Week 4 Post-Op: One Step Closer (Literally)

Heading into Week 4 post-surgery, and guess what? The crutches are officially retired — maybe they’ll become Halloween decorations because they’re never welcome back.

I won’t sugarcoat it: my knee is still stiff if I sit too long, and I still take a few wobbly steps when I stand up. But I’m walking. I’m figuring it out, step by step (literally). And every awkward limp feels like a step toward normal.

PT is pretty glamorous these days — lots of stim treatments, endless quad sets (basically flexing my thigh muscle until it forgets how to be lazy), mini squats, leg lifts, and this week… step-ups on the 4-inch block!

That may not sound like much, but with my last surgery, I didn’t touch a step-up for four whole months. So being able to tackle it at four weeks feels like a giant win.

Honestly, this recovery is starting to feel less like a total restart and more like a minor setback. I know I’ve got a long way to go to get back to where I was before my first injury — but this time it’s not just about “getting back.” It’s about becoming the best version of myself.

That’s why I started ACL Again in the first place — to keep myself motivated and maybe motivate someone else who’s going through it too. I’m not even a big social media person, but recording my workouts and sharing the real, raw moments is now part of my healing. It’s my outlet — and maybe it helps someone else feel less alone.

Summer has been brutal — nothing like wrapping your leg in a sweaty brace when it’s 90 degrees out. Not to mention, this brace has survived two summers now… so yeah, it probably deserves to be burned in a ceremonial goodbye. 🔥

I’ve got a couple more weeks off work while I get through this early healing stage, but I’m pushing myself hard. Not just to “get better,” but to come back stronger, taller (with better posture, thank you very much), and more determined than ever.

Week 4: done. Crutches: gone. Brace: on borrowed time.Onward. 💪✨