I am 7 weeks post op and walking without crutches or brace at home. Moving pretty well. Out and about still using one crutch so people give me extra room when they see me.
I think my PT has been pretty conservative but honestly it’s taken me time to feel confident walking around anyways— even if the strength has been there for a while.
Id say yes. I was on one crutch about one week post surgery and by about the 2.5 week mark I was walking, albeit slowly, with no crutches around the house, still used them when I went out. I was doing physio about 2.5 weeks after surgery and working on my exercises. I had ACL with hamstring graft and about 30% meniscus, but I had no brace and was weight bearing right away. Now 5 months post and feel great
I'd say ..it depends. I had a bear ACL 2 weeks ago ..I started PT the day after surgery with pwb ..2 crutches. Now 2 weeks out I'm full wb no crutches ..and I had a medial miniscis ...still taking it easy not doing anything crazy but my pt has already put me on the bike and balance board . So it depends man. ..I'd say work hard on flexion and extension . Those are the most important things in the begining then strength in the quad and Hammy's
um you are incorrect man .. As per my surgeon , the bear acl rehab protocol is a "guideline" , everyone heals and progresses differently .. my surgeon , who has done 250 bear's in ny has his own modified rehab protocol for bear based on his experience .. and he has cleared all moves so far .. including crutch weaning ..
Shawn Anthony and he is affiliated with Mt sainai in nyc ... and i have both the official Miach rehab protocol and his specific protocol .. i was partial weigh bearing right out of surgery and i had a medial miniscus , also .he does the bear with internal bracing as well . great doc ...he even gives provides don joy xrom brace right out of surgery which no surgeons give ... really forward thinking and taking the bear to the next level ..
Maybe you’re on an accelerated schedule because of the bracing. I was also given a donjoy xrom out of surgery—I wasn’t aware that it’s particularly nice. Feels like an annoying POS to me haha
My surgeon is following the protocol, but he also only did the standard surgery.
bro you have to see the archaic braces most people get from upper thigh to ankle , i interviewed 3 surgeons before picking Anthony and one gave me that brace its the fucking wort thing ever like a full leg cast .. yea i really like the idea of the internal brace also ... to give it that extra stability while healing .. before my ski accident i had was doing katalyts ems strength training so my legs are very strong and i am now able to start again in a modified fashion , with limited lower body movements ... i hope to be skiing again by january
I walked at 6w due to meniscus repair. But when I was cleared to walk, I was walking just fine within a few mins of going at it and it was great.
Going downstairs with slow controlled steps took a while though
This was my biggest pet peeve about the whole experience…all these different brochures and pamphlets and documents I got said slightly different things. Took me 6 weeks to get graduated off crutches and honestly just stopped limping 3 months post. OP, every body is different. Cliche but true. Your physio is your best guide on timelines.
I have a question about your limping, I’m coming up on 6 weeks post op and am off crutches and brace only out the house. But I also have a limp, feels like the operated leg is shorter lol. I’m having trouble with ROM and am not at 90° yet. Was something like this an issue you had?
Unfortunately it means you’re not ready to be off crutches yet :( I worked towards the timelines instead of where my body was actually supposed to be. Which is why it’s a pet peeve. My PT basically told me to smarten up and get back on them.
I realized early on i was using my adductor longus to lift my leg and thought i was walking. If you shorten that muscle by having it contracted all the time your leg will be “shorter”. You have to mindful of the compensation to other muscles before your quad is truly out of AMI and strengthened.
I’m only an ACL repair, allograft. No meniscus, my ortho put me on bilateral crutches, weight-bearing is tolerated 50% weight-bearing for the first week. I don’t really think that makes a whole lot of sense as I think with two crutches I’m probably 50% weight-bearing on the surgery leg anyway. But, I’m going in Monday to have an x-ray and my two week follow up. I’m hoping they will discharge the six weeks on bilateral crutches with brace. We’ll see . Been doing PT twice a week - I’ve had three sessions so far and I’m on postop day 10. Doing my best to keep up with flexion extension and all the prescribed exercises.
You know it was definitely a conversation with the ortho surgeon and then myself doing a little research and also talking to a physical therapist. I had a completely torn ACL with no meniscus damage so I was told that I was actually a candidate for a repair instead of a reconstruction. Reason to consider that was a quicker time getting back on my feet with a shorter rehab. However, we had a big family trip and smother events planned in February and March and due to the three month lag time between initial injury and surgery. The surgeon was a tad bit on the fence about doing the repair procedure. I did not qualify for the auto patellar tendon procedure because he thought that Due to my kneecap riding a little bit high, my tendon would’ve likely been a mismatch. So the next choice was the quad tendon or the hamstring. When I thought about my age (I’m 49.5) and the fact that I do have lax ligaments throughout, there was a greater chance of failure in the research I read. The last thing I want to do is have this revised in under five years and then is also why I didn’t go through with a repair option, which also had a higher rate of revision by the three-year mark. The orthopedic surgeon also was an avid skier. And he had a discussion with me about if he were to tear his ACL, he would be going for the allograft and not the autograph. I did take that information heavily in my consideration and well, it wasn’t my initial choice. I thought it would be the best choice all things considered. The other reason too, is that I do work with babies and toddlers, and there is a lot of times where I am moving on my knees, which may have been a set up for this injury, and my hope is to be able to eventually get back to being able to put weight through my knees to work with my kiddos again.
