ACL reconstructive surgery and all that comes with it

Page 4: The first week of recovery

ACL Recovery: Day 2 and 3

Tuesday and Wednesday, June 9th and 10th, 2008

I am using my CPM machine and have increased it to 40° flexion on day 2 and 50° flexion on day 3. I was to instructed to start at 30° and increase it 10° each day until I reached 90° . I'm supposed to be at 90 degrees in one week.

Still pretty much in a haze from the pain medication. The pain meds make me dizzy if I get up for more than 5 or 10 minutes, so I'm not up a lot but I can put some weight on my leg with the aid of crutches.

By the end of day 3, I am able to put most of my weight on my leg but I'm still using the crutches.

ACL Recovery: Day 4 and 5

Thursday and Friday, June 11th and 12th, 2008

I have reduced the amount of percocet that I am taking and am not dizzy any more. I ditched the crutches today and am able to hobble around with just the knee brace on, locked at 0 degrees (straight leg) of course. Each day I take a walk down to the end of the block and back. It is nice to be out of bed, moving again, and getting some fresh air.

ACL Recovery: Day 6

Saturday, June 13th, 2008

I am right on track with my flexion. I have the CPM device set at 90° and am able to confortably do it although it gets pretty tight between the 85° and 90° mark. Still doing my set of four excerises they gave me and icing every couple hours and after excercise.

With the help of the excercises, my extension is doing well too. I can straighten my leg fully without any pain, but having your leg locked at 0° all night long get very uncomfortable. I am awake every couple hours, putting my leg in the CPM machine and icing just to have a change of position.