Length of Recovery Period After ACL Surgery

6th May 2021

ACL surgery rehab is generally a procedure that surgeons use to replace a torn ligament in people’s knee. Comprising a band of tissue inside the knee, the likelihood of stretching or tearing the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is high among people who play sports.

This is because they make movements that can cause excessive stress on the knee such as sudden changes in direction and speed, landing wrongly after a jump, and planting the foot and pivoting.

When your ACL is healthy, it helps to hold together the bones of your leg such as the femur and tibia. It also helps to keep your knee stable. Once it’s damaged, you’ll likely have trouble walking, playing sports, or even perform the simplest movement.

If there’s a slight tear on your ACL, it may heal over time with your doctor’s help and physical therapy. Unless it’s completely torn, you’ll need to replace it especially if you’re young or an athlete who wants to keep playing sports. If you’re older and less active, your doctor might recommend non-surgical treatments.

Repairing and Recovering from an ACL injury

Surgical treatment for ACL Injury

The most common option treatment for ACL injury is surgery. This surgical reconstruction involves the use of a connective tissue graft to rebuild or replace your injured ACL. Depending on your surgeon, either the ligament or tendon will be used as the graft. The types of surgery include:

•Allograft reconstruction
Uses a piece of cadaver connective tissue, usually a tendon. This procedure requires only one incision and causes less pain than an autograft fusion.

•Autograft reconstruction
Uses a piece of your own connective tissue. The surgeon will usually take an autograft either from your kneecap, hamstring or quadriceps. Unlike the previous surgery, this procedure requires a large incision which lengthens surgery time and causes more pain post-surgery.

You should discuss the options with your surgeon as they are pros and cos to each choice.

Non-Surgical Treatments for ACL Injury

Non-surgical treatments are also available as an option for slightly torn ACL. This includes:

•The PRICE method
– is short for protect, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Protect the knee by using the temporary splint/ brace
Refrain or limit yourself from activities that cause knee pain such as running or walking for long periods.
Icing your knee to help reduce pain and swelling.
Compressing the affected knee to manage the swelling.
Elevating the knee to help with the swelling.

•Wearing a knee brace

– helps to provide stability and restrict certain knee movement.

•Taking anti-inflammatory drugs

– helps minimise the pain.

•Working with a physiotherapist

– help restore the knee’s full range of motion and improve knee strength.

Regardless of the type of treatment, both require extensive rehabilitative therapy to minimise further damage to the ACL.

Recovery After ACL Surgery

Usually after the surgery, you can return home the same day. Once the anaesthesia wears off, you’ll likely be asked to practice walking on crutches and be fitted with a knee brace. You’ll also be given some instructions on showering and caring for your knee post-surgery.

Depending on the severity of your ACL injury, you may begin to put weight on your leg two to three weeks after surgery. Within four to eight weeks, you may regain full use of your knee.

Throughout your recovery, your doctor will likely recommend physical therapy to help you build leg and knee strength. This may last two to six months or longer. For athletes, it may take up to 6-8 months to be able to play again.

As for your wound, you’ll want to change the dressing according to your doctor’s instructions, which includes keeping it clean and free from debris.

It’s also important that you attend all your doctor’s appointments after the surgery. Reschedule if you need to as this will allow your doctor to check on the graft’s healing process and advise you accordingly.

If you’re prescribed pain medications, take them as prescribed as they can help you recover faster by controlling your knee’s pain levels while you work on strengthening your muscles and ligaments and regain your knee’s range of motion.

Avoid pushing your body past your pain levels with the medications as it can be harder for you to function without them once the prescription has run out.

Getting proper sleep and nutrition is also important as it helps your body to heal. Try to incorporate lean protein, dairy, and plenty of vegetables into your diet. That way, your wound can heal faster.

If you have a fever or experience sudden pain or other adverse symptoms, you need to inform your doctor. By addressing these issues early, your doctor can keep you on track to recovery.

Once your knee feels better, you may be tempted to immediately return to your old routine. However, patience is a virtue so you’ll have to put off any physical activity until your doctor says otherwise.

Conclusion

Dealing with an ACL injury can be challenging, especially if you’re an athlete. But, if you follow your rehabilitation process closely, you’ll be able to resume your activities within a year.

Commit to your doctor’s advice and attend all of your physical therapy sessions. Your knee will continue to grow stronger and you’ll be able to put the injury in your past.

At Spire Orthopaedic Centre, everyone should be cared for and healed holistically in comfort without having to travel to different locations to seek medical and surgical help and rehabilitation support.

With a combined facility for collaboration between physicians, physiotherapists, and surgeons, you will experience a seamless service from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation, that’s tailored just for you at our clinic.