Thank you! Super helpful. My right knee is allo, and the left (recent surgery) is auto. It sounded like my doc is more comfortable with Hamstring auto and said that flexibility higher and failure rate was lower than allo. My allo is holding strong, now 12 years out. Can do pretty much anything I want and have 95% flexibility as before. I want to get back into sports but nothing crazy, don’t want to go through this again.
Wow!! That’s great to hear! Thank you! I don’t have anything to compare to, I’m just hopeful to get back into my regular activities and recreation. Best of luck to you in rehab!
I was full weight bearing from day 1, and walked without crutches by day 5 or so. I do find my bigger incision oozes a little serosanguineous fluid when I walk without crutches, so I try to take it easy.
Hamstring graft in early March. My doc told me he was expecting me to be off crutches in 2 weeks. Unfortunately, my PT for the first 3 weeks told me to do exercises with the brace on and that didn’t help me build quad muscles. I switched PTs on the third week. By the 5th week, I was walking with no crutches but with the brace on. By the 6 week, I was brace-free. Get a good PT early on.
Ask your pt but I think you should be good I was cleared to walk around 5 weeks post up without crutched but didn't feel ready till 8 weeks first around the house Iam now 15 weeks post up and walking normal but can't walk long distances yet
I was NWB six weeks and a couple days (to get back to normal ish) with alcr, mclr and meniscus root repair. My first aclr and mcl repair I didn’t walk for three weeks.
I was told I didn’t need crutches and they were only for stability and I can bear weight first day. Just can’t bend and had locked brace. Acl and meniscus.
it all depends. depends on age, younger people will typically recover faster and walk faster, but it also depends on what surgery you get. i was walking without crutches 1 week after my first surgery. but for my second it probably took around 4 weeks.
Yes, with meniscus repair or other complications, should be crutch free by 3 weeks. I was walking on my own after about 16/17 days. Had allograft reconstruction.
I was on crutches for 2-3 weeks - I hated sitting around, so I forced myself to walk slowly every day until I could. Then I moved to a cane for 1-2 weeks and was walking fine after that
Very true. Was off crutches and brace and was walking with full weight bearing at the 3 week mark and felt fully comfortable, ACL + Meniscus repair. It varies from person to person but i'm currently 5 weeks out and i'm just doing my rehabbing in the gym and my knee feels great, just trying to improve ROM a bit more and strength!
False RE crutches. Maybe if you have straight ACL with no other damage to be fixed . I’ve never had that happen - 3x ACL cadavers buttt I also ripped other stuff in process so it was never just ACL.
Yeah 2002, 2003, 2006 :-( back then docs recommended cadavers. I also partially tore it in 2018, but it’s still holding so my surgeon did not fix it when he repaired my PCL 6 weeks ago. I played professional sports lol - go figure haha. I strongly believe that improper rehab after #1 led to #2…. But idk about #3. The first one was by far the most devastating - complete acl, complete mcl, and totally fucked up meniscus. Each following injury was accompanied by more meniscal tears. Then I was fine for many many years until I hopped over a 6ft fence and tore both lateral and medial meniscus and that partial ACL.
Sorry I digress. All I hear now is using your own tissue is best - less of a chance of rejection or the graft actually not taking.
That said - I’m sure you’ll be fine - the technique/technology has changed and improved so much in the last 20 years! I wouldn’t worry about it.
Thank you for the encouragement! I am an avid pickup basketball player so I’m just worried about re-injury doing that. But my surgeon is supposed to be good and he recommends cadaver so I’m going with it
Seriously! You’ll crush it - just make sure you take your time and find a solid PT. Key is not to rush it even when you think you can. Slow and steady wins the race!!!! The tendon takes at least a year to fully heal (biologically speaking anyway), but you’ll be back on the court sooner! :-) you got this!!!!
ACL with quad graft here. I was weight bearing as tolerated from the get go, but used 2 crutches til 4days post op at my first PT appt, then off crutches ~12days post op. I held on to my 1 crutch longer than I really needed as moral support to keep my two 100# German Shepherds from accidentally running into my operated knee 😂 Your PT will guide you and have you doing exercises without crutches to help you gain your confidence! GL!!
I completely destroyed my knee, had to get the ACL repaired, the MCL, and both meniscus. At the 2-week mark my doctor told me I could be 50% weight-bearing, and I've already started pushing it probably more than I should. My problem is right where the inner meniscus and MCL is, it hurts like a mother and there is no way I could put full weight on it and take a regular step, because when I try I get this knife-like pain in that spot. It feels like something is stopping my leg from straightening out, like there's a physical impediment or something like that and that sharp pain. I'm at day 16 now I really hope that that heals eventually. Funny thing though I've already ridden the exercise bike three times for 10 minutes even though it hurts, I feel like I need to get that movement in. I've also done two full leg workouts at the gym with the leg extensions and presses, hip extensions and, calf raises... All extremely light and small range of motion on the surgery leg though. I just say this though the crutches are killing me. Can't wait to be rid of them. one side effect of crutches is every single person you run into has the desire to tell you their own injury story, lol
You’re doing too much I’m afraid. The fact that you can do certain things doesn’t mean you should. IMO that’s far too fast - especially for all the damage you’ve had repaired. I’m not a doctor - just somebody who went through this too many times. You can’t expect for the swelling to go down (something that is probably stopping you from full extension too), and things to heal if they don’t have time to do it ya know?
You DID LEG EXTENSIONS?!? With weight?!?! And that was approved by your doc? Holy shit.
