Help Regarding Post-ACL Reconstruction

[Zakuraba]

Hey fellow Sherdoggers,

I am in a bit of a jam right now following a complete ACL reconstruction surgery, so please bear with me and see if you can offer any advice/help.

I recently had an ACL-reconstruction on my left knee after completely tearing my ACL. I had a cadaver-procedure done, and it has been 10 days since my surgery. I've got a full on leg brace with flexion/extension adjustments on it.

Here is my dilemma. The doctor who preformed the surgery (and the one I am still going to), does NOT seem to give a fuck about my rehabilitation or recovery post surgery. Immediately after my surgery he left me NO post-operation instructions, I had to get these from a nurse at the hospital, and prior to the surgery I had NO CONTACT with him until I had to call him to make an appointment.

At the appointment, he took off the guaze and removed the staples from my knee. He put on bandages over the incisions (some of which were still a bit fresh) and put back on the brace, only telling me to keep the brace on and that he'll see me in 4-6 weeks. He also told me that he would put in a request for my rehabilitation process.

Now, here is my main concern. It has been 10 days since my surgery, and I have had NO phone call or information at ALL regarding my recovery process. I am deeply concerned, as all that I have gathered through independent research about ACL surgery is that the rehab process is THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING you can do to get your knee back into shape. I am just concerned that perhaps I have been waiting too long already to start the recovery workout/excercising process.

Has anyone had any experience with ACL surgery and rehab, and if so how long did it take for you to start rehabilitation on your knee with excercises/rehab? Again, I am very concerned because I want to have the best possible start on recovery so that I can hopefully one day grapple/roll again at optimum ability.

Also, would anyone be able to recommend a healthy diet while I am rehabbing. Right now I'm eating whatever I want (I know, horrible) because I have no started my recovery process, but I know I'm going to have to stop this shit if I want to get back into shape.

Again, PLEASE, ANY input/advice would be appreciated.

 

[GreenRecon]

I had a full reconstruction done on my acl about 6 years ago. I didn't start any kind of rehab for atleast 3 months after the surgery. I wasn't even aloud to bend my knee for the first 3 months. Be patient a a torn acl is a major injury and will take time to heal.

 

[Zakuraba]

Thank you, your response puts my mind at ease a bit.

 

[HellIsForHeroes]

I just had full ACL reconstruction on my left knee about 11 months ago. I had a pretty speedy recovery though I guess, from what I'm told. I started rehab just over 12 hours after having surgery. They had me bending my knee right away and doing different body weight leg exercises. Over the course of the next few months I did a few different exercises.

One was where I'd lay on my stomach and bend my leg as far as I could (I wasn't supposed to pass 90 degrees for a month though because of cartilage work done). I'd hold it for a few seconds and straighten my leg as far as I could. I'd repeat this 10 times.

One was a basic stretch, wrap a towel around my foot and stretch my hamstring. They had me do three 30 second stretches. I had to also stretch my calf for the same duration.

One was where I'd lay on my back and lift my one leg directly up as high as I could and then back down. I'd do that 10 times. I'd repeat this from my stomach for 10 more reps. Also I'd do this from both my left and right sides. (The left side one is the most awkward).

Another was where I'd sit up and bend my leg in as far as I could and hold for a few seconds. Then I'd straighten my leg as far as I could. I'd repeat this 10 times. This really is just a variation of the first one I listed.

I can't think if there were anymore little exercises they'd have me do.

I was walking again after a week-week and a half without crutches. I was lifting on it again by the end of the first month (taking it very easy of course). They had me doing really light weight machine work at physical therapy as well as balance exercises and wall squats. After that I took the rehab into my own hands since I had to return to school for the fall. I did light lifting on it and balance work in addition to the exercises they originally had me do.

I started squatting, deadlifting, etc after 3 months. To this day I still have trouble squatting ATG because of it, but lifting on my knee has been the greatest thing for it I believe. I haven't felt this strong on it in a long time. Though I think there was a chance I tore something again playing racquetball a couple months post op. Eh.

