The TRUTH about the MENTAL side of ACL rehab

[@nicolepinaudpalma4933]

I'm 2 weeks after ACL surgery and my quad is still "asleep" 😞, besides i had meniscus repair, so my process is even slower than what i thought 😞. Mental side is so so important for going through this , so i hope every single person reading this and going through this, can make it 'til the end of your journey 🙌🏻🙏🏻

[@wesleywangptdpt1068]

thank you for watching! Keep working at it and it'll come back!

[@cullenvalentino2788]

I'm 5 days post op, I had the same surgery, ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair and I'm on crutches for 6 weeks. I appreciate the kind words🙏🏻

[@s.k.a1222]

I’m going through the same thing dear, also 2 weeks and the quad is asleep. Yet, yesterday I’ve walked for a long period of time without support, with small crippling but alone. In addition, I’m not able to straighten it completely yet, still need about 5 degrees. It’ll take us a lot of time but we can do it.

[@rpoillucci]

Quad still asleep meaning your bending is very restricted?

[@analivenzor783]

@@rpoillucci numb

[@sinatunu3368]

Watching this in NOV 2023. 2wks post ACL and Meniscus repair. Feeling very down on myself for my slow progress. I appreciate this video

[@wesleywangptdpt1068]

hope things are better!

[@christophersimmons4376]

How are you doing now?

[@amineaiffa]

I think the biggest thing I learned was that you can't obsess about "getting back to normal". If you think that way, then the 9 to 12 months it takes to get there will feel like you are wasting time. The better thing to do is make rehab your new workout and lifestyle. Reprioritize your life for the next 12 months on school, getting a certification, financial planning/investing, promotion and growth at work etc. It will be very hard the first few weeks to do this but once you find that rhythm, rehab will feel like a new normal and you'll have other awesome activities and interests that will keep you occupied and help you grow. Sometimes the break from sports can really enrich your overall life. Once you're fully rehabilitated, you'll know you did it right because you weren't obsessed about rushing through it. You took your time and gave your body the time it needed to literally build a ligament from scratch. In your "time off" you also became a new person, filled with resilience, patience, new skills and interests, maybe even a new relationship. Not all challenges in life are a curse.

[@29DarkBoy]

Its been almost 4 years since my rehab and Ive not felt like I've reached my potential. Thank you for sharing this as ' I'll try to adopt that mindset from now on. Always wanted to stay or trick myself into thinking I was still the same before I tear my ACL at 16years old

[@29DarkBoy]

Hope to come back here one day and say that I've overcomed the biggest challenge of my life so far

[@JesusHernandez-kn3wl]

When you’ve never had an injury before you feel invincible. You feel as if you are un breakable. Until you break. It’s been 2 years and I’m still afraid. I was doing so good until that ACL and MCL tear. 2 years later after surgery I still have pains and still have that fear in the back of my head. It messes with you on so many levels.

[@takeshisendo3767]

💯 Agreed. I have had a partial ACL tear for a long time. I have tried to rehab it multiple times, 1+ year later. I still have horrible gait, but my doctor says the ACL is fine from clinical exams.

[@geekadam9690]

bro that's me, now I feel fragile as heck but I will certainly bounce back, 3 weeks post op

[@TehIdiotOne]

Torn ACL in both knees now(not at the same time), it fuckin sucks

[@saraha8276]

yeah I tore my left acl in 2016 and now my right this year. Im not ashamed to say it has broken me and I refrain from doing a lot of physical stuff. I hate kneeling, get anxious in a lot of situations, but at least I wasn't afraid of doing sports after my first surgery (skiing and muay thai). Im feeling positive about the second surgery, but I know that life will be like walking on eggshells for a good few years before I can start living somewhat normally again. It took me a few years after my first surgery to not even think of my operated leg as "the bad leg" anymore.

[@chrissaldana4real]

Thanks so much. Day one of PT and I teared up twice just for no reason, no pain, just thinking I couldn't do it. Thanks. I got this

[@Mylifejourney2023]

It’s especially hard when you feel like everyone else is progressing and your just stuck behind. I’m glad you are addressing the mental side of this long recovery!

[@jod5339]

I'm 5 days post op. Had my meniscus repaired and a new ACL (allograft) I'm absolutely overwhelmed at the long road ahead of me. I definitely think that there needs to be more emphasis on the mental toll that recovery takes on a person. I spent almost three months alone a crutches before I even had the surgery (postponed it due to a serious issue with a relative) I know that it's early in my recovery, and maybe having to postpone the surgery for as long as I did plays a part as well, but I am really struggling mentally. The pain, the loss of my mobility and my independence, Dr's always making me feel like I'm not doing enough or recovering like I should, not knowing if I'll ever fully recover etc. It's a lot and it's so hard not to feel discouraged and frustrated. Thank you for addressing this.