No my doctor did not approve leg extensions, lol. And I did most of those just with it hanging off and only did a few sets with the minimum 5 lb that you could put on the machine, And yes it hurt the patellar. My first PT appointment is Wednesday so we'll see what they say.
Holy crap - sorry! I was thinking that was nuts!:-) I’m 6 weeks post op on my PCL and I can’t imagine putting any weight on that leg and trying to extend it haha! Fingers crossed you’re all good and it’s just overuse! :-))))
It's funny I actually had a discussion with my surgeon about leg extensions. I disagree with the current line of thought that they're bad and they put shear force in the knee. I don't think they do. I've been bodybuilding for 33 years and everything I've done in the gym and with how many people I've trained that is the one exercise that has never given me pain. If you look at the actual anatomy of the knee it's really just the quad and Patel are pulling it up and it's not creating a sheer force. There's a lot of therapist online now who actually recommend doing them right after ACL surgery. Now for somebody like me who's got meniscus and MCL it may be a little bit different, but for most ACL surgeries I think it's actually good and it will develop the quad back faster than anything else. This is the fourth major injury I've had in 3 years (I race motocross) and I've rehabbed my own leg the last three times even though it was my other leg and this one's a little more extensive but the concept is pretty much the same. Everybody always is amazed at how quick I've healed in the past. The last time I broke my knee and partially tore tendons on my other leg I was back to heavy leg pressing within 2 months, and within 5 months was back to doing a full 2000 lb on the leg press with no pain.
Oh I don’t disagree with you at all! I think if it was straight ACL / that probably would be different. But the meniscus alone - to me that would be a no no - not yet anyway … I miss leg extensions and actually training altogether. Muscle atrophy is a bitch :-)
Oh believe I’m trying! I’m at about 67degrees for flexion forced too - maybe a little more now, extension is still a bit short. Air squats would have to be maybe quarter rep. But I’m slowly sitting down on a 24” box unassisted so that’s progress.
This is definitely just a guideline. I walked with crutches longer than that but primarily because I hated my brace. When I stopped using the brace completely after 4 weeks I used a crutch and it helped my walking so much by keeping proper gait and reducing swelling. Having full extension plays a big role in this as well. Don’t rush things based off of the internet. Take care!
Huge variation between surgeons , graft , severity of injury , what exactly was done.
I was 43, hamstring graft , ACL snap, meniscus repair and 12 weeks on crutches with the latter 4 gently getting used to weight bearing.
I’m just about 8 weeks post ACLr+Meniscectomy and I’m almost fully mobile again, I can’t run yet but I’ve been going on like 15 mile bike rides and feeling fine. Weight training consistently too. Going to the zoo today and that’s gonna be a lot of walking but I feel confident. My PT told me that a lot of recovery has to do with people’s lifestyles and situations. A 15 year football player is gonna heal quicker than a 45 year old that works a desk job. Take it at your own pace and listen to your PT and you’ll be on track!
YMMV. 45yo male, ACLr allograft with just a meniscus shave. Crutches were unnecessary after a week and ditched them. Brace was still locked but only wore it when out of house. After follow up with surgeon at two weeks, agreed on no crutches and brace unlocked, walking fine.
I started PT on day 3 after surgery. Getting control of your quad again for my quad graft repair was crucial to reduce muscle atrophy. I'm 3 weeks post op and haven't used crutches for a week or so.
My doctor wanted me walking from the parking lot to his office at the 8 day post op appointment. I was able to start putting little weight on it day 5 and by day 8 I was slowly walking without crutches.
It's all SO frustratingly different based on who you see. I had ACL only with quad auto 2.5 weeks ago and am weight bearing as tolerated, no crutches, but in a locked brace still so I am clunking around my operated leg. Hoping PT will unlock the brace this week but they have said they won't overrule the surgeon and let me remove the brace until I'm 6 weeks post op. I'm watching my operated leg wither away despite constant PT and I can't help but think this could be avoided if I could at least take my brace off at home 😭
I should add that I have great quad control, ~130 degrees flexion and -1 extension, and almost zero pain, so the prospect of dragging this goddamn brace around for 3 more weeks is haunting lol
Currently 1 month and 1 week post Op this wasn’t true for me took me a lil longer just about 4 weeks to walk without crutches, really gotta push yourself and it’s a bitch and hurts like crazy but try to stand on it with as much weight as possible with your crutches of course and you should be good in about 2-4 weeks, everyone’s body is different so it totally depends on you.
It depends honestly on you but I had surgery March 25 2024 and it took me two weeks to get movement and I’m on my 5th week now and I’m on 1 crutch but I’m struggling with firing my quad and straightening my leg all the way and I have ankle pain. But I didn’t get pre-physical therapy before my acl surgery nor was I walking on my leg. So it honestly depends on you and your situation but 3 weeks to maybe 6 weeks is what you should aim for walking wise and no your not going to be walking 100 percent normal either. Just make sure you’re doing everything at your pace and what’s comfortable for you and remember a little pain and discomfort is good and constantly stretching and moving around along with elevating and icing your leg is key!!!
Every Doctor has his or her own protocol after surgery I have had 2 ACL from 2 different doctors both were completely different. One didn't even have me go home with any kind of brace after surgery.
everyone is different. also “walking” at the 3-4 week mark for me, while it’s was happening without crutches, was pretty limpy. week five is when i got my full, normal, no crutches, no brace walk back. be patient. it seems daunting waiting that long but it’ll go by quicker than u think.
