Having surgery after a torn ACL means your injured knee will soon feel much better and begin to function as it did before your injury. The knee is a complicated body part, however, and after ACL surgery your the ligaments, joints, and tendons in and around your knee will all need time to heal. Here are a few tips for ensuring a safe and quick recovery:
Give Your Body What It Needs
In the days and weeks after your ACL surgery, your body will be performing the difficult task of repairing your knee tissue. Recovering and mending from an injury and surgery requires a lot of energy, and you can help your healing process along with listening to your body and giving it what it needs. You may find that you are very tired and need more sleep after your surgery, which makes sense considering all that your body is doing. Get as much rest as possible and remember that while you are sleeping, your knee is healing.
It's also a good idea to eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruit during this time, giving your body all the healing fuel it needs in the form of nutrition.
Don't Skip Your Physical Therapy
Your orthopedic surgeon will recommend physical therapy exercises to complete at home after your surgery and possibly refer you to a physical therapist. These exercises are crucial to rebuilding your strength, flexibility, and range of motion after ACL surgery. Even if it doesn't seem to be helping at first, it's important to keep up with your exercises to prevent chronic issues with your knee in the future.
Keep Your Pain Under Control
After your surgery, you may experience significant pain, which is why your orthopedic doctor will prescribe prescription pain medication. It's a good idea to pick up your prescription before your surgery so you already have the medication when the anesthesia begins to wear off. Take the medication as prescribed instead of letting it wear off in between doses, to prevent unnecessary pain and discomfort.
Practice Patience
Your recovery will not be complete overnight. Try to avoid being hard on yourself and instead take this as an opportunity to practice patience. Make a point of celebrating each recovery milestone and before you know it you will be back to your favorite physical activities.
By following these tips, you will help avoid possible complications after your ACL surgery and soon be back to full mobility. If you're interested in learning more about medical orthopedics, consider visiting the page at http://www.drsoloway.com.
