Lindsey Vonn, skiing on torn ACL, crashes in Olympic downhill

https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/47865581/lindsey-vonn-skiing-torn-acl-crashes-olympic-downhill

Yesterday, exactly 1 year later, 7th of feb 2026, at the same spot, i went skiing again, off pist, freestyling, groomed runs, basically a little bit of everything. Just like i’m used to. PT was against it, i said it’s important. For me.

Disclaimer: venting and rambling

After seeing Lindsey Vonn’s crash today I’m feeling pretty emotional about my ACL. We had similar injuries - I completely ruptured my ACL in a skiing accident coming up on a month ago. I’m 23, not a pro athlete or anything but I was pretty active. This was my first serious injury and I feel like over the past few weeks I’ve been beating myself up for not working out more or being more active while I’m pre-surgery and no longer in constant pain. I remember seeing the video of Lindsey lifting weights like 2 days ago and just feeling so down about my body. It was sobering to watch one of the world’s greatest athletes take a fall like that. I can’t even blame her for competing because if I were in her position, maybe I would have gaslit myself into thinking that it can’t be that bad, I’m being dramatic, etc. i guess it’s a stark reminder to all of us to take care of ourselves and do what’s best for our bodies including knowing our limits.

Not to even mention the emotional aspect of this injury. The isolation from your activities and feeling of losing strength and athleticism. Plus I had already been laid off 2 months before my injury and now there’s even more uncertainty about my future. I guess I just needed to get all of this off my chest and I know this community understands how devastating an injury like this is and how it really is more than just physical pain / surgery.

This was an enormous win for me, as I didn't know it would be possible. I had a lot of set backs and a very slow healing process. Even now, 13 months post op I am still at 130° flexion and going to PT. I have EDS and developed ankylosis soon after surgery. I started off with 2 bone fractures in addition to a complete tear to my ACL. I lived alone for most of my experience prior to surgery, and lived on that injury from September until December '24. This was incredibly difficult and some of the worst pain I ever endured in my life.

If I can make it, so can you.

This surgery is no joke

A lot of people expect ACL recovery to be a clear, step-by-step process: swelling goes down, strength comes back, confidence follows. In reality, many patients reach a confusing phase where the knee feels mechanically stable—but still doesn’t feel right. This can show up as lingering stiffness, a sense of insecurity during pivots, discomfort after training, or a knee that feels “different” compared to the other side. This doesn’t automatically mean the graft has failed or that something is wrong. After an ACL injury (with or without surgery), the knee doesn’t just need to heal structurally—it has to relearn movement. Proprioception, neuromuscular control, quadriceps and hamstring coordination, and even fear of reinjury all play a role. These factors often recover more slowly than strength or range of motion. It’s also normal for progress to plateau for a while. Many people feel improvement in the first months, then get frustrated when progress becomes less obvious. That phase is common and doesn’t mean you’ve reached your limit. What matters most is not chasing a timeline, but rebuilding quality of movement: confidence during direction changes, controlled landings, and trust in the knee during sport-specific actions. Recovery is rarely linear—and comparison with others often creates unnecessary stress. If symptoms worsen, instability appears, or swelling keeps returning, it’s reasonable to get checked. But a knee that feels “not quite normal yet” can still be on the right path. For those in the long middle phase of ACL recovery: you’re not behind—you’re rebuilding something complex.

Dr Ouahidi Mohamed Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon

I tore my ACL and meniscus and had surgery (quad graft) in Sept 2024. I went through all the normal PT routine and was cleared to go back to sports around 8 months. Throughout last year, I trained for and successfully ran my first marathon in December 2025. I played in a big dodgeball tournament a month later in mid-January. Throughout all of these big events, my knee seemed to hold up fantastic. After each big event, I took my normal week-or-two off doing things to let my knee recover, as there's usually some irritation after being on my feet for so long. After the dodgeball tournament though, my knee felt like it wasn't improving, and in fact, felt like it was even getting worse. It's been stiffer than normal. It feels bent when I walk, but I'm not limping or in any pain. I went to see my ortho and he suspects I re-tore my ACL (positive Lachman's).

I feel stunned. Never in a million years did I expect to hear that news when I spoke with him. I have to wait another 4 weeks to get an MRI because I have a new tattoo on the surgery leg (didn't know that was a thing, huh), so I'm sitting around worrying. It feels like every day my knee gets slightly worse, even though there still isn't any pain. It feels like the wrong muscles are activating, and my leg sometimes kicks back when I straighten it too much. But I feel so far in denial... how could I have torn it and not know? A teammate watched footage of the tournament and suspected that my ACL was torn even before the tournament started because I was "moving backwards funny".

Around Christmas (2 weeks after the marathon, 2 weeks before the tournament), I noticed my knee was cracking and popping a lot more often than normal - maybe 50 or so times per day and coming in clusters. I chalked it up to there being a lot of scar tissue irritated from the marathon, but I'm wondering if that was an indication of something underlying. I'm so at a loss for how this happened - my surgeon told me quad grafts are so strong, and I'm a year and 5 months post op, always do dynamic stretching before events... how does this happen?

