Recovery Expectations Following Your ACL Surgery

Although ACL surgery is often invaluable in allowing people with ACL tears to make a full recovery, there is no denying that treatment comes with significant recovery time. Fortunately, the use of minimally invasive surgery keeps that recovery time as minimal as possible.   

What to Expect During Recovery

Arthroscopic ACL surgery is usually performed in an outpatient setting under conscious sedation and local anesthesia. After spending several hours at the surgical clinic, patients can typically return home the same day.

The first few days after surgery are the toughest. Although it is important to walk around for a few minutes, patients will not be up to much. It is usually necessary to take a prescription painkiller for the first few days. Fatigue is common and activity will be low.

Patients should feel progressively better each day after surgery. Within about a week, most patients are ready to return to a desk job and other normal activities.

Strenuous physical activities must wait longer. One’s activity level will increase progressively in the weeks and months following surgery, under the guidance of the doctor and/or physical therapist. For high-performing athletes, it may be a number of months before the previous level of performance can be resumed.

Methods to Minimize Recovery

Recovery is an unavoidable part of ACL surgery. Some factors that affect recovery time, such as the severity of the tear and the patient’s individual rate of healing, cannot be controlled. On the other hand, patients can take some steps to minimize recovery time. Important steps include:

• Get plenty of rest – Getting a good night’s sleep for several weeks before and after the surgery can reduce mental and physical stress.
• Refrain from smoking – Smoking has a significant impact on the body’s ability to heal. It is ideal to refrain from smoking for several weeks before and after the surgery so that the body can heal as efficiently as possible.
• Prepare the home – Activity will be somewhat limited just after surgery, and the home should be prepared with this in mind. For example, it is helpful to put commonly used items within easy reach and to ensure that no clutter is on the floor. It is also helpful to have easy-to-prepare foods, such as freezer meals, ready for the first few days after surgery.
• Arrange your lifestyle – Arranging for child care and taking care of important work projects prior to the surgery can allow patients to focus on recovery with less stress.
• Follow activity recommendations – The doctor will make recommendations on how much activity should be performed. Patients should adhere to recommendations on being active (such as walking for a few minutes on the day of the surgery) and on refraining from activity (such as not participating in athletic training until getting the go-ahead).
• Fully participate in physical therapy – Physical therapy forms an important part of treatment. Patients should attend all physical therapy sessions, and perform any directed exercises on a regular basis.

Dr. Marans would be happy to meet with you about treatment for your ACL tear, and to discuss what you can expect during recovery. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call OC Orthopedic at 714.979.8981.