After the disappointment I faced not being able to jog at the end of my fourth month of recovery, I turned the page for month five. My fifth month of recovery after ACL and meniscus surgery was focused on strengthening and stability. I was working as hard as possible to close the gap between the strength of my left and right quad. In this post, I detail my experience 5 months post op, including my progress and new exercises.
For a full breakdown of my injury and surgery, head to this post.
How I Felt
This month I was absolutely dedicated to getting strong enough to jog. I also began to do some ball work, which really lifted my spirits about my recovery. My workouts felt more natural and closer to ones I would do while healthy. I truly felt like I was getting stronger and would be ready to jog. Going into my appointment, I was hopeful that I would be cleared to jog, but still nervous. Technically, my appointment was at the beginning of month 6, so it will be discussed in the next update.
How My Knee Felt
My knee continued to slowly get better during this month. I was able to spend an entire day walking around Six Flags and enjoying the rides, which I was surprised about. My pain and stiffness had drastically decreased, and I barely felt my knee during daily activities and felt that my knee moved much more normally.
I no longer needed to ice as frequently, and would typically wear a compression sleeve after workouts or whenever my knee felt a bit irritated. I still needed a couple of degrees in each direction but was so close that it was no longer my main focus.
Major Events 5 Months Post Op
- Cleared to begin jogging end of this month/beginning of month 6
- I spent an entire day walking around an amusement park. My knee was tired and sore after but I was able to get around much better than I expected.
- ROM at hyperextension -2, flexion 135.
5 Months Post-Op Exercises
Focus: This month was much less about ROM and much more focused on strengthening.
Watch some of my exercises HERE.
Strength
- Hex bar squats
- Squat jumps
- Hamstring walkouts
- DB RDL
Soccer
- Juggling
- Passing in place
- Pool jogging
ACL Surgery FAQs- 5 Months Post Op
Could you walk normally?
Yes. I would say by this month I was walking very normally without a limp.
Could you walk up/down stairs?
Yes. I could handle stairs fairly normally at this point.
Could you run?
At my 5 month follow up appointment, I was cleared to begin jogging as tolerated. So, during this month I could not jog but by the end, I was cleared to jog.
Did you have the full range of motion?
No. While ROM was not my primary concern, I still did not have full range. I believe I was at 0 for extension, but needed to get a few degrees of hyperextension to match my unoperated leg.
Was your knee swollen and stiff?
My knee was not nearly as swollen as it had been in the early months. However, it was still noticeably stiff and could swell up after a lot of exercises.
My Entire ACL & Meniscus Surgery Journey
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12