tim5700 - Left ACL reconstruction cadaver allograft 5/24/2012

[Tim5700]

Good evening all, this is my first knee surgery.  I tore my ACL in Tae Kwon Do during a sparring match.  I had my surgery yesterday morning 5/25.  The pain yesterday was barely noticeable.

Today has been a different story.  In particular, I have most of my pain while trying to get up to move.  The pain has been in the inside of the lower leg.  I have not seen my leg since the surgery since it is still wrapped.  I suspect the spot where I am feeling the paint is where a screw went perhaps or where I have stitches.

What is the risk of damaging yourself while getting up one day after surgery?

Thanks in advance.

[Forevergimpy]

Sorry to hear you are having to endure a knee surgery.   

Often times we feel surprisingly well on the surgery day (as a result of adrenaline and anesthesia) and try to wait for the pain before taking the prescribed medicine. When the pain then really sets in, you are behind and it is really tough to catch up.    I would take it very easy today and take the medications as prescribed (every 4 hours if necessary) and use lots of ice and elevation.  Surgical pain is different from the pain of an injury and I remember it surprising my too after my first procedure. Also be prepared for blood rush pain when you do get up. You may want to move from laying down to sitting in stages to allow your leg to handle the feeling as slowly as possible. As upsetting and scary this is, it doesn't last throughout the entire recovery.

Hopefully you'll be feeling better (or have the pain better controlled at least) in a day or so.

(Disclaimer: if you have been taking all medicine as prescribed - even through the middle of the night and you still have significant break through pain you may want to alert your doctor's office with your symptoms just to be sure nothing else is going on.)

Sarah

[emergRN]

You are not at risk getting up one day after surgery!  I would advise that you limit how much you are up for the next few days thought!  The more you are up, the more you will swell.  Control the swelling with an icing machine if you have one!  You also need to elevate your ACL leg up on three pillows(not under your knee).  This is important to maintain your extension!  Do your ankle pumps to keep the swelling out of your lower leg.

The blood rush with ACLr does not usually happen for a few days yet!  You will notice in about a week, that you will develop some swelling on the inside of your ankle, and then it will turn purple.  This is old blood from where your bone tunnels were drilled.  Where you are describing your pain is most likely where your incision is from where they drill the hole for your tibial tunnel.

Yes, keep up on your pain meds for the first couple of days.  It is much harder to control if it gets ahead of you!

Were you given any instructions upon your discharge? 

Good luck!

W

[Tim5700]

Thanks for the replies.  The pain was really bad trying to get off the couch and get to the bed.  Lesson learned there.  I have been in the bed since.  I called the on call doctor and determined the main pain I am having is around the tibia screw.  I'm told it's normal, etc.

The good news is the pain has subsided, but I do feel pressure when getting up for the restroom.  It all seems to be around that tibia screw area.

[Tim5700]

You are not at risk getting up one day after surgery!  I would advise that you limit how much you are up for the next few days thought!  The more you are up, the more you will swell.  Control the swelling with an icing machine if you have one!  You also need to elevate your ACL leg up on three pillows(not under your knee).  This is important to maintain your extension!  Do your ankle pumps to keep the swelling out of your lower leg.

The blood rush with ACLr does not usually happen for a few days yet!  You will notice in about a week, that you will develop some swelling on the inside of your ankle, and then it will turn purple.  This is old blood from where your bone tunnels were drilled.  Where you are describing your pain is most likely where your incision is from where they drill the hole for your tibial tunnel.

Yes, keep up on your pain meds for the first couple of days.  It is much harder to control if it gets ahead of you!

Were you given any instructions upon your discharge? 

Good luck!

W

Instructions on discharge were weight bearing as tolerable.  Stay in an immobilizer until I follow up with the surgeon on 5/30.  Ice wrap.

[Tim5700]

Sunday and Monday were better days.  I had issue with the Lortab making me itch, etc. and switched to prescription Ibuprofen.  Early this morning I had more pain around the Tibia screw.  Previously it was a sharp pain, but this time its was an aching pain.  I am getting around better though.

I see the surgeon for follow up tomorrow.

[Tim5700]

Hey everyone.  Longtime, no post.  So I got out of my immobilizer and started weight bearing.  I had some pretty significant pain in my calf area.  Turns out I developed a DVT.  I have been in the hospital since 6/1 and have been put on blood thinners.  I will not be discharged until my INR level gets to a therapeutic level.  The clot feels better today and I finally met with a physical therapist.

[Tim5700]

I had a pretty rough bout with the blood clots.  I spent a week in the hospital and was on two different blood thinners.  One is Coumadin, which I am still on today.  The other was Lovenox administered by shot to the stomach.  I'm out of the hospital now and have been to my first official PT session.  I can flex my knee 115 degrees compared to 132 degrees on the right knee.  I have full extension and nearly full hamstring flexibility.