Recovery from anterior cruciate ligament knee surgery can take up to a year.
After knee surgery, the wound will be closed with stitches. If the stitches are dissolvable, they should disappear after about three weeks.
If your stitches are not dissolvable, they will need to be removed by a healthcare professional. Your surgeon will advise you about this. They will also tell you how to care for your wound. Washing it with mild soap and warm water is usually all that is required.
Your knee will be bandaged and you may also be given a cryocuff to wear. This is a waterproof bandage that contains iced water to help reduce swelling. You may also be given painkilling medication to control any pain.
You may have painful bruising, swelling and redness down the front of your shin and ankle. This is caused by the fluid inside your knee joint (synovial fluid) leaking down your shin. These symptoms are temporary and should start to improve after about a week.
Rehabilitation
Your surgeon or physiotherapist will be able to advise you about a structured rehabilitation programme. It is very important that you follow the programme so that your recovery is as successful as possible.
You will be given exercises that you can start in hospital after your surgery and continue when you get home. The exercises will include movements to bend, straighten and raise your leg. Ask if you are unsure about how to do any of the exercises.
You will also be given crutches to help you move around. You may need to use them for about two weeks, but you should only put as much weight on your injured leg as you feel comfortable with.
Weeks one to two of your recovery
For a few weeks, your knee is likely to be swollen and stiff, and you may need to take painkillers.
Your surgeon or GP will advise about the type of pain relief that is best for you to use. You will be advised to raise your leg as much as possible, for example by putting pillows under your heel when you are lying in bed.
You may be given a cryocuff to take home with you to help ease the pain and swelling. Ask your surgeon or physiotherapist how often you should use the cryocuff. If you do not have a cryocuff, you could place a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a towel on your injured knee.
Weeks two to six of your recovery
Once the pain and swelling have settled, you may be advised to increase or change your exercises. Your physiotherapist will advise you about what exercises to do. These will help you to:
- fully extend and bend your knee
- strengthen your leg muscles
- improve your balance
- begin to walk properly
After two or three weeks, you should be able to walk without crutches.
As well as specific exercises, other activities that do not put much weight on your knee may also be recommended, such as swimming and cycling.
Weeks 6 to 24 of your recovery
Six weeks to six months after your knee operation, you should gradually be able to return to your normal level of activity.
You will be encouraged to continue with activities such as cycling and swimming, but you should avoid sports that involve a lot of twisting, jumping or turning. This is because you need to allow enough time for the grafted tissue to anchor itself in place inside your knee.
After six months
After six months, you should be able to return to playing any type of sport.
Some people may need to take more time to feel confident enough to play sports again, and elite athletes may need longer to return to their previous level of performance.
Returning to work
How quickly you can return to work after knee surgery will depend on what your job involves.
If you work in an office, you may be able to return to work after two or three weeks. If you do any form of manual labour, it could be up to three months before you can return to work, depending on your work activities.
Driving
Your GP can advise you about when you can drive again. This will usually be after three to four weeks or whenever you can comfortably put weight on your foot.