[@stephaniegarcia1183]

Thank you so much for addressing this!!! I have been doing “incredibly well” according to my PT’s but it’s still though on my mental health. I didn’t have a realistic timeline on the recovery process and was expecting to be near 90-100% at the end of week 4. I’m not an athlete, I’m a 42 year old woman who is as average as they come physically. Again, thank you for addressing this, I wish none of us had to deal with it, but since we do, it’s nice to know I’m not alone.

[@rebeledesma4983]

Thank you for your words. I’m really struggling with the mental side of ACL surgery and started to look at videos or something that could help me and I just found yours. So thanks for every word you’ve said. It helped me a lot and I will talk with my pt about what I’m feeling..

[@twooten31]

Thanks for this video. I’m day 10 post op ACL replacement (allograft) and meniscus repair. Brace is locked at Ext O and Flex 90. Put the surgery off for months while limping and buying multiple braces off Amazon just to get through the day. I wasn’t mentally ready for the surgery, worrying about my kiddos, work etc. It’s definitely a mental strain. I feel that Counseling services should be intertwined in the treatment plan from the beginning because this is a major blow for all ages. It can be a very lonely journey if you’re not able to relate to someone that has been or is going through the same situation. It’s so many things to worry about other than the actual procedure itself. We have to worry about being at risk for blood clots, potential infections, repeat injury etc. Gives me the feeling of impending doom and not to mention depending on others to help you when you’re the one who everyone depends on. Each day is getting better. Pain level 1-2. Swelling has gone down a lot. A lot of ice and elevation. I bought a rollator walker with the seat for mobility in the house and a shower bench. I’m able to get in and out of the shower by myself now. It takes time and patience but it’s the best feeling ever to be able to do it on your own again. I hope my experience can help someone on down the line. Everyone experience will vary. Celebrate all the small steps. They all count ❤️.

[@noahfrock9657]

Currently one week post opp of ACL and Meniscus surgery. This is my 2nt time going through this process of ACL surgery. Thanks for the encouraging video, even though ive already been through this process myself once before I am still struggling through the normal mental and physical aspects of rehab.

[@lukeharmon6243]

i have my first game back in 5 days after 9 months. i was on the faster side of recovery but it still wasn’t perfect. i’ve had very tough days mentally throughout the entire process. what people like me go through is something that you can only know unless you’ve been through it yourself

[@SaharGhaffar-x6p]

I appreciate every word of yours. I am about to go into my ACL reconstruction soon. I feel like I am mentally prepared for the surgery part because I've accepted that this is the best option for me if I wanna return to sports eventually. Perhaps having a previous surgery experience helps with the acceptance part. But liek you mentioned, mental strain is subjective and perhaps the hardest.

[@dominiqueporte647]

Wish I would’ve had this video 5 years ago went into a bad depression didn’t think people had this problem other then me on the mental side

[@brianlucero9536]

I'm currently on the 5th week after my 2nd ACL repair and I'm struggling so hard to be back on my feet, my quads don't have enough strength to elevate the leg without the braces and this time everything seems harder to do. My first mistake is to compare between my 2 surgeries bc mentally it's just bringing me down. RN I'm on the dark side of recovery so I thank u so much for making this video. It helped me to understand what's happening and how to overcome my bad times

[@jorgejgleandro]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these mental issues during the rACL rehab. I'm going through my process as well.

[@petergeyer7584]

My daughter is 2 weeks post-surgery. It has been a real emotional rollercoaster. A big aspect is the feeling of loss of control. Not just loss of control of her body, but also loss of control over her recovery and particularly loss of control over her athletic career. Her entire athletic life she has been working towards specific goals, and literally within months of achieving those goals, her ACL was gone and she had no idea whether those same opportunities will still exist for her when she returns. That anxiety is always lurking in the background.

[@jeannettesepulveda246]

Best of luck to your daughter! Hope she has a safe, speedy, recovery. All the best for her career and future.

[@francisgypozxc]

Thanks so much for the video! I’m 4 months post my 3rd ACL Recon, still really struggling with the mental battle because I’m a type A personality. Thank you for sharing this video on a topic not many people understand or talk about!

