u/capndanpan

Heyo! Hit 5 weeks post op and tomorrow if my first day of work back. Acl, meniscus tears, graft, let band. Still on crutches, wbat. Id say maybe another week and I’ll try one crutch. I’m a tattoo artist so I will be sitting the majority of the time.
I just did a lil pre-run of work, drove there, got everything organized and figured out how I was going to be sitting while working on my clients.

I am extremely tired. The past few days I have been extremely slow and sleepy and weak. I do all my exercises blah blah, and Id say the only thing different with this recovery is I have been sitting and not getting up and down as much as I did when it was injured, just been babying it. And i think thats why I am feeling extremely tired, because now I’m in work mode again, my brain was like “come on lets go” and jumped back into trying to get stuff done around the house and for myself. But since the past few weeks have been super lowkey and I havent done alot other than sit on my couch, its just kinda exhausting doing anything.

I have the ambition, I am so excited to get back to work, but man I am so extremely tired and I dont want to hit a wall once I am back full time next week.

Does anyone have any recommendations or advice on staying awake, not feeling tired while doing work and stuff? Like yeah theres coffee, but I can only drink so much before I’m done and stick to water. Im not a big sparkling water person so I hate those bublrs and celcius drinks, I dont drink energy drinks but a monster or something might help. And no I dont do coke lmao
Like should I dip my face in water in the AM? Or any weird ways that help you wake up and feel ready for the day? Anything to make me feel like I’m not just gunna give up and curl back into bed.

Tldr: extremely tired and need ways to jump start my day i guess

Hello. Im about 5 weeks post op on right knee. Acl, bucket handle tear, quad graft and LET band I think. I was cleared for driving last week, and weight bearing as tolerated. In the past I was very confident driving after all my injuries, gave it time and even used my left foot. But this is the first time Ive had surgery. Im scared I estimated my recovery wrong.
I work a job where I schedule clients and make my own schedule. I took about a full month off for recovery. I thought Id be better alittle sooner and I have a pretty full work schedule. First day back is thursday. I dont doubt my ability to do my job, but I am nervous about driving. And like what if I think I’m ready and get in my car and I just cant bend my knee or something. Now I have to reschedule people last minute because I overestimate my ability. I do not want to do that ya know. I dont have anyone to drive me, and ubers/lyfts are scary especially in this condition.

I obviously wont drive until I am ready, I dont want to risk mine or anyone elses safety.

But like the panic and anxiety I get when I go to practice getting in the car, and I actually cant do it like I was before (holding my leg a certain way, relaxing in the seat).

I can do leg raises, I have good extension, Ive been doing pt every week since surgery, and doing my at home exercises. But I notice I am having a really hard time sitting with my knee bent and relaxing my hip with it. I am not at 90° yet, id say 75° with relaxed hip, if I push it more than that I lean left and cant relax my right side with it. I cant seem to bring my knee up high enough for it to be bent at 90 in a sitting position and relax my butt. I also noticed a tightness in my achilles(?) after bending my knee and pumping my ankle in the position.

I have no more scheduled pt appointments, and I have a hard time knowing if something is okay or not good for my knee. One of my prior pt appointments, I was sobbing and kept asking “is it okay if it feels tight in my knee” and she said yes and to push past it, but if theres a sharp pain or feeling like 100% absolutely do not move like that, then stop. When I am at home, I push past the tightness a bit but idk if its okay, if I should push more, and I end up not pushing enough because I feel like Im going to mess it up. My bf has been a great help with talking me through it.

I know theres scar tissue I have to work through. I have had countless patellar dislocations, and tbh this recovery kinda feels like when it would get dislocated and Id have to pop it back in (by sitting, applying pressure and scooting back to kinda pull everything in place). Like sometimes when Im sitting on the ground getting that extension, it feels like my knee caps gunna go back into place. Or when Im bending, it feels like back when I didnt realize my knee cap was dislocated and I tried bending it and its all tight.
But I know everything is okay, Ive asked my drs about it, my scans look good, everything is dandy but I dont know man. This recovery sometimes doesnt feel like its real.
Any advice appreciated(:

Hello! I go back to the shop here at the end of May, I will be on crutches (knee surgery), my hands still work and I need to get paid. I’m looking for other stories/experiences with this sort of thing, going back to work after being out for like a month or so, dealing with low mobility on your end. I’ve done this before, right after my injury in January, but I just want alittle more motivation this time. This has been my longest break and need ideas and advice on returning.
How did your setup look like?
How did you make it more accessible for yourself?
I want to be as professional as I can obviously, and I only booked people I’m friends with or am comfortable with for when I return, and everyone knows my status (also I’ve tatted these same people the first time around when I got injured).

Hello! I had a bunch done in my knee 3 weeks ago today. Acl reconstruction, quad graft, LET, meniscus tears, my knee was put through it. NWB for 6 weeks, so we are half way! I currently can get my knee straight, no issues, super tight when bending but at pt last week I got to 60° and was super proud. The week before I was at 20°. I also loved using that electro thingy, that was amazing.
I definitely dont do my at home exercises as much as I should be. I find having my pt with me helps tremendously, but I feel like I dont do the exercises correctly at home, or I dont push myself as much as she does.
How often do you regularly do at home pt? Like Ive been doing little things like squeezing my quad, ankle pumps, I get up and down pretty easily and often, and a couple times a day I will try bending my knee but I definitely dont do the correct amount or push myself. It feels stiff but I know I have progressed from last week. And when I shower or use the bathroom, my knee wants to bend to stand up but its locked straight so obviously I cant. But Its like ready to ya know?

So I guess my questions are:
How often do you do at home pt?
If youve had the same type of surgery, when could you unlock your brace?
How soon did you start trusting it to walk? And did you start walking before you were cleared to?

I have no plans of rushing walking, I believe I will be locked straight for atleast another week (I have another post op appointment next week so we will see), but I just want to hear other stories! Thank you!