re: ACL Injuries: Tips and Things to Know - UPDATE PG. 3

Tore my ACL and partially tore my meniscus in 2005 playing football. 15 years old at the time. Also had a tumor on my tibial plateau (top of tibia, inside the knee joint itself) that was eating into my tibia. Had no clue until the injury happened.

Had the surgery done for all of it at one time. Dr. Buch, in Dallas at the children's hospital.

As far as the tumor went, there was obviously no need for rehab aside from staying off of it. They had to cut the tumor out of the tunnel it made in my tibia, and pack it with a hardening agent that takes appx 4 months to cure. 4 months on crutches sucked.

For the ACL/meniscus, my parents couldn't afford PT afterwards. I spoke with my surgeon and he gave me basically what the PT would have given me as far as stretches for range of motion and flexibility. Stuck to those regularly. Probably did it about twice as much as he recommended just because I was bored to tears.

I pretty much jumped right back into cross-country running and doing JROTC obstacle courses right after I got off crutches. Took some getting used to, but the fact that my legs were well built pre-op for weight lifting in football helped a ton.

Stick to your PT and grit your teeth through the pain. The first two weeks suck as far as pain goes, but thereafter it is all downhill. Be very careful even just walking around now that you are post-op. It may feel stable, but don't trust it for a little while. Even a slight tweak of that thing can be a MAJOR setback.

Sounds like you are doing well. Just be wary when walking!