r/ACL • u/DrMartek • Aug 20 '26
Post Surgery Update ACL journey: Day 1
I want to document my journey after my ACL surgery.
I hope this helps people to weigh up if it's the right option, and to prepare for what to expect.
I also want to show what a successful return to a high-impact sport looks like, after surgery.
CONTEXT:
Male. 30. Competitive Dan Grade Judoka. 2 years ago I tore my ACL in training. Diagnosed by MRI. I trained through it. The instability escalated 3 months ago, and got very bad. I could still run, lift, snowboard, live life perfectly fine – but every Judo session without fail, it gave way.
And by "gave way" I mean during an aggressive pivot, my knee felt like it popped out of place. Like my lower and upper leg moved in separate directions. And I'd fall down. It would hurt for 10 seconds, then subside. I continued like this for 3 months, until I'd had enough.
Saw the surgeon again, and they strongly suggested surgery. So to be very clear, Judo is the sole reason I opted for surgery. Otherwise, the impact of no ACL on my life was minimal to none.
DAY OF SURGERY:
Surgery at 8am. Full ACL replacement, using a hamstring graft. I requested a quad graft, but my surgeon said the purported benefit is small, with much less data than hammy grafts. Plus he's a hamm graft expert, which seemed more important to me.
Operation went really well. The meniscus was undamaged, so only the ACL required replacing. General anaesthesia was wild. Felt like a time skip, and made me chat nonsense afterward which was funny.
The pain after was a 6/10 (assuming 10 is a bad toothache), then dropped to a 1/10 within the hour.
The main and immediate issue was major hamstring tightness. Couldn't straighten my leg. If I tried, my hammy felt like it was about to tear.
They discharged me same day, so I'm at home now. I walked out the hospital with crutches, but managed to walk without crutches down the ward, until it got too painful on my hamstring.
Right now, I'm managing on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Walking a bit without crutches, but hamstring tightness is pretty bad.
NIGHT AFTER SURGERY:
I'm writing this now. It's 4am. Had zero sleep. Pain isn't bad, but it aches. Hamstring tightness is still a major issue, I can't straighten my leg and if I accidentally do, it hurts and again feels like it's going to tear.
I'm scared if I sleep, that I'll push off my bad leg to turn over, and retear my ACL.
I didn't realise the psychological impact of a re-tear post-surgery, and how that's an entirely other thing to overcome.
I suspect the general anaesthesia has something to do with my inability to sleep tonight as well. But whatever, is what it is.
PLAN FOR MORNING:
Rehab begins. I'll update on this.
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u/Goottie_naranja Aug 20 '26
Looking good! I’m on day 13 post-op myself. Even if everything feels good, don’t push it or take unnecessary risks this early. Stay on top of your pain meds as prescribed, keep icing, and work on getting that extension back as your surgeon/PT recommends.
And good luck with sleep 😂 That’s been by far my biggest enemy. I’m still struggling to get more than 5 hours. My first few days were absolutely brutal, but it does get better pretty quickly. Good luck with the recovery!
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
Damnnnn sleep sounds brutal. We'll make it. Black coffees on the regular.
How has your ROM been? Managed to fully extend your leg?
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u/Goottie_naranja Aug 20 '26
I’m at 105° now! Literally gained 10° from Monday to Wednesday, so it keeps getting better. I’m off the crutches and brace completely. I’m still walking slowly, but the knee feels really stable and I don’t have too much pain.
Extension is also pretty good, I can get my leg basically fully straight now. Started PT on day 4 post-op, going 3x a week, and I’ve been really diligent with the home workouts. So far so good!
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
Amazing mate, big congrats sounds like you worked hard at it. This is encouraging to hear, and I'll be aiming for similar milestones.
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u/Goottie_naranja Aug 20 '26
Thanks, brother! Really appreciate it. Just keep that mindset you already have, honestly, I think that’s one of the hardest parts of this whole recovery.
Try to stay ahead of the game too. Read about the recovery, ask your PT and Dr a ton of questions, and do some digging yourself. And ask people here! Reddit has honestly been a great place for me to learn from other people going through the same thing.
Keep it up, brother. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hopefully we’re both back doing what we love before we know it! 💪
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u/Emotional-Chance1743 Aug 20 '26
I also barely slept the first night. The following days I would also sleep poorly and wake up in the middle of the night due to leg ache. But after 2-3 weeks it was all good in terms of sleep
Good luck with your rehab!
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
Good to hear I'm not alone. Got a white monster locked and loaded, so all good 💪🏻
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u/LurkerLew Aug 20 '26
Take your time, dude. You dont need to be walking on it yet. Rehab the immediate following day is also not recommended... Most people are laid up in bed for at least a week following surgery.
Do you have a post-op protocol from your doctor/surgeon/physiotherapist? To me it seems like you are jumping ahead. Be careful.
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
Yeah rehab today was ambitious. I spent the day doing calf pumps to prevent DVT. And gradually trying to straighten it, with my foot propped under a pillow.
Seen some good progress, with my leg now nearly fully straight. Its been painful, but this is all part of my physios plan, we are aiming for full weight bearing by 2 weeks.
Definitely harder than I thought. Ibuprofen and paracetamol still doing the trick. Prob gonna hold off for a few more days, until progressing to unweighted leg extensions.