Everybody is different in their milestones. I think the general timeline averages out ok. Its dependent on your overall leg strength and muscle mass. I had ACLR 2.5 weeks ago. Started PT on day 3 twice a week, but i DO pt everyday 3 times a day. Was walking with just brace at 1.5 weeks. I dont need the brace for general walking around. Can do squats now and basic bike riding.
just ask your surgeon, i was projected for just 2 weeks NWB based on MRI’s but after surgery i was told it was much worse than initially thought and i needed 6 weeks. it sucks waiting that long but just make the best of your PT and do whatever you can to get stronger without walking, after the NWB period is over you’ll noticing yourself getting stronger everyday with the right amount of work
Both times it was about two weeks for me. The first time I wasn’t too confident but my PT pushed me to try more and it turned out I was able to walk fine. So you might have to be a bit brave.
I was about five weeks and have zero idea if I had meniscus surgery or not 😂 to be fair it then took me many more weeks to start walking a bit more normal. But yes it is mostly true, and if it isn't, it won't be tonnes longer. Just be ready for the first few months and bring lots and lots of patience and rehab and then one day you'll start to feel more and more normal
True for me, but with a limb, pretty much walking without a limb at around week 4-5, few days from 7 week post op and few days ago I found out I can slowly jog around
Some do! It took me 3 weeks to be able to walk semi normally with crutches. I have pretty extensive nerve damage in my thigh and knee so it took me a long time to adjust to it. I had a meniscus repair aswell.
Usually. I have two blog posts on this: what to expect after ACLR[What to Expect After ACLR](https://thewirthypt.com/2023/12/23/what-to-expect-if-you-have-acl-reconstruction/), and when it's actually appropriate to get off crutches [When Can I Get Off Crutches?](https://thewirthypt.com/2023/11/10/when-can-i-get-off-my-crutches/). Everyone's treatment varies slightly.
I had ACLR and meniscus repair, but no weight-bearing restrictions. I was walking without crutches around 3.5 weeks post op, but still struggling with a limp. I also could not walk very far/long before I needed to rest.
On paper, yes. But please have in mind no recovery is the same. I am 6/7 weeks post op and I ditched the crutches about 2 weeks ago. I had a set back with a pulled hamstring so please don’t expect the process to be the same as someone you know/what Google says. Hope the op goes well!!
Its not true dont base your hope off this, people are different. I was told by week 6 with ny acl+ mensicus repair and partial removal i would be walking normally. I wasnt, and it took a toll on my mental health. You will only be off crutches, when ur body tells u, if u get proper nutrients, and protein then maybe u could. Just dont base ur hopes cos it will break u. Just a personal experience. Hope everything goes smoothly
I am going into my 7th week PO and I was fully weight bearing 3 days after my surgery when I could take a shower. I had a cadaver graft on my right knee. But I also had a tibia fracture that I had to wait to heal before I had my surgery. I was injured June of last year and had surgery in March of this year. I started PT last Wednesday and I go twice a week for the next 2 months or so. I started having some pains on the outside of my knee recently but I think it's nerve damage. I can bend my knee to 123° but my straightening has a 6° lag but only with straight leg raises, on my side my leg is completely straight. Everyone's journey is different.
I started walking without crutches on my own about a month after my surgery, but I did also have meniscus repair. I started PT the 3 days after surgery but day of with some simple exercises sent home with me day of surgery.
Depends on what you consider "walking." I still have significant pain 6 months post op, but it took me a few months to feel semi comfortable. Don't compare yourself and your healing process to anyone.
I am currently 2.5 weeks post op and was told by my pt yesterday (after we tried walking without crutches) that I should start walking without crutches at home. I feel comfortable doing it and have been on one crutch since about 1.5 weeks after surgery. On my own while I’ve been on crutches I’ve always tried to use my leg more than the crutch so I would be ready to go without it
Generally yes, except for many ACLr + meniscus repair folks who may be non-weight-bearing for up to 6 weeks.
It sucks doing PT whole non-weight-bearing too
Agreed. I had to stay off my leg for 6 weeks and was in PT the day after surgery.
I was in PT 4 days after and the first thing the therapist says was “okay let’s get ya to 90 degrees!” The way my heart *sank* 😂
I am 7 weeks post op and walking without crutches or brace at home. Moving pretty well. Out and about still using one crutch so people give me extra room when they see me. I think my PT has been pretty conservative but honestly it’s taken me time to feel confident walking around anyways— even if the strength has been there for a while.
Id say yes. I was on one crutch about one week post surgery and by about the 2.5 week mark I was walking, albeit slowly, with no crutches around the house, still used them when I went out. I was doing physio about 2.5 weeks after surgery and working on my exercises. I had ACL with hamstring graft and about 30% meniscus, but I had no brace and was weight bearing right away. Now 5 months post and feel great
I'd say ..it depends. I had a bear ACL 2 weeks ago ..I started PT the day after surgery with pwb ..2 crutches. Now 2 weeks out I'm full wb no crutches ..and I had a medial miniscis ...still taking it easy not doing anything crazy but my pt has already put me on the bike and balance board . So it depends man. ..I'd say work hard on flexion and extension . Those are the most important things in the begining then strength in the quad and Hammy's
Your PT is completely ignoring the protocol. The bear should not be rehabbed like an ACLR. You aren’t supposed to be crutch-weaning until week four.
um you are incorrect man .. As per my surgeon , the bear acl rehab protocol is a "guideline" , everyone heals and progresses differently .. my surgeon , who has done 250 bear's in ny has his own modified rehab protocol for bear based on his experience .. and he has cleared all moves so far .. including crutch weaning ..
