Is ACL surgery a big deal?

ACL Reconstruction Is Major Surgery

You're given general anesthesia. This means you're unconscious for the procedure. You'll have pain, swelling and stiffness after the surgery. It can be two or three weeks before you walk without crutches.

How serious is ACL surgery?

ACL reconstruction is a surgical procedure. And, as with any surgery, bleeding and infection at the surgical site are potential risks. Other risks associated with ACL reconstruction include: Knee pain or stiffness.

Is it worth getting ACL surgery?

ACL injury treatment aims to restore knee function, eliminate knee pain and swelling, and reduce potential further damage to the knee, especially meniscus tears. Surgery is the best way to treat an ACL injury for competitive athletes who must return to their sport at a high level.

Is ACL surgery high risk?

And while modern, minimally invasive surgical repairs of the ACL do a good job restoring control of these movements, the risk of re-tear remains higher than we would like, Dr. Gardner explains. In research studies, the risk of re-tear ranges from about 2% to 20%, depending on the patients studied.

Will I ever be the same after ACL surgery?

Patients can expect a 70% return-to-sport within seven years after ACL Reconstruction. A January 2022 study (27) in The American Journal of Sports Medicine discussed long-term patient-reported rates of return to sport and revision risk after ACL reconstruction.

My ACL Surgery Recovery Journey As a Physiotherapist

Is life normal after ACL surgery?

Life immediately after an ACL tear can be uncomfortable. But, with proper treatment, dedication to recovery, and time, you should be able to return to your normal activities and resume your life mostly as it was before your injury.

What are the cons of ACL surgery?

Cons: The chance of anterior knee pain is higher therefore less appropriate for anyone who has a profession which involves kneeling. Potential knee extension loss. Increased risk of post-operative complications: late patella fracture or patella tendon rupture, patella tendinitis.

Should I avoid ACL surgery?

Rehabbing Your Torn ACL Without Surgery. Is it advisable to rehab your torn ACL without surgery? If you're willing to avoid high-impact activity and have no or minor other injuries in your knee, you can consider foregoing surgery. Some people live comfortably with the “no-op” choice.

How many hours is ACL surgery?

The procedure usually takes less than two hours. It will require an incision to remove a tendon if you are undergoing an autograft, in which a tendon from another part of your body is inserted in your knee.

What percentage of ACL surgeries fail?

Approximately 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures occur in the United States annually. Primary ACL reconstruction is recognized as a successful procedure, but failure has been shown to occur in approximately 10% of patients.

Are knees stronger after ACL surgery?

Conclusion: An ACL graft after a reconstruction surgery is initially stronger, but over time becomes weaker, and eventually is almost as strong as your original ACL. These changes occur as a result of the body's natural reaction to the new ACL graft.

How much does ACL surgery cost?

If you have health insurance, it will cost you $800 to $3,000. This cost includes hospital admission fees, post-surgical visits to the doctor, and other expenses that may come along. However, the rest is covered by the insurance company. People without medical coverage have to part with a lot of money.

How painful is ACL repair?

Most people have some surgery-related pain and discomfort for the first week or so. Not surprisingly, pain from knee surgery decreases with time. By the end of a week or two at the most, you should have very little discomfort. Swelling and bruising are also relatively common, and like discomfort, they're temporary.

Is ACL surgery very painful?

knee pain – affects some people who have ACL surgery and is more likely to occur when the patellar tendon is used as graft tissue; you may have pain behind your kneecap or when kneeling down or crouching. knee weakness and stiffness – some people experience long-term weakness or stiffness in their knee.

Is ACL surgery hard to recover from?

ACL surgery requires an extensive, specific and long recovery. The ACL recovery process is long in order to limit your risk of reinjury and to give you the best chance of returning to your chosen sport. Most athletes will require 6-8 months of hard work with a physical therapist and/or athletic trainer.

How long do you stay in bed after ACL surgery?

Rest: 0 to 2 weeks after ACL surgery

For the first couple of weeks after surgery, you will need to rest and care for the incision site. Prop your leg — at the calf or ankle — on a couple of pillows four to six times a day.

How long are you down after ACL surgery?

Although some exceptional athletes can return to sports in six months, a more realistic scenario after an ACL tear is a recovery time of at least eight to nine months.

What not to do after ACL surgery?

What happens if you don't fix ACL?

If nothing is done, the ACL injury may turn into chronic ACL deficiency. Your knee may become more and more unstable and may give out more often. The abnormal sliding within the knee also can hurt cartilage. It can trap and damage the menisci in the knee and can also lead to early osteoarthritis.

Can you be OK with a torn ACL?

With ACL tears, walking is possible but can be painful. The patient should be able to walk in a straight line but will be unable to make sudden turns or pivot. A knee brace can help stabilize the knee, but with ACL tears, surgery is almost always required.

What hurts the most after ACL surgery?

Kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain) is the scourge of ACL rehabilitation. Sometimes the kneecap is damaged with the original injury but more often than not, the kneecap pain is a secondary event because of tightness of the tissues on the outer half of the knee and weakness of the quadriceps which develops after surgery.

Is ACL damage permanent?

An ACL tear is when the anterior cruciate ligament becomes partially or completely ruptured. Once torn, an ACL cannot regrow or heal on its own.

Can you feel the screws after ACL surgery?

ACL surgery involves reconstructing the ligament. Surgeons use screws to attach the reconstructed ligament to the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). A person may experience pain after surgery due to the placement of these screws. Pain may also be a sign of ACL surgery failure.

Can I drive after ACL surgery?

You should not drive as long as you are taking narcotic pain medication. If it is your left knee, you can resume driving when you feel your reaction times are back to normal (typically 1 week). If it is your right knee, usually allow driving 4-6 weeks after surgery.

Can I bend my knee after ACL surgery?

Slowly begin bending your knee. Straighten your leg and bend your knee. If necessary, place your hands behind your knee for assistance bending your knee. The goal is to achieve a range of motion of 0 to 90 degrees by the time you return for your first post-operative visit a week after surgery.