Cruciate ligaments :
ACL reconstruction after 6 month but swelling - - Posted by thkaa (thkaa), 16 January 2005
I've done the ACL reconstruction for 6 months. I think the operation was done well since I had no pain after the surgery and I was discharged after 3 days with using crutches. I rested at home for about one month then did some swimming exercise. But it didn't make be feel better. I did it for several times then stopped it. Then I did some exercise as the PT told me. I felt better but I found that the swelling didn't fade. Dr gave some pills for me and it got better. It's about 2 months after the surgery.
I continued to do exercises and increased the weight when doing the weight lifting. I went running too. I absolutely could do it without any difficulty or pain. But everytime after exercise 2 or 3 days. I felt uncomfortable with the knee. It swelled a little. At first I supposed it got stronger because there was no pain at all. But 4 months after surgery. the knee swelled quickly and I felt something like that the "water bag" burst and the knee was filled with water and the swelling was very obvious. I only iced it but it didn't go out at all. It got worse and worse and I had to walk very carefully. But one day I chased the bus and walked a bit faster, It hurt me a lot. I felt painful. I thought I hurt the meniscus and rushed to the hospital. Dr suggested me to rest more and no surgery was done. It was the time after 5 months. Dr took some fluid to examine and the result was positive and concluded no inflammation. It took me 20 days for the swelling to fade out. During swelling, I could hardly walk. When it got a little better, I walk again and it got swell again. It took me another 20 days to get better. I couldn't go to the PT. I avoided prolonged walking now and rested more. It got better now and didn't swell. Dr suggested me to do an arthroscopy to examine what's going on. I will do it next week.
Updated Tue Oct 14 2008