Lexus

An ACL injury is never an easy setback, but facing one for a second time comes with its own set of physical and mental challenges. When Lexus came to 3DPT Tabernacle after tearing her ACL while working as an Amazon driver, she knew the recovery process would take patience, consistency, and a strong commitment to the work ahead. With this being her second tear to the same ACL and a later start to physical therapy, Lexus understood that her rehab journey might look a little different than expected.

From the start, Lexus approached her recovery with determination and focus. Even when timelines felt challenging, she stayed locked in on what she could control and continued to show up ready to put in the work.Working closely with 3DPT Tabernacle’s Dr. Erin Donoghue, Lexus quickly regained full knee range of motion and began rebuilding her strength, stability, and confidence. While progress was steady, the road was not without challenges. Setbacks came up along the way, but Lexus met each one head-on, staying engaged in the process and pushing through even on the tougher days.

Lexus shared how a 2x long rehab journey reshaped her mindset and brought her one step closer to returning to work:

1. Tell us about what brought you to physical therapy and how this has affected your life.

I ended up in PT because I tore my ACL at work delivering for Amazon. It has affected my life because now I am a lot more cautious with physical activity since this is my second tear/surgical repair on the same knee.

2. Tell us a little about your recovery process. What has been the hardest part of your therapy? What was your favorite part of physical therapy?

The entirety of the process (surgery and recovery) has been long and challenging yet steady and fortunate. The hardest part of physical therapy is the adjustment in mindset due to the lack of confidence in my recovery and my quad engagement/strengthening. My favorite part of physical therapy is seeing and feeling the results. Also, having the best physical therapist to help instill that confidence in myself that I can regain strength, mobility and function to the best of my ability.

3. What advice would you give to other people who suffered similar injuries or going through the same situation?

Advice that I would give to others in similar positions to me is, don’t give up. When you feel like you’re at a standstill in progression, just keep going. I feel strongly that 75% of an injury, especially ACL tears, is mental. My first ACL/meniscal tear was 10 years ago exactly. After doing it again, I felt like I would never get back to the level of physical activity/function I had before. There were many times in PT where I felt no progress. I had a few crying sessions, and after that, progress was always made. Barriers are meant to be broken – and they will. It’s okay to feel like your progress is slow and grieve in the process, but always give yourself grace and remember to keep going because it will get better. With injuries comes physical change, and that change is okay. Consistency and mentality is key.

4. Share a fun fact, bucket list item, or goal you want to reach!

A fun fact about me is I enjoy searching, locating, and reuniting families.
A bucket list item for me is a 3-week cross-country RV trip with my immediate family.

Take a look at Lexus in action at our Tabernacle Clinic!

Lexus’s rehab journey has been defined by perseverance, accountability, and trust in the process. From working through setbacks to celebrating hard-earned milestones, she consistently showed up with a positive attitude and a willingness to put in the work. Her resilience, commitment, and determination to return to work made her progress truly inspiring to witness, and her energy has left a lasting impression on the entire 3DPT team. 💙💪🏼

Physical therapy can help you reach your goals too! Click HERE to make an appointment with a 3DPT physical therapist!