time.
Good Night
@@dohnjoe24 hi I’m 1 week and 2 post op know I’m sleep pretty good , most of my pain has left , I went to my first PT a few days ago
@@makaylahunter7247 lucky i’m still in a decent amount of pain. idk why? i guess my body just isn’t used to this type of thing. i usually have a high pain tolerance
@@dohnjoe24 it’s probably very normal that you still have pain ,
Weird Americans using braces because of insurance.
Can you explain your comment?
No he cannot
@@donalddonaldson7211 What do you i mean i cannot? Legit 0 reason to use for a brace after a normal ACL surgery. Its shit you Americans have so that the doctors can be sued.
He's British i guess