Although yous may go habitation on the same day as your surgery, recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery is not a quick process. From the time you lot first undergo surgery through full rehabilitation, the process tin can take upward to six months or more. Y'all will need to take it easy and follow a rehabilitation program to strengthen the muscles around the genu and regain range of motion.

For the best possible ACL recovery, you should e'er follow your doctor's instructions. Larn more about what will happen before and after surgery to repair a torn ACL.

How to Prepare for ACL Surgery

A good recovery starts with good grooming. In the weeks and days before your surgery:

  • Understand the potential risks and benefits of your surgery. Make a list of questions to ask your surgeon about the procedure and your ACL recovery time.
  • Talk with your surgeon. Enquire your questions and answer any of the surgeon's questions nigh your health history and all medications y'all are taking.
  • Follow instructions. Y'all volition be given specific instructions about when to finish eating and drinking in the hours before your surgery. Following these instructions volition reduce the chance of airsickness while nether general anesthesia.
  • Prepare transportation. You will need someone to drive yous home afterward your surgery considering you volition exist given anesthesia and pain medications.
  • Practice walking with crutches. You will likely need crutches after surgery. Practice using them beforehand.
  • Dress comfortably. Clothing loose, soft pants or clothing that will continue easily over your bandaged knee to become dwelling house.
  • Relax. Yous've washed your homework and you lot're prepared. Now relax in the cognition that you lot're ready to make the most of your ACL recovery time.

What Not to Practise After ACL Surgery

You'll have enough of instructions to follow during your recovery and rehabilitation process.

Simply hither are some things that you shouldn't practice if you're looking to make a quick recovery from ACL surgery:

  • Don't put also much pressure on your knee too soon. Even a pain-free knee may non be fully healed—take the time your doctor recommends.
  • Don't over-water ice your knee. Surprisingly, excess icing can cause nervus damage. Limit icing to xx minutes three to 4 times per day.
  • Don't sleep with your knee bent. Hours spent sleeping with a bent knee could crusade a buildup of scar tissue over fourth dimension, subsequently preventing you from fully extending your knee.
  • Don't overcompensate with your uninjured knee. It's natural to want to shift your body weight to your uninjured side, but that tin delay your recovery or injure your stronger knee. Try to evenly distribute your weight across both legs when standing.
  • Don't exist agape to call your physician's office. Make that call if y'all feel increased pain, fever, or signs of an infection, or if you lot accept questions nigh your recovery.

RELATED:What Is ACL Reconstruction Surgery?

ACL Reconstruction Recovery Time

Hither are some full general guidelines on the recovery process in the weeks and months following ACL repair surgery:

Rest: 0 to ii weeks after ACL surgery

You lot may need someone to help you when y'all commencement go home from ACL surgery and expect to be out of work a few days to a few weeks, depending on how physically demanding your task is.

For the first couple of weeks later surgery, you will need to balance and care for the incision site.

  • Prop your leg — at the calf or talocrural joint — on a couple of pillows four to six times a day. This helps reduce swelling.
  • Keep the bandages on your knee make clean and dry.

You tin usually movement your knee joint correct afterward surgery, merely information technology will be painful. Your md volition give you some exercises you can practice to keep the blood flowing in your leg and assist prevent claret clots. It is important that you work on quad sets. Quad sets volition assure your knee is fully direct and you won't develop a contracture afterwards on. Your physician will also send you home with medication or advice for managing hurting.

Motion effectually: 2 to 4 weeks after ACL surgery

Almost two weeks after surgery, you will be able to start putting some weight on your knee. Your doctor volition probably fit you for a knee joint caryatid to wear for a few weeks.

You will also begin physical therapy between ii and 4 weeks after surgery.

Rehabilitation: two to half dozen months after ACL surgery

Rehabilitation is a vital role of your ACL recovery and is essential to getting back to regular physical activity. Your program tin can last anywhere from two months to six months or longer. Your md will help you find a program that is suited to your recovery goals.

Physical therapy programs include basic programs to aid you regain strength and stability, injury-specific programs, or sport-specific programs.

RELATED: ACL Tear Symptoms and Treatment Options

When to call the doc

If you have concerns near how y'all're healing or have signs of infection, call your physician right away.

Expect for:

  • Blood soaking through the bandages
  • Belch coming from the incision
  • Swelling or pain in your dogie
  • Fever to a higher place 101°F
  • Pain that does not go abroad with medication

Your human knee needs fourth dimension to heal, and then exist patient and take information technology tedious. Do not rush the recovery procedure or try to speed up recovery. It'southward important to listen to your doctor and work with him or her to exist sure your knee is healing correctly and that you're non pushing yourself too fast or too before long.

Editor's Note: This infographic was originally published on .