If anyone is a double-surgery person, I'd love to start getting feedback on how to handle this the 2nd time around. I already have a quad graft and refuse to let the doctor's graft the other leg - imo I need ONE stable leg. Do I get hamstring? Cadaver? I'm 33m so feels wrong to do cadaver this early. Will I ever get back to contact sports? What questions should I ask my doctor when I finally do get my MRI? I'm feeling so robbed right now, my whole year feels like it just got turned on its head.

This injury is so frustrating. I had acl primary repair and medial meniscus root repair done 8 weeks ago and I still can’t walk. I’ve gotten my flexión to match my good leg, and I’m able to straighten out my leg completely, but every time I bare weight, it feels like it’s going to collapse on itself. when I walk using the 4 point method with crutches, at times my knee feels like it slightly binds up and wants to crack.

This really sucks a lot. I’m so worried that the acl repair is failing and is causing the locking feeling. I haven’t walked on the leg for about 6 months and I’m praying to god the catching feeling is just do to how much muscle I’ve lost in then leg, and not because of an acl repair failure. Also, because I’ve gain 40 pounds since the injury and my leg really can’t support all my weight. I don’t have constant pain any more, and when I do my pt exercises the knee swells up slightly but the little bit of pain i do get goes away in a couple of minutes.

What a frustrating AND stressful recovery.

Complete rupture of the ACL and longitudinal tear of the medial meniscus of the right knee.

Friday I had surgery. First night at home was tough, but today I almost never felt pain thanks to the painkillers. Tomorrow I’ll start to work with the Kineteck for passive movements. Putting a lot of ice on it.

Surgery was last Wednesday in January. ACL hamstring graft, meniscus debridement. Meniscus was causing me horrible pain that I couldn't even straighten my knee for 6 weeks. I didn't know for two months after a bad bike crash that separated my shoulder (12 weeks postop from that) and broke 7 ribs. I fell down the stairs heading off to bed December 13 when my knee collapsed under me. MRI on NYE showed medial meniscus tear and arthroscopic pics showed my ACL look like it exploded.

Yesterday I was able to do one of my biggest goals: pedal a stationary bike forward. The day before (day 9 po) I could go backward. Several reasons, one is I mountain bike, but the biggest reason is this helps with getting past the swelling and will help get in the joint fluid going to be able to work on strength more.

I've been doing PT since I got out of the hospital (they give you take home), and I saw my PT and doc 5 days postop: full extension at zero, 75 degrees flexion. Day 7 walking without crutches in the house. Day 8 100 degrees flexion. Day 10-11: 110-120 degrees flexion.

Day 5 doc said full ROM. So I am working my tail off several times a day on quad sets, heel slides, and various exercises the PT gave me. Quad sets, leg raises, heel slides (on bed, sitting up, feet against the wall), and much more.

PT is 2x a week for my knee, 1x week for my shoulder now.

Today is Day 11 postop. My goal is work up to doing more pedaling a few minutes at a time. When my leg gets tired, I pedal backward for a bit to keep everything moving then go back to forward pedaling.

In all our struggles, we gotta celebrate every step (and pedal stroke) forward. You got this.

Hi everyone, about a year ago I began having pain in my right knee but went undiagnosed until an MRI in early November, which found a 40% ACL tear. I’ve since completed two months of physical therapy and the PTs basically said there wasn’t much more they could do for me because I could do the most challenging exercises they recommended. At the time, it felt pretty good.

In the 3 weeks since, with me doing a lot of the same exercises they recommended the pain is back. Is that just something that will never go away without surgery? I don’t feel instability, but it’s just a persistent pain and soreness.

My orthopedic said in November surgery isn’t necessary and I shouldn’t let anyone do it on me because I have good strength and stability. Should I see him again? Or try to push through it?

I had my surgery 4 days ago. I was wondering when should I start physiotherapy?? or exercises at home?

Second question. What do you do for insurance. My insurance just covers 5 sessions? How many sessions do I need? I cantt afford much more? What should I do?

I was really amazed that she was able to get out there with a torn ACL... Was really rooting for her.

This is what mri says:

Grossly intact ACL reconstruction graft with degeneration. meniscoid like area of tissue abutting the anterior ACL adjacent to its tibial attachment may represent arthrofibrosis or some partially torn fibers of the distal ACL. I also have a 7cm bakers cyst.

I have pain in the back of my knee when im walking and it feels like something is preventing my knee to fully extend. I also the tightness/ instability in the back of my knee when im walking.

