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desperate2run 
I am having the 1st surgery next week for ACI…i’ve enjoyed reading your info….The hard part for me is the unknown!!!! I have kids going off to college and summer plans…trying to find a date for second surgery is not easy! What was your pain level week by week? This is hard! I want my life back!!! Thanks
Hello – good luck with your surgery. The first one is no big deal. I went to work the next day (probably should not have) and was working out on the eliptical within a week. Pain level week by week: well the first two weeks after the second surgery were pretty uncomfortable. I could not sleep in my bed because I could roll over. I slept on the couch. For the first several days I was on constant pain killers and was watching the clock until the next dose. I moved back to my bed after a week when I could roll over. The circulating ice machine I spent $200 on was pretty much a waste. It hurt everytime it inflated – but everyone is different. I went back to work part time after about two weeks. Work was uncomfortable at first – but it got better. By the time I went back full time, I was in pretty decent shape. So I would say the worst part was the first 4 weeks. You can expect difficulty getting around for at least 8 due to the crutches. I was using crutches longer than that and had a difficult time with an unresponsive quad. I found that after the first surgery – I just wanted to get the whole thing over with, so I scheduled it as soon as I could. Good luck! Feel free to ask any questions you like. I wish I had had someone to ask questions to as I was experiencing all this, as I think I would not have been so unprepared!
Thanks for your reply. I’m not looking forward to 8 weeks on crutches at all!!!! I do not have a high pain tolerance so I’m worried! BUT happy that I’ve found an answer. The information that I’ve been able to find is very limited on pain and REALLY what expect during recovery! I’m luck that I work from home and will not be having to deal with that. I had not thought about where I will sleep! How long did they have you in a knee brace? Were you able to do you PT from home? I’m open to any suggestion! Thanks
I stumbled across this blog because I am three weeks out from an ACI/TTO. I do a lot of “aggressive” workouts – I love kickboxing, just did a Tough Mudder, and I REALLY miss running. I’m totally freaking out about this surgery and the recovery period, so thank you for all the great posts – you’ve inspired me to start my own recovery blog!
I agree with the last commenter that it’s been hard to know what to expect for recovery. I work a half-desk half-driving job, and trying to figure out when I’ll be back at my desk (let alone driving long distances) is very difficult!
Thank you so much for creating this blog! I was just told today that I will need this surgery. I have run 8 marathons, work out every day and play USTA tennis. I can not imagine going without running, working out and playing tennis. After reading your blog, I’m really worried about getting this surgery. I know it’s needed, I’ve got a large bone/cartilage chunk that is loose in my knee. I’ve come to grips that I will never run another marathon but running is such a large part of my life, it’s hard to imagine not running for over a year. Any tips on this? Did you get a 2nd opinion? Knowing what you know now, would you get this surgery again?
I did get a second opinion from a friend who is an ortho surgeon. My options where 1) Microfracture (which would not work due to size) 2) screwing the piece back in – but they could not find it or 3) ACI. If you are using Sports Medicine Associates (its a guess based upon your UTSA reference) you have probably the most knowledgeable doctors you can get for this procedure. If you are young your recovery might very well go much easier than mine. Some people do run sooner than I was able (like after 12 months). However, expect the worst and hope for the best. Take up cycling or start getting use to the elliptical. You can try to focus on weight training etc… while you are out of the running business. I have accepted that I will not run another marathon – I had done 8 as well. But I am fairly sure I will do a half marathon this year. I now run a solid 20 miles per week, sometimes more. If my knee feels sore, then I take a day off and elliptical. It was a long road, but yes I would do this surgery again. Mentally this surgery is very difficult for active people – but all the studies show that active people are the ones with the best recovery. Do some reading about what drugs (i.e. anti-inflamatories) you are not supposed to take right after surgery and make sure your medical staff does not accidentally give them to you. Try to get your knee moving as soon as possible – so it does not completely shut down on you. I thought the ice machine was a waste of money – so go the least expensive route on that one… Good luck and I am happy to answer questions.
Thanks for your blog and information. I have been silently reading your blog and another blog. I had ACI on the medial femoral chondyle Oct 2015, it was a 5cm pothole in my right knee. Felt pain two weeks after I had run a marathon and figured it was just a strain. Knee popped really bad while at drill weekend but continued to run until I had to get it checked out.
My doctor says that I can run but with a loader brace, while there is some discomfort if I adjust my gate to a more forefoot stance it goes away. I am up to a 11-12 minute per mile for one mile, but recently experienced real bad calf pain so that has set me back a little. Like you I have a little difficultly going down stairs. Going up doesn’t hurt that much at all. Only thing I do experience is some tightness around the knee that seems to pull around the patellar tendon. That seems to go away after I do squats or leg press.
My doctor stated that the patch took and things looked good. During my last scope one year after my surgery he cleaned up some over growth and fixed a tear in my meniscus. He has told me to always run with my loader brace on, and to ice if it swells and take anti-inflammatories to help with pain. Have to take a PT test in April for the National Guard, so I am going to take it easy and slowly get back into running. I bike quite a bit and have started swimming more. Pushing off the wall doesn’t affect my knee at all. I have decided to test it next Sept and have signed up for Ironman Chattanooga.
Good luck in your continued recovery.
Mike