I have chronicled my ACL injury and repair and people are curious about what life is like post surgery. I am almost at the 4 month post-op mark and am still on restrictions, but here are some factoids about my recovery journey so far.

On 2 Crutches: First 4 weeks.

First Look: After 6 days the bulky leg wrap was replaced with small bandages. There was a lot of bruising, but the wounds, even with the staples, looked great.

Abdominal Injections: Andrew successfully administered all 12 of my blood thinner injections! He was very dedicated to his caregiving role.

Staples Removed: 13 days after surgery my 11 staples were removed. This was completely painless which was the polar opposite from when I had ankle surgery in 2007.

First Date: At 2 weeks we made it out for a fancy dinner on Valentine’s Day. I was on 2 crutches and felt wobbly, but it was totally worth it.

Recovery Room: I used our first floor cinema room as a recovery room until I felt stable and stronger. I started ascending the stairs to our bedroom on the second floor after 3 weeks.

On 1 Crutch: Between weeks 4 and 5.5. I was surprised how quickly I transitioned from 2 crutches to 1 crutch to 0 crutches.

Andrew’s Assigned Grade As Caregiver: A++!! He far exceeded my expectations in managing me, the pets, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and all of the other miscellaneous duties I can’t remember right now. I am so appreciative of all that he took on, with barely a complaint uttered for weeks on end.

Post-Op Physical Therapy Schedule: 5 days per week, starting at week 3.5 and ending at week 11.5. I think this was a much more aggressive schedule than what someone in the States would do. Although it was physically and sometimes mentally exhausting, I was happy to have it condensed and over in less than 3 months vs. doing fewer sessions for a longer period of time.

Physical Therapy Regimen: By the end I was using a 6 kg/13 lb ankle weight to do 5 different exercises, ball assisted wall squats, stationary bicycle, rebounder work, NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation), and massage/mobility manipulation. Each session took between 60-75 minutes.

Number Of Physical Therapy Sessions: 60 total, 20 before and 40 after surgery.

Transport to Physical Therapy: Almost exclusively via Uber. I got to know quite a few local drivers and some would even comment on my progress, “you aren’t using crutches anymore!” An Uber one way to the hospital was between €4-5.

Number of Appointments With Physical Therapy Physician: 1 pre-surgery and 3 post-surgery.

Test To Graduate Physical Therapy: 3 large “good leg” hops across the room and 3 large “bad leg” hops to return to the starting point (my surgery leg return hops were a bit short, but I still passed – thank goodness). The physician also confirmed acceptable range of motion and leg strength.

Number Of Appointments With Orthopedic Surgeon: 3 pre-surgery, surgery day itself, and 4 post-surgery. My last appointment, pending any problems, should be at the 6 month mark when my activity restrictions will hopefully end. This is not including other tests such as MRI and bloodwork.

Recovery Challenges: Especially at the beginning and even 5 weeks after surgery I was physically exhausted with very low energy. Although I knew I would be on restrictions until the 6 month mark, actually living it and being patient has been a struggle. I still have a massive fear of reinjury and falling. Although my mobility is quite good, some days I wonder how long it will be until I feel completely stress free engaging in higher impact activities.

What Can I Do Now?: At 4 months post surgery, I can walk long distances on stable surfaces, but am still prohibited from using dirt trails. I have walked up to 7.5 miles in one day. I can climb and descend fairly steep hills on pavement and sidewalks. I can easily climb and descend stairs. I can use a rebounder, but still limit the level of high impact. I could jog on a treadmill, which is the only kind of running I have been cleared for, but I don’t really love running enough to go to a gym for this since we don’t own a treadmill. I can do most Yoga poses that involve sitting on my legs (Child’s Pose) or bending my knee (Pigeon Pose). I have been encouraged to continue strength training, so we purchased 5 kg ankle weights – I really didn’t see the need for those 6 kg behemoths I was using in physical therapy. My knee is already much more stable with lateral movements.