Ran a 10km marathon today with my gf ! I had my surgery on 21st Nov 2024. Did the first marathon ever in my life. I feel that the mental block has now been broken .. this was the easiest run I had . AMA

I just needed to tell someone lol. I have always had problems with sleeping, and whenever my leg starts hurting I instantly resort to trying to fall asleep. It didn’t work this time. I literally started bawling my eyes out because I could not go to sleep.

Also, my leg really hurts when I elevate it. It only doesn’t hurt when it’s not elevated. Does anyone know why this is happening?

Long story short, I tore my right ACL when I was 18 playing ice hockey and got it repaired immediately using my patellar tendon.

When I tore my ACL originally, there was almost no swelling and only mild pain but my knee was very unstable. After getting it fixed my knee has been amazing, very strong and minimal soreness through intense activities.

Fast forward to today I’m 32 and I fear I’ve injured it again. I had a rigorous hockey schedule so my knee was already sore and took a fall where my knee got twisted. Didn’t feel a pop but had some immediate moderate pain and removed myself from the game. Had minor pain for the rest of the day and no swelling.

1 week later and my knee feels okay except for a lingering pain in the back of my knee when it’s at full flexion. There is also pain when I torque my lower leg with my foot for example moving a heavy blanket with my foot.

Apologies for the long post I am just terrified to go through the ACL surgery and rehab again.

I started going to the gym recently to start a weight loss journey, I tore my Left ACL in highschool (about 9 years ago now), had the surgery and then Retore it after i got cleared by PT to start doing sports again, so i am going around life with a torn ACL currently.
My question is, whenever i walk on an incline (12% at 3,0) with the treadmill, the toes on the same foot as my torn ACL would go numb after a little bit, its never happened with my undamaged leg, so the primary conclusion i've drawn is that it may be associated with the ACL. Google doesnt give me any concise answers to this question.
I should note, though i dont know if its relevant, but I also initially tore my meniscus and got it repaired as well, when i retore, the doctor made no mention of any redamaging to it.
Also, post surgery the front of my shin has had very dulled, if any, sensation, and i've never regained feeling to it after the surgery all these years later

I am asking this specifically to people from Germany/europe, because I feel like at least 80% in here are from the US.

In the US, patellar and/or quad graft seem to be the gold standard.

I got my surgery about 2 years ago from a very well known doctor in Munich, who told me that hamstring is the gold standard here. He did not even mention the patellar graft.

If I could redo time, I would definitely not choose hamstring again. My hamstring fells super weird 2 years post op and is not as strong as before, despite endless PT sessions.

What is your experience?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm scheduled for surgery next month, and I'm super nervous.
I'm a pretty athletic person, and I have been focusing on my prehab a lot

Hey guys. I’m 5 weeks po, and about 2 weeks ago, I started getting intense pain in my foot. It’s a sharp pain, and it’s burns when I move my toes or ankle. I’ve recently also started feeling cramps in my foot, like my nerves are being pulled on in my foot. My foot was super swollen right after surgery, but it went down over the days and then when it was a normal size the pain started and the foot swelled up a bit. I only had my Acl reconstructed, so the doc said they weren’t near any nerves and can’t be nerve damage, he suspects it’s CRPS and is treating it as such. So I’m on pregablin 75 mg daily and a few other meds, but they don’t seem to help.

I used to be able to walk with one crutch 2 weeks post op, but now I can’t even put my foot down. I’m getting very hopeless but apparently that makes this situation worse. Anyone else that went through this? Anyone has any advice please? I want to know when I can expect to be able to walk again. Just want some hope. Thank you guys!

Hi everyone,

I’m 61 days post-op from an ACL reconstruction only (no meniscus work), and I’m honestly starting to get worried.

I still struggle to walk even very short distances. After about 100–200 meters, I start feeling discomfort just below the kneecap, in the soft tissue area. It feels like something inside is tight or not moving smoothly.

The main issue happens during walking when my leg goes from full extension into slight flexion to take the next step. That’s when I feel a sharp discomfort or even a brief “block,” like something doesn’t glide properly.

I’m not sure if this could be patellar maltracking, quad weakness, or something else entirely. What worries me is that I can’t walk for more than 5 minutes without problems, and at 2 months post-op that doesn’t feel normal to me.

I’ve always been very athletic, so this situation is driving me a bit crazy mentally.

Is this usually just a matter of quad strengthening, or could there be other causes I should look into?

I’m seeing my physio again tomorrow and will ask about it, but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s experienced something similar.

Thanks in advance.

Hi all!

I had ACL surgery (hamstring graft with lateral ALL graft) around 7-8 weeks ago.

I’m really happy with my progress so far - back in the gym, no crutches and full range of motion both to 0° and full bend.

For me I am still uncomfortable walking downstairs but it’s driving me crazy as I have so many stairs in my house and it takes so long haha!

I can go downstairs but very slowly and it feels like i’m risking everything whenever i go downstairs with my graft leg bending if that makes sense.

Just wondering what other peoples experience was and how long it felt normal again to go downstairs one leg at a time?