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Sonam Chinky Mahajan

@mahajansonam

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Some days, this ACL journey feels like a lesson in patience. And some days, it just feels unfair.

I did everything right. I was fit, active, strong. I spent 20 years moving, working out and doing the things I love. And then, in a moment, everything changed.

I knew people who'd been through ACL injuries. I thought I understood. I didn't. Not until I found myself in this world of pain, restrictions, physio and learning to celebrate the smallest things.

For someone who was always moving, slowing down to almost a full stop has been one of the hardest things I've ever done.

But maybe those 20 years weren't just about building a stronger body. Maybe they were building the resilience I'd need for this chapter, one I never saw coming.

I'm still having my low days. Still counting down to doing the things I love. But I'm learning to be still, take one day at a time and find joy in the little wins.

The next milestone is 50% weight-bearing. And somehow, something so ordinary has never felt so extraordinary.

And then I come back to the question.

Why me?

Maybe because I've spent 20 years building the strength I'll need to begin again.

Maybe that's where I find my answers.

And maybe, just maybe, that's why me.. ❤️

#ACLRecovery #ACLReconstruction #ACLJourney #InjuryRecovery #RecoveryJourney RoadToRecovery StrongerEveryday OneDayAtATime WomenWhoWorkout FitnessJourney MentalStrength HealingInProgress TrustTheProcess PickleballLife WhyMe by @mahajansonam

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3 days ago

Phase 2 unlocked. 💪🏻✨

The stitches are out, the knee has finally been revealed, and I’ve officially graduated to a few new exercises.

There’s still a long way to go, but every small milestone feels HUGE when you’ve spent weeks learning how to move again.

A heartfelt thank you to @drsachintapasvi and his entire team for the care, guidance and constant reassurance through this journey. From surgery to recovery, knowing I’m in such capable hands makes a world of difference. 🙏🏻

Now… onto the next phase. One rep, one degree and one little win at a time.

#ACLRecovery #MeniscusRepair #ACLReconstruction #RoadToRecovery #RecoveryJourney Phase2 KneeRecovery StrongerEveryday by @mahajansonam

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8 days ago

Out of bed, into a skirt, out for coffee.. ✨

Taking life one little outing at a time. Chill mode: ON. Healing mode: ALWAYS. 🤍

P.S. - My operated leg isn't touching the ground!

#LifeLately #ACLRecovery #CoffeeDate #HealingInStyle #SlowDays LittleWins by @mahajansonam

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9 days ago

POV: You thought ACL surgery meant recovering.

Nobody warned you about the 24/7 relationship with this bloody brace!!!!!!!!!!

Adjust. Tighten. Loosen. Repeat.
180th time and still somehow wrong. 🫠

#ACLRecovery #ACLRehab #ACLJourney #KneeRecovery #BraceLife ACLReconstruction RoadToRecovery by @mahajansonam

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10 days ago

How humbling life can be.

There was a time when I spent 40 days preparing my body to complete a HYROX. I used to get dressed, step out and head straight to the pickleball court without thinking twice.

Today, I’m spending these 40 days preparing my body to take my first proper steps again.

Getting dressed and stepping out for 15 minutes felt like an achievement.

Mentally, this journey has been harder than I imagined. Learning to slow down, accept where I am, and celebrate things I once took completely for granted.

But I’m accepting it with grace.

Because this too is training.
Different goal. Different kind of strength.

And one day, I’ll be back chasing the big ones again.

#ACLRecovery #ACLRehab #ACLReconstruction #MeniscusRepair #KneeRecovery SportsInjuryRecovery RecoveryJourney AthleteRecovery FemaleAthlete BackToSport Pickleball HYROX RoadToRecovery StrongerEveryDay OneDayAtATime by @mahajansonam

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12 days ago

Life lately… all things ACL..

Apparently, ACL + meniscus surgery comes with a whole new lifestyle I never signed up for.

Walking to the bathroom is now an expedition.
A shower needs military-level planning.
Getting dressed requires engineering skills.
And my patella has officially developed commitment issues 😂

I thought recovery would be about getting stronger.

Turns out, it’s also about learning how to do the most basic things in life… very, very slowly. 🫠

8 days in. Still learning. Still laughing. Still showing up.

Recovery loading…

#ACLRecovery #ACLReconstruction #MeniscusRepair #ACLJourney #KneeRecovery RoadToRecovery RecoveryDiaries SportsInjury by @mahajansonam

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13 days ago

Day 5 looks good on me!!

