Yaj :ACL tear at 41

by Dr Yajnesh Shetty
(Mumbai,India)

I tore the ACL on my Right knee around 8 weeks back while i was out with my dogs and twisted my knee. I felt a popping sensation and my knee buckled dropping me to the ground.I knew(I am a general surgeon myself) that I had torn my ACL so I limped home with my dogs. After 4 hours of icing and elevation I went and got my MRI.It showed a torn ACL and bony contusions so I consulted a surgeon who specializes in sports injuries.He suggested 4-6 weeks for the inflammation and the swelling to go down followed by arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with a Semitendinosus(hamstring) graft. We agreed on the date of surgery to be 10th Aug.
I spent the 6 weeks recovering, building up my quads and hamstrings, wore a Bregg Fusion XT while walking.

So I was operated on the 10th and I am 5th day post op. I am using a walker on my surgeon's instructions but i feel I can do without it.The pain is pretty Ok and I am at full extension maintained by a long knee brace. I take off the brace thrice a day to do flexion exercises but it is restricted by the bulky dressing and compression bandage.I will be getting rid of it when I go back for my weekly follow up so my flexion will progress faster.
Straight leg raises and Quad sets are the other exercises I am doing

Its great to read the experiences of all the others who have gone through this experience and it educates and gives a boost to the morale of those that have yet to go through with the surgery.
Thanks guys!
Regards,
Yaj.