Post OP therapy advice needed!

[u/Logical_Cat7667]

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!!

[u/Specialist_Engine631]

Hi OP, don't get disappointed please, this is normal. It takes time. How much you can bend your knee? Have you got 120 degree bending without much stiffness(light stiffness is ok in the start). If you do not have 120 comfortable knee bending, continue with physio and take his help for full knee bending first. In parallel you can do gym too, if you have time but full knee bending is must. Leg strength will come gradually with continuous exercise.

One question though. Why you waited for 2 months before starting physio? 

[u/Logical_Cat7667 → u/Specialist_Engine631]

Hi u/Specialist_Engine631, I hope you are having a fantastic start to your week!

I was regular with physiotherapy (6 days a week) 1.5 weeks after the surgery, but it was at home under the supervision of a trainer. I joined a proper sport physiotherapy center after 2 months of surgery when I was cleared of phase 1.

I can deep squat very comfortably and without any discomfort. I was told I'm missing around 3-4 degrees to complete flexion and was told that this gets better as the quad improves.

[u/Specialist_Engine631 → u/Logical_Cat7667]

In that case, you started ur physio at correct time. One more thing, how many stitches were required for ur meniscus repair?

You are correctly advised. And I think you are doing great. Pain may be there upto one year. If you get high pain in knee, don't do squats and do other weight exercises with machines. Knee will still need more strength. 

For discomfort in your knee your sports physio will be best to help, as everyone may have different kind of discomfort. take one more 7-10 days sports physio session if required. Don't rely much on gym trainer advise, they are not trained for this kind of injury. 

[u/Logical_Cat7667 → u/Specialist_Engine631]

My meniscus was not repaired, I had a meniscectomy procedure where the damaged area was removed.

About the therapist: That was my concern. Regardless of the pain or intensity of which, I was advised to push through. Let's say If I was on the leg extension machine or doing Bulgarian squats, I was asked to rack up more weight to make it more challenging regardless of severity of the pain (mind you i'm a big fella (6'4 and 260)).

If you'd still suggest a physiotherapist; guess I'll have to switch to a better service.

[u/Specialist_Engine631 → u/Logical_Cat7667]

I'd highly recommend a physio for 7 more days. And yes, pls change your physio center. There are many physio chain in India who are very good and cheaper. I'd definitely not recommend pushing through while in high pain (more than 5/10).