Week 3 ACL Recovery: More Than Just a Leg Rehab

We’re only halfway through Week 3, and I’ve already hit a major milestone—106 degrees of flexion in physical therapy today! My leg officially remembers how to bend again. My PT seemed pretty impressed, and honestly, so am I. When you’re in the thick of recovery day in and day out, it’s easy to lose sight of how far you’ve come. But today, I could feel it.

Another huge win: I ditched the crutch (mostly). I kept the countertop close, just in case, but walking without it felt surprisingly easier than expected. I also pulled off a straight leg raise with the brace locked—something I hadn’t been able to do until now. If you know, you know… that first leg lift feels like lifting a cement block with spaghetti.

This week I’ve been pushing hard—three days in a row back in the basement lifting weights. That’s probably more strength training than I’ve done in the past three months combined. But I made myself a promise when I re-tore this ACL: this journey wouldn’t be for nothing. I’m not just rebuilding my knee—I’m rebuilding everything.

Yes, I’m still using the shower chair. And honestly? I might never give it up. It’s not just about safety (although let’s be real, the first post-op shower is terrifying)—it’s about comfort. If your surgeon says you won’t need one, buy one anyway. Mentally, it’s a win. Physically, it keeps you upright. Spiritually? It’s spa day, baby. Follow this link for a sturdy shower chair. https://amzn.to/46fnbyZ Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally used and believe add value—like the shower chair that made my recovery safer and easier!

Another unexpected win? I haven’t regained the 10 lbs I lost pre-surgery, and I fully expected to. The secret weapon? Factor meals. During my first surgery, we did Green Chef, which was great (turns out a lot of people can follow a recipe—who knew?). But this time, I needed less work, more survival. Factor meals are pricey, but no more than fast food, and infinitely better for recovery. We don’t eat them every meal (hi, we have 5 kids), but they help take the edge off dinner-time chaos.

Life is back to full volume—summer camps, daycare drop-offs, laundry piles, and trying to keep up with everyone else’s needs while still healing myself. But somehow, pushing myself back into as much normalcy as possible is helping me move forward faster.

I’ve even made it onto the stationary bike, and I can do full pedal rotations now. That first time over the top of the pedal was a little dicey (okay, a lot), but I did it. My quad is still MIA, but we’re giving it daily wake-up calls with the stim machine. Hopefully it picks up the phone soon.

Week 3 isn't just about regaining strength—it’s about momentum. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’ve got some.