Tips For Recovering From ACL Surgery

A torn ACL is a common injury experienced by athletes and people who perform strenuous activities. It happens when the knee is forcefully twisted, causing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) to tear. If you suspect that you have torn your ACL, you should immediately follow R.I.C.E protocol (rest, ice, compress, elevate) and talk to your doctor as soon as you can to get an MRI to determine if your ACL is damaged. You may need surgery depending on if the tear is a partial or complete tear. A complete tear almost always results in the need for surgery. Let’s look at what the recovery process looks like for surgery for a torn ACL.

Stages of Recovery 

Right after surgery, your main priority will be to rest and protect your knee and manage your pain. You also need to let your surgical site heal and will more than likely need crutches to be able to get around, along with a stabilizer of some sort to ensure that your knee does not move. It is important to follow R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compress, elevate) protocol as this will help significantly with pain, swelling, and your overall recovery process. The first few weeks are the most important in the recovery process.

After around a month, you will see significant improvement and be closer to walking on your own. You also may be able to slightly bend your knee or put pants on. Full recovery from surgery will typically take anywhere from six to 12 months.

Gradual Changes 

The most important thing with your recovery process is to move gradually into physical activity. You don’t want to overdo it and cause your recovery to regress. It’s best to start with slow walks of short distances. Then eventually work your way up to exercises like the stationary bike or core exercises.

Heal With Specialty Orthopaedics 

If you’re looking to get surgery to help reconstruct your ACL and are in or around Harrison, NY, Specialty Orthopaedics is the perfect place for you! Our team of physicians has extensive experience and can provide the precision and care necessary for your surgery to go smoothly. Contact us at 914.686.0111 or visit us online at www.specialtyorthony.com to schedule your consultation with us.