Im going in for ACL reconstruction surgery on friday morning (tore it in december so its long overdue) and was wondering if anyone else has had the surgery done? It would be nice if anyone could tell me what to expect in terms of post op pain or discomfort/recovery time and any other personal experiences.
O, and wish me luck
DAMN, Im Thirsty! I want a beer, how bout you? You want a beer?
My roommate had the procedure done a couple years ago, crutchs and good drugs.
"Baseball? It's just a game. As simple as a ball and a bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It's a sport, a business, and sometimes even a religion." -Ernie Harwell
You will receive anesthesia. The doctor will then make 2 small holes into the side and front of the knee. The knee joint will be stretched and the old anterior cruciate ligament will be cleaned up or removed. A graft will be placed in place of the ACL and sutured or tacked in place. The instruments will be removed and the holes sutured.
When you wake up you will still have some of the anesthesia working, but about an hour later you will have pain. That's where the Percocette come in. Take one ASAP before the pain really starts.
Your knee will be in an Ace bandage and you will need crutches for at least a week maybe 2.
Physical therapy will begin as soon as you can bear weight (some doctors start even earlier).
Percocette will be your friend for a few days then only use Advil to avoid things like constipation and addiction to narcotic pain relievers.
Good luck with your operation.
Doc ***** Tobacco is a filthy weed, I like it...
SNOB Member 1033 1/3
Posts: 9614 | Location: New York City | Registered: May 02, 2002
Had my right knee reconstructed 18 months ago. I'm not gonna lie to ya the first 3 to 5 days are painful(use the pills the doctor gives you). If you can, see if the doctor will give you a nerve blocker after you wake up from the surgery. Takes most of the pain away for the first day. The pain won't be as bad when you're laying down, but when you go to stand up and shift your weight down towards your legs its painful. The best thing you can do is keep that machine with the constant flow of ice water wrapped around your knee. That machine will become your best friend. Also I had a machine that I had to put my leg in every day for six hours that constantly moved my knee. Extremely helpful--use it!!!! Also will help lessen the chance of a blood clot. I know other people who didn't use it and it made their physical therapy and recovery time that much harder and longer. I was able to be up and walking around (albiet in a straight brace) by the end of the first week. I only used my crutches for the first 5 days, but that all depends on your pain tolerance. Get tons of dvds makes the day go a lot faster than watching regular tv.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Posts: 95 | Location: Pittsburgh | Registered: June 03, 2007
I had mine done 25 years ago and the procedure is done differently now. My knee was cut down the side about 10 inches long and they also used a piece of ligament from the back side of opposite leg for reconstruction. I have staples and they drilled holes through the knee and pulled the piece to the other side and fused it in somnehow. I was on crutches for several weeks and had plenty of pain killers. The pain is bad for a few days and Iwas in hospital for a few days after surgery. As long as your knee is up on the couch at home the pain isnt that bad just when you start to move on the crutches to the bedroom or bathroom. I still get swelling after 20 + years when I walk or golf but it will never be the same and your scar will be different. After a month you will be walking and starting exercise program through your bone Doc. Good Luck.
"The Most Important Part Of The Golf Swing Is The Golf Club"
Posts: 427 | Location: Iowa | Registered: December 20, 2007
i had it in highschool, but i also tore alot of cartlidge and the miniscus. It hurt like hell for about a week, but the oxy-c pain pills i got were wonderful! I was on crutches for about a month.
I also had some scoping done 2 years ago to fix some cartlidge and repair part of the acl again. I actually was able to walk on it the same day with very little pain(although im sure that was not smart). The pain pills were nice though. It took about a month for me to feel 100%.
Those who become angry at failure, only do so because they know they could have done more too succeed.... (original quote by me)
Originally posted by DeadMoney: Had my right knee reconstructed 18 months ago. I'm not gonna lie to ya the first 3 to 5 days are painful(use the pills the doctor gives you). If you can, see if the doctor will give you a nerve blocker after you wake up from the surgery. Takes most of the pain away for the first day. The pain won't be as bad when you're laying down, but when you go to stand up and shift your weight down towards your legs its painful. The best thing you can do is keep that machine with the constant flow of ice water wrapped around your knee. That machine will become your best friend. Also I had a machine that I had to put my leg in every day for six hours that constantly moved my knee. Extremely helpful--use it!!!! Also will help lessen the chance of a blood clot. I know other people who didn't use it and it made their physical therapy and recovery time that much harder and longer. I was able to be up and walking around (albiet in a straight brace) by the end of the first week. I only used my crutches for the first 5 days, but that all depends on your pain tolerance. Get tons of dvds makes the day go a lot faster than watching regular tv.
