Bouncing Back From an ACL Tear
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Without the stability of
the knee that it provides, you’re causing massive amounts of stress to your
joints. Either way one looks at it, the
ACL needs to be repaired. Unfortunately
the only way to do that is through surgery.
Properly Diagnosing an ACL Tear
Sometimes it is impossible to diagnose without the help of a doctor. If there
is any doubt, you have to get it seen immediately. The bent knee trick, though, is something
that you can do now. If you can’t bend your knee at least a 90-degree angle,
you can bet you have a tear. If you
can’t walk on the leg in question then you have a problem.
There are cases where an
ACL tear doesn’t require surgery – or need surgery. This is why you have to go to a doctor to
determine that. For some, their activity
level and livelihood can affect the injury which is why a second look is always
a good idea. For other tears, though, surgery is required. If one partakes in
ACL surgery, the patient has to prepare for it both mentally and
physically. Surgery of any kind requires
a mental part to tackling the problem.
ACL Surgery
Prepping for an ACL
surgery requires some work. The goals of
post-surgery are to reduce any swelling in the knee, get a normal range of
motion for the knee, and walk somewhat normally. The latter may take a little time to do and
can take a couple months to heal depending on the injury. For each tear, a surgeon will have a
different take and method on the surgery.
A repaired ACL isn’t fixed
by just tying the ligament back together, though that would be nice. Using tendons from other parts of body as a
substitute for the torn ACL is an option (and probably the most popular option
amongst doctors). Some surgery is done
by opening the knee up (usually has a much longer recovery time) or
arthroscopically (which is how the majority of athletes who suffer the injury
like to have it done). There are
options, but connecting the ligaments or reattaching them is an important thing
to undertake, one that takes a skilled and steady hand. Not any surgeon can properly tackle ACL
tears.
Much like the rotator cuff
is for the upper body, the knee is the most important part of the body for the
lower half. As such, the range of motion
should be normal and care given to nurse these areas. A torn ACL hampers our ability to walk
normally, taking us out of being able to do our daily activities.
Bouncing Back from the Surgery
Bouncing back from ACL
surgery can be a challenge depending on your health before the tear, but almost
all of them come back to normal. When
you bounce back from surgery, your physical activities will be limited at
first. If you have an office job, you can return to work as quickly as a
week. Every case is different. Every knee is different. The
recovery time will determine how strong your knee will bounce back afterwards. It is important to note that anyone who has
an ACL tear can recover from it with no problem. It’s not the end of the world
by any means. It may seem that way, but there are options on recovery.
Once you can start back
with your daily routine, you should be fine. The problem is getting yourself in
the position to be able to do that. Don’t try to overdo it after surgery. If you feel soreness or any kind of
tenderness in your knee, stop. You don’t have to push it. When your body starts
talking to you, listen to it. Even the toughest athletes will have a difficult
time recovering sometimes.
Take your time in
recovering from surgery and you’ll be back and at it in no time. Nurse your
knee well and build up your strength. Anything can happen at any time so be
prepared.
Author Bio
Donna Shannon is a highly successful surgeon
practicing in Pasadena Heights, California. Donna recommends having ACL surgery
if you have a torn ACL because it can be your best chance at full knee
recovery.
Category: Cosmetic Surgery
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