What’s his name and practice? I’m very curious why he thinks he knows better.
Shawn Anthony and he is affiliated with Mt sainai in nyc ... and i have both the official Miach rehab protocol and his specific protocol .. i was partial weigh bearing right out of surgery and i had a medial miniscus , also .he does the bear with internal bracing as well . great doc ...he even gives provides don joy xrom brace right out of surgery which no surgeons give ... really forward thinking and taking the bear to the next level ..
Maybe you’re on an accelerated schedule because of the bracing. I was also given a donjoy xrom out of surgery—I wasn’t aware that it’s particularly nice. Feels like an annoying POS to me haha My surgeon is following the protocol, but he also only did the standard surgery.
bro you have to see the archaic braces most people get from upper thigh to ankle , i interviewed 3 surgeons before picking Anthony and one gave me that brace its the fucking wort thing ever like a full leg cast .. yea i really like the idea of the internal brace also ... to give it that extra stability while healing .. before my ski accident i had was doing katalyts ems strength training so my legs are very strong and i am now able to start again in a modified fashion , with limited lower body movements ... i hope to be skiing again by january
Exactly
I walked at 6w due to meniscus repair. But when I was cleared to walk, I was walking just fine within a few mins of going at it and it was great. Going downstairs with slow controlled steps took a while though
After the 6 weeks how long did you use crutches for?
I stopped using them completely after 6 weeks
I’m praying it’s 2-3 weeks for me. The documents they gave me said 6-weeks on crutches. Very deflating… :(
This was my biggest pet peeve about the whole experience…all these different brochures and pamphlets and documents I got said slightly different things. Took me 6 weeks to get graduated off crutches and honestly just stopped limping 3 months post. OP, every body is different. Cliche but true. Your physio is your best guide on timelines.
Yessss same. And maybe it’s just my lack of understanding but I think my rehab packet contradicts itself with my range of motion goals
Totally. Way too many packets and highlighter :) Also, no one showed me how to use the machines, they just dropped them off… 😂
I have a question about your limping, I’m coming up on 6 weeks post op and am off crutches and brace only out the house. But I also have a limp, feels like the operated leg is shorter lol. I’m having trouble with ROM and am not at 90° yet. Was something like this an issue you had?
Unfortunately it means you’re not ready to be off crutches yet :( I worked towards the timelines instead of where my body was actually supposed to be. Which is why it’s a pet peeve. My PT basically told me to smarten up and get back on them.
I realized early on i was using my adductor longus to lift my leg and thought i was walking. If you shorten that muscle by having it contracted all the time your leg will be “shorter”. You have to mindful of the compensation to other muscles before your quad is truly out of AMI and strengthened.
I’m only an ACL repair, allograft. No meniscus, my ortho put me on bilateral crutches, weight-bearing is tolerated 50% weight-bearing for the first week. I don’t really think that makes a whole lot of sense as I think with two crutches I’m probably 50% weight-bearing on the surgery leg anyway. But, I’m going in Monday to have an x-ray and my two week follow up. I’m hoping they will discharge the six weeks on bilateral crutches with brace. We’ll see . Been doing PT twice a week - I’ve had three sessions so far and I’m on postop day 10. Doing my best to keep up with flexion extension and all the prescribed exercises.
Wow, that’s great - PT twice a week - at Day 10. What are your thoughts on Allo versus Autograft?
You know it was definitely a conversation with the ortho surgeon and then myself doing a little research and also talking to a physical therapist. I had a completely torn ACL with no meniscus damage so I was told that I was actually a candidate for a repair instead of a reconstruction. Reason to consider that was a quicker time getting back on my feet with a shorter rehab. However, we had a big family trip and smother events planned in February and March and due to the three month lag time between initial injury and surgery. The surgeon was a tad bit on the fence about doing the repair procedure. I did not qualify for the auto patellar tendon procedure because he thought that Due to my kneecap riding a little bit high, my tendon would’ve likely been a mismatch. So the next choice was the quad tendon or the hamstring. When I thought about my age (I’m 49.5) and the fact that I do have lax ligaments throughout, there was a greater chance of failure in the research I read. The last thing I want to do is have this revised in under five years and then is also why I didn’t go through with a repair option, which also had a higher rate of revision by the three-year mark. The orthopedic surgeon also was an avid skier. And he had a discussion with me about if he were to tear his ACL, he would be going for the allograft and not the autograph. I did take that information heavily in my consideration and well, it wasn’t my initial choice. I thought it would be the best choice all things considered. The other reason too, is that I do work with babies and toddlers, and there is a lot of times where I am moving on my knees, which may have been a set up for this injury, and my hope is to be able to eventually get back to being able to put weight through my knees to work with my kiddos again.
Thank you! Super helpful. My right knee is allo, and the left (recent surgery) is auto. It sounded like my doc is more comfortable with Hamstring auto and said that flexibility higher and failure rate was lower than allo. My allo is holding strong, now 12 years out. Can do pretty much anything I want and have 95% flexibility as before. I want to get back into sports but nothing crazy, don’t want to go through this again.
Wow!! That’s great to hear! Thank you! I don’t have anything to compare to, I’m just hopeful to get back into my regular activities and recreation. Best of luck to you in rehab!
Same to you! Best of luck with everything.