GOOD LUCK!!!
thanks for the advice, i'll be holed up in my room with my laptop so i dont think i'll be too bored, may end up spending a lot of time here
DAMN, Im Thirsty! I want a beer, how bout you? You want a beer?
Originally posted by hawksfan75: Yup, Doc pretty much covered it. My wife is an OR nurse and the one thing that surprises me is how fast they've got you ambulating.
Oh, and if you can, get the first surgery of the day. Never late, happier staff and sharper surgeon
i think i did, i go in at 630 in the morning
DAMN, Im Thirsty! I want a beer, how bout you? You want a beer?
I had my reconstructed about 14 years ago-damn its been that long. A hockey injury. I was back on the ice light skating in about 5 months. I did not play a real game for a year. PT can be brutal. Listen to what they tell you and do the excercises at home as well. It's painfull at first but that will get better as you heal. Prepare to do alot of stationary bike riding and treadmill walking. Now, years later my knee gets stiff from time to time and locks up once in awhile but all is good now and Im still playing ice hockey and can do everything I did before. Good Luck and keep us posted. I am guessing they do things a bit different now but basically the same. Doc nailed it, but of course he would! My kids like to run their finger up and down my scar and I can't feel it but no big deal. Take Care.
"Pick it, clip it, light it, smoke it and enjoy it"
Posts: 335 | Location: Central Florida | Registered: March 09, 2007
I remembered one thing in the hospital, It was going on my 3rd day and got the jackson pratt drain out when my bone doc came in and said look at those new naked nurses out the window and pulled that sucker out when I wasn't looking that surprised the crap out of me OUCH !! Then later when all my family was gone I started getting the worst stomach aches and tried calling the wife and no answer at home and the stomach ache got worse and worse and I said to myself I got to take a SH*(^(! NOW !! I waited a few more minutes and lifted my knee off the bed and about screamed and passed out with the throbbing PAIN and threw it back up on the bed and rested a few minutes and the skjhjkh ache was coming back !! I gritted my teeth and hopped all the way into the bathroom and dropped a biscuit in releif and got back in bed. Funny thing was in about 3 hours later a nurse came in had some drink she wanted me to take and told me it would make me go to the jon and in relief I said no way I already went. It was terrible, and when I told my wife and family what happened they laughed their heads off.
"The Most Important Part Of The Golf Swing Is The Golf Club"
Posts: 427 | Location: Iowa | Registered: December 20, 2007
UPDATE: the procedure went well, which is about all i can say. there was a little meniscus damage when my knee was scoped but it was healing so my doc left it alone. after surgery, my heart rate and BP were shooting up so they pumped me with painkillers to lower it and in turn, put me to sleep. in the second recovery room, i was fighting the drowsiness and when i finally thought i could get up, i threw up. i took some meds to settle my stomach, waited til i felt ready, stood up and threw up a second time. i ended up getting a second medication for my stomach that solved the problem, but i didnt get out of the hospital until 5, i spent almost 11 hours in there. im feeling fine though and the blocker they gave me has me in little pain at the moment and i got oxycontin in case of pain. thanks for keeping me in your prayers.
DAMN, Im Thirsty! I want a beer, how bout you? You want a beer?
Great. Glad all went well. I remember the same feeling afterwards. It was not out patient when I had mine reconstructed so about 5-6 hours post op the nurses wanted me to get up and walk move around on the sticks and as soon as I stood up on my good wheel I got the spins and if I wasnt standing next to a wall I would have been down for the count. I just pushed myself back into my bed and we didnt try that again for a few more hours. Take it easy and relax and let it heal. My doc gave me some cool photos.
"Pick it, clip it, light it, smoke it and enjoy it"
Posts: 335 | Location: Central Florida | Registered: March 09, 2007
Originally posted by signalhill323: Good luck and speedy recovery. I imagine that your humidor will face an unprecedented onslaught in the coming weeks!
Try not to smoke any cigars for at least two weeks, maybe more. One known fact is that tobacco smoking (of any kind) slows down the body's healing process significantly. For some types of surgery, tobacco usage of any kind can actually lead to an unsuccessful surgical outcome.
But talk with your surgeon, tell him how many cigars a week you smoke, and see what he says and I strongly suggest that you follow his thoughts regarding this. Reason is that I'm sure you will want as speedy of a recovery as possible (also, to assure that the surgery on your knee heals correctly).
Posts: 1884 | Location: San Francisco, CA, USA | Registered: August 20, 2003