 

[Zakuraba]

That's what I'm worried about. I have heard everything from don't move it for the first month, to accounts like yours, HellisforHeroes where you started stretching/movement right away.

At this rate, there is absolutely NO CHANCE at all that I'll be off the crutches within the first 2 weeks, hell, I don't even think I'll be off the crutches for at least 4-6 weeks.

What really irritates me is that I've been given no solid information/instructions about this from my doctor, nor can I find anything standard online to give me at least an idea of where I'm at.

Again, ALL advice/info is appreciated.

 

[Diomedes]

I just had full ACL reconstruction on my left knee about 11 months ago. I had a pretty speedy recovery though I guess, from what I'm told. I started rehab just over 12 hours after having surgery. They had me bending my knee right away and doing different body weight leg exercises. Over the course of the next few months I did a few different exercises.

One was where I'd lay on my stomach and bend my leg as far as I could (I wasn't supposed to pass 90 degrees for a month though because of cartilage work done). I'd hold it for a few seconds and straighten my leg as far as I could. I'd repeat this 10 times.

One was a basic stretch, wrap a towel around my foot and stretch my hamstring. They had me do three 30 second stretches. I had to also stretch my calf for the same duration.

One was where I'd lay on my back and lift my one leg directly up as high as I could and then back down. I'd do that 10 times. I'd repeat this from my stomach for 10 more reps. Also I'd do this from both my left and right sides. (The left side one is the most awkward).

Another was where I'd sit up and bend my leg in as far as I could and hold for a few seconds. Then I'd straighten my leg as far as I could. I'd repeat this 10 times. This really is just a variation of the first one I listed.

I can't think if there were anymore little exercises they'd have me do.

I was walking again after a week-week and a half without crutches. I was lifting on it again by the end of the first month (taking it very easy of course). They had me doing really light weight machine work at physical therapy as well as balance exercises and wall squats. After that I took the rehab into my own hands since I had to return to school for the fall. I did light lifting on it and balance work in addition to the exercises they originally had me do.

I started squatting, deadlifting, etc after 3 months. To this day I still have trouble squatting ATG because of it, but lifting on my knee has been the greatest thing for it I believe. I haven't felt this strong on it in a long time. Though I think there was a chance I tore something again playing racquetball a couple months post op. Eh.

I did a lot of these same exercises during my physical therapy. I started around 5 days after, and I had the Patellar tendon graft.

Thread starter, call a Physical Therapy center if your doctor hasnt recommended one yet and get an appointment. Speak with one of their physicians and get a program worked out. When I was in recovery I'd go to therapy to do the exercises 3 times a week, and they had a light routine they gave me to do at home.

No physical therapy after an ACL reconstruction is, quite frankly, pretty daft. You need to start getting the muscles back into use around your knee and you need to get everything moving to prevent too much scar tissue from building up inside your knee.

I remember back in highschool when I had hand surgery, I waited too long to do any rehab and it ended up taking months to fully extend my fingers again because of all the scar tissue that had built up.

Find a reputable therapy center and make an appointment, asap.

 

[Diomedes]

That's what I'm worried about. I have heard everything from don't move it for the first month, to accounts like yours, HellisforHeroes where you started stretching/movement right away.

At this rate, there is absolutely NO CHANCE at all that I'll be off the crutches within the first 2 weeks, hell, I don't even think I'll be off the crutches for at least 4-6 weeks.

What really irritates me is that I've been given no solid information/instructions about this from my doctor, nor can I find anything standard online to give me at least an idea of where I'm at.

Again, ALL advice/info is appreciated.

Oh yeah and don't worry aboutt he crutches man, I was on them for 2-1/2, maybe 3 weeks. What my therapist did is ween me down to putting pressure on my right leg (leg I had surgery on) while I used both crutches, then down to one crutch, and eventually to just walking. It takes time and don't try to rush anything. But you need a therapist to guide you through the process man.

 

[GreenRecon]

I guess times have changed. I had this brace that went from my ass to my ankle that prevented me from bending my leg. It really sucked.

 

[Zakuraba]

Thanks Diomedes, your input is greatly appreciated.