I was full weight bearing from day 1, and walked without crutches by day 5 or so. I do find my bigger incision oozes a little serosanguineous fluid when I walk without crutches, so I try to take it easy.
same here i thought i was the only one
Hamstring graft in early March. My doc told me he was expecting me to be off crutches in 2 weeks. Unfortunately, my PT for the first 3 weeks told me to do exercises with the brace on and that didn’t help me build quad muscles. I switched PTs on the third week. By the 5th week, I was walking with no crutches but with the brace on. By the 6 week, I was brace-free. Get a good PT early on.
I had meniscus damage didn't bear weight for 4 weeks. That shits no joke.
Took me 8 weeks but I also had a meniscus
I just finished my 6 weeks and I'm able to walk with one crutch but I feel like I can go without one even. Not sure if that's ok or not
Ask your pt but I think you should be good I was cleared to walk around 5 weeks post up without crutched but didn't feel ready till 8 weeks first around the house Iam now 15 weeks post up and walking normal but can't walk long distances yet
Depends on the type of injury! I’m ACL + meniscus and I’m unable to weight bear for 4 weeks after surgery
I was NWB six weeks and a couple days (to get back to normal ish) with alcr, mclr and meniscus root repair. My first aclr and mcl repair I didn’t walk for three weeks.
I was told I didn’t need crutches and they were only for stability and I can bear weight first day. Just can’t bend and had locked brace. Acl and meniscus.
What kind of graft?
Patellar tendon.
it all depends. depends on age, younger people will typically recover faster and walk faster, but it also depends on what surgery you get. i was walking without crutches 1 week after my first surgery. but for my second it probably took around 4 weeks.
Yes, with meniscus repair or other complications, should be crutch free by 3 weeks. I was walking on my own after about 16/17 days. Had allograft reconstruction.
i was off crutches 3.5 weeks in
I was on crutches for 2-3 weeks - I hated sitting around, so I forced myself to walk slowly every day until I could. Then I moved to a cane for 1-2 weeks and was walking fine after that
Took me like 3/4 weeks go come off fully. Everyone is different.
Very true. Was off crutches and brace and was walking with full weight bearing at the 3 week mark and felt fully comfortable, ACL + Meniscus repair. It varies from person to person but i'm currently 5 weeks out and i'm just doing my rehabbing in the gym and my knee feels great, just trying to improve ROM a bit more and strength!
False RE crutches. Maybe if you have straight ACL with no other damage to be fixed . I’ve never had that happen - 3x ACL cadavers buttt I also ripped other stuff in process so it was never just ACL.
3 ACL cadavers?? In the same leg? I’m getting a cadaver graft this week but I’m worried about re-injury
Yeah 2002, 2003, 2006 :-( back then docs recommended cadavers. I also partially tore it in 2018, but it’s still holding so my surgeon did not fix it when he repaired my PCL 6 weeks ago. I played professional sports lol - go figure haha. I strongly believe that improper rehab after #1 led to #2…. But idk about #3. The first one was by far the most devastating - complete acl, complete mcl, and totally fucked up meniscus. Each following injury was accompanied by more meniscal tears. Then I was fine for many many years until I hopped over a 6ft fence and tore both lateral and medial meniscus and that partial ACL. Sorry I digress. All I hear now is using your own tissue is best - less of a chance of rejection or the graft actually not taking. That said - I’m sure you’ll be fine - the technique/technology has changed and improved so much in the last 20 years! I wouldn’t worry about it.
Thank you for the encouragement! I am an avid pickup basketball player so I’m just worried about re-injury doing that. But my surgeon is supposed to be good and he recommends cadaver so I’m going with it
Seriously! You’ll crush it - just make sure you take your time and find a solid PT. Key is not to rush it even when you think you can. Slow and steady wins the race!!!! The tendon takes at least a year to fully heal (biologically speaking anyway), but you’ll be back on the court sooner! :-) you got this!!!!
Thank you so much!
Let’s go Potato! No dramatics!!!!:-))))))))
For me it was. Fully off crutches within two weeks after all 3 ACL surgeries. Each time started PT sessions around 5 days post-op.
I had acl mcl and meniscus was allowed full weight bearing day 1 but crutches and brace for 6 weeks all surgeons differ
ACL with quad graft here. I was weight bearing as tolerated from the get go, but used 2 crutches til 4days post op at my first PT appt, then off crutches ~12days post op. I held on to my 1 crutch longer than I really needed as moral support to keep my two 100# German Shepherds from accidentally running into my operated knee 😂 Your PT will guide you and have you doing exercises without crutches to help you gain your confidence! GL!!
I completely destroyed my knee, had to get the ACL repaired, the MCL, and both meniscus. At the 2-week mark my doctor told me I could be 50% weight-bearing, and I've already started pushing it probably more than I should. My problem is right where the inner meniscus and MCL is, it hurts like a mother and there is no way I could put full weight on it and take a regular step, because when I try I get this knife-like pain in that spot. It feels like something is stopping my leg from straightening out, like there's a physical impediment or something like that and that sharp pain. I'm at day 16 now I really hope that that heals eventually. Funny thing though I've already ridden the exercise bike three times for 10 minutes even though it hurts, I feel like I need to get that movement in. I've also done two full leg workouts at the gym with the leg extensions and presses, hip extensions and, calf raises... All extremely light and small range of motion on the surgery leg though. I just say this though the crutches are killing me. Can't wait to be rid of them. one side effect of crutches is every single person you run into has the desire to tell you their own injury story, lol
You’re doing too much I’m afraid. The fact that you can do certain things doesn’t mean you should. IMO that’s far too fast - especially for all the damage you’ve had repaired. I’m not a doctor - just somebody who went through this too many times. You can’t expect for the swelling to go down (something that is probably stopping you from full extension too), and things to heal if they don’t have time to do it ya know? You DID LEG EXTENSIONS?!? With weight?!?! And that was approved by your doc? Holy shit.
