What happens after 24 hours of ACL surgery?

A low-grade fever (100.5) is not uncommon in the first 24-48 hours after surgery. There will be a dressing on your leg. If you notice some blood staining the night of the surgery or that next day, do not be alarmed. Sometimes the small incisions may ooze for a short time after surgery.

What happens the day after ACL surgery?

You will feel tired for several days. Your knee will be swollen. And you may have numbness around the cut (incision) on your knee. Your ankle and shin may be bruised or swollen.

What should I do day 1 after ACL surgery?

Elevate leg

Prop your leg on cushions or pillows so your knee is at least 12 inches above your heart for the first three to five days after surgery. Keep your leg elevated if your knee swells or throbs when you are up and about on crutches. Don't put pillows behind your knee because this limits motion of the knee.

Can I walk next day after ACL surgery?

ACL surgery is an outpatient procedure, provided there are no complications. Surprisingly, patients can walk 1-2 days after surgery.

How many days after ACL surgery does it stop hurting?

How long does pain last after ACL surgery? 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.

My ACL Surgery Recovery Journey As a Physiotherapist

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.

How long do you sleep after ACL surgery?

You need to sleep with your brace locked in extension for the first two weeks. You will discontinue the brace once you have full ROM and good quadriceps control. This usually occurs between 4 and 6 weeks post-op.

Can you go home same day after ACL surgery?

After the procedure

Once you recover from the anesthesia, you can go home the same day. Before you go home, you'll practice walking with crutches, and your surgeon may ask you to wear a knee brace or splint to help protect the graft.

What not to do after ACL surgery?

What is the quickest ACL recovery time?

An ACL tear recovery time is generally eight to nine months, though some people may recover in six months.

What are the worst days of ACL surgery?

The first couple of weeks after surgery can be the most challenging. It's when you are likely to experience the most pain. However, ACL surgery recovery pain is manageable. Icing and elevating your knee can help reduce your pain, and your doctor will also prescribe pain medicine.

How soon after ACL surgery can you shower?

You may shower and let the water run over your incisions (and the white tape strips) 48 hours after your surgery.

Can I go to toilet after ACL surgery?

You will want a stool to rest your leg on while you use the toilet to keep your knee relatively straight. Again, you will not know how difficult it is to get to the washroom before you try. It would be good foresight to have a care provider nearby for the first time and see how it goes.

Is it hard to sleep after ACL surgery?

Sleep disturbance after ACL surgery is very common, especially in the first 1–2 weeks, and can vary from person to person. The best ways to sleep are often dependent on what works best for you to ensure that your body and knee get the rest required to heal and recover.

Do you get pain killers after ACL surgery?

Toradol 10mg (Ketorolac) for pain and inflammation. You may take one tablet every six hours. This medication should be taken ONLY for the first two days. Then you should take Advil or Aleve for the next 2-3 weeks after surgery to help minimize soreness, aching and swelling.

What do I need at home after ACL surgery?

You may need to wear special support stockings to help prevent blood clots from forming. Your provider will also give you exercises to keep the blood moving in your foot, ankle, and leg. These exercises will also lower your risk for blood clots. You will need to use crutches when you go home.

How soon can I bend my knee after ACL surgery?

Knee flexion is restored more gradually, with about 90 degrees achieved at 1 week and full knee flexion gradually advanced and achieved by week 4-6.

How long are you on crutches after ACL surgery?

You should start physical therapy as soon as possible after surgery. How long will I be on crutches? Most likely, you'll use crutches for about a week, then switch to a cane for two weeks.

How long can I sit after ACL surgery?

For the first 4 days, it is very important that the leg not be left in a hanging position such as the typical sitting position with the foot on the floor.

What should I wear after ACL surgery?

After your surgery, you will likely get a recommendation for a knee brace to immobilize your knee during your recovery. There are a variety of knee immobilization braces, from unstructured sleeves to padded, metal-hinged braces. As you recover, you could then move to a knee brace with a fuller range of motion.

How can I speed up my ACL recovery?

Is it hard to poop after ACL surgery?

Constipation is common after surgery, especially while you are taking pain medicine and your daily activity level is decreased. Signs of constipation include: fewer number of bowel movements.

Are stairs good for ACL recovery?

Stair climbing is a closed kinetic chain exercise that is thought to be useful for knee rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction while protecting the graft from excessive strain.

What is the first week like after ACL surgery?

Pain and swelling are at their peak in the first week after ACL surgery. 1 It is especially important to apply cold therapy during this period to help reduce swelling and naturally control pain.

What to do 3 days after ACL surgery?

Keep in mind that many people have an increase in pain around day 3 or 4 after surgery. Remember, the medications are not necessarily meant to completely eliminate your pain, only to make it more bearable. It is also helpful to use ice, as well as to elevate your leg to decrease pain and swelling.