[@hotelvasthorizon]

Thank you for this video. I didn’t tear my ACL (sounds awful) but I’m recovering from another injury that requires me to be non weight bearing for a long period of time. The mental side is tough, just losing my independence to do simple things, not being able to do the sports I love, and seeing my muscles atrophy and my leg shrink to like a third of the size it was before has been tough. Also feels like I have nobody to talk to because who wants to hear me talk about my injury all the time (understandably). Watching this video, I know I am not alone. Thank you and best wishes for a full recovery

[@cedricdiggory3718]

Thank you for making this video,just had my acl reconstruction and as i watched different stories of their recovery, I'm just jealous cause some of them are walking already in week 1,while my week 1 was total devastating due to severe pain, can,t even move my leg an inch. Mental health is really a factor with this recovery. Now i'm entering my week 2 with less pain and can walk longer and hopefully everyone with this case can fully recover.

[@NM-wz7it]

I’ve had mine done a week ago and it’s though! Thank God for my family and friends, doctors and therapist, and for all the support I get through this process. Let’s do this!

[@OneSmellyTaco]

I'm 10 weeks post acl reconstruction (allograft) and medial meniscus repair. I'm currently at 0° extension and 100° flexion. I was in a brace close to 7 weeks and so rehab started a little late. I've been pushing hard through the pain and in a few short weeks I got to 100. For the past week I feel like I hit a wall and I'm stuck at 100. Been dealing with swelling and a sharp pain to the back of my knee. I've even started limping more due to sharp pain on every step I take. On top of all that, I have 2 toddlers that cry every other minute all day. It's been rough mentally and physically. Reaching out to others that have gone through or are in the same situation has helped thus far. My road is long from over. I emailed you Mr. Wang hoping to obtain further info regarding my rehab process. Thank you in advance for any help

[@Seditionzz]

Nyjuah Houston is my role model even though he’s younger than me but his determination to skateboard after acl injury is amazing same with prod

[@carlosmedina8512]

Thanks Doctor Wesley!

[@Eustazzio]

I am a bodybuilder and my legs are my pride, remembering my deadlifts and squats , the feeling of being proud of my legs and seeing my acl leg now not being able to walk its a strong hit for me... I am struggling mentally right now

[@DavidM-en8ws]

How did you tore your ACL?

[@Eustazzio]

@@DavidM-en8ws I was playing soccer and suddenly while changing direction I heard a pop in my leg , hurt like a mother.

[@DavidM-en8ws]

@@Eustazzio I tored my ACL at soccer too. It was my last season, then I would have went to the army to the officer training. But now I lost my dreamjob and cant do sports. I hate my life.

[@Eustazzio]

@@DavidM-en8ws take the surgery if u haven't already and do PT's...you will be back in no time... In 2 months I was able to deaflift and squat decent again

[@D4r14.6]

I’m 8 weeks post surgery but I can’t even think about the normal difficulties I was struggling with daily before waking up with new types of pain. One day I could walk almost like I did before the acl tear and the other can’t even bent my leg. I feel like there is too little information on after acl surgery pain, and even fewer patients can properly identify and understand. Still can’t find a remotely similar experience with the kind of pain I randomly got one morning.

[@kalidharti1363]

It is unbearable sometimes as is today.. Feeling very very low…this type of despondency i hv never experienced before.

[@fifafan1]

Also looking into your diet can help as well.

[@analivenzor783]

I thought I was the only one mentally drained after ALC surgery

[@10_Roads]

10 weeks post op and can't even walk properly because of swelling, knee effusion and something getting stuck, when I try to bend my knee :/ The mental load is real. I'm so scared that my knee will never work properly again.

[@Seditionzz]

Do you deal with skateboarders ? I tore my patella tendon then I slipped a week again after spraining my meniscus

[@smoothjay1979]

I'm six weeks out. I had total ACL reconstruction. Cadaver graft, meniscus was in good shape, Dr said "better than expected". He said it was a mess in there but it's like pulling teeth to get details from my Dr. I was told no weight barring at all for 6 weeks. I'm only supposed to bend 90° 10 times a few times a day. I'm still on crutches, I see the Dr on the 30th. I hope I can start physical therapy soon. I'm extremely down right now. No work, no dirt bike riding, no jiu-jitsu, no nothing, just sit here and waste away. I should have never done this to myself.

[@angelaconway225]

I am 12 weeks out of surgery. Anchored Meniscus and ACL replacement. Mental strength is challenging right now.

[@TheHardcorsokergirl]

I never comment on people’s videos . But what you said is so true . I shared your video with people on Reddit because so many of us struggle . This video is on point . ❤🫂