1v1 defending during soccer match

6-Month Update After Partial Meniscectomy

by Rashida Bealin Meniscectomy Surgery, monthly updateson Posted on

It’s now been 6 months since I had my second partial meniscectomy in September 2022. In my 6 month update after partial meniscectomy article, I’ll describe how I am now after the procedure and how my return to soccer has been since.

Before learning reading my 6-month update after a partial meniscectomy or asking questions, I recommend reviewing my other updates including:

of my recovery, I suggest reviewing my progress up to this point including:

Now let’s dive into my 6-month update!

How I Felt Mentally

Since my last update, I’ve been doing pretty good mentally. By the 10-12 week mark, I was fully confident in playing and not really thinking about my injury much. The same has held true for the last months since then. Overall, I feel back to normal and am not bothered or concerned about the knee on a regular basis.

The one exception I have was in a recent match. I positioned my body between a forward and the too-far touch she’d taken, winning positioning on the ball. As I was getting ready to take a touch, she came plowing through my leg/knee with my foot planted. This is a similar tackle that caused my first ACL and meniscus tear back in 2018, but this time I happened to have both feet planted. So, I did not get seriously injured. However, it did bother my knee (soreness for a couple of days) and it definitely shook me up mentally.

How My Knee Feels

Day to day, my knee feels good. It actually feels better than after my first meniscectomy, which makes me think there’s been another tear for a while. In general, I don’t notice any immense difference or pain. I no longer ice my knee regularly, and I do only occasional treatment on it around once a week.

However, I do have some pain and discomfort with one certain movement. If I attempt a figure-4 stretch (or try to sit in a pretzel position) then I feel slight pain on the medial joint line. This has been the case since my first ACL surgery, and I only notice a slight difference now after my second partial meniscectomy.

Major Events

There haven’t been many major events since my last 10-12 week update. Things have been pretty similar since then. I’ve continued to prioritize gym sessions 1-2 times a week as much as possible with my game and soccer training schedule. I get treatment on my knee maybe 1-2 times per week at most, and more for maintenance/prevention.

Here are a couple of notable events:

  • I’ve played several full soccer matches since my last update.
  • Pain-free while training and playing.
  • Only have pain when trying to sit in a pretzel/ do a figure-4 stretch.
  • Walked double-digit km every day during a vacation and had no issues.
  • Continued lower-body strengthening 1-2 a week.
  • I’ve continued to gain back some more quad muscle and definition.

Exercises I Do 6 Months Post-Op

I am currently still in soccer season, which means I participate daily in team training and matches. Therefore, I cannot control every aspect of my training. I aim for 1-2 lower-body strengthening sessions per week, but I’m mindful to make adjustments as needed based on my soccer schedule/intensity.

I’ve continued many of the same exercises as the last update. I show many helpful ones in my 9 to 12-month ACL recovery exercises video. A few examples include:

  • Split squats (dumbbell or barbell)
  • Step-ups (sometimes explosive step-ups)
  • Weighted leg extension
  • Weighted leg curls
  • Broad jumps
  • SL jumping variations
  • Lateral squat
  • Pistol squat
  • Glute ham bridge (double leg or single leg)

Below, you’ll find the video of my 6-month update after my partial meniscectomy:

@rashidabeal

6 month update after my second #partialmeniscectomy #kneesurgery #postopupdate #6monthspostop #meniscectomy #partialmeniscus #returntosport #returntosports #soccerinjury

♬ Superhero (Heroes & Villains) – Instrumental – Metro Boomin
watch my 6-month update video here

FAQ About Partial Meniscectomy

When could you run after partial meniscectomy?

I started running around 3 weeks post-op, which was much sooner than my first partial meniscectomy. After my first one, it was closer to 6 weeks until I began running. I suggest checking out my previous updates for more information on the earlier stages of recovery.

How long did your recovery take?

I participated in my first soccer game at 6 weeks post-op. However, I was not fully recovered. I was not as explosive and struggled with quad tendon pain. It took a few more weeks for me to gain more strength and power back. By weeks 9-10, I was recovered.

Can you play soccer/are you back to sports?

Yes, I returned to soccer technically at 6 weeks post-op. I didn’t feel 100% until closer to 9-10 weeks post-op. Since then, I’ve played all of our team matches and participated regularly in training.

Do you have pain?

I don’t really have pain anymore. As I mentioned above, the only movement I have pain with is a figure-4 stretch/pretzel sit. Other than that, I am pain-free on a daily basis, including during walking, running, soccer, and lifting.

Are your quads the same size?

Not exactly. They are pretty close, and I’m continuing to work on it. However, they have not been the exact same since my initial ACL reconstruction in 2018.

How are you now?

If you’re seeing this post in the future, then you may wonder how I am currently. I recently posed a 1-year update.