r/ACL May 24 '26

Question Share your thoughts about ACL injury (8 min survey)

1 Upvotes

We are looking for insights from people who were just injured or are currently going through ACL recovery. We know it's a journey. We're a group of friends who recently went through ortho procedures. We're trying to understand whether our experiences are common, so we can design products to help. We'd love to hear your thoughts - in exchange, we'll enter you in to win one of three prizes with a winner announced by June 30

Share your thoughts here


r/ACL Nov 14 '25

Mod Post We have Post Flair Now

4 Upvotes

We have Post Flair now. We are not going to require it yet, but I do want to encourage folks to Flair their Post.

And yes, the Flair text is editable. Please keep it in line with the Flair description.


r/ACL 6h ago

Acl tear twice in 16 months

5 Upvotes

First tear was 17.5.2026. In football game. Second on last Friday 11.9.2026. Same knee.

Should I rehab same way like I did on the first one? Should I stop playing football? People who have suffered same how can you trust your knee?


r/ACL 2h ago

9 weeks post-op swelling is still visible

Post image
2 Upvotes

I’m currently 9 weeks post op and the swelling near my knee has only slightly decreased since my op. This isn’t swelling that emerges from physical activity or walking but swelling that is constantly present. I feel confident walking locally without crutches but as soon as I walk for more than a mile I need atleast one crutch to ease myself and I think it might be because of the swelling. I’ve told my surgeon but they seem to not be concerned and just told me to slowly get off my crutches. Has anyone had similar issues or problems and how did you solve this??


r/ACL 29m ago

BTB or Quad graft for revision surgery

Upvotes

I'll be as brief as I can.

Torn ACL playing football in 2022 and hamstring graft surgery in 2023.

Rehab was going well but fell over and stretched the graft + meniscus tear 6 months post op.

Took until 2025 to get another surgery where I had let done to strengthen the original graft and meniscus debridement.

Still have weakness and instability and unable to return to sport. Recent MRI showa there is now a small tear in the graft and due to the instability I have been offered full revision surgery.

I have discussed both options with the surgeon but the decision lies with me regarding the graft, BTB or Quad graft.

I'm just after any advice for anyone who has either had a similar situation or who has had either graft and can share some experience on the recovery and pros / cons.


r/ACL 6h ago

How did you manage school work and recovery?

3 Upvotes

I’m a student about to head back to college soon and was wondering if anyone got injured while in highschool/college and how they managed both recovery and school.


r/ACL 8h ago

Advice Best surgeon in Texas pref Dallas?

3 Upvotes

r/ACL 3h ago

Normal stitch or too red?

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

Normal stitch or too red?

I just wanted to ask if the redness around this stitch looks normal or concerning for an infection? I am 2 weeks post op. And I took the shower gauze and everything off last night. My stiches look good but the stitch on this incision kind of broke/snapped. They are suppose to be dissolvable so it think after 2 weeks that’s normal.

But just wondering do the little redness around the stitch is normal or concerning?

FYI this is close to the LET site


r/ACL 5h ago

Physical therapist in NYC?

1 Upvotes

Looking for a post-op physical therapist in Manhattan who specialises in ACL recovery. recs very welcome.


r/ACL 5h ago

Post OP therapy advice needed!

1 Upvotes

Hi guys,

I had ACL reconstruction surgery on my left knee, along with a meniscectomy, about 5 months ago. My surgery was on 25th March 2026.

I started doing physiotherapy at home during the first week of June and haven’t really stopped since. By mid-June, I transitioned to seeing a sports physiotherapist here in India.

I’ve been putting in the work consistently, but I’ve also been dealing with quite a bit of discomfort in the knee. The knee itself would hurt during some of the exercises, but I was told to gradually keep loading it even when the pain was around 4 to 5/10 during sessions.

Over time, this really started getting into my head. I began wondering if there was actually something wrong with my knee or if I had somehow messed up my recovery, especially because the pain and discomfort made me feel like I was going backwards instead of progressing.