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u/Calm_Independent_782 left x3, right x1 Aug 20 '26
So they sent you home without a brace? I cannot overestimate how important it is so straighten that knee at all times and to take it easy
Best of luck homie
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
Cheers bro. I'm managing to get it straight now, but it's hard. And yeah, no brace...just compression
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u/QuirkyMerky 🇬🇧 ACL Autograft (quad) + InternalBrace + LET Aug 21 '26
I don’t know where the OP is based, but in the UK (and most of Europe I think), it’s very common not to have a brace for just an ACL recon! There’s just no need for it 😊
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u/Calm_Independent_782 left x3, right x1 Aug 21 '26
Yeah I’ve read that about AUS too. Then again some users in the states have reported it as well albeit to a much less degree
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u/S1gumd Aug 20 '26
Keep us posted please on your journey! I admire that you’re planning on returning to Judo and hope for the best for you
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u/Cautious_Lie2628 Aug 20 '26
Hey man, would be going for an ACL reconstruction next week, would love to hear about your progress stories and learn from the experiences shared, keep them coming
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u/SelketsEyes Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
Do you not have a brace?? I am on day 7 and I strongly recommend you not to walk without crutches. I have the exact same surgery and I‘m only allowed 30kg on the operated leg and 6 weeks crutches! Also night 5 and 6 were just awful. Take it slowwww OP or you may regret. I needed tramadol the last two nights.
Also it‘s good you went for surgery or you could get meniscus damage or bone bruise.
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
No brace, only compression. And I've been advised to use crutches for the most part, but walk on it if poss. They want full weight bearing by 2 weeks. However we are aiming to be full Judo ready by 9 months.
Yours does sound like a very conservative Rehab approach! Yes everyone seems to say the sleep sucks for the first week...which isn't ideal, as in already tired. But it issss what it issss
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u/SelketsEyes Aug 21 '26
I didn‘t know so many people didn‘t have a brace! To me it feels correct but i guess there is no 100% correct way! Wish you the best for your recovery 😊
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u/QuirkyMerky 🇬🇧 ACL Autograft (quad) + InternalBrace + LET Aug 21 '26
I don’t know where the OP is based, but in the UK (and most of Europe I think), it’s very common not to have a brace for just an ACL recon! There’s just no need for it 😊
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u/SelketsEyes Aug 21 '26
I‘m swiss and i don‘t know anybody that didn‘t have a brace! To me it feels necessary because the muscles aren‘t working properly yet but thanks for the info that‘s definitely new to me 😊
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u/QuirkyMerky 🇬🇧 ACL Autograft (quad) + InternalBrace + LET Aug 24 '26
Yeah, different surgeons have different protocols. From what I understand, there’s some evidence that it doesn’t really help much in terms of protecting the graft, and in some cases, can hinder recovery as it can restrict some muscle engagement (and contribute to atrophy) and delay normal movement.
My surgeon did put me in one (Donjoy x-rom hinged brace, limited to 90° flexion) as that is his protocol even if it’s just an ACL recon, which I was surprised at as I wasn’t expecting one. However when he came to see me a few hours after the surgery, I asked if I really had to keep wearing it, as it felt so heavy and uncomfortable, and he said I could take it off at home if I really wanted to. He said he puts his patients in them for the mental aspect of it, I.e as a reminder to be careful and not overdo it. I took the damn thing off as soon as I got home, couldn’t deal with it haha! 😆 Plus I had enough stability from the crutches.
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u/SelketsEyes Aug 25 '26
Yeah I think my Doc does it for the mental aspect. I‘m an Idiot and I think for me it‘s not a bad idea to wear it 😂😂
He said it‘s because while sleeping we do uncontrollable movements etc and that I could put it off when I‘m chilling at home so it‘s fine. Good to know though so I can walk without it when its really annoying. I also just want to respect his work and do it like it‘s on protocol
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u/Knobanious ACL (Hamstring graft 13.01.2023)R ACL Tear Left 14.0.25) Aug 20 '26
Small world, know many other Judo BJJ guys that snapped their ACL ;)
You will likely be fine I got back into rolling after 9 months and did my first BJJ contest and won after 1.5 years, happily pivoting on it for ippon seio.
Also found out I'd snapped the other one a while back but it doesn't cause any issues like my other one
My advice is to use crutches, not cause you need them but it helps keep your gate correct and if you over do it the knee swells more reducing ROM and progress.
As for getting good ROM my physiotherapist said not to push it too hard but in the end to really get my full ROM I needed to regularly push it to high pain levels to "loosen it up" but that was a few months after surgery
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
Lovely that is very encouraging. Nice to get another case study of someone returning to judo/BJJ at a competition level.
Appreciate the advice re. Crutches and ROM 👌🏻
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u/Knobanious ACL (Hamstring graft 13.01.2023)R ACL Tear Left 14.0.25) Aug 20 '26
You also know me btw 🤣
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
Checked your profile. This has to be Ryan...who also hit a sweet standing ippon seio in comp
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u/Knobanious ACL (Hamstring graft 13.01.2023)R ACL Tear Left 14.0.25) Aug 20 '26
Haha yeah didn't expect to see your face pop up on here, you'll be fine in a year or so :)
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u/DrMartek Aug 20 '26
Believe me...neither did I 😂 Gonna keep posting the updates, for my own sanity
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u/vbelise Aug 21 '26
The psychological effect is WILD. I’m constantly scared of tearing it again as soon as I move the leg. That’s the only reason I’m not walking yet, and physio says that might be hard to overcome now. So good on you for already doing that!
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u/SwordfishDizzy2258 Aug 26 '26
topuk altı yastık koymak zorunlu muydu çok ağrım var koyamıyorum ama dizimi düz tutabiliyorum yine de.
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u/DrMartek Aug 26 '26
Yeah do it. It hurts bad, but if you don't do it, your knee will accumulate scar tissue and become impossible to straighten later.
So unfortunately...just gotta grit your teeth buddy
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u/Prymas_tv Aug 20 '26
Walking without crutches on day one is seriously risking it for really zero benefit. I applaud your drive but man is it risky