Leg raises ✔️
Quad activation firing again ✔️
Stepping down from the bed ✔️
Extension: 0° ✔️
Flexion: 90° ✔️
Walking: Absolutely not. 😂❌

So basically… I’ve unlocked everything I’m allowed to unlock on Day 5. And I’m ridiculously happy about it. 🥹

None of this came easy. There’s been pain, tears, frustration, and a LOT of repeating the same tiny movements over and over again. But the little wins? They hit different.

A huge shoutout to Dr. Sachin Tapasvi's team — the physio support and guidance have been excellent, and to myself for showing up and putting in the work every single day.

The funniest part is I've achieved everything I can achieve right now… and I'm still not allowed to walk. 🤦‍♀️

Three more weeks of patience before the next level unlocks.

For now, I’m celebrating Day 5. Because progress is progress, even when it comes one tiny leg raise at a time.

And a little reminder: everything I’ve done here has been under expert guidance and is specific to my surgery and recovery protocol. Every recovery is different, so if you’re going through something similar, please follow your own surgeon and physiotherapist’s protocol. ❤️

#Day5 #ACLRecovery #ACLRehab #MeniscusRepair #KneeRecovery RecoveryJourney LittleWins ProgressNotPerfection PostOpRecovery RehabJourney OneDayAtATime by @mahajansonam

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15 days ago

Recovery was never supposed to be easy. I knew it would be tough. I just didn’t know how tough.
Every rep hurts. Every tiny movement hurts. Even learning the basics again comes with pain, frustration and tears.
But I show up. Every single day.
Because through every scream, every tear and every painful rep, I’m being rebuilt stronger.
The comeback will come.
But first, I WILL BUILD IT!!

#ACLRecovery #ACLRehab #MeniscusRepair #LET #RecoveryJourney ComebackSeason StrongerEveryDay TrustTheProcess by @mahajansonam

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17 days ago

I really thought the surgery was going to be the hard part.

Turns out… walking 20 feet with a walker deserves its own medal.

Day 3 - not fast.. Not pretty. . But moving..

This comeback has already started!!

#ACLRecovery #ACLRehab #Day3 #ACLJourney #MeniscusRepair LET KneeSurgery AthleteRecovery PickleballRecovery ComebackSeason RoadToRecovery RecoveryJourney ACLReconstruction WatchThisSpace by @mahajansonam

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19 days ago

Day 1 after surgery, and apparently… lifting my own leg is now an achievement.

Ice therapy? Check.
IV? Unfortunately, check. 😂
Using my good leg to move my operated leg? Absolutely.
And finally… my first little leg raise.

Tiny wins, but I’ll take every single one.

#ACLRecovery #ACLRehab #ACLReconstruction #ACLJourney #MeniscusRepair LET KneeSurgery Day1PostOp by @mahajansonam

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21 days ago

Went in thinking: ACL surgery.
Came out with: ACL + Grade 4 meniscus repair + LET + the deluxe package. 😂🥲
Apparently my knee said, “If we’re doing this, we’re doing EVERYTHING.”
Rehab Day 0. Let’s rebuild.

#ACLRecovery #ACLRehab #ACLReconstruction #ACLJourney #ACLWarrior Day0 RehabDay0 KneeSurgery KneeRehab MeniscusRepair MeniscusRecovery LET LateralExtraArticularTenodesis SportsInjury AthleteRecovery AthleteRehab RoadToRecovery RoadToComeback ComebackStronger StrongerThanBefore FitnessJourney FitnessRecovery Pickleball PickleballIndia PickleballPlayer HYROX HYROXTraining SportsRehab RecoveryJourney TrustTheProcess by @mahajansonam

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22 days ago

D-1

And here we go.

On the way to the hospital for my ACL reconstruction.
A little nervous. A little excited. A lot of emotions.
I’ve spent the last few weeks preparing my body, understanding the process, and getting mentally ready for what’s ahead.
Today, the real recovery journey begins.
From here, I’m documenting it all — the good days, the hard days, the small wins, the setbacks, the rehab, and eventually… getting back to the sports I love.

Let’s see where this journey takes me.

Let's do this!

#ACLRecovery #ACLReconstruction #ACLJourney #ACLSurgery #ACLRehab SurgeryDay Day0 RoadToRecovery Prehab SportsInjury AthleteRecovery Pickleball PickleballLife BackToSport RecoveryJourney StrongerEveryDay KneeRecovery by @mahajansonam

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23 days ago