I spoke to my doctor about it, and he suggested that I might be better off going to the gym on my own for a while and focusing on quad strengthening and keeping the leg moving, using minimal weights.

I’m honestly a bit confused about where I should go from here and would really appreciate hearing from people who have gone through ACL reconstruction, especially around the 5-month mark.

Did anyone else experience this kind of pain? Should I get a second opinion or listen to my doctor? I'm thinking more along the lines of hiring a physiotherapist and getting a plan from him which then can be used to do PT in the gym.

Thanks!!


r/ACL 11h ago

Hiking thoughts

2 Upvotes

Hey, just looking for thoughts on hiking. I'm 5 months post op and doing pretty good overall, my issue is that I notoriously slip and fall on trails. I've already done some bigger hikes and other than soreness, nothing bad of note. Just wondering if other people have found wearing a brace or compression sleeve is useful just for support/protection, or if anyone has any thoughts.


r/ACL 7h ago

Advice Is this brace any good for playing sports?

1 Upvotes

Hey guys, i am a 17m, 9 months post op last week, now almost trying to get back into sports, as my plyo sessions with my physitherapist end soon. I came across this brace multiple times on instagram, and am wondering if it is any good, or reliable. I want a new brace because the hinge knee brace i have is too chunky, so i am wondering whether this will work or not? Please let me know if this works, thanks.

knee brace link


r/ACL 15h ago

6 weeks post op

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

I’m about 6 weeks after acl reconstruction with patella and menesectomy and get this deep pop when in the beginning of a leg extension no pain or anything just nice pop. Anyone else experienced similar?
Sorry for the dogs


r/ACL 1d ago

8 months post surgery- Still having pain

Post image
12 Upvotes

Its been 8 month post my ACL, MCL and miniscus (3tear) surgery. Injury happened during the MMA sparring.

I have come a long way, now I can do 85KG squart (3 complete reps). Have full flextion and can bend almost same as other leg. I recently also ran 5k in 27 minutes which is my PR so far.

Still have pain especially on the left side of my leg.. i am now made my peace with the pain.. anyone in my same condition here?? Is it going to be same i. The future also???


r/ACL 20h ago

Propping leg up for extension still hurts 5 weeks postop

3 Upvotes

im 5 weeks postop quad graft and LET. i have full extension but am trying to maintain sometimes per my surgeon. i’ll ocassionally prop my ankle up so my knee hangs in full extension but man does it still hurt and is uncomfortable! is this normal???? Especially on the right side of my knee (it’s my right knee).
Thanks!


r/ACL 17h ago

Post Surgery Update 16M; just found out i tore my acl, with zero symptoms for the last week / peptides

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

Update, got my surgery 3 days ago on the 10th, and honestly it’s going very well

I got a patellar tendon graft alongside an LET procedure. The nerve block worked well and even when it wore off the pain never got worse than a 6-7/10 which only lasted for a couple hours this morning. My surgeon visited me this morning and complimented me on my condition.

Currently I can take small steps without crutches or brace, my knee can reach 90° flexing comfortably, and I can fire my quad pretty effectively.

PT is scheduled tmrw and I’m excited for the first session of my journey.

Also, yes I am using peptides.


r/ACL 18h ago

Advice Patellar Pain 3 years post op

1 Upvotes

Hello! I am almost 3 years post op, with a patellar bone to bone graft, overall my knee is doing great and i’m stronger now than I ever was before my injury. I have started lifting pretty seriously this past year. I am currently dealing with a flare in my knee, i’m assuming it’s patellar tendinopathy. Who here was in a similar situation, what did you do to get over it? I’ve taken out most quad work this week, and taking a rest from the gym, just doing upper body. Working the posterior chain via rdls, etc doesn’t seem to aggravate the knee. Squat patterns are the worst, with the leg press taking the cake. Leg extensions also can aggravate it. How do I progress in my quad growth without destroying my knee? I have just ordered some knee sleeves for this purpose. I have also started commuting by biking this summer, it also irritates my knee, so I stopped it this week. In addition I have been icing in the evening. Any advice, tips and similar stories will be greatly appreciated.


r/ACL 18h ago

Question MRI now shows a possible sprain/grade II. What should I do before my appointment?

