ACL reconstruction

**GMackey32** · 10-16-2010, 09:34 AM

So I had my ACL reconstructed yesterday and was wondering if anyone has any tips so that I can start to regain the strength back in my leg quickly. Also, did anyone find sleeping extremely uncomfortable?

Any other tips about anything is greatly appreciated.

**ajk4st8** · 10-16-2010, 09:36 AM

Just do your Physical Therapy and thats not just cuz Im a PT. Take it easy for a few days. You should be walking without crutches in no time.

**dualthreat** · 10-16-2010, 09:39 AM

strengthen both legs equally. If you strengthen your "bad" knee more than the other one, you will have some serious problems down the road. ... More knee and then hip and back problems.

**Rogue52** · 10-16-2010, 09:41 AM

I had ACL reconstruction back in 2004.

I was living in Larch Hall back then and sleeping on a dorm room bed. I don't remember having any problems sleeping.

I don't know how serious of a reconstruction it was, but there is not a whole lot you can do to regain strength back "quickly". The new tendon needs time to grow and heal. You can let your physical therapist know your hopes and expectations. He or she can then work with you to try and make things happen.

My reconstructed knee now feels stronger than my non-reconstructed one.

**GMackey32** · 10-16-2010, 10:03 AM

Thanks for the advice. I won't start PT until I go in for my follow up with my DR. sometime next week. I'm just hoping that I can lift my leg soon under my own strength instead of having my girlfriend having to take care of me. Though it is kind of nice having her wait on me all day

Rogue, did you have a patellar tendon autograft? That's the only one my DR. recommends but I heard that it takes a little bit longer to be able to get back from.

**CycloneWanderer** · 10-16-2010, 10:05 AM

Mental imagery is being researched as a way to prevent muscle loss from short term immobilization. I can't get to the article because I don't own the journal access, but I'm sure there are similar articles out there you might be able to access freely. I don't know if my current university has as much journal access as ISU did.

Here is a citation:
"Use of Mental Imagery to Limit Strength Loss After Immobilization"
Authors: J Newsom, P Knight, R Balnave.

This would be good because you would have less strength to "regain" after you start PT and there is no worries about injuring yourself while doing it.

**Rogue52** · 10-16-2010, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by GMackey32

Thanks for the advice. I won't start PT until I go in for my follow up with my DR. sometime next week. I'm just hoping that I can lift my leg soon under my own strength instead of having my girlfriend having to take care of me. Though it is kind of nice having her wait on me all day

Rogue, did you have a patellar tendon autograft? That's the only one my DR. recommends but I heard that it takes a little bit longer to be able to get back from.

Yes, my doctor used the same procedure.

**Cyballz** · 10-16-2010, 10:08 AM

get out there and start running. The pain will subside after the first few miles. The faster you run the faster it will heal.

**Bobber** · 10-16-2010, 10:11 AM

My advice is follow doctors orders and don't push it too quickly. You don't want to do something wrong that will make you feel it the rest of your life. It simply takes time to heal and gradual rebuilding of strength.

I was in a brace for a month or two after mine and then walking around fine after that. It was at least a year however before the knee felt halfway normal and I felt confident to push myself again. It was two years before the numbness where they did the cutting was gone.

Ever since then that knee has actually felt better than my other one. I'm on year 20 after the surgery and no issues what so ever.

**2020cy** · 10-16-2010, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Cyballz

get out there and start running. The pain will subside after the first few miles. The faster you run the faster it will heal.

This and ask for several refills of oxycotin. You can always sell them later if you don't need them to offset the cost of the surgery.

**GMackey32** · 10-16-2010, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by 2020cy

This and ask for several refills of oxycotin. You can always sell them later if you don't need them to offset the cost of the surgery.

Funny you should say that. Right after my Dad had picked up my prescription of Percocet, I had an severe allergic reaction to the Percocet they gave me in the discharge area. So they switched my prescription to Vicodin and we weren't allowed to return the Percocet by law. So now I have a whole bottle of Percocet sitting on my counter that I can't even use...

**Bobber** · 10-16-2010, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by GMackey32

Funny you should say that. Right after my Dad had picked up my prescription of Percocet, I had an severe allergic reaction to the Percocet they gave me in the discharge area. So they switched my prescription to Vicodin and we weren't allowed to return the Percocet by law. So now I have a whole bottle of Percocet sitting on my counter that I can't even use...

You know I have very little pain afterwards. I think I remember getting some Codine or something like that and barely using it.

**EddieISU** · 10-16-2010, 10:38 AM

I blew out my right knee, its been 12 years now and doing good. Before tearing my ACL I had played 2 years of college football and I really believe my determination and work ethic in re-hab laid the foundation to how well my knee has held up. Take it slowly but work your butt of in re-hab. Hope your doing great in no time.

**GMackey32** · 10-16-2010, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Bobber

You know I have very little pain afterwards. I think I remember getting some Codine or something like that and barely using it.

Yeah I noticed that the pain really isn't too bad after awhile. I most likely won't be using too much of my Vicodin. It's more of a discomfort rather than a pain this morning.

**neiacy** · 10-16-2010, 11:05 AM

I had ACL surgery and they used the patellar tendon......wasn't in a lot of pain, but did find sleeping a pain. Have your leg straight in a brace, sucked! I am assuming you're not a pro athlete, or anything that needs a hurried up process. Just take you're time, bust your butt in rehab.......you'll do fine. Your first goal is to be able to walk without crutches.

It's amazing how quickly the time will go by. Mine was done on a Thursday and I watched the NFL draft all day that Saturday and watched the Vikings draft Randy Moss!

Hopefully you'll always remember where you were when ISU beat Oklahoma!

How did you hurt it?

GOOD LUCK