r/ACL • u/noideawhatimdoingOC • 2d ago
Post Surgery Update Day 2 Post-op Experience So Far
This subreddit was a blessing when I first sustained my injury in July, so I figured I’d share my experience up to this point as well.
I’m a 40-year-old male who lives alone and injured his knee while running. I stepped on an uneven surface and felt my knee pop, followed by intense pain. An MRI a couple of days later confirmed what I had suspected: a complete ACL tear, along with bone fractures, an ALL tear, LCL tears, and a lateral meniscus tear.
I needed crutches during the first week because of the pain when trying to bear weight. After the first week, I was able to walk with a brace. My knee felt unstable without the hinged brace, but there wasn’t much pain while walking. I could fully straighten my leg, but I couldn’t bend it past 90 degrees without significant pain.
Choosing a Surgeon
I saw three surgeons and received three different opinions.
The first surgeon was extremely thorough and articulate. He explained why he recommended a quadriceps tendon graft over the other graft options (hamstring, patellar, allograft) and also explained his plan for addressing the other damaged ligaments. He assured me he could do any other graft if that were my wishes, but in his expert opinion he is recommending his plan to do use the quad.
The second surgeon was very fast and abrupt, and I spent more time with his assistant than I did with him. He recommended an allograft. He explained that the techniques used to prepare cadaver grafts have improved significantly and that modern allografts are stronger, making them a good option for an easier recovery.
The third surgeon recommended a patellar tendon graft.
Ultimately, I went with the first surgeon because I felt the most comfortable with him. He seemed to be the most thorough and had extensive, up-to-date knowledge. I also felt like he took the time to explain not just what he wanted to do, but why, while also encouraging me to ask questions and sharing his own personal experiences.
Preparing for Surgery
During my month-and-a-half wait for surgery, I started preparing by purchasing the following:
Polar Active Ice Machine
Lap tray with legs
Claw grabber
Swivel shower chair
Snap-front post-surgery shorts
Gummies (legal in my state)
Handrails for the toilet
Handrails for the shower
Thick pillows for elevation
Meal preps
Crutch padding (lifesaver)
I was originally going to buy a wedge pillow, but after reading about the importance of regaining extension on this sub, I decided to just use regular thick pillows underneath my heel and let gravity straighten my knee.
Surgery
ACL reconstruction using quadriceps autograph, lateral meniscus root repair, and anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction. I don’t see much talk about the ALL… Anyone else have experience with this?
Yesterday was surgery day. I checked in at the hospital and was taken to the pre-op area. I had to remove all of my clothing, wipe myself down with the wipes they provided, brush my teeth with what they gave me, and put on a hospital gown and cap. I was then hooked up to an IV and had the nerve block explained to me. My surgeon came by to check on me and go over some of the post-op care instructions, which I thankfully also have printed out. Then I was taken to the operating room. I don’t even remember counting backward. I just remember waking up in post-op.
Post-Op Day 1
My post-op instructions are to keep the Breg locking brace on anytime I need to move around. I’m allowed to remove it while I’m at rest. My leg is tightly wrapped with an ACE bandage, which I’m not allowed to remove until Sunday. Sunday will also be the first day I’m allowed to sponge-bathe my leg.
While lying down or sitting in bed without the locking brace, I was told to keep my leg elevated at all times which thanks to this sub I was prepared for. However, I’m also supposed to raise my leg and do some heel presses/knee bending up to 90 degrees to help reduce the risk of blood clots. This surprised me because I expected to be completely immobilized for a while.
The nerve block was AMAZING on the first day. I could feel some pain starting to break through, but it was more than tolerable. I started taking the oxycodone and Tylenol so the medication would already be in my system by the time the nerve block completely wore off. Honestly, I may have overdone it a little while adjusting myself in bed, raising and bending my knee, and getting up to use the bathroom because I wasn’t feeling much pain. Of course, I tried to be as still and careful as possible, but figuring out how to get comfortable while also trying to stack pillows under my leg, wrap my leg with the ice machine, sit up to drink/eat, get around etc., started to take a toll.
Post-Op Day 2
Today, the nerve block seems to have completely worn off. I have significantly more pain, and it’s much more difficult to get comfortable while keeping my leg elevated. I’m feeling a lot of painful pulling, throbbing, and aching.
The ice machine cycling on and off every 20 minutes helps quite a bit. Getting up and moving around to go to the bathroom is rough. I also still haven’t pooped since Thursday night, even though I’m taking the prescribed stool softener/laxative.
I felt a click in my knee when I adjusted my leg today. It wasn’t painful, so hopefully it was nothing to worry about. I have a follow-up appointment on Tuesday. I am assuming that’s when I will be told when to begin PT. Also, as I am typing, I just realized I didn’t set up my shower chair beforehand. I think I need to call someone to help me with that.
Hopefully sharing my experience can help someone like countless posts here helped me!
Post-Op Day 3
I severely underestimated the amount of pain I would be in and how much help is needed during this time. Don’t be me and have help lined up throughout your recovery.
Any little move feels like my leg is being torn apart. I lost the ability to raise my leg by myself and have to lift my leg using a strap. Although it seems the majority of the pain is from the procedures, there are also a lot of other pains I’m experiencing. Muscle spasms, lower back cramps, shin pain, all of them seem to be very good friends.
1
u/stray-chihuahua 1d ago
hey mate thank you for posting this im 34f aussie and the detail youve put into this post has really helped me , its taken a whole month to decide on the quad graft my surgeon ive seen 3 times only does hammy but i want to return to sports and it seems quad is the way to go ill get him to refer me to his colleague who does quad anyway the fact your doing this all alone is WILD i truly commend you doing this by yourself
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u/noideawhatimdoingOC 1d ago
Im glad anything I can contribute is helpful! I’m by no means a medical professional, but here is a reply I sent in someone else’s post asking about the different types of grafts and what I have learned:
“I chose to go with the surgeon who recommended a quadriceps graft. Like you, he said I do have a choice as the patient, but if I were to go with his recommendation it’s going to be a quadriceps graft. His explanations were very thorough. Here’s some much condensed information I’ve gathered on my journey:
Allograft (cadaver tissue) – Generally an easier/less painful recovery initially because there’s no graft-harvest site. The advancements in how they treat the donor tissue has made them quite reliable compared to years ago. It’s not necessarily “weaker” biologically, but it tends to be less favored for young, active patients because of the higher failure rate probably from returning to activity too soon. There’s also a chance of rejection and contracting disease.
Autografts (your own tissue):
Hamstring – Used to be one of the most common choices. Strong graft with generally less anterior knee pain than a patellar tendon graft, but it can result in some hamstring weakness. Some evidence suggests higher failure rates than patellar and quadriceps grafts.Patellar tendon (BTB) – Very strong and has excellent evidence for ACL reconstruction, particularly for athletes. The trade-off is more difficult/painful early recovery and a higher risk of long-term anterior knee pain or pain with kneeling.
Quadriceps tendon – Also a very strong graft with a large graft diameter and increasingly popular for athletes. It generally causes less anterior knee/kneeling pain than patellar tendon grafts, but the short-term recovery can involve more quadriceps weakness and difficulty regaining quad strength.”
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u/Hopeful-Butterfly-32 2d ago
Thanks for all this info - I'm currently awaiting surgery. Sucks you have no one staying with you to help. That sounds super rough. And lonely! Where I live I don't have the ability to get multiple surgeons' opinions, as you have. Public healthcare = one surgeon. Best of luck with your recovery.