Post-Op ACL surgery excercises.

[Hellcrypt]

Hey guys, if anyone has gone through any similar senarios please let me know.

Well I tore my left ACL and meniscus about a month ago and had surgery last friday. They took the tendon from the front of my knee. The first three days I was in a lot of pain, I could barely move, plus I had to go check up with the doctor...awsome. So I wobble my way to the doctor and he removed the bandages and checked the knee, it was a little red so he gave me some antibiotics. I also signed up for Physical Therapy, but they scheduled me for the upcoming tuesday which sucks, since the doctor advised for me to get it this week.

Well now I am feeling a bit better, I can walk a little without crutches but it still hurts, I can bend my knee pretty close to 80 degrees, not sure if that's good. One question I have is, should I keep my leg straight when I am sleeping? or can I keep it bent?

If you have any advice on any mild excercises that I can do, it would help a lot. However I cannot really raise my leg forward without some pain in my front knee, not sure if I should keep doing it. I really want to make a quick recovery, so any help it would be appreciated.

[Dukew008]

Hey man, thats shitty bout the leg dude.

I'm smack dab in the middle of that right now. I hurt my knee about 4 months ago. I tore my left ACL, MCL, miniscus and have an impact fracture. Unfortunately, my doctor is a moron, and didn't order an MRI and put me on a 9 month waiting list. (i just found a surgeon who will do it right away thank god) Anyways, the best advice i have is to just let it be for now man. I have a kickass physiotherapist who's helpin me build muscle before my surgery, and this is what they told me right after i was down. Ice and elevate at all times. Don't move it around if it hurts. If it's uncomfortable to move (note: theres a huge difference between uncomfortable and painful) then try some simple flexion and extension exercises while sitting on a couch or a chair.

For sleeping, i just propped mine up on a pillow, slightly bent, but letting all the weight of the knee rest on the pillow. It seemed to do the trick. Pretty much the basic rule of thumb from what i was told is that if it hurts, don't do it. Other than that, wait till the physiotherapist gives you a plan. They know their shit and they'll be able to answer you're questions better.

[RunMan]

what a kawinky dink! I just had knee surgery (arthroscopic to be exact) to remove my synovian (nothing related to what yall got but they originally suspected a meniscus tear)..anyway I suggest you visit up http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEtalk/index.php?board=19.0 its a great forum for people with common injuries..browse around..

and I suggest you get another physical therapist if you cant get him to get you in asap because its important that you start rehab ASAP to break up scar tissue etc..

[Hellcrypt]

Thanks a lot for the advice guys I appreciate it. I have it elevated and iced most of the time, and I keep doing small flexing exercises to get my leg use to it. Therapy is tomorrow, and I heard that it will hurt a lot heh.