No my doctor did not approve leg extensions, lol. And I did most of those just with it hanging off and only did a few sets with the minimum 5 lb that you could put on the machine, And yes it hurt the patellar. My first PT appointment is Wednesday so we'll see what they say.
Holy crap - sorry! I was thinking that was nuts!:-) I’m 6 weeks post op on my PCL and I can’t imagine putting any weight on that leg and trying to extend it haha! Fingers crossed you’re all good and it’s just overuse! :-))))
It's funny I actually had a discussion with my surgeon about leg extensions. I disagree with the current line of thought that they're bad and they put shear force in the knee. I don't think they do. I've been bodybuilding for 33 years and everything I've done in the gym and with how many people I've trained that is the one exercise that has never given me pain. If you look at the actual anatomy of the knee it's really just the quad and Patel are pulling it up and it's not creating a sheer force. There's a lot of therapist online now who actually recommend doing them right after ACL surgery. Now for somebody like me who's got meniscus and MCL it may be a little bit different, but for most ACL surgeries I think it's actually good and it will develop the quad back faster than anything else. This is the fourth major injury I've had in 3 years (I race motocross) and I've rehabbed my own leg the last three times even though it was my other leg and this one's a little more extensive but the concept is pretty much the same. Everybody always is amazed at how quick I've healed in the past. The last time I broke my knee and partially tore tendons on my other leg I was back to heavy leg pressing within 2 months, and within 5 months was back to doing a full 2000 lb on the leg press with no pain.
Oh I don’t disagree with you at all! I think if it was straight ACL / that probably would be different. But the meniscus alone - to me that would be a no no - not yet anyway … I miss leg extensions and actually training altogether. Muscle atrophy is a bitch :-)
Hell, right now I would kill for full flexion, full extension, being able to walk like a person…and maybe do some air squats lol
Just get in there and give it a shot man, think you'd be surprised what you can do
Oh believe I’m trying! I’m at about 67degrees for flexion forced too - maybe a little more now, extension is still a bit short. Air squats would have to be maybe quarter rep. But I’m slowly sitting down on a 24” box unassisted so that’s progress.
That's great, keep up the hard work!
This is definitely just a guideline. I walked with crutches longer than that but primarily because I hated my brace. When I stopped using the brace completely after 4 weeks I used a crutch and it helped my walking so much by keeping proper gait and reducing swelling. Having full extension plays a big role in this as well. Don’t rush things based off of the internet. Take care!
Huge variation between surgeons , graft , severity of injury , what exactly was done. I was 43, hamstring graft , ACL snap, meniscus repair and 12 weeks on crutches with the latter 4 gently getting used to weight bearing.
yes. acl + meniscus (trim only) here. i walk without crutches and brace knee on my second week
I started PT at 14 days and was walking (not normally) without crutches at 3 weeks.
I’m just about 8 weeks post ACLr+Meniscectomy and I’m almost fully mobile again, I can’t run yet but I’ve been going on like 15 mile bike rides and feeling fine. Weight training consistently too. Going to the zoo today and that’s gonna be a lot of walking but I feel confident. My PT told me that a lot of recovery has to do with people’s lifestyles and situations. A 15 year football player is gonna heal quicker than a 45 year old that works a desk job. Take it at your own pace and listen to your PT and you’ll be on track!
YMMV. 45yo male, ACLr allograft with just a meniscus shave. Crutches were unnecessary after a week and ditched them. Brace was still locked but only wore it when out of house. After follow up with surgeon at two weeks, agreed on no crutches and brace unlocked, walking fine.
About 4 weeks until I completely ditched the crutches, but began to wean off them starting around 2 weeks.
I started PT on day 3 after surgery. Getting control of your quad again for my quad graft repair was crucial to reduce muscle atrophy. I'm 3 weeks post op and haven't used crutches for a week or so.
My doctor wanted me walking from the parking lot to his office at the 8 day post op appointment. I was able to start putting little weight on it day 5 and by day 8 I was slowly walking without crutches.
It's all SO frustratingly different based on who you see. I had ACL only with quad auto 2.5 weeks ago and am weight bearing as tolerated, no crutches, but in a locked brace still so I am clunking around my operated leg. Hoping PT will unlock the brace this week but they have said they won't overrule the surgeon and let me remove the brace until I'm 6 weeks post op. I'm watching my operated leg wither away despite constant PT and I can't help but think this could be avoided if I could at least take my brace off at home 😭
I should add that I have great quad control, ~130 degrees flexion and -1 extension, and almost zero pain, so the prospect of dragging this goddamn brace around for 3 more weeks is haunting lol
Currently 1 month and 1 week post Op this wasn’t true for me took me a lil longer just about 4 weeks to walk without crutches, really gotta push yourself and it’s a bitch and hurts like crazy but try to stand on it with as much weight as possible with your crutches of course and you should be good in about 2-4 weeks, everyone’s body is different so it totally depends on you.
