ACL surgery is a procedure that many people in Bayonne, New Jersey, undergo every year. If you’re one of those people, then you know that the road to recovery can be long and difficult. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can do several things to make your Bayonne ACL tear recovery smoother and more manageable. Let’s learn more.
Manage the Pain
One of the most challenging aspects of recovery from ACL surgery is managing the pain. The good news is that there are several ways to do this:
- Take your pain medication as prescribed by your doctor. This will only make it harder to manage.
- Use ice and heat to help manage the pain. Ice can be applied for 20 minutes at a time, every three to four hours. Heat can be applied for 15 minutes at a time, three to four times a day.
- Keep your leg elevated as much as possible to reduce swelling and pain.
Start Physical Therapy Early
Physical therapy helps improve a patient’s ability to move, reduce pain and scarring, restores range of motion, strengthens muscles, and improves function. Physical Therapy (PT) is something people often think about when their doctor recommends it for an injury or surgery.
Physical therapists work with patients to help them recover from injuries by doing exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles, help improve range of motion, and relieve pain. Starting PT early is one of the best ways to make your recovery after ACL surgery smooth. The earlier you start, the sooner you’ll see results. And the sooner you see results, the better you’ll feel.
Don’t Miss Your Appointments
Another important way to make your recovery after ACL surgery smooth is not to miss your appointments. It’s essential to keep up with your physical therapy and doctor’s appointments. Missing appointments can set you back and make it harder to recover. So be sure to schedule them into your calendar and prioritize them. The specialist will monitor your progress and give further instructions on making the recovery process smoother.
Get Your Knee Bending
One of the goals of ACL surgery is to get your knee bending again. This can be a difficult task, but it’s essential to do it soon. The reason it’s vital is that the sooner you start bending your knee, the sooner the scar tissue will start to break down. And the more you bend your knee, the more the scar tissue will break down. This will help improve your range of motion and make it easier to walk and do other activities.
Keep Walking
Walking is one of the best things you can do for your recovery. It helps keep your muscles strong, improve range of motion, and prevent blood clots. Walking also helps reduce swelling and pain. Start by walking around your house a few times a day. Then, when you’re ready, start walking outside. Walk around the block or to the park.
You can do several things to make your recovery from ACL surgery smoother and more manageable. Take your pain medication as prescribed, start physical therapy early, don’t miss your appointments, get your knee bending, and keep walking. These things will help you recover quickly and prevent further complications.
