But are you willing to stick with it once you can walk around easily? It's best to stick with PT until you've regained your full range of motion and power. You certainly won't miss any sessions as you are regaining mobility for your everyday life. People will often be ready to commit to their PT right after surgery, but their enthusiasm can wane over time. Physical therapy can help you regain the strength and confidence you once had in your knee. The only way to do this is by dedicating yourself to your recovery and physical therapy (PT).
While you might not be a professional athlete fighting to get back on the field, it's essential to your future lifestyle that you work hard to return your knee to its former strength. You don't want to have an infection develop in a knee that is already recovering from an ACL injury and surgery. You'll need to regularly change out the bandages and avoid soaking the wound, like in a bath or pool. The few weeks after your surgery, be sure to care for your incision. Normally, you may have a slight fever for up to 48 hours following the surgery. The wound is covered with gauze, cotton padding, and a bandage. Care for the Incisionįollowing the surgery, the goal is to avoid infection, and caring for the incision is vital.
The recovery time for surgery is usually six to nine months.
If you decide to have surgery or have a loved one who has decided to have ACL surgery, you should prepare for recovery to regain a healthy knee. However, most medical experts question the need for surgery when you are older, and other options should be discussed with your doctor. Surgery can be the best option for those who exercise regularly or play sports (softball, golf, tennis, etc.). ACL Surgery Can Be Beneficial for Those Even in Their 60sĮven if you are in your 60s, ACL surgery can be beneficial if you have an active lifestyle. A completely torn ACL cannot heal independently, and a person with a torn ACL with significant functional instability has an increased risk of developing secondary knee damage. The need for surgery depends on the severity of the ACL tear and the person's lifestyle. But if it's completely torn, you may need to have surgery. If you strain or slightly tear your ACL, it could heal over time with your doctor's help and physical therapy. You typically hear a popping sound and feel it in your knee, which often indicates an ACL tear.Īnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery is the most suitable long-term treatment for some ACL tears that are not expected to heal on their own. However, anyone who is active can experience a tear. When you think of an ACL tear, you often think of a professional athlete.