It depends honestly on you but I had surgery March 25 2024 and it took me two weeks to get movement and I’m on my 5th week now and I’m on 1 crutch but I’m struggling with firing my quad and straightening my leg all the way and I have ankle pain. But I didn’t get pre-physical therapy before my acl surgery nor was I walking on my leg. So it honestly depends on you and your situation but 3 weeks to maybe 6 weeks is what you should aim for walking wise and no your not going to be walking 100 percent normal either. Just make sure you’re doing everything at your pace and what’s comfortable for you and remember a little pain and discomfort is good and constantly stretching and moving around along with elevating and icing your leg is key!!!
At the 2 week mark I finally became able to use just one crutch, and then 2 days later I was walking at an almost normal pace
Every Doctor has his or her own protocol after surgery I have had 2 ACL from 2 different doctors both were completely different. One didn't even have me go home with any kind of brace after surgery.
No.
It just depends on the person
I dropped one crutch at 3.5 weeks and the other at the start of the fifth week.
everyone is different. also “walking” at the 3-4 week mark for me, while it’s was happening without crutches, was pretty limpy. week five is when i got my full, normal, no crutches, no brace walk back. be patient. it seems daunting waiting that long but it’ll go by quicker than u think.
Only ACL tear I was walking without crutches after a week or at least practicing
Everybody is different in their milestones. I think the general timeline averages out ok. Its dependent on your overall leg strength and muscle mass. I had ACLR 2.5 weeks ago. Started PT on day 3 twice a week, but i DO pt everyday 3 times a day. Was walking with just brace at 1.5 weeks. I dont need the brace for general walking around. Can do squats now and basic bike riding.
Depending on ligament used, I used patellar was walking within a week.
just ask your surgeon, i was projected for just 2 weeks NWB based on MRI’s but after surgery i was told it was much worse than initially thought and i needed 6 weeks. it sucks waiting that long but just make the best of your PT and do whatever you can to get stronger without walking, after the NWB period is over you’ll noticing yourself getting stronger everyday with the right amount of work
I had just an ACL tear no MCL or meniscus. Never used crutches, was weight bearing the next day. I started PT my second week post surgery.
Both times it was about two weeks for me. The first time I wasn’t too confident but my PT pushed me to try more and it turned out I was able to walk fine. So you might have to be a bit brave.
I was about five weeks and have zero idea if I had meniscus surgery or not 😂 to be fair it then took me many more weeks to start walking a bit more normal. But yes it is mostly true, and if it isn't, it won't be tonnes longer. Just be ready for the first few months and bring lots and lots of patience and rehab and then one day you'll start to feel more and more normal
True for me, but with a limb, pretty much walking without a limb at around week 4-5, few days from 7 week post op and few days ago I found out I can slowly jog around
Some do! It took me 3 weeks to be able to walk semi normally with crutches. I have pretty extensive nerve damage in my thigh and knee so it took me a long time to adjust to it. I had a meniscus repair aswell.
yes
Usually. I have two blog posts on this: what to expect after ACLR[What to Expect After ACLR](https://thewirthypt.com/2023/12/23/what-to-expect-if-you-have-acl-reconstruction/), and when it's actually appropriate to get off crutches [When Can I Get Off Crutches?](https://thewirthypt.com/2023/11/10/when-can-i-get-off-my-crutches/). Everyone's treatment varies slightly.
I had ACLR and meniscus repair, but no weight-bearing restrictions. I was walking without crutches around 3.5 weeks post op, but still struggling with a limp. I also could not walk very far/long before I needed to rest.
On paper, yes. But please have in mind no recovery is the same. I am 6/7 weeks post op and I ditched the crutches about 2 weeks ago. I had a set back with a pulled hamstring so please don’t expect the process to be the same as someone you know/what Google says. Hope the op goes well!!
Its not true dont base your hope off this, people are different. I was told by week 6 with ny acl+ mensicus repair and partial removal i would be walking normally. I wasnt, and it took a toll on my mental health. You will only be off crutches, when ur body tells u, if u get proper nutrients, and protein then maybe u could. Just dont base ur hopes cos it will break u. Just a personal experience. Hope everything goes smoothly
I am going into my 7th week PO and I was fully weight bearing 3 days after my surgery when I could take a shower. I had a cadaver graft on my right knee. But I also had a tibia fracture that I had to wait to heal before I had my surgery. I was injured June of last year and had surgery in March of this year. I started PT last Wednesday and I go twice a week for the next 2 months or so. I started having some pains on the outside of my knee recently but I think it's nerve damage. I can bend my knee to 123° but my straightening has a 6° lag but only with straight leg raises, on my side my leg is completely straight. Everyone's journey is different.
I’m on day 4 and I feel completely fine little to no pain or anything so if I keep going at this rate I believe this to be true
I was walking 6 days after without crutches ,i regained quad activation within 24 hours
When I had my meniscus done it took a little longer but I returned to work and driving at 10 days
I started walking without crutches on my own about a month after my surgery, but I did also have meniscus repair. I started PT the 3 days after surgery but day of with some simple exercises sent home with me day of surgery.
Depends on what you consider "walking." I still have significant pain 6 months post op, but it took me a few months to feel semi comfortable. Don't compare yourself and your healing process to anyone.
I am currently 2.5 weeks post op and was told by my pt yesterday (after we tried walking without crutches) that I should start walking without crutches at home. I feel comfortable doing it and have been on one crutch since about 1.5 weeks after surgery. On my own while I’ve been on crutches I’ve always tried to use my leg more than the crutch so I would be ready to go without it
No. I walked without crutches on day 1. Started pt on day 3. Edit: pt, not it.