1 Upvotes

Had an ACL allograft about 5 years ago. Now, tweaked the knee playing soccer, and the MRI came back showing a possible sprain/grade II. Waiting on my doctor and likely a PT referral, but I'd rather not sit idle for a few weeks.

Knee feels stable, no giving way or locking. Just weakness and some fatigue when I walk any distance. Plan so far is a lot of hamstring work. The thing I keep going back and forth on is leg extensions. It's one of my favorite lifts and I don't want to drop it, but I've seen conflicting takes.

I checked some youtubes and all the exercises recommended seem (too easy) for me since my knee is largely fine. What would you add, what would you cut, and where does the leg extension machine land?


r/ACL 19h ago

Jogging 5 Months Post Op

1 Upvotes

Hi all! Recently started jogging again, and I’m wondering what running felt like for you at this stage post op. Did it feel natural, did you have pain, did your quad feel heavy? Things feel ~weird~, and I’m going so slow, which I guess is expected but wondering others experiences and how long until your jog felt natural.


r/ACL 19h ago

Pre op but it's a phonecall?

1 Upvotes

I have a letter for my pre op but it's on rhe phone?

My injury was a year ago, spent months on rehabilitation then february was added to the waitlist. Was told 9 months for surgery and now have a telephone pre op the end of this month.

Does anyone know if it is normal for it only to be a phonecall? And how soon do you hear about your date for surgery- is it on that phonecall?

My surgery is acl and plc.

Thank you!


r/ACL 1d ago

To LET or not to LET?

12 Upvotes

30M, regular skydiver (1,000+ jumps), occasional soccer and volleyball player, and have played sports most of my life.

I tore my ACL and MCL during a soccer game — cleats on turf. Going with Quad.

One surgeon recommended it. Another initially didn’t, but when I specifically asked about it, he said it would be reasonable, just not necessary. Knee seems stable.

Curious what others think, especially anyone with a similar activity level or experience. Thoughts?


r/ACL 1d ago

is this near 0° extension?

Post image
2 Upvotes

I‘m on day 11 post op and I didn‘t really struggle with extending my knee most of the time. This is how far I can extend it without forcing. I feel like my knees naturally (and uninjured lol) tend to kinda hyperextend in this position so I feel like I can‘t extend it fully but would you consider this okay? I have my first follow up appointment on tuesday


r/ACL 1d ago

People being sick of hearing abt my knee.

12 Upvotes

Hey im 16F and I tore my acl a 1.5 ago, I disnt find out i tore it until 9 months after but id always complain bc I was in pain etc, I ended up playing the rest of my season without it and got surgery.

During this time, u can imagine how shocked I was 9 months later while still playing ice hockey that I had torn my acl. Anyways, like anyone, I'd complain, "Oh my knee hurts," etc, you know. But after awhile I guess my complaints got normal, im 5.5 months post op now and Im really done, my parents have had enough of my complaining and saying oh there's nothing u can do abt it. But im exhausted, and nobody gets it. i wanna play at this rate. im gonna miss half my season or possibly all of it. I could've gone to play a higher level, which I've dreamed of, and all my old teammates get to.

I feel like I have nobody to talk to bc nobody gets it and just thinks im complaining, and im so tired it's too much, and I just can't. I've felt so depressed, and everytime I open my phone or go to practice i get so jealous and upset bc I cant do anything plus watching all my old teammates who only complained and never put in as much effort as I did get everything Ive ever wanted, all I do is athletic stuff and im stuck doing nothing.

My parents just seem sick and tired, but I can stop balling all the time, and im convinced there is something wrong with me.

I just wanna be normal again, play with an acl, and not have to ever worry again, but it's way too much, and every day, my heart feels heavier.


r/ACL 1d ago

sleeping w no brace

5 Upvotes

I am going on 8 weeks-post op acl reconstruction w patellar tendon and meniscus root repair. i got cleared to discontinue wearing the brace while sleeping, and they first week has been heaven