One week before the surgery I could walk up and down stairs like a normal person again. Based on what the surgeon says, it'll be another 3 weeks or so before I can do this again.

First time taking off the (bloody) dressing and bandages from the hospital. Cant you see the pain on my face?

BTW, spring skiing is EVIL, and i will never ski in the spring again.

Dr Buelow specialises in arthroscopic and reconstructive knee and shoulder surgery, as well as knee replacement surgery, degenerative and trauma related knee and shoulder conditions. Visit: www.drjensbuelow.com.au/

At three and a half weeks, I am able to walk up and down stairs and pretty much everywhere else without the crutches. I get tired easily, and it sometimes hurts if I don't rest.

Note crutches, rubbish pillows, stool for leg, general mess.

Things seem to be going well. I can tell that the incision areas are getting better every day. Now that I can shower, the yellow stuff is coming off too!

one day after the operation.

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A close up of the incisions post stitch removal. I still haven't gotten all of the yellow stuff and the purple marks off yet.

Yes! 6 holes, 1 pin, 1 screw and a little cadaver meat.

Sabrina is physio practitioner extraordinairre. Now that the incision is more healed she's massaging that area a bit because it's the spot most prone to pain.

My incisions are healing a lot faster than I thought they would. The little top hole where they pulled the new ACL through is almost healed.

At three weeks, only the long incision is still really visable. It's started to peel, which definately adds to the gross factor.

on the left is, well, my left knee, perfectly fine and healthy. on the right is my surgically repaired knee, swollen, scarred and shaven.

I am finally well enough to go flying with Aaron. Here's a picture of my knee flexing in front of the plane. It was hard to get in and out, but I made it. The landings were also somewhat painful.

Patellar incision, 4 weeks after surgery. Complete with heat rash from the steri strips. MMM, Lovely!

Dr Buelow consults at Perth Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, West Perth and Sports Medicine Glengarry in Duncraig. He operates at Bethesda Hospital in Claremont and Hollywood Hospital in Nedlands. Dr Buelow holds Orthopaedic Specialist qualifications in Australia, UK and Europe. Visit: www.drjensbuelow.com.au/

Patellar incision, 4 weeks after surgery. Complete with heat rash from the steri strips. MMM, Lovely!

Hey....i can walk! yay!

So in this picture I'm not in pain, but basically this same technique a week or so ago hurt like few things have ever hurt before.

One year after my ACL reconstruction, my scar is almost gone. This day I walked over 6 miles and climbed the 294 steps of the Bunker Hill Memorials. By the time I got down, my knee was quaking like an aspen leaf in a tornado. It didn't hurt or swell though. I think that we can call me fully recovered.

First time i was out of the house since the surgery. The surgeon gave me the go ahead to start Phyiso!

I made it all of the way around on the bike exactly three weeks after my surgery. It felt like a huge accomplishment!

Dr Buelow consults at Perth Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, West Perth and Sports Medicine Glengarry in Duncraig. He operates at Bethesda Hospital in Claremont and Hollywood Hospital in Nedlands. Dr Buelow holds Orthopaedic Specialist qualifications in Australia, UK and Europe. Visit: www.drjensbuelow.com.au/

Also at five weeks, I could stand on one leg without crying.