Which isn’t the smartest move during ACL surgery recovery. Within the first few weeks after surgery, you should strive to regain a range of motion equal to that of your opposite knee. ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery repairs a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. 6-9 months may seem like an eternity, especially if this is your first time at it – hopefully last. Rehabilitation: Two to Six Months After ACL Surgery. Before starting any of these activities, talk to your physical therapist to check you are ready. Problems after ACL surgery are rare and usually short-lived. If you develop acute pain in the back of your calf, tell your doctor. The material on this website is intended for educational information purposes only. You will have a pre-op appointment with your surgeon where ACL Surgery. Your program can last anywhere from two months to six months or longer. operation. The explanations are so clear. ... ACL Surgery Recovery. ACL recon. Healing rates vary and all of these will impact the rehab and recovery process. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a type of knee surgery to replace your ACL – one of the main ligaments in your knee. There are different types of grafts used in ACL reconstructions, different surgical techniques and there are often other injuries associated that are repaired at the same time as the ACL. graft they are planning to use and talk through the expected recovery Follow the advice of your physio and make sure you stick to your personal rehab programme. You will work on a rehab programme with your physio which you need to do daily. Currently icing my knee after a long day. The new graft is at its weakest 6-12 weeks after surgery so Many of us participating in the daily grind have daily day dreams of doing nothing. Day 20 today and still not allowed to step with the operated leg. ACL surgery can normally be performed using arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure. You should also see a physio who will go through rehab exercises for you to do in preparation for your operation. Thank you!" After anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, move your ankles up and down an average of 10 times every 10 minutes. So, unless I’m doing that, cardio is off the menu. If you sit at work, you may be able to go back in 1 to 2 weeks. Even if you can, you shouldn’t take much time off. During weeks 2-6 on the ACL surgery recovery timeline, emphasis shifts to strengthening and stability. f)  Pain Control: Taking medication regularly and gradually reducing it tends to be the most effective method. And as nurse (25yrs exp) its written expertly and is very explanatory and easy to understand. Through the other incisions, small tools are inserted. ACL surgery can normally be performed using arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure.The amount of time away from work depends on the nature of the patient’s job, as well as how quickly they heal. Page Last Updated: 02/10/18Next Review Due: 02/10/20. :) Speaking from my experience, I think 2 weeks was enough time. The pain of ACL surgery routinely peaks the day after surgery. ACL surgery is performed arthroscopically. There is little clinical evidence that wearing a knee brace reduces the risk of re-injury however it can help with proprioception and may help increase confidence. You will be carefully monitored and evaluated by your surgeon and physio and should always talk to them before progressing any rehab or returning to any activities and follow their guidance at all times. Time frames specified are average guidelines only, everyone will progress at slightly different rates. ACL surgery recovery aims to strengthen the knee and ensure it regains full stability to allow people to return to their normal activity levels prior to their ACL injury. If you are very physically active in your job, it may take 4 to 6 months. Your physio will work on specific rehab exercises and sports drills appropriate to your aims and anticipated sporting activities. Recovery after ACL surgery takes time. c)  Running:  start by jogging at up to 40% of your normal pace. e)  Knee Brace:Different surgeons have differing opinions on the use of knee braces as part of ACL surgery recovery. I am off crutches and can bear full weight on my operated leg. Goal is to have 100% extension by the end of the week. Internet users posting comments here should not be considered as health professionals. You may be able to return to work during this phase but it will depend on the nature of your job – discuss this with your physical therapist or surgeon. “I just want to sit around all day.” Then we do that for a day or two and start losing our minds. It is a long time to wait, but research has shown that is important to wait until now to ensure the long term success of the operation. b)  Cycling: start by using a static bike, gradually building up the resistance. The recovery process following surgery involves several months of rehabilitation to restore your knee’s full strength and flexibility. Claire, US, "Your website is a gold mine, thank you very much." Conclusion for a Safe Recovery from ACL Surgery: Take this guideline as a generic guide for when you expect to reach certain milestones for your acl surgery recovery timeline. Phase four on the ACL surgery recovery timeline is all about preparing to return to sports. Your surgeon will advise you about this. ACL surgery can be done on an outpatient basis, meaning that patients are treated in an ambulatory surgery center. This comments section is moderated occasionally and posteriorly by our editorial team. Some surgeons will want you to wear a brace either just initially or longer term, others won’t. You will be able start If the stitches are dissolvable, they should disappear after about 3 weeks. 1 A 2016 study of 80 amateur athletes found that on average, athletes returned to their sport after eight months. Returning to work will depend on the physical nature of the activity: If your job involves sitting down, some surgeons may allow return to work as soon as a week after surgery. For the first few days, the aim of ACL surgery recovery is to reduce swelling and minimise pain. Out of all the others, yours is so informational and easy to read." It involves using a graft to reconstruct or replace your injured ACL. These recommendations are designed to minimize the risk of side effects. Call it the 36 hour mark. But if you are on your feet at work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks. Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, are a common type of knee injury, especially among athletes. The first 2 weeks of ACL surgery recovery concentrates on regaining full range of movement at the knee, particularly extension (i.e. Recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee surgery can take up to a year. See our full terms of use in the. This is intended as a guide and not a substitute for medical advice. Breast stroke should not be done until you are at least 4 months post-op. This site complies with the HONcode Standard for trustworthy health information. Returning To Work. You want to avoid changing direction initially so make sure you are running in a straight line on even ground. this phase can also ususally start the following activities: a)  Swimming: You can usually start swimming in this phase, but you need to start with front crawl. I'm with torn ACL and meniscus and the time off work will be few months. After knee surgery, the wound will be closed with stitches or surgical clips. If needed, you will be given crutches for comfort for the first few days. You can find out more in the ACL knee surgery section. ACL surgery is a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure and you will likely go home the same day. Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, are a common type of knee injury, especially among athletes. The ACL surgery recovery process actually begins before you have your This is done by re-educating the knee with balance exercises. With proprioceptive exercises, you are working on regaining the awareness of the position of your knee and leg. How soon you can return to work depends on your job. Or, to find out more about ACL injuries, how they happen and how to prevent them, visit the ACL knee injury section. Recovery from ACL Surgery. 2 Your doctor can provide specific recommendations based on your unique situation, but in general, the following timeline and rehabilitation tips may help you recover as quickly and safely as possible from ACL surgery. The final stage on the ACL surgery recovery timeline is returning to contact sports such as rugby and soccer. Running – At five months out, patients can usually return to cycling and running. You will feel tired for several days. This will include high level balance and proprioceptive exercises to ensure you regain full stability of your knee before returning to sports. This will slow down the ACL surgery recovery process slightly. Knee-Pain-Explained.com is a trading name of Wilson Health Ltd. All rights reserved. you will discuss what is going to happen in the operation such as what Your Recovery. Rehabilitation is a vital part of your ACL recovery and is essential to getting back to regular physical activity. This should always be discussed with your physical therapist and agreed with them to ensure you are ready. We humans are weird. The exact ACL tear recovery time varies from person to person as this depends upon the person’s age, health and commitment to the rehab program, not to mention the severity of the ACL injury.